Family development worker jobs in Sutton, greater london

Support engaging weekend sessions that help children and young people with learning disabilities learn, grow and thrive.

Kids Can Achieve (KCA), part of LDN London, is expanding its SEND provision with a new Weekend Club in Ealing. We are looking for enthusiastic, caring and reliable Sessional Play Workers to support weekend sessions for children and young people aged 5–17 with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs.

This is a rewarding and hands-on role where you will directly support children and young people to enjoy activities, build confidence, develop independence and have fun in a safe and inclusive environment.

 Hours

• Flexible sessional role (weekends only)
• Saturday & Sunday sessions (typically between 9:30am – 3:30pm)
• Work can be offered based on your availability
• Opportunity to work additional sessions during school holidays

 Ideal for School Staff

This role is particularly suited to:

· School staff

Looking to:

• Work in a creative, activity-based environment
• Take on flexible weekend work alongside your current role

This opportunity is open to staff currently working within St Ann’s School or local schools.

About the Role

As a Sessional Play Worker, you will:

• Support children and young people in fun, engaging and inclusive activities
• Deliver activities such as sensory play, arts, sports, cooking, games and community outings
• Work on a 1:1 or group basis depending on needs
• Support communication, independence and social development
• Implement support plans and Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies
• Complete observations and daily records using digital systems
• Follow risk assessments and ensure a safe environment

You will embody our core values of Kindness, Choice and Ambition in everything you do.

�� About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with children or young people (SEND experience desirable)
• Is positive, patient and enjoys working in a hands-on environment
• Understands or is willing to learn about autism, learning disabilities and complex needs
• Can support children who may display distressed behaviours
• Communicates well
• Is reliable, flexible and able to work as part of a team
• Is committed safe practice

 Why Join KCA?

✔ Be part of a new and exciting Short Breaks provision in Ealing
✔ Make a meaningful difference to children and young people
✔ Work in a supportive and values-driven team
✔ Flexible working to fit around your current role
✔ Opportunities for additional hours and progression

�� Apply Now

If you are passionate about supporting children and young people with learning disabilities and want to be part of a positive and inclusive team, we would love to hear from you.

How to Apply:
Please send your CV to the address provided on our website. (Follow the attached link below).

If shortlisted, you will be required to complete a full online application form.

Closing Date: 5:00pm on Wednesday 29 April 2026 – Ref 831

LDN London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Background checks and an enhanced DBS will be required. You must be 18 or over to apply.

ID: 1782 Operational Manager, Northeast

Service: Stockton on Tees Family Time, Stockton Family Outreach & Volunteer service and South Tees Perinatal service

Salary: Grade 4 Point 34-38: £42,562 – £46,703 FTE (£34,049.60 - £37,362.40 per annum, pro rata for 29.6 hours per week)

- Additionally, £480 home-based allowance FTE per annum

Location: Home based

Hours: Part-time (up to 29.6 hours per week)

We offer flexible working arrangements - please see below for more details.

Contract: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

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 to lead the operational delivery of services across Stockton on Tees and South Tees (Recar & Middlesbrough) area.  The Operational Manager will provide strategic and operational management to our services in the Northeast and line management of 2 - 3 service managers.

Stockton services are delivered under our successful strategic partnership with Stockton Borough Council. This unique partnership was formed nearly 5 years ago with the aim of transforming service provision using a collaborative approach to service development and innovation. Our South Tees Perinatal service operates over Redcar and Middlesborough and are just entering a 3 year extension to our current contract.

Main Responsibilities:

· Provide leadership, management and supervision to operational services that provide Family Time sessions, Family Outreach support and Volunteering support, plus perinatal support to families.

· Ensure that services are delivered to a good quality standard in relation to practice and performance and that services can demonstrate their impact using evidence based outcomes tools.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

· Experience of providing effective management, leadership and safeguarding oversight of case work and group work based support services, which overall improve the lives of  service users.

· Experience of setting up and/or managing innovative projects.

· Strong interpersonal skills, with the confidence and ability to present and communicate information effectively both in person and using a range of mediums to internal and external stakeholders, including children and young people, parents and carers, and funders.

· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service –Enhanced

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holiday pro rata

- up to 6% matched-pension contributions

- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment

- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions

- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers

- cycle to work scheme

- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

· Click the “Apply Now” link below and fill out our digital application form

· Closing Date: Sunday 10th May 2026 at 23:59

Interviews are scheduled to take place on: 20th May 2026

For direct queries or if you would like to discuss any aspect of the selection process or flexible working requests, please email: Claire Meek (email address available on advert document).

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we particularly welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

If you are looking for a career in social care and you understand the impact, you can have as an Outreach Support Worker in delivering excellent support then we would like to hear from you!

Who we are:

Are you passionate about helping vulnerable individuals live independently? Join our team as an Outreach Support Worker, providing tailored community-based care to people with autism, complex and mental health needs.

LDN London is an award-winning charity with over 60 years’ experience of supporting people with learning disabilities to stay healthy, be safe and live well. 

The Outreach Support Worker is responsible for delivering practical and emotional support, developing and delivering person-centred care, and working in partnership with local agencies to promote positive outcomes.

About the role:

As an Outreach Support Worker, you will provide flexible, community-based support to adults with learning disabilities who live in their own homes, with family, or in supported living settings. Your focus will be on enabling each person to live as independently as possible while achieving their individual goals and aspirations.

The Outreach Support Worker will build positive, professional relationships based on trust and respect, taking time to understand each person’s strengths, preferences, communication style, and support needs. Support may include developing independent living skills such as meal planning and preparation, budgeting and money management, travel training, maintaining a tenancy, and accessing healthcare services.  It may also involve accompanying individuals to social groups, volunteering opportunities, college courses, employment placements, faith groups, or recreational activities. The post holder will actively promote social inclusion, confidence-building, and the development of meaningful relationships.

The role requires accurate record-keeping, maintaining clear communication with your team, and following safeguarding, health and safety, and medication policies at all times. You will be expected to respond calmly and appropriately to challenging situations, using positive behaviour support approaches where required.

This is a community-based role, so flexibility is essential. You may be required to work earlies, evenings, weekends, and bank holidays on a rota basis to meet the needs of the people we support.  You will work in partnership with families, carers, social workers, healthcare professionals, and other agencies to ensure a coordinated and consistent approach to support.

Above all, this role is about empowerment, enabling people to make choices, take positive risks, build skills, and live fulfilling lives on their own terms.

About you:

The ideal candidate will be a well organised person with the ability to deliver successful outcomes for the people we support. You will be confident networker and relationship builder with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

You must be able to demonstrate the ability to develop strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. As a self-starter, you will be able to use your own initiative, can problem solve and prioritise, with good planning and organisational skills. In addition, you will need a positive, resilient attitude, and be flexible and adaptable.   

Relevant training will be provided. Adherence to our values is core to our recruitment and will be tested through interviews and during probation.

We are looking for someone who has a good understanding of the needs of people with learning disabilities and can work collaboratively to achieve our goals.  The ideal candidate will be able to self-motivate and work independently whilst keeping in line with LDN London’s values.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is looking for a new challenge!

 Why join us:

We offer continuing opportunities for learning and development together with regular supervisions and support for all our staff. We offer:

· the opportunity to work flexibly

· up to 38 days annual leave (including bank holidays)

· a generous pension scheme

· season ticket loans

· family friendly policies and personal/professional development packages

How to Apply:

Use the link provided below and follow the instructions.

Please ensure that you select ‘Outreach Support Worker (Camden)’ on the online form selection options under section 4 of the application form.

To be successful in this process you must uphold the values and standards we expect in the workplace, including being open and honest throughout and treating the people we support and our staff with dignity and respect. Any failure may lead to the withdrawal of any offer of employment or work.

Closing date: 5:00pm on Thursday 30 April 2026 – Ref: 832 

Note: all successful applicants will be DBS checked and must be able to provide employment or professional references covering the last three years.

Our Purpose

Unlocking Potential is the charity that supports schools and communities to ensure no child or family struggles alone with their social, emotional and mental health needs. We provide flexible, over-time, multi-disciplinary therapeutic support that meets children and families where they are, and enables them to feel safe, understood and the best version of themselves.

Vision

Everyone feels supported, equipped and able to achieve their potential.

Mission

Our mission is to provide tailored therapeutic support to more children, while training the practitioners of the future to build holistic, resilient social systems that equip children and their families with the confidence, tools, and skills to thrive at school and within their communities.

