Accommodation advice support worker jobs

The Cardinal Hume Centre works to prevent and tackle youth and family homelessness.

Job title: Support & Advocacy Practitioner

Westminster, London

Salary: £33,132 plus benefits

Contract: Permanent, full time (average of 35 hours in a 40 hour week) 

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the world? Do you want to leverage your skills to combat homelessness for children and young people? Then we have the perfect opportunity for you.

We are looking to recruit a Support and Advocacy Practitioner to work collaboratively as part of a committed team to deliver an outstanding service and a range of personalised support that puts residents first and empowers them to achieve their goals and thrive in adult life. This is an exciting role in our Supported Accommodation team that will lead on co-producing bespoke support and move-on plans, involving key stakeholders such as Social Workers, Personal Advisors and other support providers where appropriate. You will engage residents to meet agreed outcomes and develop life skills, assisting with day-to-day support and tenancy-related matters. You will also identify and promote opportunities for employment, education and training and support residents to remove barriers to accessing these opportunities.

Please refer to the job description for further information. 

In your cv and cover letter please outline how you meet the requirements of the role and why you would like to work for us. You must account for any gaps in your employment history. In your cover letter, please also answer the following 3 questions:

1. Tell us about your experience of working with young people who have experienced homelessness. What are the challenges and how have you provided support?

2. Tell us about your experience of safeguarding young people.

3. What attracted you to work for the Cardinal Hume Centre, and how would you ensure that our values are central to how you work with our residents?

If you are invited to interview, you will be asked to complete an application form before attending due to the safeguarding regulations within our supported accommodation.

This is a full-time role. You will work an average of 35 hours in a 40-hour week worked on a rolling rota (including weekends and Bank Holidays). Shifts are 8 hours (inclusive of a 1-hour unpaid lunch break) and include early, late and flexi/cover shifts.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The Centre requires staff and volunteers to complete a criminal records self-declaration and undertake a DBS check. This role requires an enhanced plus barred lists DBS check. If you are successful and have previously spent time working abroad, you will be required to obtain evidence of no criminal conviction from those counties. This is a safeguarding requirement.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor visas. 

Benefits

· 26 days’ leave rising to 28 days’ leave after two years’ service (pro rata for part time staff)

· Additional discretionary wellbeing and celebratory days

· Access to Blue Light Card discounts

· Pension: stakeholder pension scheme and we will match employee contributions up to a maximum of 6%.

· Life assurance cover (after probation passed)

· Season ticket loan

· Training and development opportunities

Job Description

About the Role

The Refugee and Migrant Centre is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Family Support Worker to join our Resettlement Department. As part of our mission to assist refugees and migrants in overcoming barriers to integration, this role will play a key part in helping newly arrived refugees settle into their new communities with confidence and independence.

RMC is a well-established charity with over 25 years of experience working with vulnerable refugees and migrants. We provide a range of services, including immigration advice, housing support, welfare assistance, and employment guidance. Our work ensures that refugees and migrants receive the necessary support to become equal citizens in the UK.

Purpose of the Role

The Family Support Worker will support newly arrived refugees and their families, enabling them to navigate the complex challenges of settling into the UK. Working closely with our multi-skilled resettlement team, you will deliver holistic support to refugees across a range of services, including welfare benefits, housing, health, education, and employment. You will also play a key role in empowering families to build their confidence, independence, and long-term integration into the community.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Client Support & Case Management:

• Manage a caseload of newly arrived refugee families, providing tailored support to meet their specific needs.
• Conduct home visits and orientation sessions to welcome clients to their new community and complete holistic needs assessments.
• Develop Personal Integration Plans for each household on a quarterly basis, helping them set goals for long-term independence.
• Coordinate support with external agencies and specialists to address clients’ needs, ensuring seamless service delivery.
• Support families with housing, welfare benefits, education, healthcare, and employment.
• Assist with registration for healthcare services (GPs, dentists, opticians) and support with medical assessments.
• Facilitate access to education for children and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes for adults.
• Provide guidance on immigration matters and ensure the correct paperwork is in place, including registering for Biometric Residence Cards and supporting welfare benefit applications.
• Ensure clients are financially supported by applying for relevant welfare benefits and assisting with mandatory reconsiderations as required.

Integration & Independence:

• Help clients develop the skills and knowledge to achieve independence, focusing on self-sufficiency and integration into the local community.
• Support families in securing suitable accommodation, liaising with landlords, housing providers, and relevant stakeholders.
• Provide ongoing orientation on UK systems, including financial rights and responsibilities, social services, and community resources.
• Encourage social integration by organising outings and community events to foster connections with local services and other refugees.

