Camden and Islington Navigator Service

Overview

The Navigator Service provides intensive, trauma and gender informed support to people rough sleeping for longer periods and with high levels of needs in Camden. The service has operated for several years and achieves good outcomes, supporting people who Camden’s primary outreach team are unable to reach given their broader remit and responsibilities. The service forms a vital component of Camden’s Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-30, supporting work to reduce rough sleeping across the borough. The service assumes renewed importance due to their expertise in supporting people who are “long-term rough sleeping”, a new national outcome framework measure Camden will be performance managed against by the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). The service is jointly commissioned with Islington Council. The service operates across both Camden and Islington, enhancing response for clients who may move across borough boundaries. Camden are the “contract manager” and receive the greater proportion of the team’s work with Islington contributing funds and supporting with contract management. The service currently exists through a grant agreement held with Camden – officers recommend moving this into a contractual arrangement from 2027-28 to provide accountability and ensure value for money. The service is funded via the Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant (HRDAG), provided by MHCLG. The current agreement is due to expire on 31st March 2027. Camden’s allocation of HRDAG is confirmed for the financial years 2027-28 and 2028-29. Camden Officers intend to procure a service on behalf of Camden and Islington with a 5-year contract beginning on around April 1st 2027.