Values

Individual: Everything we do is about the individual and what is right for them – no two children, families or schools are the same.

Innovative: We look for new solutions, evolving our thinking and approach – ensuring the use of bold, co-designed practice.

Collaborative: We choose to work with others to find the best solutions – we are stronger together.

Overview

We launched our new programme in September 2025, initially as a pilot working with families across Wandsworth, with aims to be able to expand and continue beyond this. This service will offer flexible, relationship-based support to families facing a range of challenges, helping them navigate systems, strengthen protective factors, and improve outcomes for children. Operating across extended hours, the service will be accessible and responsive, with a strong focus on early intervention, collaboration, and building trust with families.

The role

This is a unique opportunity to take on a senior, hands-on role within an innovative early help service working within a small, dynamic team to make a tangible difference to the lives of children and their families. As a Senior Family Support Worker, you will deliver flexible,and therapeutically minded support to families often facing multiple and complex challenges, drawing on your experience to provide guidance and mentorship to less experienced colleagues. You will build trusted relationships through home visits, school meetings, and provide practical support—facilitating parents and carers to feel empowered to strengthen routines, manage behaviour, improve attendance, and access services. Your work will be informed by detailed needs assessments and focused on achieving meaningful outcomes with each family.

Shine supports a community of over 15,000 members living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus, including 5,000 children and young people (0–25).

You will be delivering high-quality support and creating opportunities for children and young people living with spina bifida and/or hydrocephalus and their families/carers. Supporting Shine members to lead healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives by improving condition management and fostering connections within the Shine community. 

This role will focus on children and young people (0–25), you will be primarily working within the Children, Young People and Families team. However, there will be occasions when you will work across age groups to ensure the best outcomes for our members. 

The role is home-based but you will be required to attend regular clinics in London including GOSH (Great Ormond Street Hospital). Other travel across Southern England including Bristol, Devon and Hampshire may be required. There will be occasional travel required across wider areas and nationally including attendance at events, conferences and meetings at our head office in Peterborough. 

Benefits: 

• Competitive salary: Review due April 2027 

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

• 3% pension contribution 

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year 

• Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’ 

• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave 

• Broadband allowance for home-based roles 

• 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  

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 email Gill Valentine, Deputy CEO, 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.

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

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.  

Closing date:  Monday 17th May 2026 at 11pm  

Interviews:  Tuesday 26th May 2026  (Virtual) 

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

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

Vision: Home-Start Southwark and Lewisham believes every parent should have the support they need to give their children the best possible start in life.

Main purpose of the job: Providing targeted, specialised support to parents with at least one child under 5, but with a whole family approach. The post carries a high level of responsibility in ensuring that a quality service is offered to families through a team of trained volunteers.

Our ambition is to continue to develop outstanding services that meet the needs of our community; if you want to be part of our future, we would love to meet you to discuss this further.

Spectra’s Family Support Social Worker will provide frontline support to people living with HIV in South West London. These will include assessment, emotional support, advice and advocacy around housing, benefits or immigration. They will also facilitate signposting and refer service users into internal and external services including Counselling, Peer support, as well as other linked-in services.

Work in this post requires a social work qualification with demonstrable knowledge of social work models and interventions including strengths-based practice models. Contact with the individuals, their families, representatives of professional and community groups and the general public is a significant aspect of this post.

Adoption Social Worker – Barnardo's

Do you want to make a genuine difference in the lives of children, young people, and families? If so, we'd love to welcome you into our passionate and supportive Adoption Service here at Barnardo's. We have a wonderful opportunity for a committed and creative Social Worker to join our Pan‑Wales Adoption Team. Working with us means joining a compassionate group of professionals who believe deeply in the power of safe, loving, and lasting family relationships—and who will value your contribution every step of the way.

Why join Barnardo's?

At Barnardo's, we believe in quality over quantity. You'll hold a manageable caseload that allows you to truly focus on the children and families you're supporting. You'll benefit from regular supervision, peer support, emotional wellbeing resources and a workplace culture built on kindness, reflection, and professional growth.

We offer hybrid working across Wales, giving you the flexibility to organise your work in a way that supports both your priorities and your wellbeing. We pride ourselves on providing a friendly, safe and supportive environment for all our staff.

