Case Worker – Rough Sleeper Initiative

Job description

Case Worker – Rough Sleeper Initiative

Contract type:  Fixed term until 31^st March 2023

Hours:               Full time (37.5 hours per week) and part time hours available

Salary:              £20,365-£24,404 (pro rata for part time)

Locations:        Across Buckinghamshire

Start Date:        Immediate start

Buckinghamshire Council successfully bid for funding under the Rough Sleeper Initiative to end homelessness in Buckinghamshire. We are therefore looking to expand our team of Case Workers across the county to provide intensive support to former rough sleepers, often with challenging complex issues.

We are looking for Case Workers who know what it takes to support vulnerable people in crisis – homeless and unemployed, often with a history of substance misuse, mental health issues, or offending behaviour.

Key Aspects of the service

• Prevent Homelessness
• Rapidly rehouse rough sleepers
• Facilitate service users’ integration into their local community
• Prevent rough sleepers returning to the streets
• Ensure clients are financially secure and have access to welfare benefits
• Ensure that mental health/addiction issues are addressed
• Build on service users’ resilience to prevent the risk of homelessness arising again
• Build on life skills to live independently.

Key outcomes for clients

• Maintain dignity, independence, and control, and be treated as equal citizens
• Make a positive contribution and feel purposeful and empowered.
• Participate in social activities and networks that connect them to other people.
• Have a healthy lifestyle that maintains physical and mental well-being.
• Cope effectively with difficult life events
• Live in a place that promotes a good quality of life and a sense of safety.
• Access services including digital services and support when needed.

What you’ll be doing

The Rough Sleeper Initiative Case Workers are responsible for:

• providing a programme of planned intensive support with people who have recently been rough sleeping.
• providing support to former rough sleepers who have recently moved in to temporary accommodation, moved on from supported accommodation or have moved on from these into their own tenancy;
• supporting to build the skills required to sustain this long term; and
• building up an appropriate network of support in their local community.

We work with a wide range of people who are at risk of homelessness including people with mental health, drug and alcohol issues and offending behaviour.

Put simply, it’s about making a difference. A real difference.

To be successful in this role, you will need to:

• be well-organised, IT literate with good communication skills.
• be able to remain calm and patient in challenging circumstances.  
• have a good understanding of support planning processes.

What’s more, you're contributing to monitoring and implementing changes that improve outcomes for people. And above all, you have a natural ability to help make the lives of others more fulfilling and want to work in an environment where the work can be hard, but also fun and rewarding.

The full Job Description and Person specification is available on our website.