Navigator Prevention Specialist

• Ipswich Housing Action Group (ihAg)

• Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2EF
• Salary: £28,000 per annum
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent (subject to funding), required as soon as
• Reference: 0015

32 days annual leave per year.

Pension 7%.

Ipswich Housing Action Group is looking for a Navigator Prevention Specialist.

Your role

Working within ihAg's relationship-first and person-centred approach, the Navigator Prevention Specialist role is twofold. You will work closely with Ipswich Borough Council’s Navigator Rough Sleeper Specialists and the Outreach team in identifying service users who need support when moving into medium- or long-term accommodation where there is no attached support or limited support in place.

You will also engage with former rough sleepers who have been accommodated but may be at risk of returning to the streets because of eviction.

At ihAg, our starting point is simple: people matter. We don't define people by their problems. We're building an organisation centred on relationships, practical action and helping people move forward. If you're someone who enjoys working alongside others, sees potential where others see problems, and wants to be part of a team that is learning and evolving, we'd love to hear from you.

Your responsibilities:

• build purposeful, professional relationships that promote engagement, trust and positive change

• work in a trauma-informed manner, recognising the impact of adversity, trauma and exclusion on individuals' lives

• assist individuals to develop the skills and confidence required to manage and sustain their tenancy

• provide a flexible, responsive service

• maintain “arm’s length” support, with phone calls periodically to enquire how each service user is getting on

• build strong relationships with statutory, voluntary and private sector organisations to resolve issues and prevent homelessness wherever possible

• coordinate and contribute to multi-agency support plans to improve outcomes and reduce risk

• maintain accurate, timely and confidential case records

• use reflective practice to continually develop and improve service delivery

• assess, manage and escalate risks appropriately, including safeguarding concerns

• attend supervision, training and team meetings

• adhere to organisational policies, safeguarding procedures, health and safety requirements, and data protection legislation

• undertake any other duties reasonably requested by the Advocacy Services Manager.

You will need:

• experience of working with people experiencing homelessness, housing insecurity and/or multiple disadvantage

• experience of delivering one-to-one support, advocacy or case management

• to be flexible and adaptable in response to changing needs and priorities

• to be able to travel independently across the Ipswich area.

About us

ihag exists to prevent and relieve homelessness in Ipswich and the wider Suffolk area. Our purpose is to support people who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living in insecure or unsuitable housing to regain stability, safety and control over their lives.

We take a relationship-based, non-judgemental approach and provide practical and emotional support, advocacy and signposting. Our role is often to bridge gaps between services and engage people who struggle to access mainstream provision.

As a small charity rooted in our community, our aim is to prevent crisis, reduce harm, strengthen community connections and help people build safer and more stable futures.

We will offer you:

• 32 days annual leave

• 7% employer contribution to ihAg’s stakeholder pension scheme

• salary sacrifice pension scheme

• salary sacrifice EV scheme (where eligible)

• salary sacrifice Electric Bike scheme.

For an informal discussion only, please call Hayley Kendall on 07871 617032.

To apply, please visit our website for an application pack. 

More information can be found on our website about this role and ihAg’s work.

Please complete the application form, ensuring you address the points in the person specification, and email it with your CV to Hayley Kendall, Advocacy Services Manager, at hayley@ihag.co.uk