Acting support worker jobs

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 50,000 young people each year at its 44 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 someone 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 an Education Worker at our
centre in Norwich.

Location: IntoUniversity Norwich
Contract: Full-time, fixed-term until August 2026
Applications close: 9am Monday 13th April 2026
Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate

Salary

£28,250 per annum

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. 

About You:

You are a reliable, compassionate and calm individual who is committed to supporting vulnerable people. You are able to work independently during night shifts while remaining a supportive member of the wider team.

You communicate well, build positive relationships with residents and colleagues, and handle challenging situations in a professional and respectful manner. You are organised, attentive to detail and comfortable completing records, handovers and routine checks.

Most importantly, you are motivated to create a safe, welcoming environment and to support residents in developing confidence and independent living skills.

Main Purpose Of The Job:

This role is responsible for delivering a safe and supportive service to all residents living at O’Hanlon House during the night. The post holder needs to work alongside the day and night teams to ensure the effective delivery of high quality care, support and housing management according to Homeless Oxfordshire Policies and Procedures.

Main Areas Of Responsibility:

• Ensure the effective delivery of high quality care, support and housing management according to Homeless Oxfordshire policies and procedures.

• To be a supportive and effective part of the team working as part of a rota including nights and weekends. Maintain positive relationships with clients, relatives, carers, professionals, commissioners, contractors and the local community.

• Maintain a safe, clean and welcoming environment.

• To support and encourage clients to care for themselves and develop independent living skills.

• To assess and manage risk for individuals and in the service, making use of emergency services as required.

• Report any safeguarding concerns without delay in line with the charity’s policies and procedures.

• Comply with the charity’s health and safety standards.

• Manage challenging situations in line with procedures and to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

• Actively ensure security of the building through regular checks and monitoring of CCTV system.

• To carry out designated cleaning and laundry duties (and any other housekeeping tasks).

• To participate in handovers at the beginning and end of shifts, ensuring that information is properly recorded and passed on where appropriate and relevant and in a timely fashion.

• Ensure that IT systems are updated as required and concise record keeping is completed promptly.

• Ensure clients are aware of and support them to maximise their opportunity to be involved in Client Participation.

• To participate in the induction of and support new team members.

• To undertake any other duties that can be reasonably required to meet the operational needs of Homeless Oxfordshire.

• To undertake such other duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required, and which are consistent with the general level of responsibility of this position.

• To ensure that Homeless Oxfordshire’s Equal Opportunities Policies are complied promoted in carrying out duties of the post.

About Us:

We are an open door for people experiencing homelessness whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; providing safety, stability and support when it is needed most. We deliver this support across Oxfordshire by providing a range of accommodation with access to high quality support, offering a safe and welcoming space for people to take control of their own lives. We are an accredited Oxford Living Wage employer, and benefits to the role include: annual leave starting at 26 days (excluding bank holidays), flexible working, enhanced benefits with qualifying service, retail discounts with our Homeless Oxfordshire Benefits Hub, and life assurance up to four times your salary and a £250 bonus if you successfully refer a someone as a new colleague through our Employee Referral Scheme as a thanks from us!

Open To: People wanting to work weekends. This role is a shift and rota'd role that includes weekends, bank holidays, early and late days.

What’s Next: Have a look at the job description to find out more about the role and apply on our website. Please be aware that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check and will be undertaken for the successful candidate .

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we identify a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.

This is a really crucial role within our Specialist Family Residential Service and would be ideal for someone looking to develop their career in the sector.

Above all, we are looking for a passionate and dedicated individuals with a desire to support people to transform their lives.

We are recruiting for Night Support Workers to join our Specialist Family Residential Service in Sheffield. The service provides drug and alcohol recovery support for parents and their children in a residential setting. Previous experience is desirable, however not essential.

The Role

As a Night Support Worker your role is to provide cover to the service at night. You will be reliable with the ability to be awake and alert at all times during your shift. You may be working alone, and you will be required to act with integrity and use your initiative, staying calm in the event of an emergency.

