Community support workers jobs

Purpose of Job 

To deliver a high-quality service to and facilitate opportunities for individuals with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and their families/carers through Shine membership.To empower and enable members living with the conditions to lead healthy and happy lives through greater independence, better condition management and by creating links to the Shine community across England. 

SHINE has over 15,000 members with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus. This post will bring a real focus to the Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk area and will be an exciting opportunity to engage with members and develop and deliver the services we offer. 

We work with members of all ages from our Little Stars aged between 0 – 12, young people are members of our FIRE project and we have established adult support. Working alongside our multi skilled, established team, you will be supporting members across all age groups and building on the great foundations already in place. 

The role is home based but you will be required to attend clinic at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge on the first Friday of every month. You may also be required to cover other clinics, events in London and meet members one to one where necessary within your allocated area of Essex, Suffolk & Norfolk and occasionally across wider areas and nationally including meetings at our head office in Peterborough.

Shine will offer you:  

• A competitive salary of £28,471 (pro-rata for part-time hours)

• Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)  

• 3% pension contribution 

• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays + additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year (pro-rata for part-time hours)

• Additional annual leave due to length of service 

• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave 

• Broadband allowance

• Life insurance after 12 months’ employment  

• Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders 

• Support to learn and develop 

How to apply 

Please see the full Job Description & Person Specification below and on our website. 

Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job. 

If you would like to discuss the role, please contact Sarah Carrier, England Services Manager to arrange a convenient time for a call. 

To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria.

We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications. 

*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted* 

Closing date:  Wednesday 25th February 2026 at 11pm 

Interviews:  Friday 6th March 2026  

Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible. 

Our Vacancy
Join Us as a Housing Support Worker – Be the Bridge Between Temporary Accommodation and a Home. 

At Peabody, we’re committed to helping people build stable, confident futures. We’re looking for a Housing Support Worker who is compassionate, proactive, and ready to support adults and families living in temporary accommodation.

This is not a care role. It’s a practical, hands on support position focused on empowering people to manage their tenancies, develop essential life skills, and overcome barriers that may be affecting their housing stability. You’ll be working alongside tenants to help them feel more in control of their circumstances, stay independent, and move on positively at the end of their term.

What you’ll be doing:
In this role, you’ll provide high quality, person centred housing support to adults and families living in temporary accommodation, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to sustain their tenancies and move on successfully. You’ll work flexibly, delivering 1-to-1 support both over the phone and through home visits, adapting your approach to meet the diverse needs, backgrounds, and circumstances of each household. Acting as a bridge between accommodation and a stable home, you’ll ensure tenants have the knowledge, tools, and support networks needed to thrive throughout their housing journey.

Your role will involve:

• Risk Management: Completing and regularly updating risk assessments to ensure the safety of tenants, the community, and yourself.
• Housing Related Support: Offering guidance on budgeting, benefit claims (including Universal Credit and Housing Benefit), rent payments, and basic home management.
• Signposting & Advocacy: Identifying additional needs such as mental health, employment, or substance misuse, and connecting tenants to specialist external agencies.
• Administrative Excellence: Maintaining accurate digital case notes in real time, ensuring GDPR compliance and strong, high quality reporting
• Team Collaboration: Providing “roving” support to colleagues and assisting at other schemes when required to ensure continuity of service.
• Holistic Support Planning: Co producing personalised support plans with tenants, setting clear and measurable goals to strengthen housing stability and overall wellbeing.

What we’re looking for

• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex housing information clearly to a diverse tenant group, including individuals and families.
• Ability to travel independently to tenants’ homes as part of regular support delivery.
• Experience in housing, social care or community support (desirable but not essential – full training provided for the right candidate).
• High proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 and digital case management systems, with confident report writing skills.
• Excellent people skills and the ability to build rapport while maintaining professional boundaries.
• A collaborative, “can do” attitude with a willingness to support other schemes and colleagues during busy periods.

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 You’ll Get:
•    25 days’ annual leave 
•    Flexible benefits including healthcare, dental, and discounts.
•    4x Life Assurance and up to 10% pension contribution.
•    Professional development, including funded apprenticeships.
•    Two paid volunteering days each year.
•    Family-friendly policies and a supportive team culture.

