Support worker jobs

Overall Purpose of the Role

Youth Action Alliance (YAA) is seeking an enthusiastic, committed, and values-driven Support Youth Worker to support the delivery of two key strands of our youth offer: the Girls Project and the Youth Advisory Board (YAB).

This is a varied and rewarding role combining hands-on youth work with project support, centred on empowering young people aged 11–19 (and up to 24 where appropriate). The post holder will work directly with girls and young people from diverse communities, supporting their personal development, wellbeing, confidence, and ability to use their voice to influence positive change in their communities.

Working within a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment, the Support Youth Worker will help deliver innovative programmes that promote life skills, female empowerment, youth voice, and meaningful participation, while supporting the smooth day-to-day running of both projects.

About the Projects

Girls Project (Wednesday and Thursday)

The Girls Project supports girls aged 11–19, focusing on life skills, wellbeing, confidence-building, and female empowerment. The programme provides safe spaces for girls to explore identity, build resilience, and access mentoring, advice, and signposting to additional support services.

Youth Advisory Board (YAB) (Friday)

The Youth Advisory Board is a group of young people aged 11–19 who act as advisors to Youth Action Alliance. YAB members amplify youth voice across YAA’s work, contribute to decision-making, attend meetings and events, lead consultations, and develop skills in leadership, communication, and civic engagement.

• Location: Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset 
• Salary: £25,595 per annum, plus mileage
• Hours per week: 37.5 hours, including travel time
• Required: Previous experience working with Young people and Adults (16+) with learning disabilities and Autism.
• Full UK manual driving licence, access to a vehicle and a willingness to travel across the area.

As a Positive Behavioural Support (PBS) practitioner, you will help young people and adults (16+) with learning disabilities, Autism and sometimes other support needs to transform their lives. 

Using techniques built on the principles of inclusion, choice and participation, your support could be the difference between a locked door and an open path to independence. 

Who will I support?

You will work with young people (16+) and adults to provide support that will significantly improve their quality of life and avoid admission to a General Adolescent Unit. 

How will I make a difference?

• Your support will enable the people you support to stay in their current placements and access their communities
• You will take time to understand the lived experience of the person you’re supporting. You’ll help them build tools they will use for the rest of their lives to live great, independent lives
• You’ll also support their families, carers and other professionals to apply and embed these steps for long lasting impact

How will I develop?

If you do not already hold a BTEC Level 4 in Positive Behaviour Support you will be enrolled onto this course and supported throughout your studies while you work with us, on completion you will receive a salary increase. Salary increase on completion to £27,500
You will receive regular clinical supervision from experienced professionals to ensure you feel confident and supported in your role. 

What benefits will I have?

We have a range of benefits that you can mix and match to suit you, such as:

• Stream – an app that gives you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn it, access to coaching, vouchers, discounts, cashback and more.  
• Blue light card – we will reimburse your Blue Light Card membership which provides discounts in your favourite shops and restaurants
• Simply Health - Fully funded health cash plans giving you access to a 24-hour GP, money back on prescriptions, dental treatment, opticians and access to many more health benefits.
• Vivup – spread the cost of home and electronics items, or a bike to cycle to work through fixed salary reductions throughout the year. 
• Buy and sell annual leave – transfer windows open twice a year.  
• Pension and Life Assurance – you’ll be enrolled into our Scottish Widows pension scheme and Life Assurance scheme

Following a successful application to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, we are seeking a Youth Worker to lead on systems change as part of our Brighter Rainbow Project. A key requirement of the post is to hold a JNC Level 6 Youth and Community Work qualification or equivalent (or due to complete 2026- 2027). We also welcome applicants with related subjects including nursing, primary teaching, secondary teaching, social work etc.

Are you looking for a new Challenge?

Do you have experience of working within drug services and with volunteers?

Do you have relevant experience? This might be alcohol, injecting drug use, viral hepatitis or other liver disease. Have you supported anyone who has?

We are looking for self-motivated individuals who like to be part of a team but equally can work on their own. The post holders must have a desire to make a difference in promoting hepatitis awareness & liver health among services and affected communities and by increasing access to hepatitis treatment and liver disease care. We are looking for a passionate and skilled peer lead who will work on the Community Liver Health Bus and in community outreach locations in North Central London 

We are a patient-led organisation – you will be working in an environment where the patient/service user/client is placed at the centre of all that you do.

