About the Role
Are you passionate about supporting women experiencing homelessness, social exclusion and complex challenges to rebuild their lives and achieve positive, lasting change?
We are looking for a compassionate, resilient and proactive Women’s Outreach Worker to engage with women across Southend City who may be experiencing street-based living, rough sleeping, begging or selling sex, and who face barriers to accessing support services.
This is a rewarding opportunity to work with women who may have experienced significant trauma, disadvantage and social isolation. You will take a person-centred, trauma-informed and strengths-based approach to building trust, developing relationships and helping women access the support they need to move towards safer, healthier and more settled lives.
Working closely with statutory services, voluntary organisations and specialist support providers, you will help women navigate complex systems, access appropriate treatment and support pathways, strengthen their personal and social networks, and make informed choices about their futures.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Engage proactively with women experiencing street-based living, including rough sleeping and begging, to build trusting relationships and encourage access to appropriate services and more settled accommodation.
- Work sensitively with women who sell sex, supporting them to access relevant specialist services, healthcare, treatment and other appropriate support pathways.
- Reach out to women across Southend City who experience barriers to accessing mainstream services, using flexible and creative approaches to engagement.
- Develop positive, professional relationships with women who may be reluctant to engage with services or who have multiple and complex needs.
- Empower women to make informed choices, participate in decisions about their support and take ownership of their personal goals and progress.
- Deliver flexible, person-centred interventions that recognise individual strengths, aspirations and circumstances, promoting sustainable change and positive outcomes.
- Work collaboratively with partner agencies to ensure support is coordinated, effective and focused on each woman's individual needs.
- Build on women's existing strengths, resilience, personal resources and social networks, including connections in the UK and, where appropriate, their country of origin.
- Support women to access relevant services, including substance misuse treatment, mental health support, housing, healthcare and other specialist provision.
- Maintain professional boundaries while providing consistent, non-judgemental and compassionate support.
- Promote safeguarding and the safety and wellbeing of women, children and other vulnerable individuals, following organisational policies and relevant procedures.
- Maintain accurate and timely case records, reports and other administrative documentation.
- Work flexibly across operational sites and, where required, outside standard working hours to meet the needs of the service and the women accessing support.
- Participate in supervision, appraisal, training and professional development, keeping up to date with relevant legislation, service developments and good practice.
- Promote equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of your work.
- Contribute to maintaining a safe working environment and undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.
You will play an important role in helping women overcome barriers, access essential support and work towards greater safety, stability, independence and wellbeing.
About You
We are looking for someone who is compassionate, patient, resilient and committed to supporting women experiencing multiple disadvantages. You will understand the importance of building trust over time, working without judgement and recognising that meaningful change happens at an individual pace.
You will be confident engaging with women who may be reluctant to access services, have experienced trauma or present with challenging behaviours. You will be able to balance empathy and persistence with clear professional boundaries, safeguarding responsibilities and a commitment to promoting independence and choice.
You will also understand the importance of partnership working and be able to build effective relationships with colleagues and external agencies to ensure women receive coordinated, appropriate and consistent support.
Essential knowledge, skills and experience:
- An understanding of the needs and experiences of women who are rough sleeping, begging and/or selling sex.
- In-depth knowledge of at least one relevant area, such as substance misuse, alcohol misuse, mental health or sex work.
- An understanding of the challenges faced by people with multiple and complex needs, including the barriers they may experience when accessing services.
- Knowledge of strengths-based and asset-building approaches, with an understanding of how to empower individuals to make positive and sustainable changes.
- An understanding of multi-agency working and the importance of maintaining effective professional relationships and boundaries.
- Good administrative, recording and reporting skills, with the ability to maintain accurate and confidential case records.
- Knowledge of safeguarding procedures relating to children and vulnerable adults.
- The ability to engage confidently, sensitively and patiently with women who may be reluctant to accept support or who exhibit challenging behaviours.
- A flexible and adaptable approach, including the ability to work unsociable hours when required.
- Good IT skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office applications and electronic recording systems.
Desirable experience and knowledge:
- Experience of facilitating multi-agency meetings and coordinating support across different services.
- Experience of working positively in partnership with statutory organisations, voluntary agencies and specialist service providers.
- Knowledge of supported housing and the options available to women experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.
Above all, you will be committed to treating every woman with dignity, respect and compassion. You will recognise the importance of consistent, relationship-based support and be motivated to help women build on their strengths, overcome barriers and achieve meaningful, lasting change.
If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of women experiencing disadvantage and want to be part of a service that promotes empowerment, inclusion and positive outcomes, we would love to hear from you.