Reconnection Project Worker

Wintercomfort for the Homeless is a respected and long-standing part of homeless service provision in Cambridge. By joining our team, you will be helping to make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our community.

Job title: Reconnection Project Worker
Responsible to: Line Manager
Location: Overstream House or at other locations within Cambridge
Working pattern: 5 days a week, Mon- Friday
Hours of work :37.5 per week
Length of appointment: 15 months - fixed term contract
Salary: £29,000

About Us

Wintercomfort works with people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness or with a history of homelessness. We provide services to aid every stage of recovery - from immediate basic welfare needs to long term help in identifying and dealing with the problems which are undermining their stability, and enabling them to engage with education, employment and specialist health services. National statistics rank the numbers of rough sleepers in Cambridge within the highest 20 UK local authorities.

Today, the charity is the only day-time service in the city, providing year-round advice and support for homeless or vulnerably housed people. Over the past three decades Wintercomfort has continued to grow and adapt to meet the needs of the homeless community.

About the Project

The Reconnection Project Worker will provide holistic and practical assistance to help reconnect people to the area where they are locally connected, either via a homeless application or outside of the statutory pathway. You will provide clients with a personalised case management support plan leading to long- term housing outcomes.

About You

The successful candidate will have Previous experience of support work that effectively engages individuals with opportunities for self-development, an understanding of substance misuse, mental health and issues associated with social exclusion and a constructive, flexible and positive approach towards working with vulnerable excluded people.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out comprehensive Service User assessments; offer support and advice around reconnection or accommodation offers and enter clients and service offer details onto Inform and other data bases.
• To draw up effective action plans with Service Users and through case management offer support and advice around reconnection.
• To keep abreast of current housing legislation, welfare benefit legislation and other matters relevant to successfully support and enable Service Users to move on.
• To work closely with relevant Local authorities and Partners to identify and assess Service Users for the reconnection service- to prevent rough sleeping.
• To work firmly and persuasively with individuals to explain the role of the reconnection service and the benefits of reconnection.
• To provide as appropriate Service User advocacy to secure suitable accommodation in their area of local connection, or in some other location.
• To support reconnection as necessary for example through arranging; travel arrangements; accommodation offers, family mediation, the initiation or reinstatement of care support package.
• To actively collect follow up information with regards to the outcome of reconnections and report to the Line manager any need/gaps in the key area that is acting as a barrier to successful reconnection
• To liaise effectively with the Outreach Workers, Housing Officers, police and other agencies.

Closing date: Monday 6th January 2025

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Equality of Opportunity at Wintercomfort

We are committed to a proactive approach to equality, which includes supporting and encouraging all underrepresented groups, promoting an inclusive culture and valuing diversity. We make selection decisions based on personal merit and an objective assessment against the criteria required for the post. We do not treat job applicants or members of staff less favourably than one another on the grounds of sex (including gender reassignment), marital or parental status, race, ethnic or national origin, colour, disability (including HIV status), sexual orientation, religion, age or socio-economic factors.

Screening Check Requirements

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that you have the right to work in the UK before you can start working for us. If you do not have the right to work in the UK already, any offer of employment we make to you will be conditional upon you gaining it. We will ask to see original paperwork confirming your right to work in the UK.

This role requires an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Any offer of employment we make to you will be conditional upon the satisfactory completion of this check; whether an outcome is satisfactory will be determined by Wintercomfort for the homeless.

No agencies please.