The post holder is required to hold a clean driving licence.

Support Worker – Children’s Homes (Days or Nights)
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £27,248 – £29,490 (up to £30,682 with progression)
• Day role: £27,248 per annum
• Night role: £29,490 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week, shift work including weekends, bank holidaysand occasional sleep-ins
Sleep-ins: £50 per session
Overtime/Bank Holidays: Paid at enhanced rates
Locations: Ealing (W13) or Balham (SW12)

Are you looking for excellent training, therapeutic support and clear career progression? Join our committed team and make a real difference to young people living in residential care, where no two days are the same.

About Us

We have a strong history of providing fostering, children’s homes and leaving-care services across the UK and the Isle of Man. Our work is underpinned by therapeutic expertise, and we place young people at the centre of everything we do. We support children and young people who are unable to remain in their parental or foster placements, offering positive, life-changing experiences, education support and life-skills development.

When you join us, you will receive a tailored development plan based on your goals. Whether you wish to progress into leadership, move services or develop further in your current role, we will support you throughout your journey.

The Role

As a Support Worker in a Children’s Home, you will provide direct care and support to young people aged 12–17 with complex emotional and mental health needs, including experiences of trauma and loss. Working within a therapeutic framework, you will build safe, trusting and professional relationships, support emotional regulation, and promote positive outcomes.

You will be responsible for safeguarding young people, supporting daily routines, liaising with professionals, and completing accurate support and care documentation. For Waking Night roles, on-call management support is provided, along with monthly team meetings and one-to-one supervision.

About You

You will have:
• At least 1 year’s experience supporting children or young people in residential, fostering, semi-independent or youth work settings
• A willingness to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years
• A genuine commitment to helping children and young people reach their full potential
• An understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries
• The ability to manage challenging behaviour effectively
• Strong communication and teamwork skills
• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends, bank holidays and sleep-ins
• A commitment to ongoing training and development
• Creativity, enthusiasm and resilience

What We Offer

• A paid 4-week induction and training programme
• Clear career progression and tailored development plans
• Industry-leading training, including Level 3 qualifications
• 25 days annual leave rising to 27 days, plus bank holidays (pro-rata)
• Contributory pension, enhanced maternity and sick pay
• Life assurance (3x salary)
• BUPA employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme and Blue Light Card discounts
• Employee awards and funded training opportunities

Recruitment Process

Applications must be submitted via our online form and include a supporting statement addressing the Person Specification. CVs are not accepted. The process includes an online situational test, interview, and a home visit.

Closing date: 26 February 2026

Role Purpose:

The Circle is an alternative to A&E for young people and children who are finding it hard to cope with their mental health, when medical intervention might not be necessary. We provide one-off in the moment support, and we are open every day of the year.

Mental health advisors are part of the core team, supporting children and young people aged 5-18 and their families every day. We do not have waiting lists. You are expected to work within HFEH Mind’s policies and procedures and adhere to our code of conduct/values.

This role may suit those that have worked with vulnerable children in the past, including, but not limited to, support workers, CAMHS workers and mental health workers. We work within a diverse borough and look to reflect this in our team.

Job Summary:

The mental health advisor role is a key part of the delivery of the Circle, working to support young people and their families who are finding it hard to cope. They will conduct (up to) hour long, one-off sessions with children and young people aged 5-18, providing: safety planning, coping mechanisms, psychoeducation, and signposting, and supporting in de-escalation. This will be delivered with a non-judgemental and empathetic approach.

As a mental health advisor, you will need to be ready to respond in the moment to presenting (often unknown) concerns. You will dynamically risk assess situations and be confident in raising concerns when necessary.

Key Responsibilities:

Service Delivery:

• Work as part of a team to provide support to children, young people and their families.
• Work within the Circle framework and follow all HFEH Mind’s policies and procedures.
• Develop an understanding of the local area, and other services, to effectively signpost to.
• Deal with all safeguarding concerns in line with HFEH Mind’s safeguarding children policy.
• Take pride in the working environment, keeping it clean and tidy, and reporting any Health and Safety concerns appropriately.
• Utilise skills flexibly and effectively so that support can be tailored in a creative way.

