Outreach Worker

**West Northumberland Food Bank Outreach Worker. One year Pilot Project**. We are looking for someone to join our team and deliver an 18 month Pilot Project to see if Outreach Support can help to reduce isolation and improve the well-being and finances of people accessing the Food Bank. Taking the service we provide on our Helpline out into the community and provide follow on support to address the consequences of poverty such as Social Exclusion and poor Mental Health. If you have a passion for social justice and the skills to carry out this role then we would love to hear from you.

**Key tasks and responsibilities**:
**Support clients on a 1:1 basis **Clients include an existing group of 20 households in long term poverty who have been accessing our Food Bank frequently from 1-3 years and are taking part in our shopping voucher scheme pre pilot, along with new callers to the Helpline whose situations indicate they are at risk of becoming trapped in long term poverty, and intervening early to try and prevent ‘new callers’ people becoming ‘frequent callers’ by moving them onto a 6 month Outreach Support programme with shopping vouchers.

Meeting clients in public venues and offering information that may help clients alleviate the problems and pressures they are experiencing, signposting/referring clients towards other sources of assistance, advice and support. Where needed provide advocacy working with and on behalf of clients when contacting other agencies and where appropriate accompany clients to appointments with other services. Supporting people to overcome any barriers to accessing other services and connecting with community-based projects.

**Record keeping** including developing plans with clients towards achievable goals with clear measurable outcomes and keeping records for funding requirements.

**Build relationships **and develop your knowledge of local resources, including community and statutory services, to find opportunities for people experiencing poverty including well-being, education, employment and training,

**Promote WNFB services.**

**Lead team of Outreach Volunteers **to assist with building relationships in communities and accompanying clients to appointments with other services.

**Work within the WNFB Safeguarding Policy **which recognises that the welfare of all beneficiaries is paramount and that safeguarding their welfare is the responsibility of all staff and volunteers. All adult beneficiaries who come into contact with staff or volunteers are deemed to be vulnerable and have the right to be protected from abuse.

**To attend team meetings on a regular basis**

**Team Roles** This role is works closely with the Helpline Team leaders to identify households that could benefit from Outreach Support, sharing of information about local services and support with recruitment, training and development. This role is also supported by the Marketing and Communications team to ensure effective promotion of our services and by the finance team who manage the distribution of shopping vouchers and Hardship Awards. The role it line managed by the WNFB Project Manager who will assist with the evaluation of measurable outcomes from the Outreach Pilot Plan.

**Metrics**

**Support 40 households **in at least one of the following situations
- Single parent families
- Older working age
- People with disabilities
- People in long term poor physical health
- People in long term poor mental health
- Affected by the 2 Child Policy
- Households in debt and/or affected by benefit deductions.

**Connect 20 of those households with other services.**

**Help 10 households achieve their agreed goals.**

**Here's our 'wish list' of things we'd like to see you demonstrate**:
Educated to NVQ Level 2 or above.

Able to build and maintain effective relationships with clients, colleagues, and partner organisations.

Excellent Communications skills, particularly in being willing and able to listen to clients and respond in a sensitive and empathic fashion.

Ability to work with vulnerable people and confidential information with integrity and professionalism.

A good understanding of the kinds of problems people in poverty encounter, including those that are often referred to as ‘hard-to-reach’.

Awareness and understanding of diversity and equal opportunities and a genuine commitment to non-judgmental practices and treating the people we support with respect and dignity at all times.

Confidence and competence in the use of IT, managing an Outlook account and MS Teams

Ability and willingness to learn about welfare/benefits systems and other services, as well as the ability to keep up to date with changes in these areas.

Good organisational skills and record keeping skills, with an understanding of the importance of keeping accurate and appropriate records in line with Data Protection and Safeguarding requirements.

The ability and willingness to work flexibly as required.

Able to work predomin