Housing and support services manager jobs in north acton, greater london

Main Purpose of Position:

To provide urgent information, advice and guidance support for individuals in dealing with complex interlinked issues through intensive 1-1 personalised support service. Ensure clients are equipped with the knowledge and understanding needed to make a tangible, material difference to their lives. Ensure excellence in project and service delivery throughout the Information, Advice and Guidance service and deliver work as an integral part of the organisation.  

Responsibilities/ Core Duties:

To provide a support service through 1-1 interview sessions, telephone contact, face-to-face and in-depth support with follow-up and record keeping. This post primarily involves providing focused support to help individuals deal with urgent financial, housing, health and benefits issues and provide ongoing support often acting as a conduit, with liaison, advocacy and referral to specialist agencies in health, housing, finance and debt advice, counselling, benefits, domestic violence, immigration and other legal matters. The post-holder must support Nova’s aims, objectives and ethos for clients, staff, senior managers and trustees.

We are looking for a strategic, impact-driven Community Programmes Manager – to lead the continued growth and development of our Community Engagement Programme and our Garden Programme in alignment with our recently launched 2030 strategy.

This is a part-time role focused on strategic direction, partnership building, fundraising, and overseeing monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) activities. The ideal candidate will be a confident leader with experience across programme strategy, community development, securing sustainable funding and amplifying user voice.

The Community Programmes Manager will work closely alongside our Community Engagement Manager to inspire local people to make a difference in their communities and influence change. This will be achieved through volunteering opportunities, user-led steering groups, and the scaling up of our advocacy initiatives. You will play a key role in ensuring that Sufra is highly effective at building community and resilience in one of London’s most disadvantaged areas.

In addition, you will oversee the strategic development and long-term sustainability of our Community Garden—a therapeutic and educational space where residents can learn about growing food, nature, and biodiversity.

We offer a wide range of employee benefits including –

• Excellent annual leave entitlement
• Pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in Service benefit
• Flexible working
• Opportunities for training and professional development   

We're Morden College: An almshouse charity with a proud 330 year history and a big vision for the future. We're entering in to a exciting new phase, with a fresh strategy focused on excellent housing, high quality services, and thriving communities. 

What you’ll do 

As our Director of Resident Services, you’ll be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, leading on everything from resident experience and care quality to community life and strategic direction. You’ll: 

• Oversee services that help residents feel safe, supported, and truly at home. 

• Lead teams, manage budgets, and make sure everything runs smoothly. 

• Champion inclusion, wellbeing, and independence for older people. 

• Collaborate across teams and with external partners to keep improving what we do. 

What you’ll bring 

• A strong background in leadership in a charity or customer services setting, perhaps in health, social care, or housing. 

• A strategic mindset and a warm, people-first approach to leadership. 

• Excellent communication, financial oversight, and problem-solving skills. 

• A deep commitment to dignity, equity, and resident voice in everything we do. 

Why join us? 

• A real chance to be part of shaping a vibrant, values-led organisation. 

• An ambitious, kind, and forward-thinking team. 

• Great benefit and wellbeing initiatives flexible working, and the opportunity to genuinely improve lives. 

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? Do you have a passion for fighting homelessness and advocating for vulnerable people? If so, this is an exciting opportunity for you to take the next step in your career by joining the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as our Housing Adviser.

BIAS’s housing advice service supports members of the local Irish community and beyond with a range of complex housing issues, including homelessness, rehousing, tenancy sustainment and disrepair. We are looking to appoint a dynamic, enthusiastic person who has a background or demonstrable interest in advice, housing or homelessness to join our friendly advice team. Your role will involve contributing to the day-to-day running of BIAS’s advice service, providing specialist advice on housing via one-to-one client appointments, completing casework and advocating for positive outcomes for your clients.

You will need to have strong people skills and the ability to build good working relationships with colleagues and clients, excellent organisational skills and the ability to digest complex briefs. You will be required to manage an active caseload, ensuring that cases are appropriately actioned and recorded and that deadlines are met.

If you are interested in working in housing advice but don’t yet have all the knowledge or experience required, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate in a trainee role.

KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES

• Providing appropriate advice, information and practical help to clients, via in-person appointments, outreach visits, telephone, letter or email. Where necessary, advocating on behalf of clients in the appropriate forums.
• Ensuring that all casework records are kept up to date and completed clearly and effectively.
• Contributing to monitoring service delivery and recording client outcomes.
• Maintaining a good knowledge of other available services, and signposting or referring clients as needed.
• Participating in regular team file reviews and supervision sessions, and contributing to maintaining BIAS’s high-quality service in line with Advice Quality Standard (AQS) requirements.  
• Engaging positively and constructively with other service providers, including local authorities and housing providers, to maintain partnerships.
• Staying up to date with developments in housing legislation and identifying opportunities to effect positive change to housing policy, together with the Advice Manager.

These are the basic duties required of the Housing Adviser. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based primarily in our advice offices in Willesden (Brent), with some outreach work in Haringey borough. There may be some options for flexible working (one day per week)

WHAT DOES BIAS DO?

BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for over forty-five years. We deliver our support through our welfare advice drop-in service, our Active Ageing Clubs and our Be-a-friend volunteer scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable every year and have over 3000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has exciting plans for further expansion in Haringey in 2025 and has a range of medium- to long-term grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role.

The deadline for applications is Friday 20th June 2025. We would strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be assessed on a rolling basis.

Make a real difference in Newham: Supported Housing Services Manager

Are you passionate about empowering communities and tackling homelessness head-on? The Renewal Programme is seeking a skilled and passionate Supported Housing Service Manager to lead our dedicated team and deliver life-changing impact.

About Us

For over 50 years, the Renewal Programme has stood alongside Newham’s most marginalised residents. We're a respected local charity supporting people through advocacy, education, housing, and wellbeing. Our mission is rooted in dignity, inclusion, collaboration, and empowerment—inspiring hope and enabling lives to flourish.

Your Role

As Supported Housing Service Manager, you'll lead a trauma-informed, strengths-based housing service for single homeless adults. You'll drive performance, support your team, and ensure residents are equipped with the tools to live independently—managing finances, maintaining tenancies, and building brighter futures.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver impactful support: Oversee personalised casework, support planning, and use of tools like Outcome Star.

• Lead performance & improvement: Monitor KPIs (move-on rates, tenancy sustainment), refine supervision and quality assurance, and implement our move-on strategy.

• Inspire your team: Foster a positive, proactive, and solution-focused culture.

• Maximise sustainability: Ensure rental income and effective arrears management.

• Strengthen partnerships: Collaborate with commissioners, housing partners, and support services.

• Ensure compliance: Uphold safeguarding, health & safety, and risk management standards.

What You’ll Bring

• Proven leadership in supported housing or homelessness service settings

• The ability to effectively lead and inspire a team

• Experience with contract delivery, KPIs, and outcomes-based commissioning

• Strong financial and budgetary skills

• Knowledge of safeguarding and trauma-informed practice

• A collaborative, values-driven approach and commitment to continuous improvement

Why Join Us?

• Permanent, full-time role (36 hours/week)

• Salary of £45,000 – £48,000, depending on skills and experience

• 28 days annual leave + bank holidays

• Cycle & tech salary sacrifice schemes, employer pension, EAP, staff development

• Based across our two supported housing sites in the London Borough of Newham

Please review the full job description and person specification. An enhanced DBS check will be required.

Newham Community Renewal Programme proudly welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and identities.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Are you passionate about leading high-impact services that support individuals facing multiple disadvantage? Do you thrive in complex environments and have the leadership skills to shape a psychologically informed, client-centred team? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

About the role:

We’re looking for a dedicated Service Manager to lead our specialist 18-bed 24/7 Complex Needs hostel in Camden. Leading a team of Project Worker Complex Needs, Specialist Multiple Disadvantage Workers, Trainee Project Workers, an Apprentice, ETE Worker, Night Concierges, and locums - the service supports individuals who have experienced significant disadvantage. This includes long-term rough sleeping, substance use, severe and enduring mental health issues, involvement with the criminal justice system, and self-care challenges.

This is not a typical hostel service - it is a dynamic, intensive, and highly specialist environment requiring compassionate leadership, robust risk management, and strong inter-agency collaboration. You will be at the forefront of driving a psychologically informed and trauma-responsive service that not only provides accommodation, but creates a platform for meaningful recovery, connection, and progress.

As Service Manager, you will lead a skilled team in delivering high quality, person-centred support and accommodation. You’ll be responsible for staff development, operational oversight, risk management, partnership engagement, and ensuring compliance with service specifications and safeguarding standards.

In return, we offer a strong culture of learning, access to a sector-leading leadership development programme, and the opportunity to shape practice in one of the most critical and challenging areas of homelessness work. Join us in creating a place of safety, growth and transformation in the heart of Camden.