Service Accountability:

• Maintain accurate, clear and concise records of all interactions with children, young people, parents/carers and professionals.
• Attend and engage in mandatory training, as directed by HFEH Mind.
• Ensure all support provided has an inclusive values base, which recognises and respects difference and diversity.
• To work collaboratively with all other partners and professionals and represent HFEH Mind in a positive light.

Other:

• To attend and engage constructively in 1-1 supervision, team meetings and group reflective practice, where applicable.
• Carry out any additional tasks as required by a manager in Children and Young People Services.

Person Specification

Essential

• A minimum of two years’ experience supporting vulnerable or at risk children and young people in a paid or voluntary capacity, or equivalent.
• An ability to form supportive relationships with families, and tailor support to individual need.
• A child-centred approach to work
• Working knowledge of child and adult safeguarding.
• Organisational skills and excellent time management.
• Excellent communication and listening skills with the ability to tailor messages to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload.
• Ability to work flexibly according to the needs of the service, whilst managing your own self-care.
• An openness to your approach to colleagues, managers and in 1:1s and reflective practice sessions.
• Experience of using Microsoft Office package.
• Working understanding of General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of the importance of equality, equity, diversity and inclusion and the ability to integrate into your work.

Desirable

• Experience of working with children or young people presenting with complex needs, and/or who are neurodiverse.
• Experience in managing relationships with professionals (e.g. schools, education psychologists, early help teams), commissioners and other stakeholders.
• Experience in co-producing activities and campaigns with young people.
• Experience of working within a multi- disciplinary team.
• Experience of supporting young people experiencing episodes of heightened stress/distress.

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check

Family Support Worker – Thames Valley

£24,000 pa + Company Car and benefits (including 25 days annual leave, reward scheme and pension)

Thames Valley and surrounding areas.

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

We are looking to appoint a Family Support Worker to deliver a high-quality family support service as part of our Thames Valley Care Team.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the Thames Valley Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness.

Having worked in a stressful and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

This role covers Thames Valley and surrounding areas. The role does require travel, however you have the freedom to plan your own diary around the demands of both the families you are working with, your team, and also any personal appointments you may need to attend.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a community environment and those with a recognised qualification in education, health or social care

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator - you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We are a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! We have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

· Flexible working hours to balance home and working life

· Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

· Company car for front line care posts

· 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

· Time off in Lieu

· Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

· Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

· A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

· Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

· Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

· The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

· Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris Skills Development Programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Teams are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, introduction to play, drawing and talking training.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

Please visit our website and apply online.

Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Interviews will take place at our Thames Valley Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

Alongside Senior Youth Workers you will focus on delivering face-to-face youth work in schools and in community settings. You’ll be working alongside young people who may be navigating complex challenges, including community safety concerns and the risks of exploitation. Your role will be to build trust, provide meaningful support and empower them to make positive choices for their future. If you’re committed to creating lasting change and have the skills to connect with and inspire young people, we’d love to hear from you! These part-time youth work roles will be in different local communities according to need. Initially this will likely involve supporting young people in our East London boroughs (Hackney, Tower Hamlets and Newham). 

Are you interested in developing your skills in a role that makes a lasting difference to the lives of women in Bristol?

Not sure if this is the right role for you?  taking on a short term contract could be a great way to develop practical skills, and find out more about working in this type of role for your future career.  

Join the Bristol Women’s Pathway (*women only) as a Duty Worker on a fixed term contract until August 2026.

This service provides, trauma-informed accommodation and housing related support for women at a critical time in their lives. Our residents have complex needs have experienced homelessness and are fleeing or at risk of domestic and gender-based violence. We work with a recovery-based approach, offering a safe space for women to rebuild their lives.

in the rewarding role of Duty Worker, you’ll gain valuable experience working alongside a dedicated team to deliver a safe, inclusive, and high-quality service. You’ll be the first point of contact at reception, helping create a welcoming and supportive environment. Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the day-to-day running of the project.
• Managing reception duties, including phones, access, and basic client support.
• Maintaining communal and office spaces.
• Coordinating health & safety checks and admin tasks.
• Providing person-centred support to residents.
• Working a weekly shift rota (including early/evening shifts, weekends, and bank holidays).

