Central is currently recruiting for nine permanent Outreach Support Workers, to work across the Essex area (Colchester, Basildon or Tendring). The service provides planned support and crisis intervention to people with varying support needs, including mental health challenges and other health-related issues living in independent accommodation, helping them to maintain their tenancies.

The successful candidate will be required to work 37.5 hours per week, working across Monday - Friday, 9AM - 5PM. This role is on a permanent basis. The salary is £24,638 per annum.

In this position, you will be required to:

* Provide information, support and training to an individual caseload of customers with low, medium and high support needs to increase their independent living skills i.e. increasing and encouraging independence, budgeting, support in training, education and employment and dealing with tenancy related issues

* Work with customers to identify the skills required to manage their own tenancy, including assistance to deal with difficult situations

* Provide pre tenancy guidance and ongoing support to customers on all tenancy matters, including assistance to furnish and move into properties

* Enable customers to abide by their tenancy agreements, giving advice and assistance on dealing with police and courts where this relates to housing matters

* Provide basic Welfare Benefits advice, assisting customers in claiming all benefit entitlements/grants and assisting with accessing specialist support

* Participate in all parts of the service from the initial referral, being able to confidently triage to the right level of support, completing risk & needs assessments and crisis support as required

* Participate at the drop-ins across the service, providing support, advice or guidance as needed.

* Encourage customers to recognise the benefit of additional support services related to their mental health, drug and alcohol misuse problems, or other health issues and assist with access to these services/signpost customers to external agencies to ensure more specialised support is available

* Review the level of support required for customers in consultation with other agencies, agree an individual support plan and action

* Plan a structured programme with the customers to reduce the support

* Participate in a local on call out of hours duty rota; once every 4 weeks

To apply for this role, you must have:

* Experience of providing support to customers with mental health needs with experience of floating support/outreach

* Understanding of housing support needs and benefits of a flexible, outcome focused and personalised support service whilst supporting people to help themselves

* Up to date knowledge of health and safety issues along with knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults and children local policies, protocols and good practice

* Ability to work as part of a team and build and maintain effective and supportive relationships with peers and partners

* Up to date knowledge of welfare benefits and housing legislation

* Knowledge of related services provided by the statutory and voluntary sector

* Excellent time management skills and demonstrable ability to meet deadlines and achieve goals

* Commitment to equality and diversity and a genuine desire to help people with support needs connect with their community

* Comprehensive IT skills and be able to use packages such as Office Outlook, Word and Excel, internet and data base systems and ability to maintain electronic records, with attention to detail

* Essential: Full UK licence and have access to own car

Please note; you'll need to submit a cover letter along with your CV for this role.

Candidates must confirm their interest by Wednesday 11th December, with interviews scheduled for week commencing 16th December and the appointed candidate expected to start as soon as possible.

Further requirements:

In order to register with Central Recruitment Services for temporary agency work, candidates must meet the following criteria:

* Current valid right to work in the UK

* Minimum 12 months' of paid experience in a front line social care role within the last 3 years* (unless recruitment criteria states otherwise)

* A fully enhanced DBS either registered on the DBS update service or issued within the last 12 months, or willingness to apply for one through Central (at a cost of £50)

* Employment or education history to cover the last 5 years which can be verified through the referencing process

How to apply:

If you feel that you fully meet the above outlined criteria for this role and would like apply for this post, please forward your CV for consideration.

*Please note the outlined experience is the 'minimum' first stage criteria, and we will therefore be unable to consider your application unless you are able to demonstrate a relevant work history in line with this position