Please read before applying:

This is a part-time role - 18.75 hours per week
Shifts may include early mornings and evenings, so flexibility is key.

We’re reviewing applications as they come in, so you might hear from us before the closing date, keep an eye on your inbox and your phone! 

Closing date: 05 February 2026
Microsoft Teams interviews will take place on Wednesday 11th January 2026, followed by in-person interviews at the service in Braintree on Friday 13th February 2026.

Please note: Peabody is not a licensed UK sponsor, so we’re unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

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.

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 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.

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: 30th January 2026

Interviews will take place by no later than 13th February 2026.

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

Benefits advice to people with asbestos diseases, and organise the day-to-day running of the charity, GMAVSG. Manage two workers, cover phone helpline on a rota, maintain databases and case files, liaise with a panel of solicitors, organise and assist in two support groups, and participate in campaigns on asbestos issues at work and in the environment and on benefits and compensation.  You will deliver benefits advice mainly through home visits in Greater Manchester and some of the neighbouring areas of Derbyshire, Cheshire and Lancashire. Full driving licence and access to a car are essential.  GMAVSG is a registered charity, established by the Greater Manchester Hazards Centre (GMHC) in 1994. You will be doing GMAVSG work but employed by GMHC. Recent experience of welfare rights / benefits advice is essential, as are good ICT and administration skills.  Management experience (particularly in the charity sector) would be beneficial, but is not essential. Training will be given on compensation and industrial injuries benefits for people with asbestos diseases.  35 hour week; salary pro rata for part-time / job share.  Part-time / job share applications welcome, providing you are available during core hours of 9.30am to 4pm for at least 2 days a week. NB: closing date is 4th February 2026, Interview date is 13th February in person in Manchester.

Job description

We are looking for people with the values and commitment to increase the independence, self-confidence and access to new opportunities for people with learning disabilities and other complex needs using our Wandsworth Day Opportunities Services to enable them to remain as independent as possible while receiving person centred care approach.

Who we are

At Balance, we are committed to empowering those we support to build independent, 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. We operate a range of services in SW London, including two day centres in Wandsworth, offering a range of support, activities and therapeutic interventions for people with complex physical and learning disability needs.

Who you are

You are someone with experience of or a commitment to developing a person-centred approach in working with people with complex needs and challenges. You will be a collegiate player and someone able to see beyond the barriers that people with disabilities experience every day. Your values and working practice will align with those of the charity to maximise the independence of those you are working with, to enable their ability to make decisions about the types of service they receive, and to ensure that your approach is both professional and sustainable.

Key Responsibilities of this role

Your primary responsibilities will include:

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing personalised support and group-based activities to people accessing our Day Opportunities service in Wandsworth.

To apply a collegiate approach to deliver strengths-based support that maximises independence, knowledge and confidence of those using our services.

To provide a key point of reference for information and support to those using the services and professionals and carers dependent on it.

To work from one of our day centres based in Tooting or Southfields and to key work specified individuals and act as a primary contact for the families, carers and other key professional

Your primary responsibilities will include:

· To work as part of a diverse and experienced team providing personalised support, advice and advocacy to people living independently or in supported accommodation.
 

· To apply a collegiate approach to deliver strengths-based support that maximises independence, knowledge and confidence of those using our services.
 

· To provide a key point of reference for information and support to those using the services and professionals and carers dependent on it.
 

· To work independently across the boroughs we operate in, with people in their homes or in accessing support and resources across the community.
 

Critical Values in the delivery of this role
 

· A commitment to building independence and self-confidence amongst your colleagues as well as those you provide services to.
 

· Recognition of the skills, knowledge and commitment of those working around you and your contribution to them.
 

· A professional, can-do attitude that finds solutions in the darkest corners.
 

· A willingness to empower those around you to exercise authority to make mistakes, test things out and lead from the front.
 

Benefits of working for us
 

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

· A baseline commitment to pay the London living wage for all its front-line staff.

· A commitment to training and professional development to at least Care Certificate.

· Inclusion in and contribution to the charity's pension scheme.

