Outreach Worker

Job Overview

Located in Southend-On-Sea, this permanent full-time position offers an annual salary of 26,000. As a Street Outreach Worker, you will engage directly with individuals experiencing rough sleeping, begging, or street-based living. Your goal will be to establish trusting relationships and deliver tailored, flexible support to enable access to relevant services and facilitate transitions to safer and more stable lifestyles.

Key Responsibilities

Collaborating with agencies in housing, health, substance misuse, mental health, and other sectors, you will coordinate comprehensive support plans based on individuals' unique needs and objectives. Primary duties include helping clients secure accommodation, healthcare, and treatment services while promoting their autonomy and sustained improvement. The role demands assertive outreach work across diverse locations and irregular hours, including adverse weather conditions, accompanied by meticulous record-keeping, participation in case conferences, multi-agency teamwork, and adherence to safeguarding and data-sharing protocols.

Qualifications and Attributes

Ideal candidates will have insight into the challenges faced by those rough sleeping or begging, particularly individuals with complex and multiple needs. Expertise in areas such as substance misuse, alcohol misuse, or mental health is essential, alongside familiarity with safeguarding policies and partnership collaboration. Strong interpersonal skills to connect patiently and non-judgmentally with hard-to-reach populations are required. Candidates must be adept at working with statutory and voluntary organizations, maintaining professional boundaries, and positively contributing to multi-agency forums. Proficiency in administrative duties, record maintenance, reporting, IT, and Microsoft Office is necessary. Flexibility to work unsociable hours is also expected.

Company Profile

The Forward Trust is a social enterprise with charitable status dedicated to helping individuals overcome intertwined issues of addiction and criminal involvement. With over 25 years of experience, the organization empowers clients to develop positive, constructive lives marked by employment, family, social connections, and community belonging, based on the firm belief in the potential for lasting change.

Employee Benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• Family support programs including enhanced maternity and paternity pay for qualifying employees after 26 weeks of continuous service, plus family-friendly policies
• Opportunities for training and professional development
• Optional Simply Health Cashback Scheme
• Season Ticket Loan Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Crisis Loan Scheme
• Electric Car Scheme
• Three Wellbeing Days annually (pro-rated for part-time staff)
• Access to Blue Light Card
• Annual leave starting at 25 days, increasing to 30 days with tenure, plus bank holidays
• Contributory Pension Scheme featuring employer contributions up to 6% for first two years, rising to 9% thereafter
• Death in Service Benefit (twice annual salary)
• Critical Illness Insurance subject to eligibility criteria

Additional Information

This vacancy may close early if many suitable applications are received. While the job is remote, occasional on-site presence could be required.