Rough Sleeper Outreach Officer

Location: Penrith

Contract Type: Fixed term contract to 31st March 2026

Job reference: WMF2139e

About this opportunity

We have an excellent opportunity for a motivated candidate to apply for the role of Rough Sleeper Outreach Officer, within Thriving Communities. We are looking for someone with a flexible attitude to the work and be solution focused in their approach. Join us and you can help change lives. Our Homeless Service Team are lucky to say we start each day knowing we can make a difference to local people.

Your role will be varied and rewarding, our customers are always put at the heart of our service provision ensuring we deliver excellent advice and assistance.  The role requires excellent communication skills to engage appropriately with vulnerable adults often with mental health, offending history, learning disabilities and substance misuse.

The role requires the successful applicant to be out in the community visiting hot spot/sleep sites in the area, to engage with people sleeping rough from their first point of contact, building a rapport to encourage long-term change. If you are super organised with excellent communication skills and like a varied role, we’d love to hear from you.

Who we are looking for…

The successful candidate must have experience of outreach/community-based working with homeless & or other socially excluded people or be able to demonstrate equivalent skills and ability within their current role. Experience of working in partnership with statutory and non-statutory agencies in a customer-focused environment in the housing sector or related field would be advantageous. 

You must have the ability to travel efficiently around the area to conduct visits and attend meetings. A full UK driving licence and access to a car would be advantageous.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the post specification as sub-headings in their application to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria.

What can we offer you!

Working at Westmorland and Furness Council you will receive a variety of benefits, including a competitive pension scheme, enhanced annual leave allowance and other various perks and discounts schemes. For more information about life at Westmorland and Furness Council and what we can offer you, please visit our Careers site.