Community worker jobs

The Community Support Worker will contribute to the delivery of our LGBTQ+ youth provision supporting young people aged 13+ (and some pre-teens):

Specific Duties and responsibilities

• Work with an intensive caseload of approximately 12 young people maintaining regular contact, through arranged appointments, offering information, advice and guidance, practical support and encouragement.
• Maintain accurate and up to date written client database records and complete all admin tasks within required timeframes.
• Support clients to identify their strengths, interests, areas they would like to improve and barriers to progression, in order to develop their personalised action plan.
• Support clients to increase their self-esteem, become more resilient and improve their aspirations.
• Utilise the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Tool and Free2B tools, to monitor progression.
• Develop and deliver ‘safe space’ forums in schools, providing suitable group work activities (this may be alongside school staff or leading on your own).
• Working with the team to both lead and support our youth group provisions on a rota’d basis (both in person and online).
• Maintain relationships to work across multiple community and school settings, collaborating effectively with organisations to ensure positive service delivery.

General Duties

• Attend regular case supervision and team meetings and events as appropriate.
• Adhere to Free2B’s Equality and Diversity policies with respect to staff and service users.
• Comply with Health and Safety legislation and Free2B policies, to ensure safe working practices.
• Undertake any other appropriate tasks, as agreed. 

Person Specification

Essential  / Desirable

1. Experience of providing 1:1 targeted support to a caseload of young people, including undertaking assessments, planning, target setting and review (preferably in education settings). E
2. Knowledge & experience of the key issues impacting on LGBTQ+ young people (including trans and non-binary young people). E
3. Ability to set and work within clear and appropriate professional boundaries including challenging negative behaviours. E
4. Experience of responding appropriately to child protection and vulnerable adult safeguarding issues, following policies and procedures. E
5. Ability to manage client appointments and administrative tasks effectively to complete all elements of the role within the required timeframes. E
6. IT skills and experience of using applications including: Word, Outlook email, client databases and online platforms: Teams, Zoom and WhatsApp for internal communications.  E
7. Experience of remaining flexible and adapting your ways of working in order to meet client and service needs. E
8. One of our four core values is Listening, reflecting our commitment to being client-led.What do you believe is important in delivering truly client-led support? E
9. Experience of working independently across multiple settings (preferably including within secondary schools). D
10. Qualification in a relevant area such as social work, community work, gender studies or teaching, psychology etc D

Sahir (formerly Sahir House) is the oldest continuously operating LGBTQ+ charity in the Liverpool City Region. We are dedicated to fostering a brighter, healthier future for our communities.

We provide practical and emotional support, camaraderie and connection to:

• LGBTQ+ people
• All people living with or affected by HIV

We actively confront injustice, combat discrimination, and address inequalities. By campaigning, we strive to create a fairer and more equitable society for those we serve. Our work is insight and data-driven and our programmes are co-developed with those we serve.

What It Is Like to Work at Sahir

We want people to enjoy working at Sahir and to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. As a health and wellbeing charity, we place strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, reflective practice and work life balance.

We offer a friendly, inclusive and supportive working environment, with access to regular supervision, training and development. Staff are encouraged to build their skills, confidence and experience in ways that support both personal growth and long-term career development.

About the Role

This is a community facing role focused primarily on delivering facilitated LGBTQ+ peer support groups and wider community engagement activity. You will create and sustain safe, inclusive spaces where LGBTQ+ people can connect, build resilience and feel heard.

Alongside regular peer support delivery, you will support outreach, workshops and project specific activity in response to community need and strategic priorities. The role includes active promotion of groups and proactive engagement with under-represented and marginalised LGBTQ+ communities.

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who brings:

• A genuine commitment to LGBTQ+ wellbeing and community empowerment.
• Experience of facilitating groups, engagement or community activity, or transferable experience that demonstrates these skills.
• Strong communication and relationship building skills.
• A willingness to work some evenings and occasional weekends.
• A relevant qualification at NVQ Level 3 or above in social work, health, education or similar is desirable, but equivalent experience and a commitment to learning are equally valued.