· Access to a range of discount schemes.

· Access to the charity's employee assistance programme.

Application Instructions.

Please attach a covering letter and CV that indicates how you meet the key criteria in the person specification.

Exciting Opportunity: Carer Locality Workers covering Keighley

Carers' Resource is excited to announce a new opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of carers. We are currently seeking:

2 x Carer Locality Workers

Hours: 37 hours or 22 hours per week (hours to be confirmed at interview)

Location: Keighley

Salary: £24,437 - £26,802 (FTE)

Role Overview:

You will play a pivotal role in supporting unpaid carers through listening, advising, and advocating for them. You'll conduct wellbeing reviews, needs assessments, identify and carry out required actions, and collaborate with local services. Your work aligns with local safeguarding procedures, promoting wellbeing and positive change for carers.

Own transport, clean driving license, and business class insurance is a requirement of the role.

For an informal discussion about this role, please reach out to Julie Peacock at Carers' Resource.

Join Our Team:

This is an opportunity to join a dedicated team that is committed to making a meaningful impact on the lives of carers. If you are passionate about supporting others and making a difference, we encourage you to apply. Carers' Resource values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Closing date for applications Sunday 8th February 2026
Proposed interview date: Monday 16th February 2026 (in Skipton)

Help on Your Doorstep

Social Prescribing Link Worker (Part time)

Hours: 3 days a week - one day to be worked on a Friday

Salary: 17,908 (pro rata)

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About Help on Your Doorstep

Help on Your Doorstep, is a pioneering charity working in the London Borough of Islington to improve the health and wellbeing of people and the communities that they live in. Through our Social Prescribing Service, ‘Connect’ outreach and referral service and Good Neighbour Schemes, we support people to thrive in healthier, happier and more connected communities.

At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to build trusted, relationship-based support with individuals and communities.  We work closely with partners who share our vision of tackling the social and health inequalities that affect people across Islington.

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About the role

Our Social Prescribing service supports patients referred by GP practices across Central Islington.  Working within a fast, paced, person-centred environment, Social Prescribing Link Workers support individuals to identify what matters most to them and connects with community services, activities and support that improves their well-being and addresses the wider determinants of health.

The service benefits from close collaboration with our Connect service and access to over 120 referral partners, offering a diverse range of opportunities to support residents’ health, wellbeing and independence.

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What You’ll Be Doing

As part of a dedicated team of four Social Prescribing Link Workers, seven Connect service colleagues and external partners working in primary care teams, you will:

· Work with patients referred by GP practices to provide personalised, strengths based support

· Build trusted relationships and support individuals to overcome, social, practical and emotional barriers

· Support people to access community-based services, activities and networks

· Manage a varied caseload, maintaining accurate and timely records

· Work collaboratively with GP practices, primary care teams, colleagues and external partners

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About You

· Passionate about creating a fairer society and reducing health inequalities

· Have excellent interpersonal and communication skills

· Have experience of providing person-centred or personalised support (paid or unpaid)

· Can work at pace and work across different data-systems and maintain accurate records

· Can manage a caseload in an organised and methodical way

· Are comfortable balancing face to face work with administrative responsibilities

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For a full job description, person specification and details on how to apply, please go to our website 

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Our Team

You will be part of a supportive and collaborative team of 4 Social Prescribing Link Workers and 7 Connect Service colleagues, GP practices and external partners across Islington.  We value teamwork, reflective practice, and learning from one another to continually improve outcomes for residents.

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The deadline for completed applications is 9.00am on February 23rd 2026. In person interviews will be held on March 5th 2026.

About Us

Wealdstone Methodist Church is drawn from many different nationalities. We gather for morning service each Sunday, to worship God in Jesus Christ. A warm welcome awaits all who attend our Sunday morning service, commencing at 10:45. Please visit us whenever you can.

As a Methodist Church, we believe that all people were created by God, and are loved completely by God. Our services and times of fellowship, aim to show God’s love for all. We believe that experiencing the unconditional love of God can bring about real transformation in people’s lives and in the world. We, therefore, seek to follow the example of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave his life for the world, so that we and all people can have peace with God and our neighbour.

