Job Introduction
This is a really rewarding opportunity to join us as a Rough Sleeping Outreach Worker, where you will really make a difference! The role is 37 hours per week on a rota basis, at the salary of £27,346 - £29,170 p.a. plus 7.5% shift allowance and is based in the community. It is a Fixed Term Contract/Secondment until 31st March 2028.
Your new role
Portsmouth City Council's Housing Needs Advice & Support (HNAS) team works directly with customers to help deal with housing issues and prevent homelessness in the city. We are a busy front-line service dealing with customers who may be vulnerable and facing homelessness. We give advice, work to prevent homelessness, assist people to resolve their housing need and make assessments of housing and support needs in accordance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, the Housing Act 1996 and Portsmouth City Council's Allocations Policy. 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. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting good practice and all employees are required to adhere to internal safeguarding policies.
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.
The Rough Sleeping Outreach team providers a vital service in Portsmouth to support and engage with people who may have become homeless and have resorted to sleeping rough in the city. The Outreach team goes out at different times of day, including early in the morning, to look for people sleeping rough and to help them away from the streets. The team's priority is to seek to engage with rough sleepers and check their immediate health and wellbeing, gather information about their situation, and provide further advice, support and signposting to appropriate services in the city - including Portsmouth City Council's Rough Sleeping Hub in Queen Street.
People who have slept rough might find it hard to trust others because of negative experiences; it's crucial to build up trust and get to know people individually. Rough Sleeping Outreach Workers will therefore take a person-centred and trauma-informed approach to working with any individuals who may be rough sleeping, and make use of the strong partnerships with other organisations in Portsmouth to help them access accommodation and support, such as physical and mental health services, drug and alcohol services, legal support and advocacy.
Please see the full job profile attached at the bottom of this page, which provides full details of what the role will involve and of the person we are looking for!
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.
Our recruitment process
Interviews: 19th & 20th November 2026
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.
If you need additional support looking for roles, you may be eligible for help under our Connect to Work programme, for more information please visit Connect to Work - Portsmouth City Council