About you:

• You’ll bring a deep understanding of complex trauma and how to translate this into Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE).
• You’ll have a proven ability to lead and motivate staff teams, respond to crisis, and ensure that frontline practice is effective, compassionate, and empowering.
• Demonstrable experience working with people facing multiple disadvantage in a supported accommodation or complex needs setting.
• A strong track record of managing or leading teams to deliver measurable, client-centred outcomes.
• Confidence in working in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies to build integrated and effective support pathways.
• Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• A reflective, emotionally intelligent leadership style grounded in values of inclusion, equity, and respect.

About us:

Single Homeless Project is a London-wide charity. Our vision is of a society where everyone has a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilling life.

We help single Londoners by preventing homelessness, providing support and accommodation, promoting wellbeing, enhancing opportunity, and being a voice for change. From supporting people in crisis to helping people take the final steps towards independence and employment, we make a difference to 12,000 lives every year across all 32 boroughs.

We offer you more than a job; we offer you a chance to be part of a compassionate, driven team that's committed to making a real difference in people's lives. You'll have the opportunity to lead, co-create, and inspire change while enjoying a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.

Join us in creating a brighter, more hopeful future for individuals in need. 

Important info:

Closing date: Sunday 1st June at midnight

Interview date: Thursday 12th and Friday 13th at SHP Head Office in Kings Cross

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant. 

Vibrance has an exciting opportunity for a Housing Officer to join our small and busy Housing team hybrid working across North London and Essex. We are offering a full time role with a salary of £28,000 per annum, plus benefits.

About the role:

As a Housing Officer, you will be responsible for providing a housing management service to the service users living in Vibrance owned and managed services. You will provide support to Vibrance services in relation to health and safety, maintenance, housing law and tenancy issues, rent collection, and arrears management. You’ll also provide specific support and advice to individuals who use Vibrance services with housing matters and money advice.

The Housing Officer role will be supporting our services located across North London & Essex and as such ability to travel is essential and a car driver would be preferable.

Responsibilities as our Housing Officer will include:

• Supporting prospective service users (and their carers where appropriate) with all aspects of the moving in/out process, to ensure that people are able to make an informed decision about whether or not to move in or move out
• Ensuring that individuals are maximising their benefits, including supporting them to make claims and liaising with the Dept of Work and Pensions and Housing Benefit staff as necessary
• Providing support to ensure that individuals are able to maintain their tenancies, including debt/arrears management, anti-social behaviour resolution, and the issues that can arise from shared living
• Working alongside our service managers and landlords to ensure that accommodation remains fit for purpose, well maintained, suitable for the individual residents and that all health & safety responsibilities are being met

In return for your skills, knowledge, and experience, you’ll enjoy:

• A comprehensive training programme
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Pension scheme
• Rewards and recognition for your service
• AIG Lifeworks Work-life Assistance (24 hours)
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay
• Flexible Working Options (Subject to service requirements)
• Learning & Development
• Mindful Employer
• Positive about Disability
• DBS online applications paid by Vibrance
• Long Service Awards

Vibrance welcomes applications from all sections of the community including from people with disabilities. As users of the Disability Confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who satisfy the essential criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities

To join us as our Housing Officer please click apply below.

Post Title Housing First Support Worker

Salary Up to £32,000

Hours 35 hours a week

Line management           None

Location SCT’s satellite site, Tower Hamlets

DBS: Enhanced Adult Workforce DBS is required for this role

Additional Benefits  BUPA Employee Assistance Programme and Wellbeing plan 

Cycle to work scheme 

Season ticket loan

25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days) plus bank holidays

Contributory Pension Scheme with employer-matched contributions of 5% 

Training and development opportunities

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

About the Role

As a Support Worker in our Housing First team, you’ll be a key point of contact for a small caseload of residents (approx. 6). You'll offer tailored, compassionate, housing-related and other person-centered support—enabling residents to articulate and achieve their goals, navigate systems, and rebuild their lives.

You’ll work closely with SCT’s internal services teams and external agencies to remove barriers, promote wellbeing, and champion the voice of each resident.

Key Responsibilities

Support and Advocacy

• Deliver person-centred, trauma-informed support to Housing First residents.
• Conduct comprehensive needs and risk assessments.
• Develop meaningful relationships that foster trust, choice and wellbeing.
• Advocate for residents’ access to healthcare, housing, benefits and specialist services.
• Support residents with practical tasks like budgeting, appointments, and accessing community resources.
• Encourage participation in community drug and alcohol services, and other recovery pathways.

