Outreach Worker

Outreach Worker – Reading Service Care Solutions are recruiting for an Outreach Worker to join a homelessness and substance misuse service in Reading.

• Pay Rate: £23.00 Ltd per hour
• Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM) or part-time (22.5 hours per week)
• Contract: Temporary (6 months) with potential for extension
• Start Date: Immediate

Role Overview We are seeking a proactive and compassionate Outreach Worker to engage with individuals living a street-based lifestyle, including rough sleepers and beggars. The goal is to connect them with appropriate services and support them in moving towards more settled and sustainable lifestyles.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify and establish contact with rough sleepers and beggars through street outreach shifts at various times and locations.
• Provide assertive outreach to entrenched rough sleepers, including those unwilling to engage with services.
• Assist homeless service users in being discharged from hospital promptly by securing appropriate accommodation.
• Work closely with drug and alcohol teams to ensure substance misusers and problem drinkers can access treatment.
• Offer advice on substance misuse using recognised models such as Motivational Interviewing, supporting individuals to explore concerns and decide on actions.
• Collaborate with mental health agencies to ensure service users have access to appropriate mental health support.
• Ensure service users have access to ongoing healthcare and support for immediate needs.
• Build and develop service users’ personal strengths and social networks in the UK or their country of origin.
• Empower service users to maintain sustainable change through choice, involvement, and coordinated services.

Requirements

• Previous experience in outreach work, homelessness services, or substance misuse support.
• Strong communication and engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-agency team.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and harm reduction approaches.

Benefits of Working with Service Care Solutions

• Dedicated consultant support
• Weekly payroll
• Free compliance assistance
• Access to training and professional development

Interested?
Send your CV to andrew.wiles@servicecare.org.uk or call us for more information.