Centre Support and Outreach Worker – Women's Service

Are you passionate about working with women who have complex support needs and

are experiencing homelessness or are you at risk of homelessness?

 

We are looking for a Support Worker to work as part of a service that provides late-night and early-morning outreach for women who are sex working and supports women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

 

Note: This post is exempt under Sch 9 Pt 1 of the Equality Act 2010 and is only open to female applicants.

 

Position: Centre Support and Outreach Worker

Salary: £26,800 - 30,800

 

Hours: Full time, 36 hours per week (Working pattern includes 1 outreach shift per week, which

is carried out between 9 pm and 1 am. Usual working hours are 8.30 am – 4.15 pm)

Contract: Permanent

Location: London, Stockwell

 

Benefits: The annual leave entitlement is 35 days per year pro rata, made up of eight bank and public holidays and 27 days annual leave. The 27 days annual leave is normally split between 24 ‘bookable’ days and three closure days that fall between Christmas and the New Year

 

About the role

The Post Holder will work within Spires’ Women’s Service. This service is comprised of:

 

A dedicated nighttime outreach service to support women who are involved in street-based sex working. This includes follow up work, casework, and multi-agency working.

 

Centre-based support for women with complex needs who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This also includes casework and supporting Spires’ Housing and Homelessness team.

 

Key responsibilities will include:

 

·        Supporting a caseload of clients

·        Completing one nighttime outreach shift a week (this is carried out in the Spires car)

·        Supporting in the running of Spires’ women’s drop in services

·        Supporting Spires’ Housing and Homelessness service where required

·        Representing Spires to external stakeholders at multi-agency meetings

·        Ensuring detailed and accurate records are kept of all client work.

 

About you

You will have previous experience of working with people exhibiting complex needs and people experiencing homelessness. Ideally you will have experiencing supporting women with some of the following support needs: substance addiction, mental health needs, domestic violence, no recourse to public funds and sex working.

 

You will also bring with you the following skills and experience:

 

·        Experience of challenging appropriately and maintaining clear and appropriate boundaries.

·        Networking and effectively liaising with specialist service providers or agencies in order to establish and/or improve access to services for clients.

·        Sound understanding of the issues faced by women and other individuals involved in sex work.

·        Understanding of the legislation around supporting the victims of Domestic Violence.

·        Understanding of the effects of trauma on people and how to work in a trauma informed way.

·        Good understanding of safeguarding practices in outreach work, social care and/or day centre environment.

·        Good understanding of confidentiality and working with sensitive information.

 

Please Note: The organisation is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. This post, however, is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

 

About the organisation

The organisation was established in response to homelessness, which had become a growing concern in Streatham in the late 1980s. Initially providing a hot meal, clothing and advice to those who came for help, they have developed into an organisation that provides a range of services, including the Housing and Homeless Team and Woman’s Team.