Community Outreach Development Worker
To make a difference we need to work flexibly, with everyday-leadership, humour and a ‘can do’ attitude. We want to make it easy, make it right, and make it happen.
Introduction
Approximately 5,700 people in Scotland experience three or more severe
disadvantages at the same time: homelessness; substance dependency; and the
revolving door of criminal justice. Most people facing Severe and Multiple
Disadvantages (PSMD) have experienced adverse childhood experiences, and go
on to suffer worse health outcomes, lower quality of life, and die more than 30 years
younger than the wider population. Scotland has the highest drug related death rate
in Western Europe. The people that we support are often roofless or living in
temporary accommodation, and have difficulty engaging with building based services.
We have co-produced a health, social care and vocational needs based
collaboration called PHOENIx. PHOENIx is an outreach intervention offered by NHS
Pharmacists or Nurses who have undergone extra training to clinically assess and
prescribe medicines, and community outreach workers from third sector homeless
charities who can address relational injury, social security benefits, housing, and
encourage pathways to meaningful activities and employability initiatives.
Preliminary studies show PSMD value the PHOENIx intervention in terms of health and social care outcomes. In an exploratory trial, there were promising signs that PHOENIx
relayed: time to non-fatal overdose; time to A&E visits; and time to hospitalisations,
while improving quality of life. A gold standard trial (a randomised controlled trial) is now needed to find out whether PHOENIx prevents overdoses, improves health, increases treatment uptake, reduces societal costs, improves community connectedness and reduces offending behaviour. Alongside the planned randomised controlled trial, we will examine what helps or hinders roll-out of PHOENIx while assessing value for money.
About Simon Community Scotland
People are at the heart of who we are and what we do. We tailor our support to what people need. We offer consistent and informed support so that people can exploreoptions and take ‘the next step’ towards a positive future. We welcome people with a wide range of skills and experiences to our team – including those who have lived through homelessness. To make a difference we need to work flexibly, with everyday-leadership, humour and a ‘can do’ attitude. We want to make it easy, make it right, and make it happen.
The Simon Community is Scotland's leading homeless charity. We are creative and
innovative. We get things done with care and compassion that make a difference to
our community, being true to our values. We form a community; of staff, volunteers
and the people that we support.
Job Summary
Simon Community Scotland is working collaboratively with the University of
Edinburgh to recruit 400 people from sites across Scotland to the Phoenix for
severe and multiple disadvantage study. You will be working in various sites
across Edinburgh to support the research team and the people we support that are
participating in the study.
We are looking for someone with a non-judgemental approach that will be embedded
in one of our new exciting projects: Beggars and Choices or Creating Safer
Communities. These projects engage with people who are homeless, roofless or
street begging across the city. The work will take place wherever people are at; on
the streets, in services or community settings as required.
Job Purpose
● Support people rough sleeping, begging and or engaged in harmful street
lifestyles to access the services and support they need
● Offer assertive outreach to people facing homelessness and rooflessness
● Offer trauma informed care offering a holistic healthcare model
● Bring services to people that are unable to engage in building based services
● Identify eligible participants to the study and liaise with the research team
regarding this
● Conduct face-to-face interviews with participants supporting the research
team
● Reduce barriers for people that are facing multiple marginalisation through
offering a person centred, trauma informed relational model of care
Key Responsibilities
● Work in tandem with study pharmacist to achieve shared goals
● Responsible for the social care element of a set workload of participants
allocated to the intervention (PHOENIx) arm of the study (around 35 clients)
● Excellent Relational Practice - Engaging with vulnerable people
● Complete Good Clinical Practice training and maintain GDPR standards
(training will be provided)
● Good organisational skills and time management
● Ensure secure storage of participant data
● Good understanding of participant group and ability to raise concern if
required
● Maintaining contact with participants in the intervention (PHOENIx) arm of the
study
● Work in tandem with strategic goals of Simon Community Scotland
● Maintain contact with the wider study team
● Work in tandem with third sector venues etc to ensure safe working practice
● Maintain safe working order of all equipment
● Ordering consumables as required
● Attending study team meetings
Person Specification
Essential:
● SVQ Level 3 health and social care or equivalent (or willing to work towards)
● Relevant experience in assertive outreach at a range of locations and
engaging hard to reach individuals
● T4T Naloxone trained and can impart knowledge and skills through a range of
harm reduction principles eg: IEP, Naloxone, stigma, BBVs, safer injecting or
can work towards this
● Good working knowledge of MAT Standards, SHORE Standards and Human
Rights Legislation
● Knowledge of Trauma Informed Practice and Psychologically Informed
Environments
● In depth knowledge and experience of delivering harm reduction approaches
and principles
● Qualifications in drug and alcohol studies, community development, harm
reduction or alternative relevant qualification or experience
● Data driven/ evidence based practice with a range of experience of data
gathering, monitoring and evaluation
● Experience supporting people that have experience of homelessness or
substance use (minimum of 3 years) - or relevant experience
Desirable:
● Experience of creating stigma-free safe spaces and service provision
● Experience of co-production and co-design with supported people
● Experience of leading volunteers
● Experience of working in partnership with a range of key stakeholders
● Knowledge of the key barriers people face when trying to access support and
services
● Knowledge of national priorities in Scotland to address drug related harms for
people experiencing homelessness
● Understanding of trauma informed approaches and knowledge of putting this
into practice
● Evidence of emotional resilience, creativity and flexibility
● Creative person that thrives in a fast paced environment
● Great communication skills who can build trusting relationships with a range
of people
- Department
- Staff
- Locations
- Edinburgh
- Yearly salary
- £27,568
- Employment type
- Contract
- Reports to
- Head of Service (Edinburgh)
- Hours per week
- 37.5
- Closing date
- 11 November, 2024
- Contract Duration
- 18 Months (Fixed Term Contract)
About Simon Community Scotland
Visit the Simon Community Scotland Website for more information.
Check out our Job Opportunities and Volunteer Opportunities.
Community Outreach Development Worker
To make a difference we need to work flexibly, with everyday-leadership, humour and a ‘can do’ attitude. We want to make it easy, make it right, and make it happen.
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