 About the role

As a Social Worker within our Adoption Service, you will:

• Recruit, assess and train prospective and approved adoptive parents as part of our CIW‑registered service
• Provide thoughtful, tailored pre‑ and post‑placement support to adoptive families
• Offer training and therapeutic, relationship‑focused interventions that acknowledge the impact of trauma, loss and early adversity
• Work with hope, creativity and empathy as you help families build secure and lasting connections
• Contribute to the ongoing development of our service through reflective practice, learning and professional curiosity

We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic, motivated, and passionate about achieving the very best outcomes for children. You'll be supported to work therapeutically and to grow your skills through ongoing development opportunities.

What we're looking for

• A qualified Social Worker with registration (or eligibility to register)
• Someone who embraces learning and wants to grow within a highly experienced team
• A compassionate, resilient practitioner who believes in children and in the power of family

Thinking of applying?

If this sounds like the next step in your journey, we'd be delighted to hear from you. Please refer to the Person Specification and Job Description when completing your application, reflecting on how your skills, experience and values align with the needs of the service.

Young People Support Worker

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

Location: Islington

Salary: £29,336 per annum

Closing Date: 10 May, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

Make a meaningful impact every weekend by supporting young people to build the confidence, skills and resilience they need for independent living. In this 8 placement supported accommodation service, you’ll deliver focused, strengths based support, complete SMART outcome driven plans, and lead risk and needs assessments—helping clients progress with purpose while maintaining a safe and positive environment.

As Young People Support Worker at our service in Islington, you’ll run one to one and group sessions, support new residents to settle in, and work collaboratively with statutory partners to provide joined up, personalised support. With creativity, empathy and strong safeguarding awareness, you’ll motivate clients to engage in education, training, employment and community activities, all under Depaul’s assets based, psychologically informed approach.

Please note that this job opportunity is offered as a full-time (37.5 hours a week), permanent role.

In this role, you will:

· Deliver strengths based, outcome focused support that builds young people’s skills, confidence and independence.

· Complete risk/needs assessments and create concise SMART support plans.

· Run focused 1:1 and group sessions that boost resilience and engagement in EET/volunteering.

· Maintain a safe, positive accommodation environment with strong safeguarding practice.

· Support move ins, tenancy sustainment and day to day wellbeing in the service.

· Work collaboratively with statutory partners and contribute to rota, H&S and team duties.

About You

You believe in people — their strengths, their rights and their potential. You bring empathy, energy and a solution focused mindset to your work. You communicate clearly, stay organised and adapt well in a fast moving environment. You’re committed to inclusion, fairness and continuous learning, and you turn values into meaningful action, whatever your role.

What You’ll Receive

· Tailored training and development

· Flexible working options where suitable

· 26 days annual leave, rising with service

· Family friendly leave policies

· Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%

· Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access

· Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more

· Cash health plan for you and your family

· Death in service benefit

· Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

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

About The Organisation

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

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

#INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

We are looking for a Housing Advice Worker who is passionate about supporting young people experiencing homelessness to transition into safe and secure housing.

The ideal candidate will work proactively and enthusiastically, both independently and as part of a team. They will have experience working in a busy, often fast-paced environment and be confident in assessing individual needs and identifying appropriate housing pathways. The successful candidate will have a strong understanding of housing and homelessness legislation, along with a solid insight into the reasons individuals experience homelessness. They will be able to effectively support young people presenting with a wide range of needs and barriers.

Key details

• Contract type and hours: permanent, full-time working 35 hours per week, Monday-Friday (9:30-5:00)

• Salary: starting salary £32,136.00. Salary scale £32,136.00 - £35,778.08

• Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR

• Application deadline: 9am, Wednesday 20th May

• How to apply: complete our application form on our website, submit your CV and write a 2 page cover letter/supporting statement. Please don't include your name or address in your CV or cover letter.

Join Peabody’s Hackney Mental Health Services as a Mental Health Support Worker and make a real difference. You’ll provide high-quality support to people with a history of serious mental illness, helping them live independently and thrive.

What you’ll do
Work collaboratively with customers to promote recovery, build life skills, and support access to housing, income, and wellbeing. You’ll deliver person-centred, trauma-informed care and help customers achieve their goals.

