Exeter CITY Community Trust is Exeter’s leading health and wellbeing charity. We deliver programmes in physical activity, education, social inclusion, and health and wellbeing to tens of thousands of people throughout Exeter and Devon. We have a large and varied portfolio of programmes, each of which seeks to address a specific need of our community. We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and likeminded person to be part of our new housing scheme in Exeter.
Help build a city where homelessness in Exeter is ended—not simply managed.
We are looking for a compassionate, determined and highly organised Housing & Progression Programme Lead to lead the expansion of an ambitious new programme supporting people who have experienced rough sleeping to move towards, secure and sustain long-term housing.
Working alongside our established housing department, health and wellbeing programmes, and a network of city-wide partners, you will help participants build the confidence, skills and connections they need to thrive in their own homes and communities.
About the programme
Our housing department currently supports 105 individuals. This new programme builds on that proven foundation, bringing together tenancy-readiness support, training, volunteering and employment opportunities, physical activity, and welcoming social opportunities through our café and community hub.
Once someone secures long-term housing, we provide 12 weeks of continuous, practical support to help make their move successful and sustainable.
This is a programme with a bold purpose: to end homelessness in Exeter. That means supporting people through the housing pathway while also listening to their experiences, identifying the barriers they face, and helping shape better systems across the city.
The role
You will lead the programme’s expansion beyond our internal housing offer, developing strong partnerships and practical referral pathways with external housing providers, statutory services and community organisations.
You will hold a small caseload of up to 12 participants, providing intensive, person-centred support to people who are sleeping rough, at risk of homelessness, or moving into long-term accommodation. From tenancy skills and employment support to crisis stabilisation and post-move-in support, you will help people take meaningful steps at a pace that works for them.
You will also line-manage a Housing & Progression Support Worker, creating a thoughtful, trauma-informed team culture where people can do their best work.
What you’ll do
Build effective working relationships with housing providers, Local Authority Housing Teams, Probation, adult social care, health services and voluntary-sector partners.
Develop clear referral, handover and information-sharing processes to ensure participants receive coordinated support.
Deliver compassionate, assertive outreach to people sleeping rough or at imminent risk of homelessness.
Work closely with existing homelessness and outreach services across Exeter, including Petrock and the Exeter Homelessness Forum.
Deliver tenancy-readiness, life-skills and employability sessions, including Work Club and employer engagement activities.
Lead the development of a welcoming, peer-led social hub and community café that offers connection, volunteering and skill-building.
Provide 12 weeks of structured floating support after participants move into long-term accommodation.
Lead safeguarding, dynamic risk assessment and safety planning across the caseload.
Gather participant insight and frontline evidence to identify systemic barriers in Exeter’s homelessness provision.
Produce clear reports for senior leaders, funders and partners on outcomes, challenges and opportunities for change.
Support, supervise and develop the Housing & Progression Support Worker.
About you
You will bring experience of supporting people with lived experience of rough sleeping or complex needs, alongside a practical understanding of person-centred, trauma-informed support.
You will be confident working independently and collaboratively: able to build trusted relationships with participants, develop effective partnerships across the city, and create operational structures from the ground up.
You will have experience of:
One-to-one key working, goal planning and risk assessment.
Partnership working with external agencies, housing providers and statutory services.
Designing and delivering training on tenancy readiness, employability or life skills.
Line managing or mentoring staff and volunteers.
Adult safeguarding, risk management and escalation.
Writing structured evaluation reports, funder returns and outcome data.
Experience of assertive outreach, street-based engagement, or identifying systemic barriers in homelessness and housing services would be especially valuable. We also welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness or the housing system.
What you’ll need
A trauma-informed, strengths-based approach.
Excellent communication, organisation and report-writing skills.
The ability to support people to build confidence, autonomy and independence.
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to travel independently across Exeter.
Flexibility to work occasional evenings.
This is an opportunity to build something meaningful: a practical, connected programme that supports people into housing, helps them sustain it, and contributes to lasting change for Exeter.
You will be part of a small, committed team with the resources to make a real difference—working with people, partners and communities to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to find a safe place to call home.
Exeter City Community Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Terms
Location: Civic Centre, Exeter / Community-based across Exeter
Contract Type:Fixed-term, 3 years (September 2026 – March 2029)
Hours: 37.5 hours a week
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