Community Engagement Worker

The Passage Engagement & Outreach Service takes an assertive outreach approach to working with entrenched rough sleepers with complex needs, as well as those who are accommodated but engaged in street activity and struggling to engage with support around mental health and substance use. The service partners with local authorities and agencies to engage with and effectively support people bedding down or involved in day-time street activity in the City of Westminster. In doing so, we offer our clients opportunities to access safe accommodation and wrap-around support services that give hope for the future and a chance to transform lives. The Community Engagement Worker will be the lead worker on ASB and safety related matters for the service. The post holder will work to engage with those involved in ASB across the footprints in which the team operate, to ensure that individuals are being supported to find a sustainable route away from street homelessness, whilst ensuring appropriate action is taken to ultimately reduce ASB. The Community Engagement Worker will adopt a multi-agency approach to safeguard vulnerable individuals involved in ASB and share intelligence where possible and necessary to achieve this. The Community Engagement Worker will be responsible for establishing relationships with clients rough sleeping and involved in street activity by spending time in and around specific locations in Victoria, as well as identified hotspots and other agreed locations. The postholder will help reduce rough sleeping and associated street activity in Westminster by engaging with and providing advice, support and assistance to enable rough sleepers and vulnerable adults to access accommodation and services relevant to their needs.Main duties

• To work with the Engagement & Outreach Service Manager to plan the service's strategy and actions to manage and disperse hotspots in the footprint, by working with internal and external services and accommodation providers to ensure that individuals are being supported to find a route out of homelessness or to re-engage with open accommodation.
• To carry a caseload of clients who are involved in ASB in the footprints in which we operate, ensuring individuals are being appropriately supported and linked in with wrap-around support to assist them in their journey out of homelessness. This will involve link working with partner services.
• The Community Engagement Worker will have responsibility for assisting clients to access and stay engaged with local services that will aid their recovery, as well as helping with access to housing, health and wellbeing services, temporary accommodation and, eventually, a permanent home.
• To be the main point of contact within the service for ASB and hotspot related matters, liaising with partner agencies, including Westminster City Council, the statutory Outreach Service, the MET police, and BTP.
• To be the key point of contact with local security and internal teams for ASB related matters which occur inside and outside The Passage Resource Centre. To safeguard clients effectively and to provide case advice and input as needed to colleagues on how to respond to and support clients involved in ASB/ hotspots.
• To be present at relevant networks and forums, offering ASB and hotspot advice and expertise, including attending Street Briefings, locality meetings and hostel pathway meetings to report on specific information and gather intelligence.
• To work with the Service Manager to ensure that appropriate risk planning is in place to safeguard staff and clients in a street and hotspot setting.
• To attend relevant training and shadow other services to improve knowledge around response to ASB and hotspots and how to support clients who are multiply disadvantaged in their homelessness.
Please note this role will involve working with external partners and services to help reduce ASB in the footprint. The postholder will be expected to understand the parameters whereby we have a legal obligation to share information and will be supported to explore training and development opportunities to aid this. Though this role will involve joint work with enforcement teams to help address ASB and any criminal activity locally, it will be focussed on providing the health and social care aspect of support to clients who may be at risk of an enforcement action.General responsibilities
• With your Line Manager, to continuously develop the role to ensure that all tasks are being undertaken in an effective and appropriate manner which meets the strategic aims and objectives of The Passage.
• To participate in internal/external meetings as required, and attend training events, conferences and other functions as necessary.
• Using The Passage Resource Centre as a base, undertake client work and administration as detailed in the staff rota, undertaking flexible duties to cover for sickness and holidays, as required.
• To participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal and help in identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To ensure that all The Passage policies and procedures are being adhered to, particularly those relating to Health and Safety, Code of Practice and Confidentiality.
• To contribute to the effective implementation of The Passage's Diversity and Equality Policy as it affects both The Passage and its work with vulnerable adults.
• To always undertake your role in a professional manner maintaining a high-quality standard of work, and to always work in accordance with the aims, values and ethos of The Passage^1.
• Undertake any other duties that may be required which are commensurate with the role or organisational requirements.
  
  The person specification sets out the essential abilities and qualities that will be used in the selection criteria for this post. When completing your application form, please address criteria E1 to E5 and K1 to K3 demonstrating your experience and knowledge, giving evidence of your experience and abilities.
• E1 Experience of multi-agency working to achieve positive outcomes for vulnerable individuals.
• E2 Experience of working flexibly in different locations (including the street), and at different times as directed by client need and management.
• E3 Experience of assessing client needs and supporting clients to address their needs through assertive case management.
• E4 Experience of managing challenging behaviour and working with individuals presenting with complex needs, using a client-centred recovery focused approach
Above all we are looking for inspiring and committed individuals who have a genuine desire to support people, and to help them to rebuild their lives.Desired knowledge K1 Understanding the support needs of the street populations with complex health, and housing needs. K2 Knowledge of the services and legislative environment regarding housing, health, work and immigration as it relates to homeless people. K3 Ability to communicate, both verbally and in writing and collate and evidence work and outcomes using case management databases. As a Vincentian organisation, The Passage strives to be inclusive; encompassing a diverse and rich culture from within our members, clients, volunteers and staff. This approach is reflected in our core values and it is important that all staff have respect for this.