What you’ll bring

• A genuine passion for delivering excellent customer service.
• Kindness, empathy, and an appreciation for diversity.
• Experience in support planning and risk assessment.
• Understanding of mental health best practices and safeguarding.
• Confidence working with people who have a Dual Diagnosis – those who have a mental health condition and a substance use disorder at the same time. 
• Knowledge and experience of the Recovery Model and Trauma-Informed Care.

This role will require an enhanced DBS check.

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

• 30 days’ annual holiday, plus bank holidays
• Two additional paid volunteering days each year 
• Flexible benefits scheme, including family friendly benefits and access to a discount portal 
• 4 x salary life assurance
• Up to 10% pension contribution

Please read before applying:  

• You must have the right to work in the UK, we are unable to provide sponsorship.
• We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

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 April 2026 at midnight.

Young Carers Male Sessional Worker  

Do you enjoy working with young people? Are you interested in supporting Young Carers by delivering engaging activities that promote wellbeing, reduce isolation and give them a break from their caring responsibilities? 

Then this job is for you! 

Job Title: Young Carers Male Sessional Worker 
Location: London, Wandsworth – Wandsworth Carers’ Centre (office-based and community/outreach) 
Contract Type: Sessional / Zero Hours Contract 
Salary: £15 per hour 
DBS Check: Enhanced required 

We are seeking a male flexible, reliable, and enthusiastic Sessional Worker to support the delivery of services for Young Carers aged 5-16. Due to an increase in trips and off-site activities, and to ensure we provide appropriate support for all young people- particularly our male Young Carers - we are particularly seeking a male sessional worker to join the team. The role involves two key parts. The first is helping to deliver engaging, age-appropriate activities that promote wellbeing, reduce isolation, and give Young Carers a break from their responsibilities. The second is supporting with outreach to local schools, colleges, community settings and professionals to identify and engage Young Carers. 

About The Role: 

You will work across two key age groups- 5-11 and 12–16 - delivering and supervising activities, supporting events and trips, and providing behavioural management where needed. You will deliver awareness training sessions, run stalls and aim to identify and engage Young Carers in the community. You will also help ensure young Carers feel heard, included, and supported as they navigate the challenges of their caring roles. We are particularly looking for a male sessional worker who is available for our upcoming residential trip to the Young Carers Festival on the 26th – 28th June and a day trip to Southend-On-Sea on the 6th June.  This is a sessional role, therefore hours are not guaranteed but will be offered based on project need.

Key Requirements Include: 

• Experience working with children, young people, or vulnerable groups 

• Ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with young people and their families 

• Reliable, punctual, and flexible 

• A strong understanding of professional boundaries and confidentiality 

• Willingness to work evenings and weekends 

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice 

About Wandsworth Carers’ Centre: 

We are a busy, ambitious charity operating at the heart of the Wandsworth community since 1995, helping thousands of people across the borough in unpaid Caring roles. We give information and advice, organise respite, offer complementary therapies, deliver training, provide peer support, arrange fun events and much more.  In short, we are the Carer's friend and advocate, often helping Carers through difficult times. 

Wandsworth Carers’ Centre is an inclusive employer. We are committed to building a diverse organisation that represents the communities we serve and ensuring inclusion in everything we do.

Benefits of working for Wandsworth Carers’ Centre:   

Friendly team and working environment, contributory company pension, ongoing training and development opportunities and an employee assistance program.  

Closing date: 15th May 2026

Please note we will be interviewing candidates as suitable applications come in and therefore reserve the right to close this vacancy before the stated closing date. We encourage applications as soon as possible. 

CARIS Families is a small charity that supports homeless families living in hostel accommodation in Camden and Hackney.We run play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 from within 4 hostels in these boroughs, as well as a school holiday day trip programme and an Essentials Bank to ease family hardship.Our services for children aim to reduce the stress on children and parents of living in overcrowded, insecure accommodation, and to put back some of the vital childhood experiences that homeless accommodation deprives children of. 

We are currently looking for a trainee playworker who is looking to build a career working with children to join our dedicated frontline play team.You do not need to have any formal experience of playwork, but you do need to be passionate about working with children and supporting them to achieve their potential, and to be able to demonstrate this through previous work or volunteering experience.

