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Purpose
To deliver and ensure that contact is made and sustained with rough sleepers in a specific area. Ensuring appropriate assessments and referrals are undertaken and that all clients are engaged with services in order to receive support towards ensuring they move from the streets and into accommodation or reconnection services.
Responsibilities
- Undertake Outreach work on a rota basis including working early mornings, late nights and at weekends if required.
- To assess the needs of individual rough sleepers and to provide them with a variety of options of support services/accommodation in liaison with other agencies and specialist workers.
- To advocate, where appropriate, on behalf of rough sleepers with external agencies regarding their welfare rights, Primary Health Care needs and other issues affecting their Health and well being.
- To take a pro-active role in promoting awareness of the Service and related issues within the community and businesses of the designated Area.
- To maintain a caseload of clients. Offer clients assertive, consistent ongoing guidance & support until they are in a position to be able to move from the street into accommodation or reconnection services and/or other appropriate support services.
- To source accommodation for rough sleepers within or connected to the area.
- To make appropriate referrals in consultation with the staff team and Team Coordinator.
- To take part in the evaluation and development of services within the Outreach Team.
- To deal with user's complaints and to resolve conflicts between users sensitively and effectively.
- To ensure that regular case reviews are carried out within agreed timescales and that support plans are implemented and consistently high quality case notes are recorded on CHAIN and other data base systems as required.
- To carry out the required level of monitoring and tracking of clients and that the appropriate monitoring information is available to the relevant agencies.
- To keep accurate financial and administrative records, such as Petty Cash reconciliation, in line with the organisation's policies and procedures.
- Ensure all appropriate records are maintained in an accurate and timely fashion.
- Working with and building networks with local authorities, other voluntary and faith based agencies, outreach teams, hostels and private landlords to increase the choice and opportunities for housing and other support for rough sleepers.
- Facilitate joint working and develop initiatives with other Voluntary Agencies (e.g. day centres, hostels), Local Authority Agents (e.g. Cleansing Dept, Parks workers, Wardens), Health Providers (GP surgeries, A & E ), Prisons and Discharge services and the Police (e.g. SNT, PCSOs) as appropriate.
- Being proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development.
- Undertaking, as required, any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by more senior members of staff.
Requirements
- Experience of motivating complex and diverse client groups to engage with services and support.
- Experience of assessing client needs and supporting clients to address their needs through assertive case management.
- Knowledge of the services and legislative environment regarding housing, health, work and immigration as it relates to homeless people.
- A person-centred recovery focused approach and the necessary social skills to initiate and maintain constructive and appropriate relations with clients and agencies in a detached street and community environment.
- Ability to network, build enabling relationships and work effectively with a range of local partners, including enforcement agencies.
- Ability to communicate in English effectively, both verbally and in writing and collate and evidence work and outcomes using case management databases.
- Ability to supervise and motivate Student Placements and Volunteers to engage effectively with clients.
- A capacity to work under pressure, work independently and remain enthusiastic and motivated in a demanding and target driven role.
Hours per week: 37.5 (shifts are on an ongoing basis)
Outreach workers are expected to work on a rota system with the team, hold a caseload of clients and go on outreach shifts:
- Early shift: 5am to 9am on the street, then in the office until 1pm;
- Day shift: 9am - 5pm;
- Late shift: 6pm to 9pm, preparing for the shift and admin work, 9pm - 12/1/2am on the street;
Flexibility is important as there may be expectations for them to cover the 12-hour shifts.