Housing and Recovery Support

• Help residents secure, move into, and sustain suitable accommodation.
• Support the use of residents’ personalised budgets (e.g., for furniture, clothing, etc.).
• Work with residents and our housing partner to resolve issues and prevent eviction.
• Facilitate access to SCT’s wider services as required.

Collaboration and Coordination

• Build strong partnerships with local services, agencies and community networks.
• Maintain clear records on In-Form and contribute to reports and evaluations.

About You

Essential Skills and Experience

• Experienced in supporting adults with complex needs (e.g., addiction, homelessness, mental health).
• Possesses strong organisational skills and is able to work independently.
• Has excellent interpersonal, communication and active listening skills.
• Has up-to-date safeguarding knowledge.
• Is confident in the use of IT and a range of software packages.
• Is flexible, resilient, and adaptable to a changing environment.

Desirable

• Knowledge of trauma-informed care and PIE approaches.
• Understanding of the benefits system and tenancy sustainment.
• Familiarity with In-Form or comparable CRM system.

What We Offer

• A collaborative, inclusive and values-led working environment.
• Ongoing training and professional development.
• Opportunities to contribute to innovation within the Housing First team.
• The chance to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Contract Manager to join our Mental Health service in Slough.

£41,000.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Contract Manager to oversee the successful delivery of our mental health services within the Slough area. This pivotal role is responsible for the operational and strategic management of all contracts in your designated patch, ensuring high-quality service delivery and positive outcomes for individuals with mental health and complex needs.

As a Contract Manager, you will lead and support a team of front-line staff, providing clear direction, performance oversight, and ongoing professional development. A key aspect of the role is fostering strong leadership and cultivating competence within your team to drive continuous improvement.

What you'll do:

Drive business planning activities within your contract, ensuring relevant and challenging objective setting and ongoing performance tracking, developing turn around action plans as may be necessary
Using sound financial and accounting principles, manage contract budgets to deliver on corporate and local contract financial targets
Successfully lead and motivate your team to ensure the championing of and maintenance of a positive local culture within your service
Work to continuously improve staff competence, ensure ownership of all staff issues and speedy and effective conflict resolution
Responsible for reporting all staff changes to HR and Payroll departments, as appropriate e.g. starters, leavers, additional hours etc.
Responsible for maintaining quarterly staff succession plans
Deliver effective, professional and commercially focused briefings and supervision meetings with staff and ensure that information, reporting & communications flow up/down is effective
Responsible for managing and allocating customers to support staff (casework management)

For the full list, please see our website.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

Ability to lead and motivate staff to deliver excellent services
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Has a practical and logical mind
Excellent organisation skills
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments

For the full list, please see our website.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

Educated to degree level or equivalent
Experience of managing contracts and resources and delivering to budget and performance targets
Experience of delivering to housing management performance targets
Experience of effectively managing and developing staff to ensure delivery of services performance targets within contract
Experience of successfully managing external partnerships to ensure successful delivery of services
Holds relevant CMI/NVQ Level 4 or other Business/Management Qualification

Desirable:

Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications
About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

PRHA is a great place to work – Our award-winning teams work together to improve the lives of our residents and make a real contribution to ending homelessness. As an IIP Gold standard employer, we value our staff and commit to develop their skills and support them in their important work.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Team leader within one of our specialist services. We are looking for self-starters with a passion for sparking change in people’s lives. You will have the necessary skill set to empower people and support residents to achieve their goals.

PRHA hostels guarantee a fast-paced, challenging and dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same. We are seeking motivated and energetic individuals to join our teams and help our residents to change their lives for the better.

We are looking for:

Respnsibilities: Please see attached JD

What we offer

We offer our staff a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Pension Scheme – We offer a group stakeholder pension scheme with 3% employer's contribution, employee contribution is 5%
• Holidays - Employees receive up to 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with long service
• Medical – we provide a “Cash Back" Scheme for a range of services such as dental, physio, chiropody, health& wellbeing
• Training Programmes – We provide comprehensive training to our employees to enable them to grow in their career and achieve their professional aspirations.
• Season Ticket Loans – We offer interest-free season ticket loans after successful probation
• Life Assurance - Upon death whilst in service, a Death in Service payment may be made according to the scheme rules. The payment covers 3 times of the employee’s annual salary.

