Rough Sleeping Outreach Officer

Rough Sleeping Outreach Worker

Ipswich | Hybrid - 1 Day Working from Home
Rate: £35 per hour
IR35 Status: Inside IR35
Initial Contract Length: 3 months
Working Hours: 37 Hours per week

Role Summary

This is an excellent opportunity for a housing and homelessness professional to play a key role in tackling rough sleeping, supporting vulnerable individuals and helping people access appropriate accommodation and support services.

You will deliver proactive outreach services across East Suffolk, primarily covering Lowestoft and surrounding market towns, identifying individuals sleeping rough, assessing their needs and working closely with partner agencies to achieve sustainable housing outcomes.

What You Will Do as a Rough Sleeping Outreach Worker

·Deliver proactive street outreach across East Suffolk, identifying individuals sleeping rough, responding to StreetLink referrals and building positive relationships with vulnerable service users.
·Conduct initial assessments, identify support needs, establish local connections and develop appropriate interventions to help individuals access accommodation and move away from rough sleeping.
·Manage individual cases, providing ongoing support and referrals to relevant services, including housing providers, Adult Social Care, mental health services and drug and alcohol support teams.
·Work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary organisations, including hospitals, prisons and specialist support providers, to prevent homelessness and facilitate effective multi-agency interventions.
·Contribute to rough sleeping counts, service monitoring and improvement initiatives, ensuring accurate case records and supporting the delivery of effective homelessness prevention services.

What You Will Need as a Rough Sleeping Outreach Worker

·A minimum of 2 years' experience working with statutory and voluntary organisations within a housing, homelessness or related support service.
·Strong understanding of rough sleeping, the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
·Experience conducting assessments, managing risks and supporting individuals with complex needs, alongside the ability to work independently in outreach environments.
·Excellent communication, relationship-building and problem-solving skills, with the resilience and empathy required to engage individuals experiencing homelessness.
·Knowledge of safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection requirements, alongside the ability to travel across East Suffolk and work flexibly outside standard office hours when required.

What's on Offer

·Competitive rate of £35 per hour, Inside IR35.
·Initial 3-month contract, with the opportunity to contribute to frontline homelessness prevention and rough sleeping reduction initiatives.
·Hybrid working arrangement, including 1 day working from home per week, alongside the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to vulnerable individuals and local communities.

Apply for the Rough Sleeping Outreach Worker Role

If you are an experienced homelessness or outreach professional with a strong understanding of rough sleeping, excellent engagement skills and a passion for supporting vulnerable individuals, we would love to hear from you