• Ensuring the support and safety of the residents and the building
• You will be responsible for monitoring and controlling access to the site, dealing with emergencies, and communicating any concerns or events to the manager on call and the rest of the team.
• You will have good communication skills with the ability to respond and interact with residents and colleagues.
• You will also have experience in administrative procedures and maintain clear, accurate records.

Flexibility is required, as you will be working a night shift rota that includes weekends and public holidays.

There are multiple roles working on a shift pattern within a night worker team. Shifts are  over night and working on a 3 night on/3 night off pattern. Working 9pm-8am.

Other organisations may call this role Night Care Worker, Waking Night Worker, Night Care Assistant or similar.

The service is based close to Eccelsall Road/Sheffield Hallam Collegiate Campus area of Sheffield, it is easily accessible. Situated in a large Victorian Building, fully refurbished in 2022, there is free on-site parking as well and is also easily access by multiple bus routes.

Your Rewards

• 25 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing each year to a maximum of 30 days) (pro rata)
• You will be paid annual salary of £24,637 pro rata £23756.64
• Benefits including season ticket loan, pension scheme and life assurance
• Support through occupational sick pay, eye-care vouchers and regular wellbeing talks and activities
• Continuous training and career development via PXL our dedicated learning management system 
• Opportunity to complete the Care Certificate, a robust induction to roles in health and social care developed by Skills for Care and Health Education England.
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance programme including telephone and online access

Please note, we will be assessing applications as they are submitted and may close this role should we find sufficient applicants with which to make our shortlist. As such, we would advise applying as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are very excited to announce that we have been awarded a grant by The National Lottery Community Fund to help us support our most valued micro and small voluntary and community groups in Oxfordshire.

As the Programme Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving forward this partnership initiative, working collaboratively with our delivery partners, with local stakeholders, community and voluntary sector groups, and our funder The National Lottery Community Fund to ensure that impact measurement and activity reporting is kept on track. You will work with two new SaM Community Development Workers, and with our partner organisation staff to develop a new outreach programme of infrastructure support shaped with and for the micro and small organisations across the county. You will develop a tailored action plan of outputs and outcomes with our Partnership Advisory Group and dovetail this with a pathway to gather data, stories and feedback on learning, impact and change. This monitoring and evaluation will be reported back to the Advisory Group and the National Lottery on a regular basis.

As the SaM Programme Manager you will manage a county‑wide partnership, contributing not only to delivery but also to shared learning, reflection and continuous improvement. You will balance representing your host organisation with acting in the best interests of the partnership and the communities it serves.

Job Description

Balance is looking for a dedicated compassionateSupport Worker/Driver to join our  Day Centre in Wandsworth.

Who you are

• You are someone who shares and is able to mobilise the charities values of Independence, Empowerment, Partnership, Professionalism, Staff Recognition and Sustainability. If you have knowledge, application and commitment to these values we want to hear from you.
• You must  have a Clean Current D1 Driving License.

Who we are

At Balance we are committed to empowering those we support to build independence, fulfilled and self-confident lives.  We work hard to ensure our charitable values are central to the professional experience of those who work for us, with us and who benefit from our services. 

Main Responsibilities of the Job

• To provide support and assistance during journeyspick up and drop of duties at the commencement and end of sessions at our day centres.
• To demonstrate Balance values of partnership, independence, professionalism, empowerment, staff recognition and sustainability in your conduct and approach to your work
• Through partnership, support and develop peoples skills, confidence and interests as part of a multi-disciplinary day service offer.
• To support your colleagues, service managers and other key professionals to put those using our service at the centre of your daily work. .
• To maintain and update client and related operational records with an accurate and professional commitment.
• To ensure compliance with and the delivery of the charity policies and procedures particularly those related to safeguarding, inclusion and disability discrimination.
• To support clients with there daily activities and to promote their independence 
• To be able to communicate effectively with families , colleauges and  clients.

Working Expectations

• The working day is  8.00am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday -  The current rate reflects the additional hours 
• Drive a passenger service vehicle.
• Attendance at training. 
• Use of information technology to support your work.

