Home start wandsworth jobs
Team: Night Shelters
Location: On-site at Glass Door Night shelter venues in the boroughs of Kensington & Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham or Wandsworth
Duration: 1 November 2025 to April 2026
Reporting to: Service Manager – Night Shelters
Shifts available:
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7:00pm to 7:15am
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7:00pm to 8:15am (driver)
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9:45pm to 7:15am
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9:45pm to 8:15am (driver)
Pay: £14.50 per hour, or £15.00 per hour when you are the designated driver for that shift.
Job Purpose
As an Overnight Homeless Shelter Worker, you’ll be part of a small, professional team running Glass Door’s night shelters between November and April. Working alongside at least one other staff member, you’ll be awake and engaged throughout the night, supporting up to 35 guests who are experiencing homelessness.
Your role is about creating a safe, calm, and welcoming space where guests can rest, feel respected, and be treated with dignity. You’ll build trust through friendly conversation, keep an eye on everyone’s wellbeing with regular checks, and step in when problems arise – from offering reassurance to someone in emotional distress, to calmly handling challenging behaviour, to calling emergency services if needed.
Most nights are steady and focused on guest support, but there can be moments of pressure. We’ll provide training so you feel confident and prepared. You’ll also help serve a light breakfast in the morning and ensure our equipment is packed and ready for the next night – with one of you driving the van back to base.
If you’re compassionate, calm under pressure, and committed to helping people move forward from homelessness, this role offers the chance to make a real and lasting difference.
Job Responsibilities
What You’ll Do
You’ll be part of the overnight team making sure our night shelters are safe, supportive, and welcoming spaces for everyone staying with us. This is an awake, overnight role, you will be alert and engaged for the whole shift. Your main responsibilities will include:
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Welcoming and supporting guests – Create a friendly, respectful atmosphere and build positive relationships with guests, volunteers, and colleagues.
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Staying alert all night – Carry out regular checks around the shelter (every 20 minutes) to make sure guests are safe, and comfortable.
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Responding to situations – Calmly manage any issues that arise, such as someone feeling unwell, experiencing emotional distress, or showing challenging behaviour. This may sometimes mean calling emergency services. Training will be provided.
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Keep the shelter safe and secure – Follow all safety, security, and health and safety procedures. This includes locking and unlocking doors and making sure the space stays tidy and free from hazards.
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Recording important information – Write clear, accurate shift reports and note any concerns or observations. Complete incident forms if needed.
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Supporting volunteers – Offer direction and guidance to volunteers on shift so everyone works well together.
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Enforcing behaviour expectations – Address situations where may display challenging behaviour, using a calm and respectful approach, conflict de-escalation training is provided for all staff.
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Packing and unpacking the van – unload equipment and supplies into the van at the start of the shift and repack at the end of the night. The allocated driver will return the van to base (driver shifts are paid for an extra hour).
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Restocking supplies – Keep an eye on essentials such as tea, coffee, and toilet paper, and restock from the van when needed.
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Preparing a simple breakfast – In the morning, help serve drinks, toast, and porridge, and make sure guests are woken from 6am so they can leave by 7am.
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Tidying and closing down – Gather equipment, pack it away, and ensure nothing is left behind.
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Training and meetings – Attend occasional in-person training sessions, team meetings, or other activities. From time to time, you may be assigned online training to complete while on shift.
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Work to a rota – Shifts will include evenings, weekends, and public holidays, so flexibility is important.
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Help with other tasks as needed – From time to time, you may be asked to help with other reasonable tasks that keep the night shelter running smoothly.
Person Specification
Essential
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A genuine commitment to providing a high standard of service and treating everyone with respect, kindness, and dignity.
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Confidence in handling challenging behaviour calmly and respectfully.
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Good communication skills, both spoken and written.
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The ability to carry out manual handling tasks such as moving supplies and equipment.
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For driver shifts: A valid driving licence for a manual vehicle and be willing to drive the Glass Door van.
Desirable
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Experience working with people experiencing homelessness or other vulnerable groups.
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The ability to speak another language, for example Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Polish, Spanish, French, or Russian.
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A lived experience of homelessness.
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An understanding of, and commitment to, trauma-informed care.
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Relevant training such as first aid, fire safety, conflict de-escalation, or Mental Health First Aid.
Other
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Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check for adults.
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You’ll be expected to follow Glass Door’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
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A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
We value diversity, promote equality and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness.
Registered Charity 
21 - 50
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
WOMEN’S HOMELESS SHELTER WORKER (EVENINGS)
Team: Night Shelters
Location: On-site at Glass Door women’s night shelter in West London
Duration: 1 November 2025 to April 2026
Reporting to: Service Manager – Night Shelters
Shifts available:
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7:00pm to 10:00pm, shifts are available 7 days a week
Pay: £14.50 per hour
Job Purpose
As an Evening Women’s Shelter Worker, you’ll be part of the team running Glass Door’s women’s night shelter. Working alongside other staff and volunteers, you’ll engaged with guests throughout the evening, helping to create a safe, calm, and welcoming space where women experiencing homelessness can rest and be treated with dignity.
You’ll greet guests, support the evening set-up, carry out regular checks around the venue, and offer kind, practical help. When issues arise, you’ll respond calmly — whether that’s offering reassurance, guiding someone through a difficult moment, or addressing challenging behaviour. You’ll record key information so the overnight team and caseworkers can follow up.
Most evenings are steady and focused on guest support, but there can be moments of pressure. Training is provided so you feel confident and prepared. You’ll finish with a clear handover with the overnight team so the shelter runs smoothly through the night.
