Outreach Worker

**Outreach Worker - Bridge the Gap**

Thank you for your interest in this position and in Oakleaf.

It’s an exciting time to join us. Oakleaf has a proud history of helping people across Surrey who are suffering from mental ill health. The need for good mental health support is growing, as are our ambitions. We provide a range of support including 1-to-1 counselling, and a wide variety of wellbeing activities provided both online and in person. These increase confidence and reduce social isolation. In addition, we support individuals in their employability through a variety of training opportunities.

Our social enterprises deliver services for the people and businesses across Surrey in garden maintenance and our new

Oakleaf at Home provides a range of products for the retail market.

We’re looking for two individuals to work as assertive outreach workers through a commissioned project under the Changing

Futures agenda funded by the Department of Levelling Up,

Housing and Communities. The project is commissioned by Surrey

County Council to deliver flexible, trauma informed, person centred outreach support to individuals coping with multiple disadvantages. The role will sit within our Client Services department and benefits from being a part of a supportive team whilst also having a certain level of autonomy in order to maintain a client centred approach.

Yours sincerely,

Clive Stone

Chief Executive

**Context of the Role**

The role will provide assertive engagement to complex clients through a trauma informed and holistic approach and includes, harm-reduction advice, motivation to change, benefits and accommodation support. This role will span across Surrey working with a maximum caseload of 8 clients. This relatively small caseload is to enable the successful applicant the opportunity to work closely with each individual and, in turn, make a significant difference to their quality of life. In addition, to the extensive support from within our Client Services Department, this project benefits from being a part of a county wide programme working closely with key charity partners. Ensuring a good network of support for both the staff and clients. This unique opportunity is a chance to think outside the box whilst drawing upon previous experience supporting vulnerable adults.

**Job purpose **To work as an assertive outreach worker through a commissioned project under the Changing Futures agenda funded by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The project is commissioned by Surrey County Council to deliver flexible, trauma informed, person centred outreach support to individuals coping with multiple disadvantages. The role will provide assertive engagement to complex clients through a trauma informed and holistic approach and include, harm-reduction advice, motivation to change, benefits and accommodation support. This role will span across Surrey working with a maximum caseload of 8 clients

**Main duties & responsibilities**

1. To liaise and work with SCC Changing Futures lead for Bridge the Gap and associated alliance partners in working towards Bridge the Gap principles and ethos in developing the project under the Changing Futures agenda.

2. To represent Oakleaf Bridge the Gap at Alliance meetings participating in feedback of evaluation outcomes.

3. To attend all practitioner/TAP meetings in respect of Bridge the Gap referrals as required through project. Ensure that you provide written evidence as required and follow up on any actions nominated in the meetings and work in a holistic way using a trauma informed approach.

4. To facilitate joint working with other support services to tackle any barriers, including Housing; Health; Social Care; Mental Health; Drug & Alcohol and

Criminal Justice.

5. To undertake assertive outreach predominately across Guildford, Waverley and

Woking but with the possibility of delivering a Surrey wide service using a keywork approach for clients within Bridge the Gap.

6. To provide person centred and trauma informed approach to clients under

Bridge the Gap principles.

7. To respond to working with clients in the community or wherever the client feels comfortable in a safe, risk assessed approach, working collaboratively with other practitioners to best support the needs of the client and in line with current best practice.

8. To conduct continuous risk assessment on clients’ needs and presenting behaviour and consider this risk in outreach approach. Develop and update risk management and crisis contingency plans in client records.

9. To conduct and record written assessments, support plans and stars on ECINS and work with clients to identify a support plan that best fits their current needs and be proactive in supporting them to achieve these goals.

10. To record client case notes factually and comprehensively after each client visit on ECINS and be responsible for each assessment, support plan, star and evaluation outcome data that