Community Navigator (Support Worker)

The Whitechapel Centre’s mission is to prevent and resolve homelessness, social exclusion and housing poverty by providing practical, realistic, tailored support so that each person can find a route out of homelessness, maintain a home and achieve their individual potential.

As part of the Rough Sleeper Initiative, our Navigator Service works to deliver real and lasting change for people who have complex needs who have a plan or vision for moving on but who may need hand holding through the process, particularly where the plan doesn’t seem to be working for them.  A key function of staff working on the project is to identify and break down system barriers in order to ensure service users gain access to the interventions they need.

We are looking for a skilled support worker with extensive experience of working with people with multiple and complex needs who is able to maximise clients’ health, well-being and inclusion and exploit opportunities for development and move on including take up of wider advocacy, advice and support services on offer.

You will need to be highly organised with the confidence to work well in a multi-agency setting and to use your own initiative to make informed and effective decisions when representing  your clients best interests within key mainstream and specialist housing, welfare benefits, health and social care services.

This is a full time post (37.5 hrs per week) which will involve occasional evening and weekend working by arrangement. 

Please note: we do not accept CVs without an accompanying application form.  You can request an application pack via HumanResources@Whitechapelcentre.co.uk  or by ringing 207 8624. Packs can also be downloaded from our website at www.whitechapelcentre.co.uk.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Thursday, 1 July 2021

Funding for this role is in place to 31 March 2022 but is likely to be extended. 

This post is subject to an Enhanced level check by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

Job Description

Post:                Community Navigator

Reports to:       Team Manager

Grade:             National Joint Council (NJC) 11 – 22 (£21,748 - £27,041)

Disclosure and Barring Vetting

This post, due to its nature, duties and responsibilities, will be subject to a check by the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).  The level of check, which will apply, shall be an “Enhanced” level check.  Information about this disclosure can be found at: www.disclosure.gov.uk

Purpose of Job  

As part of the Rough Sleeper Initiative, this service enables people with complex needs to establish individualised pathways to greater independence.

Working from a psychologically informed approach, the job holder will provide person-centred support to break cycles of recurrent homeless, improve health and well-being and support each client to achieve greater independence. 

 

 

Duties and responsibilities

1. To seek out, contact, establish relationships and build trust with people with multiple and complex needs.  This includes discharging work using principles of assertive outreach in order to promote engagement. 

1. To provide crisis intervention and resolution through assessment, support and advice.

1. To undertake an assessment of needs in accordance with the selection criteria.

1. To help individuals plan and adjust to necessary changes that are required to enable access to accommodation, treatment, health and wider support and care services.

1. To negotiate the development and implementation of creative, innovative and tailored support plans that meet individual needs. 

1. To provide high levels of direct support, advice and structured interventions, in accordance with agreed support plans, motivating individuals to change and engage with support and other services. 

1. To provide appropriate advice regarding substance misuse and mental health services and support to navigate access into appropriate treatment and specialist services.  This includes the provision of appropriate harm reduction information and interventions.

1. To maintain a comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation, including welfare benefits law and procedures, good practice requirements and internal policies and working practices.

 

1. To promote and ensure effective pathways to greater independence through co-ordinated and effective multi-agency working and / or making appropriate referrals / applications or negotiating renewed access for accommodation, treatment, health and social care services, where required.

1. To ensure accommodation is carefully matched to the individual need, individuals move into their accommodation in a planned way and with the support that is required. 

 

1. To give advice and assistance to maximise income and manage debt.  This includes welfare benefits maximisation. 

1. To assist individuals to access health care and to maintain engagement with relevant health, social care, treatment and support services.

1. To advise and support individuals to access leisure, education, training and employment services.

1. When support is no longer required, to negotiate the appropriate withdrawal and ending of support services.  To develop appropriate plans to facilitate this happening, ensuring any other alternative support systems are in place.

1. To plan own work and ensure its completion including all necessary record keeping and reports, ensuring all work meets both external and internal quality, contractual, performance and professional targets and standards.

Other duties

1. To work flexibly to allow for direct service provision and other organisational duties including evening, bank holiday, weekend, severe weather and Christmas opening.

1. To be available to work on-call to respond to emergencies.

1. To work in other sections of the organisation, or undertake other duties as may be required.

1. When deemed appropriate by Whitechapel Management, to undertake the lead role in various work and organisational issues.

1. To attend all staff meetings.

1. To represent the organisation, as required.

1. To contribute to the review and development of the organisation.

1. To be involved in the training and induction of staff.

 

 

Training

 

 

 

The post holder will be expected to undertake training and retraining throughout employment in this post and will be expected to discuss and identify their training goals, with their line manager, to develop their knowledge base and ability in their role.

 

Health and Safety

 

Each employee has a duty under the health and Safety at Work Act (S.7) to take reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and others at work , whether colleagues, service users, visitors or contractors.