Benefits of Working for us

The charity ensures the following benefits for all its operational staff:

• A baseline commitment to pay London living wage for all its front line staff.
• A commitment to training and professional development to support internal progression as part of our performance support.
• Inclusion in and contribution to the charity's pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days a year plus an additional day off for your birthday.
• Access to a range of discount schemes.
• Access to the charity's employee assistance programme.
• Access to travel card loan and bike to work scheme.

At St. John's, we have been making a positive difference to the lives of young people for nearly 140 years. We are now looking for an amazing Learning Support Worker to support us in making that difference! Could that be you?

Why join our inclusive team?

St. John's is one of the largest employers in Brighton and Hove.

What can we offer you?

•  £26,863.00 FTE  (Actual Salary- £24,280.02 )
• 32-days paid holiday (plus bank holidays) - 32-days are taken outside of term time
• Fulfilling and meaningful work – make a difference!
• Career development plans that are tailored to you
• Discounts across businesses in the local community.

Who are we?

St. John's is a non-maintained specialist provision, working with autistic people, the majority of whom also have learning disabilities. Some of our learners have co-occurring conditions such as epilepsy, hearing or visual impairments, or mental health needs. We also support autistic learners who have an additional profile of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) syndrome. We have a team built up of support workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, PBS practitioners, assistant psychologists, and more, to support us in our holistic approach to development.

Each learner's curriculum is shaped by their individual strengths, interests, and challenges. St. John's is awarded with Autism Accreditation by the National Autistic Society (NAS). We support our learners to develop their skills in the NAS's four focus areas of:

• Difference in social communication and interaction
• Self-reliance and problem-solving
• Sensory
• Emotional Well-being

What are we looking for?

We've been doing this long enough to know that, whilst desirable, experience is not everything! Our amazing learning and development team and our passionate managers have coached people new to this field into support working roles. We know that if you have, the passion and desire to learn, and the want to empower others, you already have the foundations of an outstanding support worker. We are looking for drivers to support our young people to access the community, but having a licence isn't essential.

Sound like you? Then keep on reading!

What will you be doing?

• Supporting the young people in a classroom setting and during breaktimes
• Implementing the learner's behaviour support plan and risk assessment
• Working within a team of multidisciplinary professionals across the charity
• Tracking the progress of individuals and reporting to the teacher, care manager, and/or parents at review meetings.

Exciting opportunity? We think so! Click apply to start your journey as part of the St. John's College family as a Learning Support Worker

Please note that interviews will be arranged progressively as suitable applications are received. Early application is therefore advisable.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

Documents

• Learning Support Worker- Recruitment Pack (1).pdf (1.42 MB)

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Hillingson. This is an on-site role, located within the London Borough of Hillingdon, there may be requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hounslow
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

The post holder will provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges. This includes safety planning and enabling women to access housing, welfare, benefits, and legal advice. A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles. 

For further infomation regarding the role, please view our downloadable job pack. 

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 31 March 2026

Interview Date: 14 and 15 April 2026

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 50,000 young people each year at its 44 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 someone 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 an Education Worker at our
centre in Southampton.

Location: IntoUniversity Southampton
Contract: Full-time, fixed-term until July 2026
Applications close: 9am Tuesday 31st March 2026
Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate

Salary

£28,250 per annum

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. 

Our Vacancy

Care Support Worker – Help People Live Their Best Lives Every Day 

Do you love making a difference? Are you the kind of person who brings warmth, energy, and compassion wherever you go? As a Care Support Worker at Peabody, you’ll be a vital part of someone’s journey—helping them live independently, confidently, and joyfully.

Whether it’s supporting with daily routines, encouraging hobbies, or simply being a kind presence, you’ll help people feel safe, heard, and empowered. This is a role where your care truly counts—and where every day brings new opportunities to brighten someone’s life.