How to apply

Please read the full Job Description & Person Specification which can be found on our website. To apply, please send your CV and Supporting Statement to outlining your interest in working for PRHA and explaining how you meet the criteria set out in the Job Description & Person Specification. Please send your CV and Supporting Statement by clicking the Apply Now button. Furthermore, applications with no attached personal statement explaining how you meet the job description will not be considered.

It is required for this post that the successful candidates will have to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Title: Advice Services Manager

Responsible to: Operations Manager

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: £36,000 - £42,000 FT (depending on experience and qualifications)

Based: Willesden, NW10 2JR; Haringey borough (including Hornsey, N8 9LP) + other locations if required

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: DBS check will be required

JOB OVERVIEW

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? This is an exciting opportunity for someone already working in an advice role and looking to take the next step in their career to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Advice Services Manager.

The Advice Services Manager will take the lead on BIAS’s day-to-day advice services, managing a small team of welfare and housing advice specialists to ensure that we provide the highest-quality service to our clients. You will need to have experience of delivering front-line benefits and/or housing advice, strong people skills and the ability to build good working relationships with staff and clients, along with excellent organisational abilities to ensure that casework and projects are delivered on time.

In 2025, BIAS is expanding its successful Brent-based welfare and housing advice service into Haringey borough. The Advice Services Manager will work closely with the Operations Manager to build and develop the new advice service in Haringey, ensuring that we replicate our excellent quality of service, strong record of positive outcomes and loyal client base.

This role will also involve working with the leadership team to help identify areas for future development and support grant applications and reporting, which will give you the opportunity to have a direct impact on shaping the organisation’s future strategy and direction.

If you are an experienced advice specialist and are looking to step up but don’t have all the skills required, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate as a training and development role.

KEY WORK AREAS AND MAIN DUTIES

Staff management

• Managing a small advice team, ensuring the quality of the advice provided.
• Providing support, supervision and training to staff on the delivery of advice services, ensuring that appropriate advice is provided and casework deadlines are met.
• Ensuring good teamwork and lines of communication between staff and partner organisations.
• Creating a positive working environment in which equity and diversity are promoted and staff can do their best.

Quality and service delivery

• Leading the welfare advice services in both Brent and Haringey boroughs, and contributing to further expansion.
• Maintaining a small personal caseload (approximately one to two days’ work per week).
• Working with the Operations Manager to ensure that BIAS complies with Advice Quality Standard (AQS) requirements.
• Leading on monitoring service delivery, recording outcomes and ensuring efficient allocation of resources.
• Managing all aspects of risk relating to advice delivery, complaints handling, safeguarding and GDPR.

Operational support

• Working with the leadership team as required on operational matters, including planning, strategy for future development and grant applications and reporting.

These are the basic duties required of the Advice Services Manager. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based in our advice offices in Willesden and Haringey[1] but there may be some options for flexible working (i.e. one or two days per week).

ABOUT BIAS

BIAS is a local charity which has supported England’s largest Irish community in Brent for over forty-five years. We deliver our support through our welfare advice drop-in service, our active ageing clubs and our Be-a-Friend volunteer scheme. We raise over £2 million in extra income for the most vulnerable every year and have over 3000 attendances at our club services. BIAS has exciting plans for further expansion in 2025 and has a range of medium- to long-term grant funding, including from Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please submit a CV and cover letter. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role (detailed in the PDF job description), with supporting examples.

The deadline for applications is 6th June 2025 but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible as interviews may be carried out on a rolling basis.

[1] BIAS is currently running its Haringey advice services from the Hornsey Vale Community Centre, with plans to establish a permanent office in Haringey later in 2025.

BACKGROUND

For over thirty years, Asylum Aid has been providing legal representation to some of the most vulnerable people seeking asylum in the UK. Our welfare advice team provide generalist advice on welfare benefits, housing, asylum support and related issues to Westminster residents with refugee and migrant backgrounds who do not have English as a first language and who would otherwise be unable to access vital advice which enables them to avoid destitution, homelessness and food poverty. We deliver this advice as part of the Westminster Advice Services Partnership through a drop in and outreach at local community venues, and supported by local volunteers many of whom speak community languages.

The post of Appeals Support Advisor is a new post established with the benefit of a grant from Westminster City Council. The post holder will support clients with appeals and reconsideration requests in relation to welfare benefits and housing. This will allow us to provide a more comprehensive service for our clients, many of whom struggle to lodge appeals and reconsideration requests, and to gather evidence in support of their appeals without advice, due to language barriers.  The post holder will deliver advice in community languages, including with the assistance of interpreters, to local residents as part of our partnership work. Most of our clients are refugees, people seeking asylum and others with a refugee or migrant background. The Appeals Support Advisor will work with clients referred from Asylum Aid’s Information and Advice Service (including our weekly drop in) and from other partners in the local community. They will also provide training and supervision to the Generalist Advisor and our volunteers. External supervision will be arranged for the post holder.