Partnership Working & Community Engagement:

• Work closely with a range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that refugees have access to the services and support they need.
• Act as the lead contact for other agencies involved in supporting your clients, ensuring a collaborative approach to case management.
• Promote the long-term integration of refugees by identifying and facilitating opportunities for engagement with mainstream services.

Administrative & Reporting Duties:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of client interactions and case progress, ensuring compliance with organisational policies.
• Provide written reports and case updates as required by the Resettlement Coordinator and Manager.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of services based on monitoring and evaluation feedback.

General Responsibilities:

• Uphold RMC’s values, principles, and policies, including those related to equal opportunity, confidentiality, and impartiality.
• Attend team meetings, training sessions, and contribute to service development initiatives.
• Provide feedback and suggestions for service improvements to ensure the best outcomes for refugees and migrants.
• Carry out other duties consistent with the nature of the role and in support of the Resettlement Department’s objectives.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Experience working with vulnerable individuals, particularly refugees or migrants.
• Strong understanding of the challenge’s refugees faces during resettlement and integration.
• Proven ability to manage a caseload and create detailed support plans.
• Experience in working with external agencies and coordinating services for clients.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to engage effectively with refugees, stakeholders, and service providers.
• Ability to manage sensitive and complex cases with a person-centred approach.
• Knowledge of UK welfare benefits, housing rights, and immigration services.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and use IT systems to document casework.
• Cultural competence and a commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
• Ability to work flexibly and independently, including delivering outreach services.
• Fluent in Farsi/Pashto and English.

Desirable:

• Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team, supporting volunteers to achieve client outcomes.
• Knowledge of community languages (particularly relevant to refugee populations) would be advantageous.
• Experience in delivering outreach support to families in their homes and community settings.
• Full UK driving licence and access to a car.

Flexibility

To achieve the objectives of this role, a degree of flexibility is essential. The post holder may be required to undertake duties not specifically listed above, provided they fall within the scope of the role and are appropriate to the pay grade. Accordingly, this job description will be reviewed periodically in consultation with the post holder to ensure it continues to reflect the responsibilities and duties of the position accurately.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of gender identity or expression, ethnicity, nationality, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We recruit and develop our people based on merit and their commitment to achieving positive outcomes. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Closing date: Tuesday, 30 September 2025, by 5:00 pm.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.

Please note that if you require employer sponsorship to extend your right to work in the UK, the Refugee and Migrant Centre is not able to support visa sponsorship.

Job Purpose:

Assisting in the resettlement of vulnerable refugees and Afghan evacuees through the provision of advice, guidance, and support.

Key Responsibilities:

Direct Support for Refugees

• Facilitate initial reception and orientation.
• Provide advice on benefits, housing, health, education, and employment.
• Accompany individuals and families to appointments.

Promoting Integration and Independence

• Encourage engagement in community activities.
• Foster empowerment through supportive relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
• Liaise with local authorities and services for smooth registration and referrals.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure access to mainstream services.

Community Engagement and Awareness

• Work with local voluntary and community organisations to foster a welcoming environment.
• Deliver awareness sessions about resettlement schemes to stakeholders.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Development

• Participate in reviews and development of the resettlement scheme.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation processes.

Team Contribution

• Engage in team meetings, staff training, and organisational events.

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria: 

•  Emotional Intelligence & Compassion in Action: 
  - Understands the importance of recognising and managing emotions in oneself and others. 
  - Recognises the value of care and commitment to making a positive impact in relationships and the community. 
   
• Personal Growth and Empowerment: 
  - Acknowledges the importance of feedback and personal growth with a willingness to learn. 
  - Understands the importance of providing others with support to make decisions and grow. 
   
• Organisational Skills: 
  - Manages tasks efficiently, prioritises effectively, and operates professionally in high-pressure situations.
  - Understands the importance of prioritising workload and meeting deadlines under pressure. 
   
• Technical Knowledge: 
  - Has basic knowledge of email and Microsoft Office tools, with limited practical experience. 
   
• Understanding Refugee Needs: 
  - Demonstrates knowledge of and sensitivity to refugee and asylum seeker needs, actively supporting their wellbeing and empowerment.
   
• Adaptability and Problem-Solving: 
  - Recognises the importance of adapting to change and managing multiple tasks. 
  - Recognises issues and seeks guidance to contribute to potential solutions. 
   
• Communication and Collaboration: 
  - Understands the importance of effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders. 
   
