Community link worker jobs in Brighton and hove

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.

CAPITAL in partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust 

Location: West Sussex inpatient settings (Langley Green, Meadowfield, Oaklands - you will be based on one site, with the possibility of travelling to others)
Hours of Work: 22.5 or 37.5 hours
Salary: £12.90 per hour (Equivalent to NHS Band 3 / 4: up to £13.90 depending on experience, hours and role)
Contract: Fixed term, 12 months

About the roles 

These are new roles focused on bringing lived experience into everyday inpatient care.This is a pilot project, hence the one-year contract term. 

You will work alongside ward teams to support recovery focused and therapeutic activity. The role is about being present on the ward, building relationships, and contributing to a positive and engaging environment for patients. 

You will use your lived experience appropriately to support hope, participation and recovery, while working within clear professional boundaries.

Hours and contracts

We are recruiting a small team of Lived Experience Recovery Workers to work across inpatient settings in West Sussex. 

Contracts will be offered flexibly, likely across 4 to 5 roles, with a mix of full time and part time hours. 

All roles will be place based, working within a single inpatient setting. There is no requirement to travel between sites. 

We welcome applications from people looking to work between 3 and 5 days per week. 

Final hours and working patterns will be agreed based on service needs and the strengths of the successful applicants. Our aim is to build a balanced team that provides consistent ward based presence across all sites. 

What you will be doing 

• Supporting structured recovery and wellbeing activities on the ward

• Working alongside Occupational Therapists and ward staff to co deliver sessions

• Building rapport through consistent, everyday interactions

• Contributing to a visible and reliable presence within daily ward life

• Supporting and sharing patient feedback and insight to support service improvement

• Working as part of the multidisciplinary team

About you 

We are looking for people who: 

• Have lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery

• Can use that experience in a purposeful and appropriate way

• Are comfortable working within clear professional boundaries

• Can support group based or structured activity

• Work well as part of a team

• Communicate clearly and build trust with a wide range of people

• Are committed to inclusion, participation and improving services

About CAPITAL 

CAPITAL is a lived experience led organisation. We bring people, services and systems together to improve mental health support through coproduction and lived experience leadership. 

We have over 300 members and deliver work across inpatient settings, community services and system change programmes. 

This pilot is part of a partnership with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to strengthen recovery focused support and lived experience into wards.

What you can expect 

• A role where lived experience is recognised as expertise

• Structured support from both CAPITAL and SPFT 

• Opportunities to contribute to service improvement and coproduction

• A chance to help shape how lived experience is embedded in inpatient care

BSL version can be found in the attached document

About Deaf Unity

Deaf Unity is a deaf-led charity working to empower deaf people and champion their rights. We support deaf individuals to move successfully from education into employment and beyond. 

We are now at an exciting stage of growth and are looking for a proactive and highly organised Services Coordinator to help develop and expand our income-generating services. This is a key role within a small, ambitious organisation where your work will have a direct and meaningful impact on the deaf community.

About the role

This is a hands-on, varied role where you will lead on the coordination, development and promotion of Deaf Unity’s services. These include communication support (CSWs), interpreting provision, translation services, and a growing jobs board.

You will manage day-to-day service delivery while also identifying opportunities to grow income and strengthen what we offer—particularly in providing communication support services to deaf school leavers, jobseekers and professionals.

This role would suit someone already working freelance within the BSL or deaf services sector who is looking for flexible, purposeful work with room to grow.

What you’ll be doing

Service coordination and delivery

• Managing requests for Communication Support Workers (CSWs), BSL Interpreters and Translation services
• Matching clients with appropriate professionals and ensuring a high-quality, reliable service
• Building and maintaining a regular client base, encouraging repeat business
• Managing freelance staff, including rotas, onboarding and compliance (DBS, insurance, etc.)
• Handling quotes, invoicing and payment follow-ups
• Maintaining accurate records and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations

Growth and development

• Promoting Deaf Unity’s services and building relationships with new and existing clients
• Identifying and exploring new income-generating opportunities
• Supporting the growth of services for deaf school leavers, jobseekers and professionals
• Cross-promoting services alongside Deaf Unity’s training offer

Quality and improvement

• Ensuring services are accessible, responsive and high quality
• Gathering feedback and using this to improve delivery
• Keeping up to date with developments in deaf access and communication support

About you

We are looking for someone who is organised, self-motivated and confident building relationships. You will be comfortable managing your own workload and taking initiative to develop services.

