Outreach Case Worker

**Are you passionate about supporting to reduce the number of people who have/are sleeping rough?**

At Connection Support, our team of staff members and volunteers work alongside people to overcome life’s challenges, with the goals of solving homelessness and achieving independence. We do this through our values of empowerment, collaboration, compassion and taking a personalised approach in all aspects of our work.

We are currently recruiting a Case Worker to join our Outreach team.

The Outreach service in Oxfordshire helps people who are sleeping rough to find more settled accommodation, and support people to access support services to help people live a more independent life.

**About the role.**

You will support the team by verifying rough sleepers at their bedded down site, motivating and engaging with people to support them in finding emergency accommodation, improving their health, safety, and wellbeing.

Working alongside the clients, you will signpost, provide information and support to access benefits, housing options, tenancy rights, mental health, medical, substance misuse issues or anything else they need support including, developing practical life skills, to enable your clients to live independently.

You will empower clients to speak up for themselves, build appropriate networks within the local community, and, where possible, re-establish and connect with family and friends.

This post is part time, supporting people across Oxfordshire, working part time, 18.75 hours per week. Due to verifying clients at their bedded down site, early mornings or late evenings are required.

Salary £24,397 - £26,649 per annum, pro rata, dependent on experience.

The closing date for this post is Tuesday 21st May. Interviews will take place on Tuesday 28th May.

**About you**

Ideally, you will have lived or professional experience with homelessness, mental health, social work, alcohol/substance misuse, ex-offenders or something similar.

You’re an excellent communicator who finds it easy to build connections with a diverse range of people. You understand that each person is different, so a flexible individualised approach is what’s needed to motivate and encourage people.

Ideally, you will have some understanding of the housing and welfare benefits system, although this is not essential as we will provide training. It is important that you have some understanding of the causes of homelessness, and a willingness to adapt your approach and support.

You will be required to verify rough sleepers in the early morning or later in the evening, so it is essential that you understand the need for flexibility.

We want you to be just as passionate as we are in taking a personalised, compassionate approach to empower people to get the support they need so they can live their best lives.

This post supports people in the community, therefore a driver’s licence and access to a vehicle is required.

**About Connection Support**

We have been named as one of the top 10 charities to work for in the UK by Best Companies. Connection Support are committed to supporting everyone in our society to become safely and sustainably housed, and to live as independently as possible, so you will be joining an organisation that makes a difference to its communities and will also support your development, offer extensive training, and truly value your dedication and commitment.

We are committed to being a proactively inclusive organisation and ensuring good EDEI practice is embedded in the workplace culture, and that everyone who interacts with Connection Support is valued, treated with respect, and has a positive experience.

Connection Support is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We also offer 30 days annual leave (pro rata for part time), plus bank holidays, sick pay, and an enhanced benefits package which includes cover on health benefits, the ability to sell a week’s annual leave, eco travel incentives, childcare discounts, retail discounts and much more.

**Job Types**: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: £24,397.00-£26,649.00 per year

Expected hours: 18.75 per week

**Benefits**:

- Additional leave
- Bereavement leave
- Company events
- Employee discount
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Sick pay
- Store discount

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

- Do you have lived or professional experience with homelessness, mental health, social work, alcohol/substance misuse, ex-offenders or something similar? (Essential)
- Do you have an understanding of the housing and welfare benefits system? (Desirable)
- Do you have some understanding of the causes of homelessness? (Essential)
- Are you happy to travel to areas within Oxfordshire? (mileage is paid at 45 pence per mile)
- Are you happy to verify rough sleepers in the early