35 Church and community development officer jobs

Could you be Hope4's lead officer for homelessness prevention, coordinating community based early identification, intervention and partnership responses across Rugby to prevent homelessness before crisis occurs?

Are you a client-focused, proactive and compassionate individual with a proven track record of working with vulnerable people who have multiple disadvantages? If so, Hope4 has an exciting opportunity, as we are seeking a Community Homelessness Prevention Lead to join our team and play a central role in delivering homelessness support services in Rugby. Hope4 aims to end homelessness and food poverty one person at a time and we need an ambitious, compassionate person to help us reach that goal. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

What will I be doing as Community Homelessness Prevention Lead at Hope4?

You will lead Hope4's community homelessness prevention programme, identifying people at risk of homelessness at the earliest opportunity and coordinating timely interventions that prevent homelessness, tenancy breakdown and rough sleeping. This post is funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leading Hope4's homelessness prevention service, supporting individuals and households at risk of homelessness. 
• Managing a caseload and delivering effective prevention-focused interventions and housing sustainment support.
• Developing and coordinating Hope4's Early Warning Network, increasing early identification of homelessness risk across Rugby.
• Overseeing referral, triage and assessment processes to ensure timely and appropriate responses.
• Building and maintaining effective partnerships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations.
• Promoting lived experience involvement and ensuring services are informed by client feedback and co-production principles.
• Delivering homelessness prevention awareness, training and community engagement activities.
• Monitoring performance, outcomes and impact, producing reports for management, funders and stakeholders.
• Maintaining accurate records and working in accordance with safeguarding, GDPR and Hope4 policies and procedures.
• Acting as an ambassador for Hope4 and contributing positively to the wider organisation.

About you:

We are looking for an experienced, compassionate and proactive individual with a strong understanding of homelessness and social exclusion. You will have experience supporting people with complex needs, building effective partnerships and delivering person-centred interventions. Above all, you will share Hope4's commitment to preventing homelessness and helping people achieve lasting change.

About us:

Hope4 works to address homelessness and food poverty across Rugby through the Hope Centre and Rugby Foodbank. We provide practical support, advice, advocacy and personalised interventions to help people move towards sustainable independence.

The charity was founded on Christian principles by the local churches and works to address homelessness and food poverty in Rugby. Our staff and volunteers support these values and ethos irrespective of belief or background.

Our Values: Community, Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Faith, and Hope 

Why join Hope4?

• Be part of an organisation making a real difference in Rugby.
• Help shape an innovative homelessness prevention programme.
• Work alongside a passionate and supportive team.
• 28 days of annual leave including bank holidays, increasing with length of service.
• An additional day of annual leave for your birthday. 
• A central Rugby office location, close to shops, restaurants, and transport links.

See attached person specification for more details and shortlisting minimum criteria. 

Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy before the advertised closing date if we receive a high volume of applications. We therefore encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. Previous applicants need not apply.

Hope4 is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of homelessness, housing insecurity or other forms of social exclusion.