About You
This is a brilliant opportunity if you're looking to grow your career in the sector, many of our current managers began as Duty Workers, so why not take that first step?

We’d love to hear from you if you bring:

• Great communication skills and some experience providing a service to others - whether in retail, hospitality, care, or community work you’ll be able to engage with people in a busy environment.
• Empathy and understanding of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.
• A genuine interest in supporting vulnerable women to make positive changes in their lives.
• Solid organisational skills, with basic IT and admin capability.
• A proactive attitude and a willingness to learn and grow.
• We actively welcome applications from people with lived experience. We value the positive impact and important insight this can have on the work that we do at St Mungo’s

*For posts in our Women’s service for genuine occupational requirement reasons we are looking to appoint a female only for these posts (exemption under the Equality Act 2010 Part 1 Schedule 9). 

How to apply

To view the job description and guidance on completing your application form, please click on the ‘document’ tab on the advert page on our website.

To find out more and apply please go to the St Mungo’s careers page on our website.

Closing date: 10 am on 16 February 2026

Interview and assessments on: 25-27 February 2026

St Mungo's are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage applications from all under-represented groups.

What we offer

• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• A Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
• Great Pay and Other Benefits

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Deputy Manager to join our Mental Health Social Care Service in Tower Hamlets. No personal care or experience is required, just the right values.

£36,000 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
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
* 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.
The Deputy Service Manager will play a central role in the day-to-day leadership and development of Barnsley Street Project, a co-located pilot service operating with East London Foundation Trust (ELFT - NHS) and the Third Sector Mental Health Alliance partners. The service provides six hospitality beds for short-term stays and a drop-in service operating 8am-8pm for anybody in the community needing support with their mental health. This role is designed for a reflective, values-led manager who is comfortable working without fixed templates, and who can hold clinical, ethical, and organisational complexity.
Barnsley Street is intentionally experimental. It seeks to move away from coercive, compliance-driven models of mental health support and instead develop humane, relational, psychologically informed ways of working that prioritise choice, collaboration, dignity and proportionality in risk management. The Deputy Service Manager will work closely with the Service Manager to build, test and refine new processes in real time, while maintaining accountability, safety, and learning.
The post holder will provide operational leadership, line management and practice leadership to frontline staff. They will deputise for the Service Manager when required and act as a key interface between Look Ahead, ELFT and Third Sector colleagues, commissioners, and wider system partners.
Working pattern is 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, with some flexibility to support the supervision of Waking Night Support Workers.

What you'll do:

Practice & service leadership
* Provide day-to-day operational leadership of the service, supporting the development of a psychologically informed, anti-coercive and relational culture.
* Act as a visible practice leader, modelling curiosity, reflective thinking, and ethical decision-making in complex and uncertain situations.
* Work collaboratively with ELFT and Third Sector partners within the shared building, contributing to genuinely integrated ways of working.
* Support the development, testing and refinement of new ways of working, including alternatives to traditional risk assessment, escalation, and containment-focused responses.
* Hold and communicate the service's values and purpose, particularly when under pressure and scrutiny.

Risk, safeguarding & governance
* Lead a proportionate, relational and least-restrictive approach to risk, balancing safety with autonomy, dignity, and psychological safety.
* Support staff to think critically about risk management, encouraging a proportional response that puts the customer at the heart of the process.
* Ensure safeguarding concerns are identified, held and responded to in line with statutory requirements, while maintaining a trauma-informed and non-punitive stance.
* Work alongside the Service Manager to ensure appropriate recording, learning, and reflective review of incidents, near-misses, and complexities.
* Contribute to a learning culture where mistakes, uncertainty, and anxiety can be thought about.