The ideal candidate will be resident in or near to the City of Westminster and fluent in one or more community languages. In particular, fluency in one or more of the following is highly desirable: Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani/ other Kurdish dialects, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya.

As this is a new post delivering a specialist appeals and casework service from within our generalist advice team, it offers an exciting opportunity to set up and establish systems for the delivery of this service during the six month fixed term contract, including ensuring that case management processes are established which meet the requirements of our Lexcel quality mark and that clear referral procedures are established with the drop in service and our partners.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

The post-holder will:

· Be part of a generalist advice service, with special emphasis on language support, as part of the Westminster Advice Services Partnership (WASP), a collaboration of advice agencies Asylum Aid, Westminster Citizens Advice, Age UK Westminster, and Deaf PLUS Westminster Advice Service.

· Provide specialist appeals casework and support to clients who do not speak English as a first language and need to challenge decisions, request  mandatory reconsiderations, internal housing reviews, lodge appeals in relation to welfare benefits and housing.

· Provide ongoing casework support up to the Tribunal stage, including helping clients to gather evidence in support of their mandatory reconsiderations and appeals and preparing for hearings (but not including representation at hearings)

· Where capacity allows, help to deliver generalist face to face and telephone advice and information, in a community language and English, to migrants and asylum seekers on issues related to welfare benefits, housing and asylum support in accordance with Asylum Aid’s contract within the WASP partnership, and taking responsibility for the quality of advice given.

· Provide training and supervision to the Generalist Advisor and to volunteers, supporting the development of their advice skills and ensuring the quality of advice delivered throughout the advice service.

· Maintain a high standard of electronic case records (using AdvicePro) for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, monitoring and evaluation of the service, and to help identify issues to be raised through policy advocacy.

· Ensure that all casework is conducted in accordance with the Lexcel quality standard, including by establishing case management procedures for the delivery of specialist advice which meet the Lexcel standard, and participate as required in annual Lexcel quality mark audits

· Attend external and in-house training organised by Asylum Aid and regular supervision sessions to develop and maintain the skills and knowledge required to help deliver a quality advice service, and to keep up to date with changes in welfare benefits, housing and asylum support law

· Cascade information, changes,  and developments in social welfare law, including learning from external training, to other staff and volunteers who assist with the delivery of the welfare advice service

· Work effectively with partners to provide a seamless service for clients, making and receiving referrals and maintain up to date information about other service providers for the purposes of referrals and signposting. 

· Be responsible for achieving relevant targets for quality and quantity set by the WASP coordinator

· Provide case studies and other information from the work of the advice service to support policy advocacy and strategic legal work in support of Asylum Aid’s vision of fair and dignified treatment of people seeking asylum, refugees and other vulnerable migrants 

· Carry out any other tasks within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.

The post holder will need to be able to travel to and within Westminster to deliver advice at outreach locations as well as at a drop-in in or around the Church Street Estate. Travel expenses will be paid to attend locations away from Asylum Aid’s office(s) and the main location of our drop-in service (currently the Church Street library).

Other duties:

• Respect for client confidentiality at all times in line with Asylum Aid’s confidentiality agreements and consent forms. 

• To attend staff meetings as required.

• To undertake other duties which are generally compatible with the functions of the post.

• To comply with the organisation’s policies and procedures, particularly those relating to safeguarding, health and safety, diversity, equity & inclusion, confidentiality and security, as set out in the Office Manual as well the policies of other relevant partner organisations.

Person Specification

Essential skills, knowledge and experience:

· At least 12 months’ experience of supporting benefits appeals through to Tribunal stage and Housing Reviews

· At least 5 years’ experience of working face to face with clients to deliver generalist advice in different areas of law including welfare benefits and housing

· Knowledge on a range of issues on which advice may be sought including health and social care, housing and welfare benefits, including a thorough and up to date understanding of social security and welfare benefits legislation and policy  

· Experience of managing a case load

· Knowledge or ability to understand and use relevant legislation

· Have completed Advice UK’s Learning to Advise training or hold the Citizens Advice Generalist Adviser certificate or an equivalent qualification

· Be fluent in written and spoken English as well as a second language spoken by a substantial proportion of the Westminster population, ideally Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, Kurdish Sorani/ other Kurdish dialects, Somali, Amharic, Tigrinya (to a standard that enables accurate advice to be given in the language)

· Experience of working with interpreters in the delivery of advice

· Able to meet deadlines, work under pressure, meet performance targets and take responsibility for their work, while working flexibly within a team environment

· Able to relate to a wide cross section of clients in a non-judgmental way.