• Ethics and Inclusivity: 
  - Understands the importance of ethical behaviour and maintaining confidentiality. 
  - Recognises the value of cultural diversity and the importance of inclusivity. 
   
• The right to work in the UK.
• Full UK Driving licence and access to your own transport.

Desirable Criteria: 

• Previous experience working with refugees and asylum seekers. 
• Experience of working with families and children.
• Experience in delivering workshops or community events.
• Fluency in a relevant community language. 

Other information:

As part of the recruitment and selection process Upbeat Communities will take up two references.

The post holder will be required to undertake an enhanced DBS check.

Please note that in most cases we would expect a new employee to start at the lower end of the salary range listed above (unless an applicant has specialist experience in a comparable role working with refugees and asylum seekers).

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 60,000 young people each year at its 46 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for graduates who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role.You will be taking up a fixed-term contract as a part-time Education Worker at our centre in Bradford.

The role at a glance

Contract: Part-time (18.75 hours per week), fixed-term until July 2026

Start date: January 2026

Working hours
18.75 hours per week across 2.5 days

Education Workers are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres.

Location

IntoUniversity Bradford East

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day) this can involve journeys times of 1 hour+. Occasional travel out of your local area e.g. to London is also required, this may include overnight stays.

Salary

£28,250 per annum (pro rata)

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm
• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

What could my day look like?

The Education Worker role is a frontline, fast-paced and rewarding role where no two weeks will look the same. A typical day will have different activities, possibly spread between the IntoUniversity centre, partner schools and the offices of a corporate partner.

In the morning, you might be setting off with resources to run a workshop for sixth-form students in their secondary school. In the afternoon you may be setting up the classroom ahead of running Primary Academic Support for young people in your IntoUniversity centre. On other days, you may be travelling to a corporate partner to run a business simulation workshop for 15 year-olds or leading a group of final year primary school students on a campus visit for their graduation.

As an Education Worker, you’ll always be delivering the programme as part of your centre team, which means that any delivery is always a team effort. 

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Lambeth, London
Salary: £14,236.17 per annum, Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement
Contract type: Part Time, Permanent

Hours: 18.5 hours per week (Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call Rota).

We are looking for a Refuge Worker to work within our culturally specific refuge to provide specialist, high-quality support to women and children escaping domestic abuse. Based in Lambeth, London, this role involves delivering practical and emotional support to survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them rebuild their lives. You will create a safe and welcoming environment in line with Refuge’s values and commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

As a Refuge Worker, you will support women through crisis, providing keywork sessions, safety planning, and advocacy. You will assist with accessing housing, welfare, legal support, and other essential services while maintaining accurate case records. You will also play a vital role in ensuring the effective operation of the refuge, managing referrals, and working collaboratively with partner agencies. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and resilient individual with strong communication and organisational skills. While experience in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector is beneficial, we also welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a commitment to supporting survivors. Above all, we value individuals who are dedicated to making a difference, thrive in an inclusive environment, and are committed to their own personal development while supporting others.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while developing valuable frontline support and advocacy experience. Refuge offers ongoing training, professional development, and a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring that our staff are valued and supported in their roles. If you are passionate about empowering survivors and want to be part of a dedicated, compassionate organisation, we encourage you to apply.

Closing Date: 09:00am 1 December 2025

Interview Date: 11 and 12 December 2025

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 60,000 young people each year at its 46 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for graduates who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role.You will be taking up a fixed-term contract as a part-time Education Worker at our centre in Newcastle.

The role at a glance

Contract: Part-time (11.25 hours per week), fixed-term until July 2026

Start date: January 2026

Working hours
11.25 hours per week across 1.5 days

Education Workers are based at one of our IntoUniversity learning centres and work directly with young people, schools and families on a daily basis. It is therefore not a hybrid role and is based full-time in our centres.

Location

IntoUniversity Newcastle East

The role requires intermittent travel in your region (usually within the day) this can involve journeys times of 1 hour+. Occasional travel out of your local area e.g. to London is also required, this may include overnight stays.

Salary

£28,250 per annum (pro rata)

Staff benefits

• Employer pension contributions of 6% (and up to 8% after two years)
• Year round ‘early finish’ Fridays at 4.30pm
• Summer working hours (finish at 1pm on Fridays for six weeks in the summer), pro-rated for staff joining after January in the same year 
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to wellbeing and legal support 
• Life Assurance scheme with Aviva including SmartHealth service with access to 24/7 online GP appointments
• Interest-free new starter loans of up to £1,000
• Cycle to Work Scheme and Travelcard Loan Scheme
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay and sick pay allowances
• Staff in FOCUS – rewards, competitions and prizes across the year

What could my day look like?