What You’ll Do

• Support people with personal care, health needs, and daily living tasks
• Help individuals express themselves and make choices that matter to them
• Encourage hobbies, interests, and community activities
• Build strong relationships with families, friends, and professionals
• Keep homes safe, clean, and comfortable
• Work flexibly across services—including evenings, weekends, and overnight shifts
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to reviews and team meetings
• Promote health, safety, and uphold quality standards

What You’ll Need

• A kind heart and a compassionate mindset
• A sense of humour and a resilient attitude
• Great communication skills and a team spirit
• Willingness to work flexibly, including unsociable hours
• Respect for diversity and individual needs
• Ability to maintain accurate records and meet deadlines
• A satisfactory DBS check
• Experience in care or support (voluntary or paid) – desirable but not essential
• Care Certificate or NVQ Level 2 in Health & Social Care – desirable but not essential

Why Join Us?

When you join Peabody, you’re joining a team guided by our values:
Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Love New Ideas, Celebrate Diversity, Keep Our Promises, and Pull Together.
We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels supported, included, and empowered.

What We Offer

• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Two paid volunteering days each year
• Flexible benefits scheme and discount portal
• Life assurance at 4x your salary
• Up to 10% pension contribution
• Paid training and development opportunities
• Employee assistance programme
• Staff recognition schemes

Please Note: Peabody is unable to offer visa sponsorship

This post is open to female applicants only under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010, as being female is a Genuine Occupational Requirement for this role

Please Read Before Applying

This role follows a 24/7 working pattern, which includes sleep ins, weekends, and bank holidays. You’ll need to be flexible and ready to support people when they need you most. (You'll need to be available to work the following shift times - 0700 to 1430, 0900 to 1630, 1430 to 2200 and 2200 to 0700) 

If this sounds like we are right for you and you’d love to be part of Peabody, we’d like to hear from you.

Please apply now by submitting an anonymised CV and a short statement explaining why you’re the perfect fit for this role.

Closing Date: 31 March 2026

Interviews will be held at our Pitsea office, Pembroke House, no later than 10th April 202

We are recruiting for a Refuge Worker to join our team in Kingston; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Kingston
Salary: £11,542.85 per annum
Contract type: Part-time, Permanent

Hours: 15

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges. This includes safety planning and enabling women to access housing, welfare, benefits, and legal advice. A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles. The role of the refuge worker is to complete health and safety duties as well and ensure that the refuge accommodation meets compliance requirements.

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

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: 9:00am on 1 April 2026

Interview Date: 9 April 2026

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and caring Children and Familes Worker to support and develop our work with local children and families within our Methodist church community.We see families and children's ministry as a key area of church growth and discipleship.  Our aim is for as many families and children as possible come to know and share in the love of Christ.

We are looking to appoint someone who enjoys building relationships, encouraging faith in everyday life, and creating welcoming spaces for families to belong.

We are keen to shape the role around the right person, so hours are flexible and negotiable.  Your passion and vision is the most important criteria. 

Priorities of the role

1. Reaching out and building relationships with families and children, from Launceston and the surrounding villages, connecting them with our church community
2. Building links and partnerships with other local community groups, schools and organisations
3. Enabling individuals to discover their faith and grow through discipleship
4. Developing and running fun, inclusive faith-based activities
5. Engaging in developing and implementing the church’s overall mission

The post holder must be a committed and practising Christian. This is a genuine occupational requirement (Equality Act 2010).

Bank Worker

If you are the successful candidate, you will be joining a very tight-knit and supportive team that works tirelessly to ensure some of the most vulnerable individuals in the borough are well-cared for

Role: Bank Worker

Locations: North East England, North West England and London

Salary: £12.24 - £14.03 per hour

Closing Date: 07 April, 2026

Employment Type: Locum, Bank

About the Role

Each year, the charity supports and empowers thousands of young people to find a safe place to call home, a chance to thrive and a brighter future. We want you to be a part of that change we’re passionate about.

Come join our dedicated team as a Bank Worker and you’ll be given the opportunity to provide support to individuals experiencing homelessness and create positive change.