· Able to use a range of IT systems and packages confidently and competently to be able to support and encourage others in using online systems and resources to enable them to self-help.

· Able and willing to learn and assimilate new knowledge in a working environment.

· Able to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively.

· Able and willing to work both on own initiative and as part of a team.

· Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of Asylum Aid service and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

· Good understanding of the needs of migrants and asylum seekers and the issues and barriers that affect them in UK.

Desirable:

· Experience of specialist advice work, including appeals and mandatory reconsiderations

· Friendly, polite, and patient

· Experience of working under a relevant quality mark such as the Advice Quality Standard or Lexcel

· Understanding of the housing and other support available to people seeking asylum who do not have the right to work in the UK

· Experience of working with volunteers

· Experience of supervising other advisers, including volunteers  

· Demonstrable understanding of issues facing vulnerable clients whose English is not the first language and many with mental health problems.

· Lived or learned experience of the difficulties that migrants and refugee communities face when they have to deal with the UK welfare system

· Personal experience and/or Knowledge of the advice process and experience in the areas of either benefits, housing or debt.

· Experience of using interpersonal skills, including sensitive listening, and questioning skills to understand the needs of others,

· Ability to communicate with other organisations, housing, and welfare departments.

How to apply 

The first stage is to complete on our online application form on our website by 9am on 9 June 2025.

The website form will ask you to:

1. Upload a short covering letter. Please tell us why the position appeals to you, and how your

relevant skills and experience, including any voluntary experience and lived experience, matches the listed responsibilities and person specification. Please also state in your covering letter when you would be available to start the role.

2. Upload your current CV

3. Complete an online Equal Opportunities monitoring form – completion of this form will help us ensure that our recruitment procedures operate in such a way as to provide genuine equality of opportunity. The questions are entirely optional and this information will not be available to members of the selection panel.

Selection Process

We anticipate that we will invite candidates to an initial 15-minute online screening meeting week commencing 16 June 2025, followed by shortlisted candidates attending in-person interview week commencing 23 June 2025. We will also ask you to complete a short written task on the day.

We regret that we can only respond to applicants who make it to the interview stage.

Eligibility

Please note that the successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK (as a small charity we do not have the capacity to sponsor work visas).

Successful candidates will also be subject to a basic DBS check. If appointed, you will also be required to give your consent to the charity to receive regular updates on your criminal records status throughout your employment and to disclose any relevant convictions incurred during your time with us.

Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you require a different format of the application form, such as large print or Word format, or if you would like to discuss any specific requirements, please get in touch with us.

About Us

akt is the UK’s national LGBTQ Youth Homelessness charity. We provide safe homes, mentoring, and support to ensure that no young person needs to choose between a safe home and being who they are. 24% of young people facing homelessness in the UK identify as LGBT (National Scoping of LGBT Youth Homelessness, akt, 2015) and 78% of LGBTQ+ young people cited an absence of family support (The LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness Report, akt, 2021). The charity was founded in 1989 and operates service centres in London, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol and works online through a Digital Service to offer support to young people outside of our four office regions. akt works with over 800 vulnerable young people a year providing both face to face and online assistance.

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity for a Housing Support Worker to join our new Supported Housing Scheme in Lambeth, an LGBTQ+ supported housing service with six units for young people aged 18-21 years. The service is due to open in late May 2025 and is part of a three-year funded joint project with Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing Association and Lambeth Council. The role is part of the Services team and is supervised by the Supported Housing Manager. Other members of the team include another part time Housing Support Worker and a part-time Youth Engagement Coordinator. 

Please note this is a part time vacancy working 17.5 hours per week. The pro rata salary for hours worked is £15,257.50 (£30,515 full time equivalent). Hours will be worked on a Week A / Week B rota basis, Monday to Sunday between 10am and 8pm. 

