Outreach Worker
Application Deadline: 14 May 2025
Department: Outreach
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: St Austell
Reporting To: Sarah Bassett
Compensation: £29,352 / year
Description
As an Outreach Worker, you will find, engage, and build positive relationships with rough sleepers, sofa-surfers, and those at risk of becoming homeless across Cornwall.
You will ensure their basic needs are met (providing bedding, clothing and food parcels) whilst working with them towards finding accommodation solutions. This might include finding emergency accommodation and longer-term housing solutions, as well as enabling access to healthcare, support for mental health, and access to services to recover from dependencies on alcohol or drugs.
As part of the wider Resettlement team, you will be expected to provide cover at any of our Resource Centres – currently the Truro Resource Centre and the Breadline Centre in Penzance.
The Outreach team is small, and each Outreach Worker has a significant 'patch' of the county they are responsible for. Of course, there will be times when you will need to work elsewhere across Cornwall as directed by your line manager, to ensure service continuity during staff absences. The successful candidate will cover a broad area including St Austell, Newquay and Tintagel. Given the rural nature of the area and distances covered, access to a vehicle will be essential.
Outreach can be a 7-day service and you will be required to work some Saturdays (approx. 1 in 4) as well as occasional evening work as directed by the Non-Residential Service Manager. This will include providing support to St Petroc’s’ emergency “Winter Service” during the colder months.
Interviews are expected to take place on Wednesday 21st May.
Many of our staff work flexibly, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.
What you'll be doing.
1. Make contact and engage regularly with people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless across Cornwall.
2. Work with clients to identify their support needs, and prepare comprehensive risk management and support plans.
3. Keep case notes and maintain accurate client records.
4. Liaise with partner and specialist agencies to enable clients to access their services (e.g. housing, benefits agencies, drug and alcohol, health, welfare rights and legal services).
5. Liaise with 'Health for Homeless', primary and secondary health care services (including mental health services) to ensure clients receive timely and appropriate care to meet their needs.
6. Maintain an effective referral process to all forms of accommodation for homeless clients.
7. Negotiate access to appropriate accommodation, and ensure that ongoing client support is available.
8. Work in other areas of the service as required.
9. Attend events as a positive ambassador for St Petrocs, promoting and raising awareness of its services and inspiring existing and potential supporters.
10. Carry out any other duties as reasonably requested.
Who we're looking for.
You’ll share our core values: Honesty, Integrity, Equality & Dignity. You should have previous experience of working with vulnerable adults, along with a knowledge and appreciation of the many complex issues surrounding homelessness.
Importantly, we’re looking for someone who passionately believes in our mission of ending homelessness. Homelessness is not an inevitability. It can be solved, and it can be prevented.
In addition to the criteria outlined below, this post is subject to successful completion of an Enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Due to the nature of the role, you must also have a valid driving licence and access to a vehicle. You will also need to ensure you have appropriate business insurance, as you will frequently need to transport clients to their appointments.
Essential Criteria
* Commitment to our services and the people we serve
* Excellent time management skills
* Able to follow processes and maintain high standards
* Comfortable working independently
* Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
* Able to manage conflict and challenging behaviour
* Able to relate to and motivate disadvantaged individuals
* Energetic, creative and driven, with a proactive and positive approach
What it's like working with us.
We know that our staff are at their best when they feel supported, happy, and healthy – at work and at home. To that end, we’re pleased to offer the following employee benefits:
Family
* 33 days annual leave a year, including bank holidays
* Enhanced maternity, partner, shared parental, and adoption pay
* Paid time off for neonatal care
* Paid time off for IVF treatment
Financial
* Competitive pension scheme
* Long-service awards
* Non-contributory life insurance (up to 3 x basic salary)
* Paid professional subscriptions (where relevant to role)
Wellbeing
* Enhanced sick pay scheme
* Employee assistance programme (EAP) including access to counselling services
* Free eye tests and free vaccinations
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