Overview
Youth experiencing homelessness in Bristol often lack sufficient support in emergency accommodation. This can lead to longer stays, unplanned exits, or safety concerns.
This brand-new role is your chance to help change that.
As an Emergency Accommodation Navigator, you’ll be at the forefront of our new Testing Hub - a bold partnership between 1625 Independent People, Caring in Bristol, Bristol City Council, and the Justlife Foundation. We’re piloting a new approach that makes Emergency Accommodation shorter, safer, and healthier for young people.
This is fast-paced, high-impact work. You’ll carry a rolling caseload of 18-25-year-olds, supporting them intensively for 8–12 weeks at a time. Across the year, you’ll reach around 60 young people, helping them feel safer, build trust, and take steps towards stable, suitable housing. As this is a partnership with Caring in Bristol, those requiring longer-term assistance will be given priority access to Caring in Bristol’s Project Z service, which will provide continuation support while they remain in Emergency Accommodation.
What you’ll do
* Be a visible, reliable presence, visiting young people in placements and offering practical, person-centred support.
* Build meaningful relationships where trust comes first – young people have told us this is what makes the difference.
* Help young people understand their rights, manage expectations, and avoid placement breakdown.
* Connect young people with housing, benefits, health, education, employment, and community networks.
* Team up with partners across the city to remove barriers and advocate for better outcomes.
* Refer young people who need longer-term support into Caring in Bristol’s wider services.
What we’re looking for
* A self-starter with outstanding organisational and time management skills.
* Someone who can balance multiple priorities while keeping sight of the detail.
* A natural relationship-builder who engages quickly, sensitively, and effectively with young people.
* Confident working independently and navigating complex systems.
* A driver with access to a vehicle or the ability to access all parts of the city in a timely way.*
* Empathy, patience, and genuine understanding of how complex needs affect day-to-day life.
* A real commitment to trauma-informed practice - not just the words, but “walking the walk.”
The role
* 3 days per week (flexible working hours)
* Based in Bristol, with regular travel across the city.
* Employed by 1625 Independent People as part of a two-year pilot project.
Why this matters
This isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to shape a new trauma-informed model of support, designed directly with young people’s voices in mind.
Here’s what they’ve told us they need:
* “I would like the person to attend actual Trauma Informed training - many people say they know what that is, but they need to walk the walk.”
* “Whilst I know this is only 12 weeks work, I would like them to understand the need to build trusting relationships with young people. Often young people distrust staff - and that’s when it fails.”
* “Be empathetic and have an understanding about difficult mental health and other needs and the impact of those needs on people’s day-to-day lives.”
If you want to bring those values to life and be part of real, lasting change for young people in Bristol, we’d love to hear from you.
* We anticipate that being able to travel quickly between locations is essential for this role. Using a car will usually be the most effective way to do this, but if you can demonstrate that you are able to meet the travel requirements reliably by other means, we will consider this. If you use your car for work, you must have a valid UK driving licence, MOT, and business-use insurance (which you will be responsible for arranging and covering).
Please find full details of how to apply via our website in the advert below. The deadline for application submissions is 23:59, Monday 24 November 2025.
You will be in Bristol Youth MAPS and your line manager will be our Operations Manager.
Contract details
* Hours per week: 22.5 (this represents 0.6 FTE)
* Contract type: Fixed Term to Dec 2027
* Pay: £30,024 (pro rata based on 0.6 FTE)
* The location: Bristol Youth MAPS and outreaching throughout Bristol local authority area.
A few benefits at 1625ip
* A generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days per annum plus all Bank Holidays (pro-rata).
* Employee Health Cash Plan with HSF.
* A supportive and approachable team with an emphasis on being trauma-informed.
* “I couldn’t be happier with the opportunities and support I have received in my career progression that has led me to my dream job!” See what other colleagues have said about their career development with us, on the vacancy page of our website.
* 1625ip is a Disability Confident Employer.
Important dates
* Application deadline closes: 23:59, Monday 24 November 2025
* If you have not heard from us by the end of the day on Thursday 27 November 2025, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
* Interviews are in person on Tuesday 02 December 2025 at Caring In Bristol, 3 Pritchard St, BS2 8RH.
Contact us
* To have an informal chat about the role, please contact megan.lewis@1625ip.co.uk
* If you have any queries about the form or submitting applications, please email jobs@1625ip.co.uk
* For support with your application, skills, training and your career Skills Connect’s dedicated advisors who can assist you
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