People management & staff development
* Provide direct line management, supervision, reflective space for Support Workers, Specialist Support Workers and Waking Night Support Workers.
* Deliver high-quality supervision that integrates performance, wellbeing, emotional impact, and practice reflection.
* Support staff to develop confidence in working relationally and tolerating uncertainty.
* Identify learning and development needs within the team and support progression, retention, and succession planning.
* Foster a culture of trust, shared responsibility, and mutual accountability, avoiding micromanagement while maintaining clear boundaries and expectations.

Please see our jobs site for the full job description.

Age UK Bromley & Greenwich is an independent local charity supporting older people across both boroughs. We work to enable, support and connect older people, promote independence and wellbeing and ensure their voices are heard.

We are looking for an Information & Advice Triage Worker to be the first point of contact for older people, carers and their families seeking support.

About the role

This role is central to our Information & Advice service. You will provide high-quality initial information and guidance, assess urgency and risk, and ensure people are directed quickly and appropriately to advice services, support services or partner organisations.

You will often be the first person someone speaks to, so a calm, empathetic and professional approach is essential.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for enquiries, mainly by telephone, with some face-to-face and email contact

• Provide accurate information on issues affecting older people including benefits, housing, care, health and local services

• Carry out structured triage to identify needs, priorities and risks

• Manage expectations clearly and sensitively

• Identify safeguarding concerns and follow organisational procedures

• Make timely referrals to internal services and external partners

• Maintain clear professional boundaries while offering a warm, person-centred response

• Record all contacts accurately and promptly on the organisation’s CRM system

• Maintain clear, concise and professional case notes

• Ensure confidentiality, consent and data protection requirements are met

• Work closely with advisers, service coordinators and partner agencies

• Take part in team meetings, supervision and training

• Keep knowledge up to date on welfare benefits, services and local provision

• Promote Age UK Bromley & Greenwich services positively and professionally

About you

Essential

• Experience in frontline information, advice, triage or high-volume customer contact work

• Confidence handling calls from people who may be distressed, anxious or frustrated

• Strong listening and questioning skills

• Ability to assess urgency and risk and take appropriate action

• Clear verbal and written communication skills

• Experience using a CRM or case management system

• Good general IT skills including email and Microsoft applications

• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries

• Awareness of issues affecting older people and carers

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

• Empathy, patience and a non-judgemental approach

Desirable

• Experience in the voluntary sector or health and social care

• Knowledge of welfare benefits, housing or adult social care

• Experience of face-to-face advice or reception-based work

• Knowledge of local services in Bromley or Greenwich

What we offer

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata), including two days over Christmas

• Pension scheme with 5% employee and 3% employer contributions

• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 support

• Supportive team environment with training and development opportunities

If you want to play a vital role in helping older people feel heard, supported and confident accessing the right help, we would love to hear from you.

Specialist Behaviour Support Worker

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Behaviour Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities Social Care Service in Slough. No personal care or experience is required, just the right values.

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

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

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.

Specialist Behaviour Support Workers are responsible for supporting people with learning disabilities and behavioural needs to live full lives, develop skills, and maintain their wellbeing.

The Common Road Service is a CQC registered is a home for one customer with learning disabilities and Autism, and supported by staff two to one 24 hours 7 days a week we are looking to maintain a staff team with an excellent value base to support the customer to build his life and develop his skills as an independent person.

What you'll do:

• Supporting the customer to undertake a full timetable of preferred activities including art, visiting galleries, attending community groups, visiting local amenities, and introducing them to new activities to expand their horizons and networks.
• Developing the customer's independent living skills and involving them in all aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning, and decorating.
• Enabling the customer to keep up with the important people in their life and to meet new people with shared interests.

• Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs and communicating with them in a person-centred way.
• Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties and frustrations, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches.
• Collating a range of behavioural data and essential paperwork to be analysed within our local management structure.

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:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent
• Minimum 2 years of experience working with customers with Autism/Challenging Behaviour/learning disabilities
• Driving licence and a willingness to drive as part of support duties

Desirable:

• Experience of facilitating creative activities for vulnerable adults

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.

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.