Aim

To assist the Church in fulfilling its mission statement, by intentionally befriending Hirers and Users of the Church premises, and to work with the Church Council in fulfilling its mission objectives, as set out in its Mission Plan.

Responsible to

The Lay Employee will be employed by Wealdstone Methodist Church Council and will be under the supervision of the Minister in pastoral charge of the Church (Line Manager) and a Management (Support) Group.

Responsible for:

The Lay Worker will be responsible for establishing and maintaining links between the Church and other community groups, and for exploring with the Church Council opportunities for community engagement and outreach. Responsible for Coordinating Lettings and building relationships with Hirers and Users. And also, some administrative tasks.

Please see the full job description attached. 

Closing date: March 2nd.

Interview dates will be confirm after job closing

Would you like to make a lasting difference in the lives of children affected by domestic abuse? Join an award-winning trauma recovery service provider that is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and families.

Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) is a lifeline for children healing from the trauma of domestic abuse. From April next year, we’re expanding our service and looking for new Support Workers to join our team – helping guide children and families on their healing journey.

Position: Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) Support Workers - Permanent part time – 18.5 hours per week, weekdays. We’re open to discussing working patterns that match both your needs and our service delivery.

Location: Homebased with frequent travel. Role covers casework activity across Oxfordshire area including Cherwell, West Oxfordshire and the wider Oxfordshire area.

Salary range: £12,868 - £15,727 pro-rata per annum (full time equivalent range £25,735 - £31,453 per annum) 

Position: Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) Support Worker - Permanent part time – 15 hours per week, weekdays. We’re open to discussing working patterns that match both your needs and our service delivery.

Location: Reading office with hybrid working arrangements and frequent travel. Role covers casework activity across Reading, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and Oxford City.

Salary range: £10,433 - £12,751 pro-rata per annum (full time equivalent range £25,735 - £31,453 per annum) 

About the roles:

As a Support Worker you will play a significant role in supporting children and families affected by domestic abuse, some of your key responsibilities will include:

· the completion of assessments to understand the needs of families

· delivering group work for children and parents

· provide 1-2-1 sessions to children and families most in need

· supporting our families through providing outreach support

About you:

A successful Support Worker will need a good understanding of domestic abuse and the impact on children and families (or an interest in working in this field), with experience of delivering groupwork programmes for vulnerable parents and/or children.

If this sounds like you please visit our website, for contact details for an informal chat and apply today to join a collaborative and dedicated team who are part of something truly meaningful.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those with personal lived experience of domestic abuse or from underrepresented communities, who meet the essential role requirements.

For more information about our BB4K service please visit Bounce Back 4 Kids | PACT or read our latest blog BB4K – Helping families heal together - PACT

Closing date: 9am, Fri 30 January 2026

Early applications are encouraged as we may review and appoint on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is secured.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Family Support Worker, Family Key Worker, Children’s Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Support Worker, Domestic Abuse Key Worker, Recovery Worker, Assistant Support Worker, IDVA Independent Domestic Violence Advocate, ISVA Independent Sexual Violence Advocate, etc.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.

All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK.

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

At YMCA DownsLink Group,is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

 services delivers specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for living independently, safely explore their increased freedom of choice and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, whilst still having the appropriate level of support from an experienced team.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. 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 and relationship building.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Ewhurst Road, Crawley team, who will hold a caseload of residents and meet with them weekly to build a support plan. 

Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing:

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team

Coaching and Engagement:

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General:

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.

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’re looking for.

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately

CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 18 February 2026 at midnight.

Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; 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 looking for an energetic and creative Community Development Worker at the Thornbury Centre in Bradford. You’ll plan and deliver engaging activities for families and residents - from Stay and Play sessions to community discussions and reading groups.

You’ll also support our food pantry and community library, provide advice and signposting to local people, and work closely with volunteers, schools, and partner organisations to make a real difference.

