ED, Homeless Health, and High-Intensity User Housing Worker

Job description

Fulfil your potential in hospitals that make history:

Charing Cross, Hammersmith, St Mary's, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea and Western Eye.

With five world-renowned hospitals, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is full of opportunity if you are looking to develop your healthcare career.

We are an NHS Trust of approximately 16,000 people, providing care for over a million and a half patients from north west London and beyond every year.

We have a rich heritage and an ambitious vision for the future of our patients and local communities.

With our partners, Imperial College London, and The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, we form Imperial College Academic Health Science Centre, one of 6 academic health science centres in the UK, working to ensure the rapid translation of research for better patient care and excellence in education.

We are proud of our heritage in innovation and we are early adopters of new insights in technologies, techniques and treatments for improving health.

Job overview

Are you passionate about helping people experiencing homelessness? Do you enjoy working in a busy and rewarding environment where you can make a real difference?

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Homeless Health Inclusion Team to support people experiencing homelessness who attend the Accident & Emergency Departments across Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

This is a new 12-month fixed-term role, created to improve the experience and outcomes of patients experiencing homelessness. The post will focus on providing early support and intervention to help patients transition safely back into the community, while reducing the need for repeated hospital attendances.

The successful candidate will be part of the Homeless Health Inclusion Team and report directly to the team. However, they will work independently within the Accident & Emergency Department, acting as a key link between patients, clinical teams, community services, housing providers, and partner organisations to ensure timely support and safe discharge planning.

We are looking for a motivated and compassionate individual who can work calmly and professionally in a fast-paced environment. You will be confident working autonomously while remaining closely connected to the wider Homeless Health Inclusion Team. The role requires excellent communication and relationship-building skills, as you will work closely with patients, hospital staff, local authorities, housing teams, and voluntary sector partners.

Main duties of the job

• Work with ED colleagues, the hospital Homeless Health Team, local HIU ED Case Worker and Borough HIU Care Coordinators to implement referral and feedback mechanisms for homeless people and HIUs.
• Act as the central point of contact for referrals of people experiencing homelessness from ED and other hospital departments.
• Provide immediate support: o Provide direct support with housing, financial, and wellbeing needs, including access to primary and specialist health services on discharge.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with ED staff, HIU teams, GPs, ambulance services, police, mental health professionals, social services, community teams, and third sector partners.
• Proactively identify and act on safeguarding issues for vulnerable adults and children.
• Provide housing and homelessness advice to ED staff and contribute to teaching and awareness sessions.
• Actively identify and address own learning needs, keeping up to date with housing legislation, welfare reforms, and local service provision.

Working for our organisation

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You'll get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career. Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Environmental sustainability
Climate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environme