We are recruiting for 2 Refuge Workers to join our team in Athena Lewisham; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Athena Lewisham
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Full-time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5

We are looking for a Refuge Worker to work within our service in our Lewisham refuges offering high-quality support to women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Based in Lewisham, London, this role involves delivering practical and emotional support to survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them rebuild their lives. As part of your role, you will create a safe and welcoming environment in our Refuge for our resident, in line with Refuge’s values and commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

As a Refuge Worker, you will support women through crisis, providing keywork sessions, safety planning, and advocacy. You will assist with accessing housing, welfare benefits, legal support, and other essential services while maintaining accurate case records. You will also play a vital role in ensuring the effective operation of the refuge, managing referrals, and working collaboratively with partner agencies. You will have the opportunity to work with statutory services as well as other charities. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and resilient individual with strong communication and organizational skills. While experience in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector is beneficial, we also welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a commitment to supporting survivors. Above all, we value individuals who are dedicated to making a difference, thrive in an inclusive environment, and are committed to their own personal development while supporting others.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while developing valuable frontline support and advocacy experience. Refuge offers ongoing training, professional development, and a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring that our staff are valued and supported in their roles. If you are passionate about empowering survivors and want to be part of a dedicated, compassionate organization, we encourage you to apply.

Join us to empower survivors and help them rebuild their lives.

Closing date: 9.00am on 20 February 2026

Interview date: 6 March 2026

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Catch22 exists to help build a society where everyone has a good place to live, good people around them, and a fulfilling purpose. We call these our '3Ps'.

We achieve this in two ways. First, we improve lives on the frontline through delivery of public services. Secondly, we use our knowledge to change 'the system', to fix the complex web that can trap and disempower those it was set up to help. With the heart of a charity and the mindset of a business, we are uniquely placed to deliver on this challenging agenda.

Our Young People & Families (YP&F) Operational Hub delivers a wide range of integrated support services designed to help resolve complex difficulties experienced by young people and their families/carers.

Support is provided to people who find themselves in a range of circumstances; they may be missing from home or have emotional, housing or substance misuse issues. We also support families where parents/carers are experiencing domestic abuse, substance misuse, emotional issues, homelessness or unemployment. Whatever the situation, we work alongside young people and their carers to find a way of stabilising their lives.

Redthread is a hospital based youth work service, working alongside NHS staff and other professionals in emergency departments.

Our experienced, specialist youth workers engage with and support young people, aiming to support them with their needs in hospital and post-discharge. We often meet young people at a moment of change and work with them to find a positive way forward.

We provide long-term, holistic support. We consider every aspect of a young person’s life and build support around them.

About the Mental Health Youth Work Service Pilot

The prevalence of reported mental health challenges in children and young people living in England have been increasing.  In addition, research tells us that children and young people facing such challenges with their mental health are more likely to self-harm. For some children and young people, A&E Departments may be a first point of contact with healthcare services following self-harm. While in recent years the number of attendances by children and young people for mental health needs and/or self-harm have stabilised, there was a sharp increase in attendances following the pandemic. For children and young people who have gone to A&E for support with their mental health, such as following self-harm, waiting a long time in A&E can be hard. A&E Departments are often very busy and loud places and there is not always access to secluded space for those who have gone to A&E when experiencing difficulties with their mental health.

Children and young people who are also neurodiverse may find the environment particularly challenging and overstimulating while they are waiting to access care and support. This pilot aims to strengthen the offer of support to young people aged 11-18 in A&E, and also consider the wider social and emotional wellbeing needs of those individuals whilst in that environment and following discharge by ensuring there is follow up support for a variety of services.

The Mental Health Youth Work Service model has been informed by young people with experience of hospital attendances after self-harming, and their feedback has been used to shape the care we aim to deliver.

The service runs across two hospital sites in London: King’s College Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital. There will be a team consisting of one Senior Youth Worker and a Youth Worker embedded in each site.

Job Description

Where you fit in

This is an exciting new service working in partnership with King’s College Hospital Accident and Emergency Department. The project is a pilot that aims to provide specialist Youth Work support for young people presenting to a hospital because of their mental health, and specifically where they attend because of self-harm.

The Senior Youth Worker will lead on the Mental Health Youth Work service embedded within the A&E department. This will involve line management responsibilities for the Mental Health Youth Worker, partnership working to build relationships both internally within the hospital and externally in the local community, and with both statutory and non-statutory partners.