Job Summary 

In this role you will be responsible for supporting residents to reach their goals and aspirations and move on to independent living. This will involve:

• Supporting young people – building positive and affirming relationships, co-producing holistic strengths-based support plans, coaching and supporting young people with independent living skills and providing them with advice, guidance and support.
• Safeguarding and risk management – working in partnership with Social Services to support young people to keep themselves safe, attending strategy meetings and implementing associated action plans, creating and upkeeping evidence-based risk management plans.
• Service delivery and development – record keeping contributing to KPI tracking, contributing to the development of best practice around supporting LGBTQ+ young people across Lambeth, ensuring young people’s experiences and voices are centred with an emphasis on co-production.
• Partnership working – championing and prioritising residents’ intersectional needs, partnership work with young people and key partner agencies to support young people to achieve their goals.
• Case recording and information management – accurate and timely updating of records, maintaining high standards of safeguarding, protecting personal and confidential information.
• Property and Housing management – creating a safe, welcoming and psychologically informed home environment for young people, where their safety and wellbeing is at the centre of everything you do, and their LGBTQ+ identities are celebrated.

More details about the job role and staff benefits can be found in the job information document attached to this vacancy. 

Application deadline: midnight (11.59pm) on Monday 2nd June 2025

Interviews: Tuesday 27th May 2025 and then on an ongoing basis as applications are received

Job Title: Deputy Service Manager 

Location: In Service based in Croydon, CR0 1EB. You will be required to work across multiple services within the area. 

Salary: £30,200

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Sunday, working across a rota which will include day and night shifts as we provide a 24 hour service.  

About the role

We are looking for a Deputy Service Manager to join our team based in Croydon, providing leadership and line management to a team of night staff which is around 10 people in total. You will provide support and supervision sessions at night, and general leadership to the team so they feel empowered to be productive and perform well within their roles. You will further ensure a quality service is delivered in line with our contractual requirements to the residents. You will be responsible for creating a psychologically informed environment (PIE) with person centred support during all hours. You will work closely with the day teams to ensure a smooth handover from the day to night. 

This service is a Forensic Mental Health provision for 27 people across 4 sites in Croydon. For your own personal safety, you will require to have access to your own transport as you will need to travel between our 4 sites during the night shift to provide managerial support to the teams. The teams support our residents with person centred support, to empower them to overcome their personal barriers with their mental health, to have greater independence and fulfilled living. The service is responsible for holding various activities, group sessions, and one to one support to enable residents to build their personal skills and experiences to achieve their goals. 

The role includes:

• Line Management and Leadership, supporting your team providing advice, guidance and support throughout their employment lifecycle
• Support the Service Manager in leading the day to day operational delivery of the service
• Risk Management ownership, ensuring processes and policies are followed
• Property and Housing Management, ensuring the accommodation meets our requirements, and repairs and maintenance are regularly reported and completed
• Financial Management, including petty cash and budget management
• Contract management and Internal auditing, admin, and general other duties as required. 

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

About you

We are seeking a passionate, driven and motivated colleague to lead this service in a trauma informed and inclusive way. Someone who is knowledgeable in the needs of our residents, particularly mental health and can support the team in delivering excellence. You will be driven with passion for what we do, and be able to work flexibly to meet service needs, providing new ideas and opportunities to develop the service further to continue to achieve excellence!

• Experience of working with people who have enduring mental health and complex backgrounds
• Previous leadership experience
• Ability to motivate and empower a team to achieve service KPI's through direct leadership
• Ability to provide advice, support and guidance to a team on all aspects of the service such as resident related enquiries which can include housing, mental health support, signposting
• Ability to promote the service externally to enhance reputation in the area and with partner organisations
• Willingness and ability to work flexibly to meet service needs
• IT Proficiency, including Microsoft Office, and the ability to navigate and learn new case management systems and other types of organisational software
• Understanding and/or practical knowledge of the social and societal marginalisation that can be attached to people with mental health issues, addiction, exploitation, homelessness and within the criminal justice system 

What we offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• Be part of an organisation which believes good care and support improves lives.
• Join an organisation with a mission to empower people who are marginalised by building powerful partnerships and creative solutions that bridge gaps in provision and aid recovery, reablement and resettlement.

We are committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). We value and celebrate the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We have a team of ambassadors who are staff volunteers and actively support us in fortifying our organisational value of Inclusivity. 

SIG actively encourages applications from individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, particularly lived experience; Naturally, we approach any emerging issues with empathy and sensitivity. As an organisation, we’re proud to mention that our staff Ambassadors career aspirations generally benefit from embracing this unique opportunity to develop their respective skill sets in spaces that exist outside of their daily roles. 

Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group.  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We are an inclusive employer and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.