Location
North and West Somerset, based in Bridgwater House, Bridgwater, and County Hall, Taunton.
Role Purpose
You'll be playing a key role in delivering Somerset Council's commitment to reducing rough sleeping and preventing homelessness across the county.
You will achieve this by coordinating daily service delivery, supervising staff, managing complex casework, and ensuring effective support is provided to individuals with multiple and often entrenched needs. Working within a person-centred and trauma-informed framework, you'll be supporting vulnerable individuals to access accommodation, improve wellbeing, and achieve sustainable outcomes.
You will be providing operational leadership for the Rough Sleeping Outreach and In-Reach Service and leading multi-agency collaboration with housing, health, social care, criminal justice, and voluntary sector partners to deliver coordinated interventions that reduce rough sleeping and address barriers to housing.
Somerset is committed to supporting the Government's Ending Rough Sleeping campaign, and you will a key part of this. Your success in this role will help to contribute to the development of both local and national ending homelessness strategies. You will be ensuring that the service delivers measurable improvements for Somerset's most vulnerable residents, underlying Somerset Council's commitment to a fairer, better future.
Key responsibilities
- Manage daily operations of the Rough Sleeper Outreach / In-Reach and Prevention Service.
- Monitor service delivery and respond promptly to operational challenges in real time.
- Develop and maintain staff rotas to ensure adequate staffing levels, including unsociable hours.
- Maintain accurate, timely records of client interactions, outcomes and service usage to support reporting and funding requirements.
- Lead structured case reviews to monitor progress, update support plans, and ensure coordinated interventions for individuals with complex needs.
- Manage diverse and high-risk caseloads, applying trauma-informed approaches to reduce barriers to housing and end rough sleeping.
- Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with key partners, including Police, NHS, Mental Health Service, Drug and Alcohol Services, and Housing providers.
What you'll bring
- Experience working with vulnerable populations, particularly those experiencing homelessness.
- Proven track record in developing and implementing support plans.
- Experience in conducting outreach / in-reach and engagement activities.
- Understanding of homelessness and rough sleeping issues.
- Knowledge and understanding of current housing legislation, guidance and regulatory standards.
- Awareness of local support services and resources.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build trust and rapport with vulnerable individuals.
About the team
The Rough Sleeping Team forms part of Somerset Council's Homelessness and Housing Options Service. Our Rough Sleeping Team works to prevent and reduce rough sleeping across Somerset, helping people access accommodation, support services, and pathways away from homelessness. We work closely with a range of partners, including housing providers, NHS services, substance misuse services, and voluntary sector organisations, to provide coordinated and effective support. Together, we are committed to delivering compassionate, person-centred services that help people move away from homelessness and achieve lasting housing stability.
Why Join Us?
At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.
- Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
- Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
- Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
- Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.
Find out more about working at Somerset Council:
- This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week. This will require unsociable hours to be worked, including early morning outreach and spotlight counts.
- 30 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
- An enhanced DBS check will be required for this role.
- This role will be based in North and West Somerset, with specific bases in Bridgwater House, Bridgwater, and County Hall, Taunton.
- Interviews are anticipated to take place in the first two weeks of December.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.
We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Rough Sleeper Coordinator in Taunton employer: Somerset County Council
Somerset County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the welfare of children and families in Yeovil. With a strong commitment to continuous professional development and flexible hybrid working arrangements, employees are empowered to manage complex caseloads while contributing to meaningful service improvements. Join us to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people, all within a collaborative and nurturing environment.
