Rough Sleep Support Worker – AR

North Northamptonshire Council
Location: Northampton / across North Northamptonshire
Contract: 3 months initially
Hours: 37 hours per week
Rate: £25.32 PAYE
IR35: Inside IR35
Start: ASAP
Working Pattern: On-site, 5 days per week
DBS: Enhanced DBS required

About the Role

North Northamptonshire Council is looking for an experienced Rough Sleep Support Worker to join its Rough Sleeping Service.

The role will involve working directly with people who are sleeping rough or who have recently moved into temporary accommodation. You will provide practical, person-centred support to help individuals access accommodation, address their wider support needs and ultimately sustain longer-term housing.

You will build trusting relationships with people who may have complex needs, working closely with housing, health, social care and voluntary-sector partners to provide a coordinated package of support.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out regular street outreach across North Northamptonshire, including visits to known rough-sleeping hotspots.
• Identify and engage with people sleeping rough and provide timely support and intervention.
• Build positive, professional relationships with individuals who may be reluctant to engage with services.
• Complete needs and risk assessments, develop support plans and manage an allocated caseload.
• Support individuals to access accommodation, benefits, healthcare, mental health, substance misuse and other relevant services.
• Provide practical support with budgeting, shopping, cooking, cleaning and other independent living skills.
• Work with individuals to develop the skills required to sustain their tenancy and prevent repeat homelessness.
• Support people moving from temporary accommodation into longer-term housing.
• Work alongside Housing Options, Adult Social Care, health services, hospitals, prisons, landlords and voluntary-sector organisations.
• Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns and participate in multi-agency meetings and case conferences.
• Provide crisis intervention and coordinate emergency services where required.
• Develop links with community and voluntary organisations to improve support available locally.
• Maintain accurate case records and ensure all interventions are recorded on Council systems.
• Act as an advocate and key point of contact for people who are rough sleeping.
• Support the Council with its annual rough sleeper count and Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP) arrangements.

About You

The successful candidate will have experience working with rough sleepers, vulnerable adults or people with complex support needs, ideally within a housing, homelessness, outreach or supported accommodation setting.

You will need:

• Experience of keyworking, assessment and support planning.
• Experience completing risk assessments and managing a caseload.
• A good understanding of rough sleeping, homelessness and the barriers people face when accessing accommodation.
• Experience supporting vulnerable people in challenging circumstances.
• Strong communication, listening and relationship-building skills.
• Experience working with partner agencies and contributing to multi-agency support.
• Understanding of safeguarding procedures.
• The ability to manage challenging behaviour and sensitive situations.
• A practical, solution-focused and person-centred approach.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and remain calm under pressure.
• Good IT and record-keeping skills.

Knowledge of the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, welfare benefits and relevant housing legislation would be advantageous.

Additional Requirements

• Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
• Willingness to undertake street outreach outside normal office hours.
• Enhanced DBS clearance.
• Ability to work on-site across North Northamptonshire, 5 days per week.

Interview

Teams interview.