Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high-quality services to our communities, residents and businesses. This means we must employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people.
Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision-making.
At HDC we want to employ staff who embody our icare values (Inspiring, Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Enterprising), all of which support our ultimate purpose of putting our customers first.
As local government continues to evolve, Huntingdonshire District Council is preparing for an exciting period of change through Local Government Reorganisation. While organisational structures may change in the coming years, our commitment to delivering excellent services for our communities remains unchanged.
Joining HDC now gives you a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact today whilst helping to shape the future of local government across our area. We are looking for people who are motivated by public service, embrace innovation, and want to play a part in building the organisation of tomorrow.
Job details
Help change lives across Huntingdonshire! Every night, people across our district face the reality of homelessness and rough sleeping. As a Rough Sleeper Outreach and Support Officer, you'll play a vital role in helping some of our most vulnerable residents move away from crisis and towards stability, independence and a brighter future. Working as part of our Community and Resident Support Team, you'll provide practical support, advocacy and encouragement to people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or who are at risk of losing their home.
This is a rewarding opportunity to make a genuine difference in people's lives while contributing to Huntingdonshire District Council's commitment to preventing homelessness and reducing rough sleeping across the district. We have two fixed-term posts available until 31 March 2028, funded through our Rough Sleeper Programme.
About the role
This is not a desk-based role. You'll spend a significant amount of your time out in the community, engaging directly with people who may be sleeping rough, living in temporary accommodation, or facing circumstances that put them at risk of homelessness. You'll meet people where they are, build trusted relationships and help them access the support they need to improve their lives.
Working closely with housing teams, health professionals, voluntary organisations and other partners, you'll manage a varied caseload and coordinate practical interventions that help people secure and sustain accommodation. From helping someone access benefits and healthcare to supporting them through housing applications or attending appointments, you'll be at the heart of delivering meaningful outcomes.
Using a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach, you'll empower individuals to overcome barriers, increase their independence and reduce the likelihood of future homelessness. Every day will bring different challenges, but also the opportunity to make a lasting impact.
About you
We're looking for compassionate, resilient and motivated individuals who are passionate about supporting people through difficult circumstances. You'll be an excellent communicator who can quickly build trust and rapport with a wide range of people, including those who may be reluctant to engage with services.
You will have experience of providing person-centred support, managing a caseload and working collaboratively with partners to achieve positive outcomes. You'll be confident working independently, making sound decisions and remaining calm when faced with complex or challenging situations.
Most importantly, you'll bring empathy, professionalism and a genuine commitment to helping vulnerable residents improve their circumstances. Experience within homelessness, housing, outreach work, social care or related support services would be advantageous, but we also welcome applications from individuals with transferable skills and a strong desire to make a difference.
If you're looking for a role where your work has a direct and visible impact on people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.
An offer of employment is conditional upon having the right to work in the UK. HDC does not hold a Sponsorship Licence and is unable to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) or take over sponsorship for any role.
View the job description [PDF, 0.2MB]
Apply
The closing date is 9am 3 November 2026 and interviews will be held the week commencing 11 November.
However, this is a rolling campaign and we'll be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and will close the advert early should we receive suitable applications, so please don't delay in applying!
We recognise that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their application. While we welcome the use of technology to help present your experience and achievements, we ask that the content of your application remains an accurate reflection of your own skills, knowledge and experience. In particular, we encourage candidates to demonstrate how they meet the criteria for the role by providing specific examples from their own experience. This helps us to better assess your suitability for the position.
For many of our roles, our hybrid work model enables employees to work remotely while allowing for in-office collaboration opportunities across the district, with an expectation of being in the office at least two days a week. However, please note that some positions may require a more consistent presence in the office due to the nature of the work.
Should you have any additional questions regarding submitting an application, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment@huntingdonshire.gov.uk.
Please note that the official closing date is as above, and will be the correct date. Some third-party websites may have different dates. Please refer to the HDC website for the official closing date to ensure you do not miss out on applying.
Working for the council
As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity and are supportive employers, enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment.
Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applications from all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work-life balance.
View our benefits.