Enhanced Support and Access Team Practitioner in Chelmsford

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to work within a unique service providing support to the Traveller communities in Essex. Working in close partnership with the existing Essex Countywide Traveller Unit (ECTU), the service will cover the County of Essex (excluding Southend and Thurrock) and will work in partnership with the ECTU to provide enhanced support to individuals and their families from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Essex across a range of needs (including substance use, physical and/or mental health needs, housing, education and employment).

You will work as part of a small team to deliver a service that makes a tangible difference to the lives of those it works with. Holding a caseload, you will work in an intensive, multi-agency way to empower people within the Traveller community to access a wide range of services and sustain positive change. This will include outreach, advocacy, signposting and onward referrals (to include accompanying people to appointments) and forging strong links with local partners and services to form a multi-disciplinary network of support.

There will be four practitioners who will each cover a specific area of the County (North, Mid, South or West Essex) and these roles will be based in one of our existing offices in the Chelmsford or Basildon areas.

Previous experience in this or a similar field is desirable but not essential. We are seeking dedicated individuals, based on your values, willingness to learn new skills and the compassion to deliver the best service possible to people.

About You

• Experience of working in a health and social care setting (or comparable field) and/or an understanding of the complex issues presented by people who use the service
• The ability to work effectively with partner agencies and network for the benefit of the client and service
• The ability to manage a caseload and excellent organisational skills
• To be proficient in the use of Microsoft Outlook and Word and be familiar with database management systems
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Determined, with a drive to succeed and a willingness to learn
• Passionate and enthusiastic about making a real difference to the lives of people we support

Your Rewards:

• Starting salary of £26,298, with opportunity to access potential yearly salary increments subject to appraisal
• Committed to providing a Real Living Wage for you, through accreditation with the Living Wage Foundation
• 25 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing each year to a maximum of 30 days)
• Benefits including season ticket loan, pension scheme and life assurance
• Support through occupational sick pay, eye-care vouchers and regular wellbeing talks and activities
• Continuous training and career development via PXL our dedicated learning management system
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance programme including telephone and online access
• A rewarding role with the opportunity to help us support people on their journey to recovery and change their lives for the better.

We’ll ensure you get all the support you need to thrive and succeed in your role and find your place amongst our incredible and collaborative team.

About Phoenix Futures

Phoenix Futures Group is a charity with over 50 years’ experience and a leading provider of drug and alcohol treatment. Our values are what define us and ensure we work to the highest standards. We believe in being the best, we are passionate about recovery, we value our history and use it to inform our future.

We work with local authorities, other charities and service providers across the country to deliver innovative programmes and projects that change lives for the better, setting people on the path to health and emotional wellbeing. We provide a diverse range of services, our expertise in psychosocial treatment and support is the common thread that runs through everything we do. People need psychological interventions, social support, meaningful use of time, sense of purpose and a place of safety to sustain their recovery. At our core, we support people, families and communities to recover from drug and alcohol dependency.

We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe it is important to include people with lived experience to ensure the needs of the people we support are represented. We are committed to creating an inclusive working environment where everyone is free to be themselves and we ensure equity of opportunity.

Interview Process

We want you to feel comfortable to be your best during the interview process, so that you can get to know Phoenix and we can get to know you. All details will be provided in advance so that you can feel adequately prepared, and we can support you with reasonable adjustments as required.

Please note, we will be assessing applications as they are submitted and may close this role should we find sufficient applicants with which to make our shortlist. As such, we would advise applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.