Part Time Outreach Support Worker

**Part time, 28 hours a week. Generally working Monday to Friday between the hours of 6am and 5pm.**

**£17,991 progressing to £18,939**

Wokingham Outreach provides support to adults who are sleeping rough, helping them to access support and accommodation in Wokingham.

Our aim is to identify individuals who are sleeping rough, encourage them to complete activities that keep them safe and work in partnership with the councils and other housing providers to find housing options as quickly as possible. We then provide support to clients to maintain their accommodation.

If you’re looking for a fast paced, busy role, where you can make a real difference in the lives of those who you support, then this is the role for you

**MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES**
- You’ll identify and support individuals who are rough sleeping in Wokingham borough council, including supporting rough sleepers who have a local connection to Wokingham but maybe sleeping rough in nearby local authorities
- You’ll work with individuals to create clear housing plans, and to support individuals to access support services around health and wellbeing, money, and housing
- You’ll work with rough sleepers who have been placed into temporary/permanent accommodation to prevent individuals returning to the streets
- You’ll be responsible for carrying a case load of clients and will provide an initial assessment to identify client needs and produce person centred outcome and support plans and risk assessments
- To provide personalised support that is flexible, responsive and supports the client both practically and emotionally. This may include support in managing and reducing alcohol and/or substance misuse, managing health conditions, improving mental health and wellbeing, homelessness, developing social networks and relationships, or development of practical self-care and living skills
- You’ll be confident to work alone in the community
- You’ll be able to work alongside other agencies to enable individuals to achieve their goals including landlords
- You’ll be able to maintain good quality records
- You’ll be able to work some early mornings, and evenings and occasional weekends to meet the needs of clients and to identify new rough sleepers.
- Bi monthly street counts

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/TRAINING**

Previous experience in this type of work is not essential but you will have a real passion for wanting to work with homeless people. Your values will match ours, you will be committed to helping others and enjoy the real job satisfaction that this brings.
- Clear verbal and written English
- Good IT and keyboard skills
- Polite, assertive manner, ability to self -motivate
- Passion for working in a client/customer facing role
- Knowledge of the benefits system and tenancy legislation
- Have an interest and genuine concern for homelessness and related issues
- Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies
- A full driver’s licence and access to your own vehicle is essential for this role

We were formed in April 2001 through the merger of the Society of St Dismas (founded in 1962) and St Petroc Housing association (founded in 1972). Both organisations shared a passion for housing and supporting vulnerable single people.

Our vision today is to give people who are homeless, vulnerable or in need of support, the opportunity to build a brighter future.

We have services in Berkshire, Hampshire, Portsmouth, Southampton and Sussex.

We support 16-65 year olds. Our services include outreach to rough sleepers, supported accommodation (direct access hostels, move-on accommodation, and resettlement flats), day centres, community support, housing first and landlord support services.