This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate, offering a rare entry-level role which alongside providing plenty of on-the-job training, will also fully sponsor their training towards the Level 2 Diploma in Playwork following successful completion of the probationary period.

Our new Playworker will: 

Role Description 

• Help to deliver our hostel-based Kids Club’s play session for 0-16 year olds during term time in the London Borough of Camden

• Help to deliver our School Holiday programme during school holidays (in Camden, Hackney and the wider London area) 

• Support the running of our term-time Essential Bank programme, providing free household goods to families in hostels 

• Provide a warm and welcoming experience for children & their families attending CARIS Families’ services

• Engage with children in their play and learning experiences, through staff-led activities and supporting child-led play. 

Person Specification 

We are looking for someone at the start of their career (or a career-changer) who is: 

• Experienced in working or volunteering within a play-based setting, with children between the ages of 0-16.

• Enthusiastic about supporting children in their free play and facilitating adult-led activities that stretch and stimulate children in their development 

• Passionate about improving opportunities for disadvantaged children 

• Understanding of the varied needs of children and their families 

• Good communicators, comfortable with working with a wide range of service users and professionals 

• Able to work well as part of a team.

Salary: £14 per hour 

Contract: 12 months initially, with a three month probation period, and the possibility of extension beyond 12 months subject to funding.Training for the Level 2 diploma will commence after successful completion of the probation period.

Hours:12 hours across three days a week in term time (40 weeks a year), Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.Please note on Kids Club days the working day ends at 6pm.One day a week (8 hrs) in school holidays (12 weeks a year), days variable.25 days per year Annual Leave (pro rata) with an additional week off over Christmas. 

Your pay will be equalized out across the 12 months of the year so you receive a consistent salary each month. 

About the Role

Headway East London is looking for a compassionate and motivated Community Support Worker to support adults living with brain injury across our 13 London borough catchment area. You will support members in their own homes and local communities. This is a varied, people-focused role where you will work one to one in the community, helping individuals live with greater independence, confidence and choice.

You will provide support plans to offer support to manage activities at home, maximise opportunities and choices, support wellbeing and provide advocacy. Find out more about our Community Support Work service here: Community Support Work – Headway East London.

We have 3 available positions, two permanent contracts and a one fixed term contract for 12 months (maternity cover). 

If you want a role where your work genuinely changes lives, makes a real difference every day and aligns with strong charitable values, we would love to hear from you.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

1. Conduct support sessions to a regular caseload of members in the community as a lone worker with remote office assistance.
2. You will work to maximise and maintain their autonomy and independence in their home environment or within the local community.
3. You will work collaboratively with the member to plan, organise and implement daily activities by developing daily and weekly structure and wellbeing plans.
4. You will be responsible for being the first responder, with remote manager support, in the event of any incidents, safeguarding issues or behaviour that challenges during support sessions.
5. Accompany and support members to appointments with health and statutory care providers and provide accurate notes for future reference.
6. Accompany and support members to access social, leisure, educational and vocational activities in the community.
7. Maintain a maximum income for members through completing benefit and grant entitlement and assist with financial budgeting.
8. Provide appropriate and relevant advice, information and advocacy to members and their families. Where appropriate liaise with other professionals and statutory and non-statutory organisations to make referrals or signpost to appropriate support services.
9. Maintain accurate and factual monitoring notes on our online database and report any incidents.
10. Conduct and monitor specific therapy / support / rehabilitation and risk management plans in accordance with case managers, therapists and other cprofessionals as required.

Key Relationships - Internal and External

Internal: Staff within the Service Department, Members (service users) and
their families and carers

External: External partners

Other

Apply the Headway East London values and behaviours to every aspect of the role at all times.

Protect and enhance the interests and reputation of Headway East London internally and externally.

Commit to the organisational principles of: coproduction equity, diversity and inclusion sustainability.

Headway East London is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we are committed to ensuring that all staff are motivated, skilled and rewarded by their work. We welcome applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, colour, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age and other protected status as required by law. We promote and protect human rights; they are the foundation of what we do. We want to be an inclusive place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and contribute their unique strengths and perspectives. We are focused on equality and believe that all the fascinating characteristics that make us different, make us more able to deliver our life-changing work with passion and creativity.