The Senior Youth worker will be expected to support and build trusting relationships with young people who present with acute needs and are often in a crisis. They will manage a caseload of their own, with contact taking place both in the hospital and post-discharge in the community.

The Senior Youth Worker will ensure the integration of the service at their respective hospital A&E department, and work alongside the Team Leader in reporting, monitoring and evaluation requirements

Main Duties & Accountabilities

• Lead the delivery of the Mental Health Youth Work service for young people aged 11-18 who attend the A&E department. Ensure that all young people are assessed holistically and care plans are tailored, trauma-informed and empowering, with the aim of reducing further harm.

• Line manage the Mental Health Youth Worker, providing guidance and direction through regular contact and meetings, case allocation, caseload oversight and one-to-one supervision, both formally and informally.

• In collaboration with the other Senior Youth Worker, provide overall support to the team to develop and improve skills, including assessment and recording, to ensure that Redthread’s model of intervention is delivered consistently.

• Promote high levels of wellbeing for staff members who are working with young people who have experienced acute and chronic mental health challenges

• Hold a caseload and work with young people with often complex needs, in a range of settings, including in A&E, in the community, face-to-face and virtually where required, and promote their personal, educational, health and social development through all interactions

• Assist with the on-going development of the service model to ensure that young people and other stakeholders gain the maximum benefit from Redthread’s interventions

• Along with the team, tailor and design youth work resources that are specific to the young people we are working with

• Contribute to the training programme that Redthread provides for hospital staff, including informal microteaching and more formal presentations.

• With support from the Team Leader, maintain strong working relationships within the Hospital, and NHS staff ensuring that Redthread youth workers are fully embedded in the health setting and are working with clinical staff to deliver a service that meets the needs of young people, including promoting the service within the hospital and attending appropriate internal meetings

• Assist in building and maintaining strong working relationships with Redthread stakeholders, project partners and with other agencies working with young people and to represent Redthread at external meetings as required.

• Ensure that as a team, you are proactive in researching and networking with other organisations working with young people in the area served by the hospital to ensure that the Youth Workers have a good knowledge of other services and projects that may be of interest to the young people we work with or appropriate for us to refer to.

• Attend multi-disciplinary team meetings in hospital, working with ED staff and CAMHS teams to support and safeguard young people

• Maintain a good level of professional knowledge of the issues affecting young people, particularly related to their mental health needs and self harm.

• In all areas of the work, apply an in-depth understanding of safeguarding responsibilities when working with children and young people, and provide guidance to your team members that adheres to Redthread’s Safeguarding policy and procedures and safeguarding policies of respective NHS Trusts.

• Ensure information resources such as client forms, databases and contact files are kept fully up-to-date and secure, in line with GDPR, the Data Protection Act and our Confidentiality Policy and Consent Policy. Maintain high-quality recording of interventions with young people on our database, Salesforce, in line with Redthread’s best-practice requirements. (Training will be provided.)

• Collect and record evidence of project outcomes and young people’s achievements, to ensure the completion of monitoring forms and project progress reports as required.

• Work as part of a team to continue to develop the programme’s monitoring and evaluation in order to facilitate internal reflection and learning, and to demonstrate its effectiveness and impact to external stakeholders.

 • To ensure that the Youth Worker accurately captures and records data on the CRM system. To ensure that it can be used to identify trends and provide insights. To use these insights and trends to shape service delivery and share information with partners.

• With support from the Team Leader and oversight from the Service Manager, produce monthly and quarterly reports as required by funders and to inform leaders of the operational performance of the organisation.