What We Can Offer You:

· Flexibility

· Competitive Pay: £12.24 to £14.03 per hour

· Meaningful Work: making a positive impact in your local community

Responsibilities:

· Community Support: providing support and guidance to individuals facing homelessness

· Empowerment: helping clients to access resources and services to encourage their independence

· Teamwork: working with a dedicated wider team to deliver excellent quality care, support, and guidance to our clients

What We Are Looking For:

· Strong communication with a range of people from different backgrounds

· Understanding and respecting perspectives and experiences of clients

· Committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for all individuals

· Experience working with young people at risk of homelessness

We have services across:

North East: Durham, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Middlesbrough.

North West: Manchester, Cheshire, Oldham, Salford, Rochdale, Stockport, Warrington.

London: Brent, Bromley, Camden, Haringey, Islington, Lambeth, Finsbury Park, Sutton, Gravesend.

Safer Recruitment

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

About Depaul UK

In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 Depaul UK was born.

What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.

As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul – a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul’s belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today. Depaul UK now forms part of a family of Depaul charities around the world. We each focus on the specific challenges in our own countries, but we’re united by our shared values and mission to end homelessness.

Engagement Worker

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Please note, due to the nature of the service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female and the post is therefore exempt from the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in terms of Schedule 9, Part 1, and Paragraph 1 of the Act. 

Job Title: Engagement Worker (Female Only)

Location: Catford, based within the service. Unfortunately this service does not have step free access.

Salary: £27,000

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Sunday on a rota varying between 08:00 - 16:00, 08:00 - 21:00 or 13:30 - 21:00. Shift patterns and weekly hours may vary and you may be required to work outside these hours dependent on service and resident requirements including weekends and bank holidays. 

About the Role

We're looking for an Engagement Worker to join our residential service based in Catford which supports females in the criminal justice system who are likely to meet the criteria for a personality disorder, helping them reintegrate into the community following release from prison, secure healthcare settings, or Approved Premises. HerStory House is dedicated to empowering women with the skills needed to thrive in their chosen communities, maintain independence, and build a hopeful future. 

Our specialised, high-support, female-only residential service is tailored for women who are likely to meet the criteria for a personality disorder diagnosis and are at risk of entering or re-entering the Criminal Justice System. You will be at the forefront of delivering a trauma-informed, person-centred service, supporting individuals through rehabilitation and resettlement. This includes assisting with engagement activities, developing support plans, and providing access to appropriate interventions to help residents move towards independence.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Supporting residents to access the resources, tools, and networks they need to achieve their goals.
• Develop, participate in, and encourage residents to participate in the running and development of various projects and activities.
• Promoting independence through life skills training, practical support, and empowerment.
• Recognising and responding to mental and physical health needs and safeguarding concerns.
• Supporting the creation of a safe, welcoming and psychologically informed living environment.
• Carrying out housing management tasks including reporting repairs, maintaining communal areas, and health and safety checks.

About You

We’re looking for someone with a genuine passion and felt purpose to help people, challenge stigma, and make a real difference to people’s lives!
We are looking for a team player, driven to provide high quality care and support to others, an effective communicator who is able to build rapport with others from various backgrounds. You will be compassionate, supportive, and empowering to others, whilst able to form effective, positive and motivational relationships.

• Due to the nature of this service, it is an occupational requirement that the post holder is female
• Awareness of external opportunities which are available such as with education, employment and benefits
• Experience working with people with multiple and complex needs
• Ability to show empathy and compassion to our residents, and different challenges they face
• Ability  to motivate, and empower others to achieve their personal goals and overcome barriers
• IT ability to use our online CRM systems and Microsoft programs daily
• Understanding of the different needs people with multiple and complex needs have and be aware of the social marginalisation that can be attached to people who face personal challenges

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

About us

Join our team at the MPS Society, one of the leading rare genetic disease charities in the UK aiming to transform the lives of individuals and their families affected by MPS, Fabry and other related lysosomal diseases.  This is a rare opportunity to join our Support & Communities teams who provide direct support, practical guidance and other patient focused activities to over 1500 members and their families, UK-wide. 