Job Description
What You’ll Do
You’ll help make sure the women’s night shelter is safe, supportive, and welcoming for everyone staying with us. This is an on-site, evening role. Your main responsibilities will include:
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Welcoming and supporting guests – Create a friendly, respectful atmosphere and build positive relationships with guests, volunteers, and colleagues.
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Welcoming and engaging with guests – Take a proactive approach to being present and approachable throughout the evening, starting conversations, offering support, and helping create a safe and respectful atmosphere.
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Responding to situations – Manage issues as they arise, such as someone feeling unwell, experiencing emotional distress, or challenging behaviour. This may sometimes mean seeking guidance from the Night Shelter Manager or calling emergency services. Training will be provided.
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Keep the shelter safe and secure – Follow all safety, security, and health & safety procedures and make sure the space stays tidy and free from hazards.
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Recording important information – Write clear, accurate shift notes and incident reports (if needed) in our In-Form system so colleagues have up-to-date information.
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Working as a team – Maintain good communication with the Night Shelter Manager volunteers and other colleagues during your shift.
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Handover to the overnight team – Participate in a brief, handover meeting at the end of your shift so key information is shared.
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Training and meetings – Attend occasional in-person training sessions, team meetings, or other activities. You may be assigned brief online training to complete on shift from time to time.
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Work to a rota – Shifts will include evenings at weekends and on public holidays, so flexibility is important.
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Help with other tasks as needed – From time to time, you may be asked to help with other reasonable tasks that keep the shelter running smoothly.
Person Specification
Essential:
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A genuine commitment to providing a high standard of service and treating everyone with respect, kindness, and dignity.
-
Confidence in handling challenging behaviour calmly and respectfully.
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Good communication skills, both spoken and written.
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The ability to carry out manual handling tasks such as moving supplies and equipment.
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Ability to work well as part of a team and support colleagues.
Desirable:
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Experience working with people experiencing homelessness or other vulnerable groups.
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The ability to speak another language, for example Arabic, Tigrinya, Amharic, Polish, Spanish, French, or Russian.
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A lived experience of homelessness.
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An understanding of, and commitment to, trauma-informed care.
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Relevant training such as first aid, fire safety, conflict de-escalation, or Mental Health First Aid.
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A manual driving licence (helpful if you wish to cover occasional overnight shifts but not required for this role).
Other
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Employment is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS check for adults.
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You’ll be expected to follow Glass Door’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
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A commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of your work.
We value diversity, promote equality, and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Closing Date: 29 September 2025
Ref 7135
When you join Save the Children UK as a Store Manager in Wandsworth, you'll be at the heart of a vibrant, high-energy community – leading an exceptional team of volunteers and bringing the magic of charity retail back to the high street. This is your opportunity to channel your people skills, leadership, and creativity to help deliver lasting change for millions of children around the world – including those hardest to reach.
About Us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard.
About the Role
This exciting opportunity is based at one of our Mary's Living & Giving shops in Wandsworth, South London – a neighbourhood known for its vibrancy, creativity, and strong sense of community.
This bright and colourful shop is busy all week and thrives especially during weekends, thanks to its high footfall and strong local support. You'll work alongside a diverse and committed team of 40 volunteers, leading them to achieve retail excellence while driving the shop's mission forward.
As a Store Manager, you will:
• Lead and inspire a high-performing volunteer team
• Build local connections and partnerships
• Deliver commercial success and hit income targets
• Recruit and train new volunteers
• Ensure the shop is always welcoming, engaging and community-focused
About You
You are someone who thrives in a busy, customer-facing environment and leads with positivity and purpose. You understand the value of community and the impact of retail done differently.
You'll bring:
• Experience leading and motivating a team, ideally in a retail or hospitality setting
• A steady, solution-focused mindset, even when under pressure
• The ability to create an inclusive and engaging experience for volunteers and customers
• A passion for sustainable fashion, ethical retail, and making a real difference
Ways of Working: This role will be based on-site in the Wandsworth (London) shop. We're looking for someone able to work 5 days (35 hours) per week to include some weekend working.
Our benefits package is extensive and generous, including:
• Competitive Pay – Our transparent pay policy ensures fair and equitable compensation.
• Generous Holidays – Start with 27 days off per year (pro rata for part-timers) and enjoy up to 32 days after 10 years.
• Pension & Life Assurance – Secure your future with excellent contributions.
• Employee Discounts – Save on groceries, high-street brands, home, tech, gyms, holidays, and more! Over 6,000 deals are available through our benefits platform.
• Maternity/Adoption Benefits – Get 21 weeks of full pay after just six months of employment.
• Paternity/Adoption Leave – Enjoy 10 weeks of full pay (plus statutory 2 weeks) after six months with us.
• Additional benefits: include cycle to work scheme, employee assistance programme, eye care, flu jabs, season ticket loan.
Please note: To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
Save the Children UK believes in a world that is fair, inclusive and equitable where all children have the opportunity to change their world. We apply this to our workforce and we are committed to developing and supporting a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organisation where all employees have a sense of belonging and feel that they can be "Free to Be Me". We are not looking for just one type of person - we want to recruit people who can add fresh perspectives, innovative ideas or challenge that disrupts the risk of group think.
We are especially interested in people whose childhood experiences - of life on a low income, of migration, of being in a racialised community, of the care system, of being LGBT+ or in an LGBT+ family or living with (or with someone with) a disability - help us to see things we might otherwise miss. Whatever your story is we want to hear it because we know that different voices, ideas, perspectives and knowledge, working together will enable us to better the lives of children around the world. This is the reason why we are all here.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.