Rough Sleeping Navigator

This is an exciting opportunity for the right person to work with current and former rough sleepers and support them to secure and sustain accommodation.

You will be part of a busy team based at the Rough Sleeping Hub, provided by HNAS, which deals with customers both face to face and by telephone. You will support the Rough Sleeping Team and the Rough Sleeping Operational Manager to deliver a safe and effective daily drop-in service for rough sleepers, ensuring their needs are met in a welcoming and trauma-informed environment. The Rough Sleeping Hub is open seven days a week, including all bank holidays, and accordingly you will work on a rota that enables this level of provision.

Rough Sleeping Navigators provide specialist advice and support around housing issues, working with and developing bespoke housing plans for the most entrenched individuals who are rough sleeping, and who will likely have multiple and complex needs. They frequently work with people who experience additional barriers to accessing accommodation and services, and who may be distrusting of professionals and therefore struggle to engage with them. The role of the Navigator is to build positive working relationships with the service users on their caseload, enabling and empowering them to overcome those barriers.


Skills:

• Be able to work with vulnerable client groups, ideally with clients experiencing homelessness or with complex needs, and an ability to establish positive working relationships with customers.
• Have the ability to listen to people and not rush to conclusions or judgements before fully understanding what is wanted or needed by the customer.
• Have an awareness of relevant housing legislation such as the Housing Act 1996, Homelessness Act 2002 and Homeless Reduction Act 2017
• Have an awareness of the Equality Act 2010 and the Care Act 2014, and of adult safeguarding principles and procedures;
• Be able to interpret reports and assessments from a wide range of agencies, and use them to inform the development of support plans and identify appropriate resources to deliver these;
• Be confident in making risks assessments in relation to customers' circumstances, and to ensure a safe working environment at all times.
• Have the ability to make sound judgements based on appropriate evidence and to be able to analyse complex issues succinctly;
• Be able to listen to people and not rush to conclusions or judgements before fully understanding what is needed or wanted by a customer.
• Have tact and diplomacy; possessing the ability to deal with sensitive and confidential issues that may require a variety of responses. You will be able to manage challenging situations whilst remaining professional and objective;
• Possess negotiating and advocacy skills.
• Be emotionally resilient and able to deal with the impact of being exposed to customers' difficult circumstances.
• Understand safeguarding and are able to recognise safeguarding concerns and take appropriate action to manage risk.
• Be able to work in partnership with other agencies; have the ability to understand the role, remit and operational limitations of other services and to work effectively as part of a "Team Around the Accommodation";
• Have the ability to work independently and using your own initiative, prioritising work tasks effectively and making decisions with limited supervision;
• Have the ability to find innovative solutions to issues facing the customers and the skills and ability to manage personalised budgets effectively and creatively to help customers achieve their potential.
• Keep and maintain appropriate and accurate records at all times, using IT packages and database.
• Must be willing and able to travel to meet customers in a variety of locations as needed within the Portsmouth city area.
• Be prepared to work outside of normal working hours occasionally, if this is what is needed to get the job done;
• Be experienced in working with and using IT systems, including Microsoft Office applications and client record systems;