The Education Worker role is a frontline, fast-paced and rewarding role where no two weeks will look the same. A typical day will have different activities, possibly spread between the IntoUniversity centre, partner schools and the offices of a corporate partner.

In the morning, you might be setting off with resources to run a workshop for sixth-form students in their secondary school. In the afternoon you may be setting up the classroom ahead of running Primary Academic Support for young people in your IntoUniversity centre. On other days, you may be travelling to a corporate partner to run a business simulation workshop for 15 year-olds or leading a group of final year primary school students on a campus visit for their graduation.

As an Education Worker, you’ll always be delivering the programme as part of your centre team, which means that any delivery is always a team effort. 

Doorway is a registered charity that has been supporting young people who are homeless/at risk of homelessness for 28 years, across Warwickshire.  We are moving into an exciting phase of innovation and development as we set our strategy for the next three-five years.

We are seeking a dynamic, creative and strategic individual to contribute to our development and help us to achieve our goals. Ensuring that we go from strength to strength and have a sustainable future, through successful income generation and brand visibility.

The ideal candidate will be proactive, have excellent organisational and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with donors, sponsors and partners.  A motivated experienced individual with the ability to work in a fast paced environment, delivering fundraising and income generation activities on time.

Join us to bring your experience, passion, and ideas to help make a real difference to the lives of our young people.

Location: Poole, Dorset

Salary: £31,600 per annum pro rata

Hours: Full time – 37.5 hour per week

Contract: 12 month Fixed Term

Closing date:  Tuesday 18th November 2025 at 11:30pm

Are you compassionate, proactive and collaborative with experience in housing and homelessness advice and advocacy? If you are looking for an exciting new career opportunity, then join Shelter as a Housing Rights Worker and you could soon be making a real difference to people affected by the housing emergency.

About the role

We have received a Homewards Fund grant to provide a Housing Rights Worker to deliver community outreach work targeting families and young people in Bournemouth.  We will be working in partnership with The Bourne Academy, a secondary school and sixth form, to engage families who might not otherwise get the help they need, targeting support before crisis point to help prevent homelessness. Where families are already homeless, processes will be in place to reduce the impact on pupils’ learning.

Your role will be to deliver casework support, advice drop-ins and awareness raising sessions for parents, housing rights awareness workshops for Academy staff and tenancy rights and responsibilities advice for sixth form students to equip them to manage their own accommodation once living independently. You will provide practical assistance, advice and advocacy and links with other Shelter services, such as our Legal team and DIY Skills Adviser, to enable households to resettle, prevent homelessness and improve their circumstances. You will also work alongside colleagues at the University of Bournemouth to evaluate the project’s impact.

Our grant from Homewards will allow us to test a new model of working, in partnership with The Bourne Academy. We are grateful for Homewards support and aim for it to make a long term difference to families and young people in West and East Howe.

About you

You will have the ability to engage and work collaboratively with individuals, communities and with all stakeholders, including running group workshops and presentations. You have experience, knowledge of and/or proven ability in housing and homelessness advice and advocacy, with the ability to progress to specialist level knowledge. Essential to the role will be good time management, carrying out casework related interviews, maintaining detailed case records and offering advice and support to clients to inform their decisions. You will be prepared to think creatively about solutions to multi-agency working and be able to take a test and learn approach.

Benefits 

In return we offer a competitive salary as well as a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (pro rata), enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About the team

Dorset Hub has been providing housing advice and support services within Dorset since 2000. We have bases in Poole and Weymouth and contracts to deliver Housing First support across the Dorset Council area, along with Legal Aid Advice, including a court desk service at Bournemouth and Weymouth County Courts.

Active in our communities, our Housing Rights Workers will deliver advice sessions within local organisations and offer advocacy to individuals and groups to empower them to resolve their situation. We have partnerships with community groups and people with lived experience of housing issues, using our understanding of the issues people experience to bring about wider change locally.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

How to apply

Please click ‘Apply for Job’ on the advert. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement with responses to the following points in the ‘About you’ section of the job description of no more than 350 words each. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format:

• Knowledge and experience of housing and homelessness advice and advocacy and the ability to progress to specialist level knowledge
• Ability to listen to, engage and work with individuals and communities
• Experience of delivering and/or ability to deliver group workshops and presentations

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: This is an onsite role, located within the London Borough of Hounslow, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hillingdon.
Salary: £28,857.12 (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location)
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours

Are you passionate about supporting women and children escaping domestic abuse? We are looking for a compassionate and dedicated Refuge Worker to join our team, providing vital support in a safe and secure environment for those in crisis. This is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable individuals when they need it most.

