Community link worker jobs

A little bit about the role 

Location: Hybrid, 2 days a week expected in our London Office. Those living outside the M25 can opt to not receive London Office Allowance and agree a more flexible office attendance pattern at offer stage.

Contract: Full Time, up to 12-month fixed term

Salary: £61,155.40 (£65,431.97 with London office allowance) plus competitive pension

Please note that this role will be closing on Monday 18 May 2026 at midnight.

The Principal Academic and Inclusion Lead acts as a participant-centred professional to lead retention, belonging, and academic success initiatives on our programmes. The Principal Academic Inclusion Lead will strategically design, deliver, and evaluate systems that enable all participants, particularly those at risk or with additional needs, to thrive across the three year Approach Social Work Programme.

You will be based within the Chief Social Worker directorate within the  Curriculum Team. However, this role will work across the whole of the Chief directorate including the Curriculum, Delivery and Admissions and Support Teams on the Approach Social Work Programme. As a Principal you will hold line management responsibility within the Chief Social Worker Directorate. You will report to the Head of Curriculum.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Creating and implementing a proactive framework to identify participants requiring early intervention, informed by data and tutor insight
• Training and developing internal practice tutors and curriculum leads in effective academic skills guidance and culturally responsive tutoring
• Lead and  participate in teaching, marking, moderation and dissertation supervision

Please review the job pack for full list of responsibilities.

A little bit about you 

We are looking for a registered social worker with a master’s level qualification and a strong commitment to social justice and inclusive education. You will bring substantial experience in higher education student support, with a proven track record in retention strategy, early intervention and reducing awarding gaps. You will be an effective people manager, able to lead and develop staff across a programme, and a confident, credible practitioner who can influence at a strategic level while maintaining a visible and active role in participant success.

We have a fast-moving culture within the team and organisation, so we’re looking for someone who is who is well organised, details-focused and can use their initiative to do what works. You will have excellent communication skills, be able to build relationships with people and be willing to learn. There are lots of opportunities for growth and development in this role – and for the right candidate to make the role their own. 

If you feel you have the skills to make a real impact and contribute to creating lasting social change for children and families, we would love to hear from you. 

Important information

We have increased the diversity of Frontline’s workforce in the last 12 months, but we need to do more to have greater global majority representation in our senior roles. We know the value global majority voices bring and therefore, we are strongly encouraging applicants from these backgrounds to apply. We are also a disability confident employer and welcome applicants with disabilities.

We recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) such as ‘ChatGPT’ etc can be useful for applicants e.g. to shorten an initial draft, so we do not attempt to have an absolute ban on AI in applications. However we would caution applicants not to rely too much on AI in drafting answers to application questions. We want to hear your authentic voice arising out of your experience, and we will be looking for answers that use examples and experiences that are specific to you. You are more likely to be able to produce that kind of content yourself than an AI will.

We reserve the right to close this role ahead of the deadline once we reach a suitable number of applications, so please apply as soon as you can!

This role is ineligible for sponsorship and so all applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

For further information about this role, please contact Damon Briggs, Head of Curriculum (see job pack for contact details).

The Lunch Club is looking for a compassionate and community-minded Link Worker to join our small, dedicated team.

We provide nutritious meals and a welcoming space for people facing food poverty and social isolation in Streatham. As demand continues to grow, we are deepening the support we offer, and this new role will play an important part in that.

About the role
This is an important and meaningful role, working within our Friday lunch session. You will build trusted relationships with people we support, offering one-to-one support, signposting, and gentle guidance to help people access the services they need. This might include support around housing, finances, wellbeing, or connecting into local services.

We expect this role to grow over time to other days as our capacity develops.

What you’ll be doing

• Building relationships with people we support through regular, informal conversations
• Providing one-to-one support and appropriate signposting
• Working closely with local partners and services
• Supporting a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment
• Helping us better understand and respond to the needs of our community

We’re looking for someone who:

• Is empathetic, approachable, and a strong listener
• Has experience (paid or voluntary) supporting people in a community setting
• Understands the challenges linked to poverty and social isolation
• Is confident working independently in a small team

Why join us?
This is an opportunity to be part of a grassroots, community-led charity where relationships matter. You’ll help shape a growing area of our work and make a meaningful difference in people’s day-to-day lives.

The Lunch Club is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of the challenges our community faces. We are committed to equality of opportunity and to building a diverse team that reflects the community we serve.

The Role

We're looking for an experienced community development worker to lead a portfolio of projects and support the wider Lost Woods team. Using an asset-based community development (ABCD) approach, you'll work with adults, children, young people and families — particularly those facing barriers to accessing nature.

Your lead projects will include:

• Woods on Prescription and sustainable community woodland wellbeing activities
• Five Ways to Family Wellbeing – building confidence to take children and YP into woodlands
• Networking for underserved groups engaging with woodland and nature
• Evaluating and legacy-planning for all lead projects by November 2027

Alongside the team, you'll:

• Engage communities, map needs and help overcome barriers to participation
• Support volunteer groups to develop their own sustainable woodland activities
• Work with landowners, local authorities and partners to improve woodland access
• Deliver training, events and networking for stakeholders
• Report accurately on outcomes and maintain GDPR-compliant records
• Represent AirS at events and through social media
• Contribute to fundraising for Lost Woods and future AirS projects

About You

Essential:

• Experience of community development, including asset-based approaches and mentoring community groups
• Experience delivering nature-based, outdoor or conservation activities across a range of ages and abilities
• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, including those with vulnerabilities or complex support needs
• Experience on multi-organisation partnership programmes
• Confident collecting, monitoring and evaluating data and writing funder reports
• Knowledge of ABCD and an understanding of barriers to community involvement, particularly in rural areas
• Strong interpersonal skills — able to influence and motivate volunteers, communities and stakeholders at all levels
• Good organisational skills and experience meeting monitoring and reporting requirements
• Qualified to GCSE level or equivalent; Forest School (level 2/3), Eco Psychology, Nature Connection or Counselling training also considered
• Current driving licence and use of own vehicle
• Outdoor First Aid trained, or willing to be — you'll lead risk assessments for woodland activities

Desirable:

• Accredited qualification or significant experience in community development or community organising
• Knowledge of rural Sussex, relevant statutory services and local conservation organisations
• Experience of line management or team leadership
• Coaching, mentoring or training facilitation skills
• Experience using social media to promote projects

Location: Lost Woods programme area (West, Mid & East Sussex) with home working Hours: 21 hours per week (some evenings/weekends – TOIL given) Salary: £30,833 pro rata Contract: Fixed term – programme ends November 2027 Annual leave: 28 days pro rata | Pension: 5% employer contribution

AirS is committed to equality of opportunity. This post is subject to a DBS check.

Barnet Mencap is a charity based in Finchley that provides support and runs a multitude of projects for people with learning disabilities and/or Autism. We are dynamic, enthusiastic, diverse, and committed to equal opportunities and the safeguarding of children and adults at risk.  

There is currently a vacancy within our Equality Housing Team for a focused individual to join our caring, passionate, and diverse team in supporting adults with moderate learning disabilities and autistic adults to live independently in housing situations of their choice. Please view the Job Description and Person Specification for a better idea of what the role entails and what we’re looking for. 

The successful candidate will have: 

• Experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults in a community setting 

• Understanding of the issues faced by people with learning disabilities and autistic people living independently and the skills to meet their practical, social and emotional needs 

• A ‘Person Centred Planning’ ethos 

• Providing support with personal care as required

• Excellent communication and record keeping skills 

We know job satisfaction, flexibility, work/life balance, and a great team are incredibly important. So, at Barnet Mencap, in addition to offering 30 days of annual leave per year (including Bank Holidays), we have a TOIL system to allow flexible working, and our team can benefit from other perks including the Blue Light Card. 

Please note that unfortunately we are unable to support with sponsorship.

To apply, please send your CV alongside a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria on the person specification or fill in an application form which you can find on our website.   

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service application in line with Section 115 of The Police Act 1997.   

Closing Date:  Thursday 14th May

Interview Date:   We will review applications as they come in and offer interviews to those who meet the criteria. 

Villagers Connect Project – a great opportunity to join our team at Action in rural Sussex

Villagers Connect is a community development project which is working to sustain a strong and vibrant community in the villages of Colgate, Faygate and Rusper. It aims to build connections and relationships which increase confidence, independence and empowerment, particularly for the over 65’s.

We are seeking a part-time community development worker to work as part of a small team that is active in this rural location in the Horsham district. This role involves a good deal of community-based activity, engaging with older people and the wider community. This does therefore require someone who is understanding of older people and their interests, abilities and needs.

We champion an asset based approach to community development, which is about building on existing strengths and supporting local people to flourish; undertaking community led projects that create community cohesion and have lasting impact.

Key Objectives

· Support older people to access services and support locally that will meet their needs and improve their quality of life

· Improve the lived experiences for older people in these rural communities

· Build connections and relationships across and within the three parishes to reduce social isolation

· Develop new and support existing activities to enable a vibrant community

· Increase confidence, independence and empowerment amongst individuals, groups and community based organisations.

· Strengthen existing community assets, knowledge and skills in line with our asset based approach to the Villagers Connect Project

· Support community resilience by building community networks which are strong and sustainable into the future

Two years in, the project is well established and has gone from strength to strength. We are now seeking a new member of the team to help drive this project forward and enable this community to celebrate what can be achieved when people come together and support one another to age well and live full and active lives, despite the challenges of rural living.

Advice & Information Worker (Havering)

WORKING HOURS: 21 hours per week

SALARY: £27,196 pro rata; (£16,318 for 21 hours actual)

CLOSING DATE: Monday 1st June by 12pm

PROPOSED INTERVIEW DATE: Tuesday 9th June

Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering offers an Advice & Information service to support older people living in the boroughs of Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham and Redbridge which is free, independent and confidential to older people, their relatives, carers and friends. We offer support with benefits maximisation to make sure people receive everything they are entitled to, housing issues, social care needs, health and disabilities, advice on energy efficiency and fuel poverty, to assistance with form filling and leisure.

We are recruiting an Advice Worker to cover the London Borough of Havering. This role requires the worker to work independently and manage their own caseload but be part of the wider team and be aware of the other services provided by Age UK Redbridge, Barking & Havering. The post involves both office based, home visit and outreach work at a variety of locations across Havering. Good IT skills are required and familiarity with Charity Log would be useful as well as knowledge of relevant quality assurance systems.

To apply: Please check our website for further details and a full application pack

Completed application forms and Equal Opportunities Forms should be returned to admin using the email: admin or alternatively post to Gabby O’Neill Recruitment, Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering, 4th Floor, 103 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4PU.

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite / this role operates on a seven‑day rolling rota following a four‑on, four‑off shift pattern. Shifts will include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.

We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

Horsham Y Centre provides 24-hour supported housing services offering medium levels of housing-related support for young people aged 16-25 with 50 bedspaces and shared communal facilities. We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and work towards aspirations so that they can move on to enjoy fully independent futures. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs, relationship building and wellbeing. Situated in the middle of Horsham, the service has strong links with and contributes to the local community.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and work towards aspirations so that they can move on to enjoy fully independent futures.

We are looking for a Housing Night Worker to join our team at Horsham Y Centre. You will respond promptly to any reported incidents, accidents, or concerns, carrying out thorough checks and taking appropriate action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone on site. You will also take a proactive approach to preventing anti‑social behaviour, working closely with support staff to maintain a positive environment. In addition, you will carry out one‑to‑one interventions with young people who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or who require medical assistance, ensuring they receive timely and appropriate support.

What you will be doing - this is more than a night shift role - it’s an opportunity to make a real difference, working as part of a dedicated team committed to helping young people grow and develop.

Main areas of responsibilities are:

Safety and security

• Provide a friendly, professional presence and ensure the building remains safe, secure and welcoming at night.
• Support resident wellbeing by upholding health and safety procedures, house rules and tenancy requirements.
• Monitor risks and respond to incidents calmly and appropriately, recording and reporting to the relevant teams. 

Resident engagement

• Welcome residents and offer informal, responsive assistance to help them develop confidence, independence and life skills.
• Encourage residents to share their views and engage with available services and opportunities.
• Assist with evening groupwork sessions that promote learning, wellbeing and positive development.

Administration and housekeeping

• Complete essential admin tasks including data entry, case notes and record management.
• Carry out routine health and safety, compliance and room checks.
• Log maintenance issues to ensure the building remains safe and well maintained.

General

• Work collaboratively on a four‑on, four‑off rota, providing consistent, non‑judgemental support overnight.
• Maintain a calm, professional approach and handle challenging situations effectively.
• Take part in ongoing training and reflective practice to support psychologically informed care.

This role involves lone working, so you will need to be confident in decision‑making and in following procedures. However, before joining the rota, you will have the opportunity to get to know the team and services, take part in a full induction, complete the required training, and undertake shadow shifts to ensure you feel confident, supported, and well prepared.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we are looking for.

About you - this is a dynamic role for someone passionate, empathetic and committed to young people’s development.

Experience and knowledge

• Experience in a customer‑facing role, staying calm and solutions‑focused during challenging situations.
• An understanding of the needs and experiences of young people and adults at risk.
• Awareness of trauma and the ability to work in a strengths‑based, compassionate way.
• Confidence in accurate record‑keeping, including incident logs and health and safety checks.
• Basic safeguarding knowledge and the ability to maintain professional boundaries (training provided).

Skills and abilities

• Clear verbal and written communication, with accurate handovers for day‑time colleagues.
• Strong interpersonal skills, able to build positive relationships.
• Comfortable lone‑working, using initiative, and working as part of a team.
• Competent IT skills, including Microsoft 365 and basic system navigation (training provided).
• Ability to de‑escalate situations and manage challenging behaviour calmly.
• You will bring an awareness of the challenges young people face and the ability to connect with them positively 

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 17 May 2026 at midnight. 

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

We’re seeking people in the Hastings area with a genuine passion for supporting children and young people, strong intrinsic motivation and high personal standards. If that sounds like you, we’d be delighted for you to join our team.

Across the UK, millions of children and young people are growing up in poverty, facing complex social and emotional challenges. AllChild works within local communities and wider support systems to identify and support children and young people most at risk of poor social, emotional and academic outcomes. Through our two-year Impact Programme, we help build a joined-up network of support around each child and family, working in partnership with schools, local services and community organisations.

Dedicated Link Workers coordinate bespoke, strengths-based support, delivered both directly and through trusted partners, from counselling and tutoring to engagement opportunities in sport or art and access to wider community and Early Help support where needed. By mobilising trusted relationships and coordinating support across the local system, we help young people flourish, building confidence, skills and a positive future.

Founded in West London, AllChild is now expanding to new places to create lasting, place-based change.

For further information and details on how to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 10 May 2026.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the

importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

This is an exciting opportunity for a Support Worker to join our friendly team and help support the continued work of our LifeSkills Plus team. You will provide intensive support to adults with complex needs who are further away from employment or training by using a strength-based approach, ensuring those accessing the programme receive appropriate practical and emotional support by visiting them at home or in the community.

The LifeSkills programme supports individuals and families to build their confidence, social networks, financial and employability skills. The LifeSkills Support Worker will work closely with the linked LifeSkills programme, entitled LifeSkills Open.

We’re seeking people in the Hastings area with a genuine passion for supporting children and young people, strong intrinsic motivation and high personal standards. If that sounds like you, we’d be delighted for you to join our team.

Across the UK, millions of children and young people are growing up in poverty, facing complex social and emotional challenges. AllChild works within local communities and wider support systems to identify and support children and young people most at risk of poor social, emotional and academic outcomes. Through our two-year Impact Programme, we work with schools and local partners to build coordinated, place-based support around children and families.

Community Team Managers lead the delivery of the programme across a local cluster of schools, supporting and managing a team of dedicated Link Workers and working closely with schools, local services, community organisations and Early Help partners. You’ll play a key role in coordinating partner-led support and embedding joined-up working across the local system, ensuring children and families receive the right support at the right time.

Founded in West London, AllChild is now scaling nationally to create lasting, place-based change.

For further information and details on how to apply, please visit our website via the Apply button.

Closing date: 10 May 2026.

SMART is hiring!

SMART is a warm and welcoming mental health charity that provides a holistic programme of support to the people we serve.

We have a vacancy for a full time Mental Health Community Navigator. The Navigators support people with serious mental illness, with a range of issues including: housing, benefits, finance and social isolation. Please refer to the attachments below for the full job description and person specification. 

We offer a friendly, collaborative, hybrid and integrated work environment in partnership with the NHS and other voluntary sector services, We have a strong focus on staff well-being including a 35 hour working week, 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a wellbeing hour, regular clinical supervision, an Employee Asisstance Programme and an annual schedule of training and events designed to support personal and professional progression

Ideally you will have experience of working within mental health/vulnerable adult services, working within multi-disciplinary teams, knowledge of the issues people face with housing/benefits etc and liaising with other services and professionals on service users behalf.

Mental Health Navigators make a real difference to people's lives.

Application Deadline: 12th May at 23:30. PLEASE NOTE: We may interview before the closing date if we receive enough suitable applications

Feedback: Unfortunately, we are not able to give feedback to candidates not shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within a week of the closing date, please assume your application has not been shortlisted at this time.

Context

Childhood First enables children and young people to recover from early life abuse and relational trauma, to enjoy life and to achieve their potential. We do this through the provision of specialist therapeutic residential care and treatment, together with family and network support.

Greenfields House is a specialist residential children’s home providing a programme of care, treatment and education for up to ten children aged between 5 and 13 years.

Role Description

The role of the Placement and Family Support Worker is to directly support, maintain and develop the network around the child, liaising, building relationships and communicating between multiple agencies and multi-disciplinary roles, these include, the local authority, social workers, family members, carers and significant others and the child in placement.

Within the community, the role is closely linked with each child in placement and will closely work with the Community Director and the senior management team to ensure that it meets the therapeutic and educational needs and interests of each child. This will necessarily include working closely with professionals and developing their expertise in a psychoanalytic-systemic approach to care, education and treatment.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that plans for the process of assessment, co-ordination and delivery of placement and family support and transition plans are developed and managed on a day-to-day basis to agreed standards.
• Co-ordinate and facilitate contact arrangements, linking with networks and families in a manner which is integrated with the community’s existing relationship and contribute to and develop its professional effectiveness.
• Contribute to the holistic assessment of needs of children, families and networks.
• Devise and develop tailored packages of support based on assessment.

We would like to hear from you if you have a Level 3 qualification or substantial work experience related to social care, social work, family support or early help. The ideal candidate will also have experience working with children, adolescents and families and have knowledge of parenting skills.

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays (pro rata)
• Health benefit package and life assurance
• Up to 6% pension contributions

Closing date: Friday, 15 May 2026

Interview Date: Tuesday, 19 May 2026

To apply Please submit your CV with a covering letter describing your suitability for this role or complete the application questions below.

Childhood First is committed to safeguarding children. We follow safer recruitment guidelines and all appointments will be subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS and references.

A great opportunity to join our Sussex focussed charity as we embark upon a new 4 year strategy.

This is a senior, high-impact post. You will lead on business development and income generation — writing bids, building partnerships and developing strategy — working closely with the Chief Executive and Senior Leadership Team.

A key part of the role (1.5 days per week) is dedicated to securing funding for our Lost Woods Project, a multi-agency community development initiative running until November 2027.

Key responsibilities include:

• Designing and driving an organisational Business Development Strategy
• Writing and submitting high-quality grant applications and competitive tender bids (including £150k+ bids)
• Maintaining a strong pipeline of funding and contract opportunities
• Building and sustaining strategic partnerships across the public, voluntary and private sectors
• Leading on AirS communications, marketing and profile-raising
• Supporting smooth handover of awarded contracts into delivery

What We're Looking For

Essential:

• Proven track record of securing grant funding and winning contracts, including large bids of £150,000+
• Experience of collaborative bidding and partnership development
• Management experience in a similar organisation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience of CRM systems
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills
• Knowledge of the national and local funding landscape and public sector commissioning
• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the voluntary and community sector in Sussex
• Experience of Social Value and Theory of Change impact evaluation
• Formal fundraising or project management qualification
• Knowledge of community asset development, rural housing or nature-based solutions

Personal attributes: You are self-motivated, highly organised, calm under pressure, and a genuine completer-finisher. You can write compelling bids, build trusted relationships, and present confidently to a range of audiences.

Accountable to: Head of Finance and Operations Staff responsibilities: None initially (line management potential)

Salary: £45,000 (pro rata) Hours: 35 hours per week (part-time considered at 28 hours) Contract: Permanent Location: Lewes, Sussex — hybrid working.

AirS is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds.

The South East Gambling Harms Partnership is a consortium of regional Citizens Advice offices that include: Wokingham, Reading, West Berkshire and East Berkshire offices in Berkshire and Hart, Rushmore, Basingstoke and Tadley in North Hampshire. This is a high-profile initiative funded by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) to tackle gambling harms through the collaboration of the South East Gambling Harms Partnership. 

The Role

We are looking for a strategically-minded Regional Service Manager to lead the South East Gambling Harms Partnership. You will be the architect of our strategic engagement, building trusted partnerships with NHS commissioners and local authorities to ensure gambling harms are a priority in local health responses. You will lead a dedicated team of Training Leads and Prevention Workers, fostering a culture of accountability and innovation, building strong links with VCSE partners and the wider community. 

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Influence: Act as the lead advocate for the partnership, engaging with NHS and Local Authority commissioners to ensure gambling harm prevention is embedded into local health strategies and regional policies.

• Partnership Management: Provide cohesive leadership for a collaboration of eight Citizens Advice offices, ensuring all locations are aligned, accountable, and integrating gambling screening into daily practice.

• Operational Oversight: Lead the project team (Data Officer, Training Leads, and Prevention Workers) to meet ambitious targets, while managing budgets, risks, and funder reporting.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Foster "trusted partner" relationships with grassroots organisations and wider community sectors to reach high-risk groups, including young people, veterans, minority communities and affected others.