You will ideally have:

• Experience managing services, projects or freelance provision
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Experience in outreach, sales or building partnerships
• Confidence working independently and managing multiple priorities
• A genuine commitment to accessibility, inclusion and deaf empowerment

Knowledge of the deaf community and communication support services (e.g. interpreting, CSWs) is highly valued.

Essential:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to promote services and meet targets
• Ability to manage administration alongside relationship-building

Desirable:

• BSL Level 2 or above
• Experience using CRM systems
• Knowledge of interpreting or communication support best practice

Inclusion and accessibility

As a deaf-led organisation, we strongly encourage applications from deaf people. Lived experience is valued and welcomed.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process and working environment are fully accessible. This includes:

• Offering interviews in BSL
• Accepting applications in BSL video

If you require any support to apply, please let us know—we are happy to help.

Why join us

• Flexible freelance role with potential to grow in hours
• Opportunity to shape and develop services in a growing charity
• Work that directly impacts deaf people’s access to education, employment and support
• Collaborative, values-driven team environment

How to apply

-Please read the Job Description in full before applying

-Please submit your CV and a short supporting statement outlining your experience and interest in the role.

-We welcome applications in written or BSL video format.

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm with the requirement of working one late shift per week, one shift at the weekend per month and be part of an out of hours ‘on-call rota’.

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.

Are you a person‑centred leader who thrives on empowering others and driving positive outcomes for young people?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join us as the Deputy Supported Housing Manager at Lansworth House, one of our two 24-hour high supported housing services across Brighton & Hove.

Our Brighton & Hove services provide safe, supportive accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness, creating a place where they can feel secure, valued, and empowered. At Lansworth House, we provide 20 bedspaces alongside welcoming shared communal spaces for young people aged 16–25.

We take a trauma‑informed and psychologically informed (PIE) approach, ensuring every resident receives thoughtful, compassionate support that recognises their individual experiences. Through this framework, we help young people build essential life skills, gain confidence, set meaningful goals, and move toward independent, fulfilling futures with hope and direction.

You will join a passionate team of Support workers, Night workers and Bank staff who provide day‑to‑day guidance around housing, budgeting, living skills, education, employment, and building healthy relationships. Located in the heart of Hove, our service maintains strong links within the local community and plays a key role in supporting young people to thrive.

What you will be doing

As Deputy Supported Housing Manager, you will play a key role in the running, quality, and impact of our services. Working closely with the Supported Housing Manager, you will help lead a safe, supportive, and high‑performing environment where young people can thrive.

Service Provision

You will support the Supported Housing Manager with the day‑to‑day delivery of the service, ensuring we meet all requirements set out in the service specification and remain fully compliant with Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted standards. Your responsibilities will include:

• Overseeing the full referral, interview, and induction process for all bedspaces and ensuring that every resident understands their Occupancy Agreement and House Rules.
• Maintaining the quality, safety, and presentation of the accommodation by working closely with our Housing and Property Services team to coordinate estate inspections, health and safety risk assessments, repairs, and the timely turnaround of void rooms.
• Supporting effective income collection across the service, working with the Rents team to build and maintain a positive rent‑payment culture among residents.

Leadership and People Management

You will directly line‑manage members of the staff team, ensuring their practice, professionalism, and development reflect our high standards. You will:

• Provide coaching, guidance, and clear expectations to ensure staff feel confident, supported, and motivated in their work with young people.
• Create a team culture rooted in creativity, consistency, and best practice, ensuring staff are equipped to empower young people to reach their goals while maintaining appropriate and safe boundaries.
• Be responsible for creating and maintaining staff rotas to ensure adequate service coverage at all times. 

General Responsibilities

• Participate in the management on‑call rota, offering out‑of‑hours support to services across the wider locality.
• Embed Psychologically Informed Environments (PIEs), Trauma‑Informed approaches, and restorative practices throughout your work, ensuring our support model is compassionate, reflective, and person‑centred.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.

About you

You have experience line managing staff and building positive, supportive team cultures. You bring consistency, are well organised and approachable, and are confident in setting clear expectations. You enjoy motivating others, supporting staff development, and planning effective rotas to ensure high‑quality service delivery.

You will bring experience working in supported housing or similar services, supporting young people and/or adults at risk, along with proven experience in managing or supervising a team. You will already have a solid understanding of the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) and Ofsted frameworks, as well as a strong working knowledge of Trauma‑Informed Care and Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE).

You will be an effective communicator with strong facilitation skills, able to navigate challenging situations with confidence, calmness, and a solution‑focused approach. You will also have experience overseeing safeguarding procedures within residential settings, ensuring safety, accountability, and robust decision‑making. Just as importantly, you will understand the importance of maintaining professional boundaries, modelling best practice for the team and the young people we support.