Homeless Prevention Navigator

Caritas Diocese of Salford (‘Caritas Salford’) is the principal social action agency of the
Catholic Diocese of Salford.  We have a proud history of supporting people in poverty or
situations of crisis and challenge through a diverse range of projects and services.

Our vision is for a society where there is justice and equality and where the voices of
those experiencing poverty, disadvantage and/or discrimination are heard, valued and
acted upon so that all people can live in peace and dignity.

Our mission - Inspired by the Gospels and the teachings of the Catholic Church, our
mission is to put Love into Action.

We  work  across  Greater  Manchester  and  parts  of  Lancashire  to  help  those  experiencing
poverty, disadvantage and discrimination to transform their lives with dignity.  We provide
a practical response to those in crisis, suffering hardship or who are at risk. We rebuild lives
for the long-term, enabling people to live in a safe, healthy and secure environment.  We
call for a better, more just world where the voices of the poor are heard and acted upon
and positively influence the systems, decisions and resources that affect those in need.

Our vales – Our values are based in the universal teaching on respect for the life and
dignity of the human person.  Locally our values are also to act with integrity, ambition
and in collaboration, to achieve lasting and sustainable change.

Our objectives -
•  Reduce poverty, disadvantage and discrimination in our Diocese to enable people to ‘live

•

life to the full’.
Increase  awareness  and  understanding  of  Catholic  Social  Teaching  and  Animate  the
Diocesan Community to take practical action.

•  Become  a  voice  for  those  who  cannot  speak  for  themselves,  empowering  people  and

advocate for justice and social change.

•  Become a sustainable and more visible and effective catalyst for change.

Service Outline
This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in setting up a new project within our well-
established services.  The Caritas Homeless Prevention Service will provide early and extra
help to households in Manchester to address poverty and avoid homelessness.

Our Homeless Prevention Navigator will deliver 1:1 support, facilitate internet cafes and
run information briefings to raise awareness about housing options.  The outcomes this
worker will deliver will be to:

•  Reduce the number of people becoming homeless in Manchester

•

Improve people’s financial situation and ability to manage their finances

•  A decrease in digital exclusion and an increase in digital literacy and skills to

support people to manage their finances, housing, benefits etc

•

Improve their health and wellbeing through increased resilience, and more secure
finances and housing

September 2025

 POST TITLE:

 LOCATION:

JOB DESCRIPTION

 Homeless Prevention
 Navigator

 This worker will be based at the Lalley Centre in
 Collyhurst and Cornerstone Day Centre in Hulme

 HOURS OF DUTY:

 GRADE:

 SALARY:

 37.5 hours per week, Monday
 to Friday

 SCP20

 £32,031 per annum

 Fixed Term Contract from
 October 2025 to 30
 September 2027
 RESPONSIBLE TO:

 MAIN CONTACTS:

 Day Centre Manager

 Internal

 RESPONSIBLE FOR:

  People who visit our services
  Caritas staff
  Volunteers and Students

 Homeless Prevention Service
 Volunteers

 External

  Manchester City Wide Advice Service
  Statutory and voluntary sector services including,
Manchester Housing/Assessment team, housing
providers and landlords, other advice services and
local community services etc

 MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST:
 To deliver the outcomes of the Caritas Homeless Prevention Service with the aim of:

  Reducing the number of families and households becoming homeless in Manchester



Improving people’s financial situation and ability to manage their finances
Increasing digital literacy and skills to support people to manage their finances,
housing, benefits etc
Improving people’s health and wellbeing through increased resilience, and more
secure finances and housing



 Ensuring that:

  High-quality support and signposting are provided in a strengths-based and person-
centred approach, through 1:1 sessions within our drop-ins and internet cafes
Information Sessions are organised and delivered to maximise the reach of the
project



  Service outputs, outcomes and case work are recorded appropriately on our

database to evidence that project targets are being met

SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE:

  Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check required
  Able to work within the core hours 9-5 Monday to Friday with occasional work

required outside these hours during evenings and weekends, by arrangement and
authorisation, with TOIL provided

September 2025

                                                JOB DESCRIPTION

                                HOMELESS PREVENTION NAVIGATOR

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.  To work within Caritas teams to deliver the Homeless Prevention Service.

2.  Deliver excellent customer service and welcome people warmly in a manner that

acknowledges their dignity and self-worth.

3.  To work with a person-centred and strengths-based approach.

4.  To work within a culture of respect and promote equality, inclusion and diversity into
the project and in your working practices and have awareness and adaptable skills for
those who are vulnerable or require additional support.

5.  To organise and deliver Homeless Prevention Information Sessions.

6.  To deliver agreed outcomes and achieve targets that have been agreed with the

funders of the service.

7.  To oversee the work of the Homeless Prevention Service Volunteers to ensure they are

supporting us and people within the guidelines of the service.

8.  To develop and maintain excellent working relationships with other services, internal

and external.

SUPPORT WORK

9.  To organise and deliver Homeless Prevention Support within Caritas services through

our drop-ins, internet cafes and through 1:1 appointments.