As a Refuge Worker, you will be responsible for delivering practical and emotional support to residents, ensuring their safety and wellbeing while they rebuild their lives. Key duties include conducting risk assessments, safety planning, supporting access to benefits and housing, liaising with external agencies, and maintaining accurate case records. The ideal candidate will be empathetic, resilient, and highly organised, with experience of working in a support or advocacy role, ideally within the domestic abuse or safeguarding sector.

This is a rewarding role where your work has a direct impact every day. In return, we offer a supportive team environment, opportunities for training and development, and the chance to be part of a cause that truly matters.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 19 November 2025

Iterview Dates: 2 and 3 December 2025

Are you looking for a new challenge? We have an exciting opportunity for a Team Manager to join our Kickstart Futures Service based in Sutton.

The Service provides floating key work support sessions to Care Leavers who predominantly entered the UK either as Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children or as Survivors of Human Trafficking, with an aim to improve their independence skills, community integration, self-confidence and mental health.

Location of the post:

You will be based in our Crystal Palace office (SE19 3BG) with the requirement to regularly visit our 7supported living accommodation sites located across Sutton and Croydon. Between visits, you have the option to work flexibly from our office and from home. 

Hours:

29.6 hours across 4 days. Hours of work can be flexible to suit you, between the hours of 9am – 7pm. Occasional cover may be required on weekends to meet the needs of the service.

Some of the key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• To manage all areas of service provision including all aspects of key performance indicators outlined by commissioners across contracts in different Local Authorities.
• To manage a multidisciplinary team of professionals by providing supervision, practice development sessions, team meetings, ongoing practice advice and monitoring and evaluation of all aspects of our recording policy.
• To provide professional support to staff team members as well as other Team Managers within the Positive Futures theme. This includes support and advice around safeguarding matters, analytical thinking and constant risk assessment.
• To complete regular monitoring reports in line with the contract specifications for each Local Authority where we deliver services.
• To attend regular monitoring meetings where you will present feedback of the service provision including details of cases, safeguarding concerns, practice advice and finance compliance.
• Working with the Children's Service Manager to grow and develop the services in line with Barnardo's corporate strategy of Positive Futures and based on the needs of Children and Young People.
• Actively promoting Children and Young People's participation in the service as well as seeking their feedback in order to incorporate a constantly evolving service delivery.

Essential Requirements to evidence in your application:

• At least 2 years' experience in managing a service/team aimed at supporting children/young people.
• An in depth understanding of leaving care, how to support young people transition to independence and the issues they may face.
• Demonstrable record of good working practice with children & young people.
• Ability to build strong relationships with other social care professionals and housing associations.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage time effectively.
• Strong IT skills and the ability to accurately record information.
• Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Willingness to travel across London to attend regular meetings with commissioners.

Interested but would like some more information on the role?   Then please contact Rajinder Nagra (Assistant Director) Contact details can be found on our website via the job link.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document (if applicable). This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy

At St Christopher`s we can provide more than just a care job. We can offer you a career where you can develop your skills and knowledge while making a difference to young people’s lives.

When you join St Christopher’s, we will set you up in your career with a tailored development plan. Whether you want to move across to a different service, become a Manager or just explore further your current role, we will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions. If you want to learn more about St Christopher’s Academy, please visit our website.

We are proud that 84% of all our Team Leaders, Deputies and Managers are internal promotions.

About the role

As an Experienced Practitioner, you will provide direct support and care for our young people who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions.

Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged 12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our residents are safe, providing support, liaison with other professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

If applying for the Waking Night role, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly supervision.

Applicants should have

• Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare or equivalent (i.e. Level 3 Diploma Children and Young People Workforce with the children's social care pathway) or be willing to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England).
• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential.
• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures.
• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour.
• Good communication and team working skills.
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays.
• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals.

What you should expect from us

• Salary: £28,912 per annum. Overtime / bank holidays paid time-and-a-half and 2 weekends off per month.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy.
• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme.
• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary.
• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary funded training programs.
• Employee awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

Recruitment Process

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.

First Stage Interview 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview at our Head Office

Second Stage

Successful candidates will then attend the second stage interview at the home they have applied for.

We advise you to apply as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Please note:

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’.
• It is illegal to apply for any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children.
• all shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit a Self-Declaration and Disclosure form which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked.