Bridge The Gap Homeless Specialist Outreach Worker

About St Peters West Molesey & Bridge the Gap

St Peters West Molesey is one of twelve VCSE partners delivering Surrey s Changing Futures / Bridge the Gap service. Bridge the Gap supports people experiencing multiple disadvantage including homelessness, rough sleeping, mental and physical health challenges, substance use, domestic abuse, offending behaviours, and other safeguarding concerns.

Using a holistic, trauma-informed and person-centred approach, we walk side by side with clients to help them stabilise their lives, regain control, and achieve meaningful change.

The Role

We are looking for a compassionate, motivated Bridge the Gap Practitioner to provide intensive outreach support to single people who are rough sleeping, homeless, or at risk of homelessness. Each individual is unique, and your work will reflect their personal goals, strengths, hopes, and aspirations.

You will build trusting relationships, co-produce person-centred plans ( My Story, Strengths and Hopes ), and offer practical, emotional, and advocacy support. Alongside system partners and multi-agency teams, you ll help clients access the services they need to move towards stability and wellbeing.

This role includes reflective practice and clinical supervision with our resident Clinical Psychologist, ensuring your own wellbeing is prioritised.

Key Responsibilities

Engagement & Support

• Build relationships with people who are rough sleeping, homeless, or at risk of homelessness

• Provide intensive, flexible outreach support

• Develop co-produced, person-centred support plans

• Support clients to improve physical and mental wellbeing

• Assist with life skills: budgeting, tenancy sustainment, accessing services, education, employment, community living

• Accompany clients to appointments and services ( walking shoulder to shoulder )
  

Housing & Practical Support

• Work towards securing and sustaining stable accommodation

• Support clients with benefits, daily living tasks, and referrals to specialist services

• Coordinate multi-agency involvement based on client needs
  

Safety, Risk, and Compliance

• Complete and implement positive risk assessments

• Assess client safety and welfare on an ongoing basis

• Maintain accurate, timely case notes and database records

• Follow all St Peters West Molesey and Bridge the Gap policies

• Contribute to a safe, respectful service environment
  

Professional Practice

• Manage your own caseload and workload

• Attend weekly one-to-one meetings and provide activity updates

• Participate in group supervision and reflective practice

• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners

• Keep up to date with organisational and service developments
  

About You

You ll be someone who is passionate about tackling poverty, supporting those facing multiple disadvantage, and working in a trauma-informed, compassionate way.

Required

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

• Experience supporting and motivating people from diverse backgrounds

• Experience working/volunteering with adults facing disadvantage

• Confident managing challenging behaviours, conflict, or distress

• Able to plan, prioritise, and organise workload effectively

• Experience with dynamic risk management and accurate record-keeping

• Computer literate (email, documents, spreadsheets, online systems)
  

Desirable

• Qualification in mental health, counselling, or community support

• Experience in community development or poverty reduction

• Experience coordinating referrals and raising safeguarding concerns

• Clean driving licence
  

Key Skills & Attributes

• Empathy, compassion, and emotional resilience

• Ability to work independently and unsupervised

• Adaptability to changing client needs

• Strong advocacy and motivational skills

• Honesty, integrity, and alignment with St Peters West Molesey s mission and values
  

What We Offer

• Thorough induction and trauma-informed training

• Regular supervision and reflective practice with a Clinical Psychologist

• The opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of people with multiple disadvantages

• A supportive, values-driven team culture