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential:

Relevant level 3 or 4 qualification in health & wellbeing, youth provision or similar or demonstrable equivalent experience

Desirable:

A degree-level qualification in social work, youth work, social science, education or another relevant field
Qualifications in counselling and/or mental health first aid for young people

KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• A thorough knowledge and understanding of the physical, social and emotional developmental needs of young people • Understanding of the issues faced by young people living in inner city areas • An awareness of child protection and safeguarding issues and knowledge of current best practice within the youth work sector • Knowledge of Mental Health systems and processes and the function of statutory services such as CAMHS • Knowledge of the specific needs of young people who self harm • A knowledge of best practice in case recording

Desirable

• Knowledge of capacity and consent issues including Gillick competence • Knowledge of solution-focused brief therapy tools or a similar counselling methodology. • Knowledge of psycho-education tools appropriate to share with children and young people who also may be neurodivergent • Knowledge of health inequalities and how these can affect different groups/individuals

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Significant professional experience of working with vulnerable young people in a range of activities and settings • Experience working with young people in a health and well-being context, especially with young people experiencing mental health challenges • Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team • Experience of leading and managing a project to enable growth and continuity • Experience in developing and maintaining excellent relationships with partner organisations • Experience in planning and delivering training

Desirable

• Experience of working in a London borough • Experience in leading, managing, supporting, and motivating a team in their work • Experiencing of developing a project’s processes, procedures, and policies • Experience of monitoring and evaluation systems to measure programme impact

SKILLS & ABILITIES

Essential

• Resilient and reflective • Well-developed verbal and written communication skills and an ability to interact young people on a one-to-one basis within a range of contexts • Ability to plan and manage own workload • Accurate data entry and record keeping and monitoring processes Ability to use up-to[1]date IT systems • Able to analyse and evaluate information and provide effective management oversight of high-risk complex cases. • Able to oversee cases using an electronic database

Desirable

• Leadership and management skills to enable the team to have a clear sense of direction, feel motivated and have a clear understanding of how their own roles contribute to and enhance the work of the organisation • Able to provide supervision, guidance, and support to youth work teams, particularly around task allocation, setting priorities and personal development
 

OTHER

Share Catch22 values
Awareness of and commitment to Equality & Diversity
Willing to travel and work flexibly
Desire to develop and undertake training as required
● Enthusiasm for Redthread’s work
● Approachable, self-motivated and committed to continuous personal development
● A commitment to and understanding of equal opportunities as they apply to all aspects of Redthread’s work

Additional information

Those interested in applying for this opportunity should review the Job Description & Person Specification to find out more.

When applying please be cautious over the answers you provide. If you select “NO” to the screening question regarding Right to Work in the UK, your application will automatically be closed. 

Contract: Permanent

Hours & work pattern: 37 hours per week, with regular evening and weekend shifts required. Evening shifts cover the hours of 1pm to 9:00 pm 

Salary: £32,917.50 per annum

Location: King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London. With regular travel to other Redthread sites and offices when required.

Screening: Successful admission to post subject to enhanced DBS check and employer Right To Work in the UK check. The post-holder must have right to work in the UK. Catch22 does not currently provide a licence to sponsor visas but please see this register to see those that do.

To Apply: Please provide your CV and cover letter, along with the completion of the screening questions to express your interest in this opportunity. Please note, in the interest of safer recruitment and ensuring that applicants are a right fit for the role, submitted applications must contain a CV, satisfactory responses to the screening questions, and information detailing interest in the role, to be considered for this position.

Closing date: Thursday 19th February at 5pm

Interviews will be held in week commencing 2nd March

AI generated applications are not acceptable and could lead to a disqualification of your current and future applications across Catch22 jobs. In order to ensure that applications are fair, genuine, and representative of the candidate applying, our teams may use a number of tools to identify occurrences where candidates have not given an honest response during the application process. 

Catch22’s Commitment to Ban the Box

Catch22 is proud to have “Banned the Box”. This means that we do not ask for candidates to disclose criminal convictions at the application stage. Instead, we invite disclosures at interview stage, and encourage them at the offer stage. 

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See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

See the benefits of working for Catch22 here.

Unless otherwise stated, interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

At Catch22 we value equality, diversity and inclusion. We are wholeheartedly committed to the principle of equality of opportunity, both as an employer and as a provider of services. Diversity and Inclusion is part of what we do every day, working to deliver our vision to build a strong society where everyone has good people around them, a purpose, and a good place to live.

Catch22 is committed to rigorous safeguarding and safer recruitment practices; ensuring that every individual within the organisation has been safely and appropriately checked.

Please note, we will conduct an online search as part of our due dilligence checks for successful candidate(s). This will involve a search of all publicly available information online and in social media.