Job Introduction
Come and join us in this rewarding opportunity as a Rough Sleeping Navigator! The role is a Fixed Term Contract/Secondment for 2 years, is full-time and is 37 hours per week to be worked on a rota basis. The main place of work is the Rough Sleeping Hub in Portsmouth, but also involves working in the wider community.
Your new role
Getting somewhere to live isn’t the end of the support needed for some of those individuals; indeed for many of them, it is just the beginning. You'll play a crucial role in preventing and relieving homelessness for the customers of our service. This approach to supporting customers facing homeless situations is underpinned by Portsmouth City Council's Homelessness Strategy for 2024-29. We are committed to excellent customer service, and to listening to and understanding our customers' circumstances, and working collaboratively with them to identify housing solutions.
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.
For more details about the role and what it will involve please see the job profile attached at the bottom of this page!
Who is the person?
You need to:
- 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;
For more details please see the job profile attached at the bottom of this page.
About Portsmouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.
We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.
We are not able to offer sponsorship for this position.
Our recruitment process
Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal
You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.
We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal
If applying as a secondment you will need permission from your current line manager releasing you for this secondment. Please state you have this on your personal statement on the application.
You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.
Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council
Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.
