Rough Sleeper Initiative

**Location**: Based in Lowestoft with travel across the East Suffolk area

**Hours**: 37.5 hours per week with the occasional evening and weekend

**Reporting to**: Service Manager (Rough Sleeper Initiative)

**About the organisation**:
Operating for over 45 years, Access Community Trust is a multi-award-winning charity and provider of housing, youth services, health/wellbeing and employability services across Suffolk and Norfolk. Our ambition is to deliver a service driven by passion and enthusiasm that reaches all vulnerable and socially excluded/isolated people without exception.

**Key objectives of role**:
This is an exciting and new opportunity for a RSI Navigator to join the Access team. The role forms part of a new and exciting contract supporting Rough Sleeper Initiatives across the East Suffolk with both outreach and accommodation focused interventions.

The successful applicant will be dynamic and forward thinking, they will be passionate about working with service users with acute mental health concerns and/or substance misuse and providing a recovery focused approach. The successful applicant will have the ability to work as part of a team and in partnership with local services, stakeholders and partners.

**Job Summary**:
The role is designed to be a vital part of a small team working with individuals on a 1:2:1 basis to provide vital support. As part of an initial but also ongoing assessment, clients are supported through a pathway which is predominantly led by them, towards independent and resilient living within their local community. As part of the service we require this role to undertake mental health assessments to determine appropriate support level and to support the wider team with professional guidance as appropriate.

**Main Job Duties**:

- In conjunction with the East Suffolk housing needs / interventions team(s) and other stakeholders, work with referred individuals within an intense support and resettlement programme
- To link in with other professionals as a named caseworker ensuring cases are progressed and appropriately discussed.
- Support service users to plan and develop individual daily/weekly resettlement support plans focusing on the ability to be resilient and live independently within their community. This includes steps towards being economically active via accessing/improving skills, education and/or employment training, including volunteering.
- To develop individual support plans to take into consideration any Care, Probation or other Statutory Orders the service user may have and to ensure that strong partnerships are developed/maintained with those key agencies.
- Support all service users to engage with statutory and health services appropriate to their needs to avoid crisis and unplanned visits/admissions to hospital
- Carry out Needs Assessments with identified rough sleepers to secure access to services which are suitable for their immediate needs, and make appropriate referrals in partnership with them to establish a sustainable life away from the streets as quickly as possible
- To build relationships with people who are, or have recently been rough sleeping, in order to maintain a client led journey towards becoming socially responsible and help develop life and social skills with the aim of reducing anti-social behaviour and avoid both criminal and/or civil action being taken against them.
- To give clients advice, information and support to provide an enabling service so that clients can access appropriate services
- Establish and maintain positive, productive working relationships with all relevant statutory agency departments who can provide support for service users who are not accommodated.
- To keep relevant and detailed case notes and inform stakeholders as appropriate.
- Participate in all ‘liaison/partner’ meetings as requested in relation to the project and as part of a wider partnership approach with statutory and voluntary sector agencies. This can include multi agency reviews and operational groups.
- Undertake daytime and evening duties including some weekends and bank holidays in exceptional circumstances by negotiation. This provision will only be if necessary and no other officers are available to provide the relevant support under special circumstances.

**Essential Person requirements**:

- Current or recent drug and alcohol-specific experience and training
- Driving license or working towards holding a driving license and access to vehicle as required
- Caseload experience within a complex environment designed to ensure key outcomes and client led approaches
- Experience of identifying, building and maintaining key stakeholder relationships
- Significant experience of working within a team environment

**All data requested is required by us and is outlined within a Lawful Basis Statement which is available upon request.**

Access Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all its young people and vu