About this role: Based in Higher Openshaw, East Manchester, Justlife currently works across Manchester and Tameside providing one-to-one key work support to empower vulnerable adults housed in temporary accommodation (TA) to move towards more secure housing, independent living and improved health and wellbeing. The role of Specialist Support Worker involves playing an active part in the Specialist Support Team by supporting a caseload of clients that are experiencing housing vulnerability and taking part in regular outreach visits to TA’s across Greater Manchester on the Justlife minibus. The role requires the use of specialist knowledge and relationship skills to support clients with varying degrees of mental and physical health, addiction and trauma related issues to engage with health services and to access suitable housing solutions. The Specialist Support Worker is also expected to develop good working relationships with TA Landlords and Managers recognising the important role that they play in ensuring that their tenants experience of TA is as positive as possible. This will include advocacy in registering them for medical services and accompanying them to appointments, assisting them in addressing all aspects of physical and mental health and addiction needs, as well as advocating for them to get access to suitable housing and social security benefits. The role is dependent on excellent communication and collaborative working with colleagues and a variety of partners and professionals, including the Probation Service, local council services and other third sector organisations. The role requires a high degree of motivation in addition to creativity and flexibility to support people with multiple and compound needs. With a passion to work collaboratively with others for the good of our clients, and with experience of working in a related field in a voluntary or paid capacity. A high degree of emotional intelligence is required to support clients, many of whom have complex emotional needs, with backgrounds of trauma, neglect, abuse and involvement in the criminal justice system. In a role of this nature you will experience a range of emotions from joy to grief and as such it requires a high degree of resilience and self-awareness to cope with the emotional demands of the role. The role sits within a highly supportive team with all staff in receipt of regular line management and external clinical supervision; with reflective practice actively encouraged in team meetings.

Please note that the successful candidate must reside in the Highlands area.

About the Role
 

As a Senior Community Link Worker, you will have a developmental role as well as providing on-going support. You will be responsible for developing positive, working relationships between the Community Link Worker team, Primary Care and local community resources. You will work to ensure that people referred from Primary Care to the Community Link Worker service benefit from community resources which can contribute to improvement of their mental and physical health outcomes. You will contribute to community development in your local area of work by working with community organisations
 

You will carry case loads for on-going work with specific individuals for developing and reviewing personal support plans, and provide oversight of personal support plans designed and implemented by Community Link Workers. Working closely with Community Link Workers in a guidance and/or support and supervision role, you will promote good working practice and staff development.
 

You will also ensure that the Community Link Worker service provides an environment where people can improve their health outcomes, establish improved connections in their communities and enhance their quality of life.
 

Key Responsibilities:

• Work autonomously being able to judge when I refer to your manager and take a lead role in developing the service. 
• Working closely with the Project Manager and Locality Manager to achieve strategic outcomes
• Working closely with colleagues in Primary Care
• Working to develop improved, working links between Primary Care and local community resources
• Identify gaps in the service where they arise and implement solutions in partnership with your line manager
• Linking service users to appropriate resources in the local community
• Compiling and reviewing service user personal support plans ensuring outcomes are being achieved, including ensuring people are connected to their community
• Oversight of personal support plans developed and implemented by Community Link Workers
• Overseeing Community Link Worker workloads 
• Ensuring continuity of service within the context of change MH values and strategic outcomes
• Ensuring that careful and ongoing review systems are in place and maintained
• Building positive working relationships with Primary Care and other local partners to better support our service users and to promote the work of the Community Link Worker service
• Collating information and prepare agency reports for line management as required
• Contributing to Research and Development at a local level in support of National objectives to promote service improvements
• Travelling throughout the geographic region covered by the service as required

Essential Criteria:

• Educated to SVQ 3 level or have experience working in the social care sector.
• Work well in a team setting but can also work autonomously 
• Have a sound theory base of social care interventions including risk assessment 
• Have a value base consistent with the aims and objectives of Change Mental Health
• Able to apply an analytical approach to problems in order to find solutions
• Competent in planning and reviewing development plans and taking appropriate action if needed
• Good Standard of I.T skills
• An understanding of the importance of providing professional support and supervision to practitioners
• Sound knowledge of Health and Social care policy in Scotland and can apply this to my role
• Desire to develop my knowledge and skills and attend training as required
• Ability to travel throughout the geographic region covered by the service as required

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with people affected by mental or physical health issues
• Experience of community-development work
• Experience of working in a SSSC Registered Service
• A learning and development portfolio which evidences your skills and knowledge