We are particularly keen to receive applications from people with lived experience of the issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities, and from those whose voices are under-represented within the sector.

Equality, Inclusion and Accessibility

Sahir is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age.

Lived experience is valued at Sahir, but it is not a requirement. We are interested in people who share our values and want to contribute positively to our communities.

You do not need to meet every requirement listed to apply. If you feel aligned with our values and excited by the role, we encourage you to apply.

We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process.

Emmaus Overview

Emmaus is a community that provides accommodation and work for vulnerable people. We are committed to providing support while promoting independence. Staff and volunteers must work closely with Companions while observing appropriate professional boundaries in performing their role. They must also learn and engage with the Emmaus ethos.

The key task for this role is to manage a caseload of up to 16 Companions and to ensure that new companions get the information and support they need to help them settle in quickly and easily to the community and to working in our charity shops, warehouse and delivery / collection service. The support worker role is central to the team and close teamwork is essential.

The support worker will undertake direct support work with companions. Each companion has a personal support and development plan to help them achieve their personal goals and ambitions, in compliance with our Emmaus ethos, strategic aims, organisational objectives, policies and procedures.

Staff are expected to participate in and support solidarity activities undertaken by the Community.  Solidarity within the context of Emmaus is the working with groups and individuals towards the alleviation of poverty, social exclusion and suffering, and responding to local, national and international appeals for relief and support.

We expect you to carry out your job responsibilities in an environmentally aware manner.  Our aim is to ensure all resources are utilised effectively and efficiently.  You will be expected to apply sound ‘value for money’ principles in undertaking purchasing or supply of goods and services.

In Emmaus, volunteers are an important resource and make a vital contribution to Emmaus’s aim to take action to help disadvantaged people.  You will be expected to encourage and support volunteer involvement in our work.

Main duties and responsibilities

Support for Companions

• Support a caseload of companions to reach their potential through both practical and emotional support.
• Tailor support plans to meet individual needs – setting goals, assigning actions and taking a holistic view of the person and their wishes.
• Guide induction and exit processes for companions – to ensure that they understand the core principles of the offer at Emmaus and move on to long term, sustainable accommodation after us.Use de-escalation techniques to manage challenging behaviour as it arises, with consideration to positive conflict resolution.Support with incident response, including responding to risk, e.g. anti-social behaviour, mental health concerns, fire alarms etc.
• Liaise with external providers (CMHT, GP, DWP, hospitals, probation, prisons, CAB etc) to ensure that specialist advice and guidance is sought where needed.

Administrative duties

• Maintain accurate records in line with internal policy and with consideration for GDPR principles.
• Perform tasks to support the effective running of the community.
• Contact external providers to make them aware of who we are and what we do to drive referrals.
• Provide written updates for key stakeholders and internal meetings.
• Provide structured support for companions as agreed in the support plan.
• Participate in an emergency on-call rota to ensure 24/7 support is available for companions where needed.

Health and Safety

•  To apply the organisations health and safety policy.
• To carry out risk assessments as and when required and to ensure actions arising from this are carried out.
• To ensure that health and safety procedures are understood and followed by all companions.
• To report any incidents or concerns to the Community Support Manager.

Role description: You will work with local residents to continue our community engagement work, empowering residents to bring about positive change for North Leatherhead and facilitating their engagement in decisions affecting the local area.

Pay and hours: £16 an hour. 15 hours per week, with occasional evening and weekend working.

Contract: 6-month contract, initially.  

Location: LCH, Kingston Road, Leatherhead. KT22 7PX. Not suitable for remote working.

Context:

North Leatherhead is in the top 5% most deprived neighbourhoods in Surrey, with one of the highest concentrations of foodbank use in the county and healthy life expectancy rates that are, on average, seven years lower than in South Leatherhead. A listening exercise by Mole Valley District Council highlighted the lack of community provision and the damaging impact of the closure of the children’s centre and other community buildings in recent years.

