Job Description
Homelessness Support Coordinator
Application Deadline: 16 September 2026
Department: Resettlement - Penzance
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Penzance
Reporting To: Faye Hookins
Compensation: £30,233 / year
As a Homelessness Support Coordinator, you will work with people who are currently rough sleeping or are at risk of rough sleeping in Cornwall. You will undertake intensive assessments to understand each person’s individual support and housing needs, advocate on their behalf, and help them access the services and support they need.
Based primarily at the Breadline Centre, you will be part of our Homelessness Services team and will also provide support to clients living in move-on accommodation in Penzance. Using a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, you will work with clients to build their confidence, skills and resilience, supporting them to improve their wellbeing, maintain their tenancy and reduce the risk of homelessness reoccurring.
Your role will include organising and facilitating groups and meetings, supporting colleagues with assessments and client reconnection to their hometowns, and facilitating the organisation’s drop-in sessions. You will work collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies to ensure clients receive coordinated, appropriate and effective support.
While your normal working hours will be within the services’ opening hours, the role will require occasional evening and weekend work, as directed by the Homelessness Services Manager. Weekend work is on a rota basis and this works out to be around 1 weekend in 8. The role will include supporting St Petrocs’ emergency “Winter Service” during the colder months. You will also provide cover at the Truro Resource Centre when required.
This is a varied and rewarding role where you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to people experiencing homelessness, while working as part of a committed and supportive team.
Interviews are expected to take place on Tuesday 22nd September.
Many of our staff work flexibly, including part-time. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but we do promise not to judge you for asking.
What you'll be doing.
- Provide a welcoming, safe and supportive presence within the drop-in service, responding to clients' needs, providing information and advice, and making appropriate referrals or onward signposting.
- Develop professional, supportive relationships with clients and move-on residents, working with them to identify and achieve their goals, including securing future housing, training, employment and improved wellbeing.
- Support and empower clients to address practical issues relating to benefits, accommodation, health and other factors that may be contributing to or preventing them from moving away from homelessness.
- Assess clients’ support needs and work with them to develop, implement and review personalised support and safety plans that promote wellbeing and independent living.
- Respond appropriately to clients’ immediate needs, including supporting access to food, clothing and other essential items and services.
- Liaise and work collaboratively with partner, voluntary and statutory agencies to ensure clients receive timely and appropriate services to meet their individual needs. This may include housing providers, Health for Homeless, DAAT, Police, Probation, Jobcentre Plus, the Benefits Agency and other relevant support services.
- Recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, following St Petrocs’ safeguarding policies and procedures, and ensuring concerns are reported, recorded and escalated appropriately.
- Ensure move-on residents understand their rights and responsibilities and are supported to maintain their accommodation.
- Ensure residents understand arrangements for paying accommodation charges, support them to manage these payments and take appropriate action where payments are not made on time.
- Maintain efficient administration systems, including case notes, risk assessments, accurate client records and accident reports, whilst ensuring confidentiality.
- Contribute to the safe, welcoming and efficient running of the services, including completing and recording health and safety checks, maintaining clean and tidy environments, and supporting volunteers with the receipt and sorting of donations.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant Health and Safety regulations, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, including lone-working requirements.
- Attend events as a positive ambassador for St Petrocs, promoting and raising awareness of its services and inspiring existing and potential supporters.
- Work flexibly across other areas of the service and carry out any other duties as reasonably requested.
Who we're looking for.
You’ll share our core values:You should have previous experience of working with vulnerable adults, along with a knowledge and appreciation of the many complex issues surrounding homelessness.
Importantly, we’re looking for someone who passionately believes in our mission of ending homelessness. Homelessness is not an inevitability. It can be solved, and it can be prevented.
In addition to the criteria outlined below, this post is subject to successful completion of a Basic disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Since this role requires travel between our services across Cornwall, applicants must hold a full driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.
Essential Criteria
- Commitment to our services and the people we serve
- Able to follow processes and maintain high standards
- Comfortable working independently
- Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to changing priorities
- Able to manage conflict and challenging behaviour
- Able to relate to and motivate disadvantaged individuals
- Energetic, creative and driven, with a proactive and positive approach
What it's like working with us.
We know that our staff are at their best when they feel supported, happy, and healthy – at work and at home. To that end, we’re pleased to offer the following employee benefits:
Family
- 33 days annual leave a year, including bank holidays
- Enhanced maternity, partner, shared parental, and adoption pay
- Paid time off for neonatal care
- Paid time off for IVF treatment
Financial
- Competitive pension scheme
- Long-service awards
- Non-contributory life insurance (up to 3 x basic salary)
- Paid professional subscriptions (where relevant to role)
Wellbeing
- Enhanced sick pay scheme
- Employee assistance programme (EAP) including access to counselling services and clinical supervision
- Free eye tests and free vaccinations