General Duties:

• Act in accordance with Data Protection legislation.  Ensure all records, personal, staff and client data are managed in line with Data Management and Information Governance policies
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as provisions set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• As with all employees, workers and volunteers; to encourage people to join Support in Mind Scotland as a member, donor or activist
• To act in accordance with the charity’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and to notify your line manager promptly if there are any concerns
• To participate in regular supervision and appraisal and undertake any relevant training as appropriate to the role
• To work in accordance with the charity’s national policies and local operating procedures and those of external regulators or professional bodies

This job profile and list of duties is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements. The line manager may stipulate other reasonable requirements and projects commensurate with the general profile and grade of the post.

Please be aware that it is classed as an offence if you apply for this role and are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to vulnerable adults.

Overview

Involve Community Services is a local infrastructure charity that supports the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sectors of Bracknell Forest and Wokingham Borough. We offer development and governance support, funding advice, grant writing, volunteer and trustee recruitment, and a comprehensive training programme. We also run several well-being projects that include Community Navigation, Cancer Support and Social Prescribing within Wokingham Borough.

Role summary

The Community Development Worker will work across Wokingham Borough to assist small charities, community groups and social enterprises who have a health and well-being focus, as well as those organisations who aid residents with protected characteristics. They will assist organisations to find solutions to existing challenges and overcome barriers to optimise their delivery, e.g., through sourcing volunteers, committee members, funding opportunities, forming simple governance structures, and seeking premises.

The post holder will advocate for members of the community with protected characteristics as well as those whose voices are seldom heard, and act as a voice for marginalised groups, to aid inclusive decision making and delivery of services across the borough. The postholder will develop a broad, informed view of the local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector and will communicate this to colleagues within Involve, the wider Friendship Alliance (a collective of charities who have a shared interest in addressing loneliness and social isolation), and to statutory partners. The postholder will also identify gaps in provision and help to develop or enhance existing partnerships so to optimise their impact to residents. 

Key Responsibilities

• Regularly attend community events throughout Wokingham Borough
• Create quarterly reports to articulate the work of the postholder.
• Act as the face of Involve and the first point of contact for organisations and community groups in Wokingham Borough
• Signpost organisations to Involve’s Core Services
• Signpost residents to Involve’s Wellbeing Services
• Support Community Navigation attending outreach events
• Report key barriers and gaps in services to the CEO and Admin & Partnerships Manager on a regular basis
• Keep the Wellbeing Services up to date with new or changing community groups & services
• Support the Hub Coordinator and fellow site users when onsite

Key responsibilities for the community and VCS organisation

• Network and maintain relationships with residents, communities, charitable organisations and other stakeholders
• Host Involve’s Charity & Community Networking Events for Wokingham Borough
• Match organisations and community groups with share objectives so to bring greater capacity and insight to a community undertaking
• Attend forums & meetings relevant to communities, addressing issues such as equality & diversity, social isolation or community safety
• Support organisations and community groups with basic governance enquiries
• Ensure organisations receive up to date and accessible information & signposting to assist them with their operations, e.g. governance, funding, volunteer recruitment

Essential experience, skills and attributes

• Knowledge of the local area and services
• Experience in engaging and advocating for vulnerable people and those with protected characteristics, and those seldom heard
• Good interpersonal skills - friendly, curious, respectful, empathetic and courteous
• Reliable with a mature disposition and a caring nature
• Capable of maintaining appropriate written records
• Awareness of confidentiality and data protection
• Ability to work proactively on your own initiative as well as part of a team
• Awareness of health and safety and lone working issues for self and others
• A commitment to equal opportunities
• Effective problem solving and negotiation skills
• Good written and verbal literacy with ability to engage confidently, employing actively listen skills
• Sound IT skills, particularly office 365 applications
• Personal commitment to improving own knowledge and skills
• Requirement to undertake training, including safeguarding and any other appropriate learning
• Requirement to work to all Involve policies
• Access to a car (with business insurance) is essential as travel will be required across Wokingham Borough

NB: Some flexibility will be required when delivering your role and occasional evening or weekend work may be needed.