Outreach Worker

In addition to the around 40 young people we see every day out our centre, New Horizon provides the only youth-specific street outreach service to young people facing homelessness in London. We use our extensive housing expertise to place young people who are currently or at risk of rough sleeping into accommodation that is appropriate and safe, whilst encouraging them to access the day centre to benefit from the wide range of services we offer. This role will involve regular street outreach shifts (early mornings and late evenings) across London, aswell as supporting young people at the day centre. The role works as part of our wider Rough Sleeping team, developing a best practice approach to supporting young rough sleepers and those who are hidden homeless.

Key details

• Contract type and hours: full-time 35 hours a week, fixed-term contract for 12 months.

• Starting salary: £32,136.00 (scale £32,136 - £35,778)

• Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR

• Application deadline:9am, Monday 24 August

• How to apply: complete our application form below, submit your CV and write a 2 page cover letter/supporting statement. Please don't include your name or address in your CV or cover letter.

Key objectives:

• To contribute to the delivery of the NHYC street outreach service, delivering a holistic service to young people who are street homeless, enabling them to move on to independence.

• To build and maintain a network of external partnerships with services supporting those impacted by rough sleeping.

• To enable delivery of a trauma-informed service to young people.

• To support delivery of NHYC’s rough sleeping prevention strategy and best practice youth-specific outreach services.

Reporting to: Head of Services - Rough Sleeping and Services Manager (Outreach)

Main tasks and responsibilities

Young people services

Providing comprehensive support through 1-1 and small group work with young people sleeping rough. This will include:

1. Working within the Rough Sleeping team to ensure young people receive a high-quality service from the point of registration to move-on.

2. Carrying out at least two street-based outreach shifts each week (early morning and late evening required).

3. Carrying out housing assessments with young people and referring them into appropriate accommodation.

4. Managing a transitional case load of young people and helping them move forward and access appropriate services.

5. Working in partnership with the Outreach Team and other external teams, such as commissioned street outreach services, mental health, and substance misuse services.

6. Providing expert coaching and guidance to young people and monitoring and evaluating their progress.

7. Continued use of feedback and showing a commitment to a service that is sensitive and responsive to young people’s needs, including:

   · Completing registrations, outcomes assessments, risk assessments and action plans with young people.

   · Ensuring that all relevant work is recorded on the New Horizon database system and Chain database.

   · Ensuring risk management and assessment procedures are followed.

   Delivering advocacy and referrals to appropriate services, including making internal referrals

8. Contributing to the management and development of the team and day centre, including attending daily handovers, ensuring that Health and Safety issues are addressed at all times, attending Reflective Practice and team meetings.

9. Taking a hands-on approach to working with young people

10. Participating in the training and supervision of new staff, volunteers, students and locum workers and actively promoting a learning and development environment.

Networking and Liasion

To proactively liaise, communicate and negotiate with internal specialists and external agencies. This will include:

1. Seeking out and responding to opportunities with external partners who might offer resources, funding, or individual services relevant to young people’s needs e.g, Local Authorities, Social Services, Community Psychiatric Services, DWP, drugs and alcohol support, and other voluntary agencies.

2. Promoting and representing New Horizon Youth Centre at relevant forums and meetings.

Information management

To produce and maintain accurate and useful information in a range of formats in order to promote effective service delivery and evaluation. This will include:

1. Producing written reports in a variety of formats to meet the requirements of New Horizon, external service providers and funders, e.g., project reviews and assessment reports.

2. Inputting and extracting information from client monitoring systems other accounting and database systems. Utilising other relevant software for the production of correspondence and reports.

3. Being self-servicing in day-to-day administration and following team and NHYC’s administrative procedures.

Reviewing personal and professional development needs

To be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement. This will include:

1. Continuously reviewing own working practices in line with feedback and current best practice.

2. Taking a proactive approach to supervision and attending clinical supervision, weekly team meetings as well as line management supervision every 4-6 weeks.

3. Reviewing and evaluating own performance to identify strengths and areas for development.

4. Undertaking development and training opportunities and being responsible for obtaining maximum benefit through review, reflection, and practice.

Other

To contribute positively and constructively to the development of the teams, service and NHYC. This will include:

1. Covering for other members of the team where necessary.

2. Following NHYC’s policies, procedures and performance expectations in all functions of the post.

3. Undertaking as required any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by the Service Managers, Head of Services or Leadership Team.