Our Support Team raise awareness both within the MPS community and external agencies, offering information, advice, support, and advocacy in a range of areas including clinical management, health and social care, housing, education, transition, independent living, palliative care, and bereavement.  

Ideal candidate

As a Senior Support Officer, you will primarily be responsible for raising awareness and providing a high-quality support and advocacy service to our members and their families.   You will be a relationship builder who cares about the community we serve and ensures that the individual (or family) remains at the centre of support.  You will have experience in multi-agency working and an in-depth understanding of the needs of those with disabilities, their families and carers.  Demonstrable experience and knowledge of health and social care, education and relevant assessment processes are essential. 

As deputy safeguarding lead officer for both shildren and vulnerable adults you will take the lead in the absence of the safeguarding leads and be confident sharing your knowledge with new recruits through mentoring.

You will have excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to uphold best practice, challenge poor policy and inappropriate decisions.  Excellent IT skills and the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver to tight timescales are essential.  You will be self-motivated and highly organised, juggling many strands of work. 

As part of a small, dedicated team, you will have a positive attitude and a willingness to work collaboratively with your colleagues and external parties to raise awareness, advocate for our membership, as well as supporting the delivery and development of services for the MPS Society community.

Whilst a relevant qualification within health & social care, education or a related field is desirable, other knowledge and work experiences may be equally as valuable in this role. Prior knowledge of MPS and related conditions is not required however a special interest in neurology and working with individuals with neurological disabilities is advantageous.  In-depth support and training to develop expertise in MPS and related conditions, and the needs of those affected by these progressive, life-limiting conditions will be provided.   

What we can offer you

Join us and you will be working for a caring charity offering:

• A competitive salary
• Generous annual leave of 25 days plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part time hours)
• Extra leave between Christmas and the New Year
• Pension
• Life assurance (subject to the conditions of the scheme)
• Employee assistance programme offering support 24/7

Further information

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the UK.

This is a full-time role (35 hrs per week) however part time hours, with a minimum of 28 hrs per week may be agreed for the right candidate.  Salary will be pro-rata for part-time.

The main duties, responsibilities and essential requirements of this role can be viewed on the attached job description.

This is an essential car user post. The applicant must hold a current UK driver’s licence, with no more than 6 points, have access to a car and be able and willing to drive UK wide as required.

This role is offered on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in our Amersham office each week. As part of the role, UK wide travel is necessary. This may on occasion include early morning and/or evening working and sometimes overnight stays.  You may also occasionally be required to attend evening or weekend conferences and events. We have policies in place to ensure that any unsociable hours worked are fairly compensated.

We encourage candidates to visit the MPS Society website to learn more about us and the community we serve.  Alternatively, if you would like an informal chat about the role or the work of the MPS Society, please contact Bethanie Pentecost.

Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

The MPS Society is a charity that provides a range of care, support and activities for children and adults at risk throughout the UK. This is provided through our dedicated support and advocacy service, telephone helpline, clinical research, online activities and forums, annual events, patient expert meetings, focus groups and conferences.  MPS staff, trustees and volunteers may be asked to be involved in the delivery of its regulated services and activities. 

This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Due to the sensitive nature of the duties undertaking, the post holder will be expected to undertake a DBS check as part of the recruitment process and for this to be reviewed on a regular basis. 

Next steps: 

Applications:  Please provide your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 750 words) outlining your understanding of how rare, complex and progressive conditions such as Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS), including their neurological impacts, can affect individuals and families across the life course. In your response, please describe the experience, skills and approaches you have developed that would support you to carry out the Senior Support Officer role, including (where relevant) supporting people with complex needs, working across health, education and social care systems, and providing advice, advocacy or casework support.

Kindly note, applications received without a supporting statement will not be considered. 

Closing Date:   Whilst we have an initial closing date of 20th March, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview and assessment.

1st interviews:  Initial virtual interviews will be held end March/early April.

2nd interviews: Final face-to-face interviews and assessments will be held on 16th & 17th April at MPS House, Amersham.