Leatherhead Community Hub (LCH) opened in March 2022 as a dedicated community centre in North Leatherhead. LCH provides opportunities for people to come together socially and build community, as well as giving partner organisations a permanent base from which to offer vital support. Our mission is to create a safe, welcoming space at the heart of the community, where people of all ages can connect, learn, have fun, and find the support they need to thrive. The Hub attracts around 3,500 visitors a month to our community café and the many other community activities run by LCH and other local groups.

One of LCH’s core values is to be community-led, and we are always looking for opportunities to take on board people’s ideas and develop their gifts. Last year, we set up a non-contact boxing project and we have plans for a new football project, in response to parents’ concerns about the lack of provision for children and young people. Responsibility for both projects is being handed over to local residents.

Role description:

You will be responsible for listening to, engaging with and empowering local residents to facilitate positive change in their community, with the following specific objectives:

· To establish a residents’ panel (or similar), giving local residents a greater say in decisions affecting local community.

· To organise an Annual General Meeting (or similar), ensuring that LCH is accountable to the local community.

· To carry out a community survey (or listening exercise) for North Leatherhead, to increase our understanding of the concerns and hopes of local residents.

In addition, we would like to explore ways to increase ownership and involvement of local residents in all aspects of the running of LCH. You will be employed by LCH, using the Hub as a base for networking and capacity-building, whilst also reaching out to other sections of the community. This role will require you to have a regular presence at LCH and in the wider community.

Requirements of the postholder: 

Essential:

· Excellent listening skills – friendly and approachable, with the ability to connect with people from a wide range of backgrounds and make them feel supported and valued.

· Experience of volunteering and/or working in a community setting.

· Strong organisational, time management and IT skills.

· A positive and creative approach to work – able to handle new or competing demands and work on own initiative without close supervision.

· A willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evening and weekend meetings.

· A firm commitment to the vision, mission and values of LCH.

Desirable:

· Good networking skills and experience of working with other organisations to achieve positive change for the community.

· An understanding of the principles of asset-based community development and other participatory approaches to community development.

· A proven ability to motivate and support people to use their strengths and skills for the benefit of the wider community.

· Experience of carrying out community research and/or grassroots organising.

· Experience of living, working and/or volunteering in the local area.

How to apply:  Please send us your CV and a cover letter (no more than 500 words), explaining why you would like this role and how you meet the job requirements.

 Posted on: 15th December 2025 

Closing date: 15th January 2026 

Interview date: 23rd January 2026

We are keen to appoint someone to start in February, or as soon as possible.

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis?

Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.

Community Outreach Worker (Paradigm Housing)
Reference: 317
Salary: £26,000 - £27,000 per annum, pro rata.
Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week
Contract: Fixed term until 6th May 2027
Reports to: Community Support Service Team Leader
Working base: One of 7 Herts Mind Network Wellbeing Centres closest to home.

About the Service

Community Outreach Workers supports people with complex needs who have mental health as a primary need. This includes people who may have drug and alcohol difficulties. Particularly when they are coming into repeat contact with Police, Tenancy Sustainment Services, Housing and Homelessness Services and Environmental Health Services.

The service will be delivered in across Hertfordshire county, and also includes Amersham and Chesham.

Referrals will come from Paradigm Housing Association and will be for their tenants who are experiencing mental health difficulties.

The purpose of the Hertfordshire Mind Network Community Outreach Worker role is to:

• Provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients with coexisting drug and alcohol difficulties and mental ill-health. These will be clients who are presenting to the Police, Anti-Social Behaviour, Tenancy Enforcement, Housing and Environmental Health Services across the county.
• Ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the client is monitored and reviewed regularly.
• Remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• Embed a person centred and solution focused approach in all aspects of the role.
• Raise greater awareness of complex needs and the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) amongst local service providers. Supporting them to gain confidence in working positively and consistently with people who have multiple needs.
• Complete reporting requirements.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Eligibility for blue light card.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) - compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.

Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 26th December
Interviews to be on a rolling basis at the Watford Well-being centre
N.B. Please quote reference number 317 when completing your application for this role.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. Our inclusive approach recognises the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that lived experience brings to our team.

No agencies please.