10.  To provide support in areas including:

•  Understanding how the housing, benefits and finance systems work
•  Filling in forms and understanding official letters
•  Claiming benefits – including UC, PIP, CTB, Pension Credit
•  Maintaining benefit claims and avoiding sanctions
•  Accessing health services, including primary care, drug, alcohol and mental

health services

•  Help to plan a route back into employment including writing CVs, looking
for work, considering the impact on their benefits, gaining qualifications
and work experience

•  Opening bank accounts, managing issues with bank accounts
•  Budgeting, paying bills and dealing with debts
•  Understanding Manchester Move, having realistic expectations, registering,

providing medical evidence and bidding for properties

September 2025

•  Understanding the private rented sector, searching for suitable properties,

finding deposits/rent in advance

•  Dealing with landlord disputes (social and PRS), dealing with neighbour

disputes, getting adaptations, dealing with repairs, sorting rent
arrears/payment plans, replacing furniture, issues around hoarding and
cuckooing

•  Knowing when and how to access the City Wide Advice Service and then to

follow through with their help

11.  To make referrals, where appropriate to the Manchester Wide Advice Service and

council departments and support people to engage with this support.

ADMINISTRATION

12.  To record all outcomes and interventions on our internal case management system,

In-Form.

13.  To undertake admin tasks relating to the case work and the project and to work

closely with other members of the teams.

GENERAL

14.  To support the promotion of the service in the community, as well as develop and
maintain excellent relationships with Caritas services and external agencies.

15.  To attend meetings and training courses as required.

16.  To work within the mission, values and ethos of Caritas Diocese of Salford.

17.  To work in a way that promotes equality, inclusion and diversity.

18.  To carry out any other duty and commensurate with the level of the post as may be

determined by the Day Centre Manager, Head of Homelessness or Director.

September 2025

PERSON SPECIFICATION FOR THE POST OF
HOMELESS PREVENTION NAVIGATOR

ASSESSMENT
METHOD
Application Forma &
documentation
Application form,
interview & tests at
interview

REQUIREMENT

ESSENTIAL

Qualifications

  Good general education

Skills

  Excellent customer service skills

  Ability to communicate effectively

on a one-to-one basis and in groups,
in a wide range of contexts

  Ability to contribute positively to

effective team working

  Ability to work independently

proactively and use own initiative
and refer matters to a higher level
for decision making if needed

  Ability to work in a professional
anti-discriminatory manner

  Proven IT and administration skills

  Ability to respect confidentiality and

boundaries

  Ability to manage time, prioritise

and meet deadlines

Knowledge

  Knowledge of advice work

Application form and
interview

  Knowledge of the housing and/or

benefits system

  Awareness of latest best practice
regarding equity, diversity, and
positive inclusion

  Knowledge of the impact of poverty
and deprivation on people and
families

Experience

  Experience of delivering an advice

service or undertaking support work

Interview, application
form and references

  Experience working in a person-
centred strengths-based way

  Experience working with families
and individuals who are facing
challenges such as poverty, poor
housing, physical and/or mental
health issues or disabilities,

September 2025

Special
Conditions

addiction or who are from refugee
communities

  Enhanced DBS Check

  Must be able to work within and
promote the ethos and values of
Caritas

  Able to contribute to promotion and
fundraising on behalf of Caritas

  Commitment to undertake any

training which is complimentary to
the activities of the role

Note for Applicants:  Please try to show on your Application Form how you meet these
requirements as this will be used for shortlisting purposes.

Duties and responsibilities of all Caritas Salford staff and volunteers

As a Catholic charity, we seek to respect, protect and promote human dignity for all.  This
is fundamental to our work.  Therefore, as part of our team you’ll need to appreciate and
be respectful of the diversity of our staff, volunteers, supporters and the people who use
our services.  You’ll be expected to model behaviours and represent the principles, ethos
and values of Caritas Diocese of Salford (‘Caritas’) in all aspects of your work.  You’ll also
be expected to contribute positively to creating healthy, hospitable and welcoming
workplaces and environments.

Health and Safety

Employees have a legal duty to protect their own health and safety and that of others who
may be affected by their work.  This includes people who use our services, volunteers,
supporters and other visitors.  We expect all our people to follow Caritas policies,
procedures and take action to prevent people from harm.  We also expect you to report
hazards, accidents and incidents in accordance with procedures.

Safeguarding

Everyone in Caritas has a responsibility to safeguard the well-being of people who may be
at risk of harm.  As part of your role you will be required to undertake mandatory
safeguarding and Prevent training to raise awareness and give information about how you
can ensure that children, young people and adults at risk are safeguarded.  Your role
includes a duty to refer any safeguarding concerns in line with our procedures.

We’re committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk of harm within
the community and aim to embed a culture of safeguarding to prevent abuse and provide
support to individuals who have been harmed.  We expect everyone to contribute to the
creation of a safe environment, challenge inappropriate or dangerous behaviours and
report concerns.

Promoting our work and fundraising

As a charity we rely on fundraising to support our work.  All members of staff are expected
to positively represent our work with donors and supporters and, subject to the terms of
your contract, to contribute to fundraising activities.

September 2025

Confidentiality and protecting data

As part of our work, it may be necessary for you to gather, record and store confidential
information or personal data.  We expect everyone to respect confidentiality (within the
boundaries and procedures for safeguarding and whistleblowing) and not disclose personal
information.  You may also have access to information or communications technology
equipment for your role.  You will be required to ensure that appropriate security
procedures are followed and that confidential information, including passwords, are not
communicated to unauthorised individuals.

September 2025