Entry level jobs for the Housing and Homelessness sector
About the role:
ELMS is a specialist mental health service in Leyton supporting adults living with long-term mental health conditions to remain well, connected to their communities and out of hospital. Made up of an office base, four supported houses, a small floating support offer and a structured day programme, ELMS provides longer-term accommodation rooted in stability, trust and continuity.
As Night Concierge, you’ll be the steady presence that holds the service overnight. From 10pm to 8am, you’ll be the first point of contact for residents, the guardian of the buildings, and the calm voice on the end of the phone when reassurance is needed. You’ll take responsibility for the ELMS duty phone, offering grounding, clarity and emotional containment to residents who may need support during the night.
This is a role with quiet impact. By maintaining safety, responding proportionately to concerns and providing a consistent, compassionate presence, you’ll create the conditions that allow residents to rest, recover and continue building their lives. It’s work that requires patience, professionalism and sound judgement — and makes a real difference, even when things are quiet.
About you:
- You bring experience of supporting adults with long-term mental health needs, or working in related support or care environments.
- You’re calm, grounded and reassuring, even in uncertain or emotionally charged situations — especially when supporting people by phone.
- You’re confident working independently overnight, with good judgement about when to act and when to escalate.
- You understand the importance of clear boundaries, safety and proportionate responses, while still being warm and person-centred.
- You’re organised and reliable, with strong written skills and the ability to record and hand over information clearly and accurately.
About us:
We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.
In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up.
We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own.
Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable.
We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.
Important info:
Closing date: Sunday 1st February at midnight
Interview date: Tuesday 10th and Weds 11th February at our SHP service in Leyton
This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant.
Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications requiring sponsorship will not be accepted or progressed.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Preventing homelessness, transforming lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
15 hours per week / £26,765 per annum pro rata / fixed term until 31 March 2027 / working two days a week; Tuesday 10am-6pm and Friday 10am-6pm
At YMCA DownsLink Group, our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.
We are recruiting for an Emotional Mental Health Worker to support young people aged 11-25 living in Crawley and surrounding areas.
Mind The Gap Emotional Health Support offers young people an alternative way of accessing mental health support. The service offers support to young people who are struggling to find or engage with the right services. This support offer is youth-work based non-clinical support. Working primarily from Crawley Youth Advice Centre, you will deliver face-to-face sessions using evidence-based interventions to engage, educate and empower young people around issues affecting their emotional wellbeing.
Key responsibilities:
- Offer seven sessions of support to each young person, including initial needs assessment and weekly sessions
- Lead on facilitation of emotional well-being and psycho-educational groups
- Support young people transitioning from specialist CAMHS/AMHS services
- Work systemically with parents/carers, educators, and health professionals
- Develop links with agencies and make appropriate referrals
- Promote service user participation and voice
- Comply with safeguarding, health & safety, data protection and EDI policies
Qualifications, knowledge, and experience
- Knowledge of issues facing young people, especially those socially excluded
- Experience in safeguarding children and young people
- Ability to support appropriate mental health pathways
- Training in emotional wellbeing interventions or qualification in youth work
- Understanding of short-term support models
Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.
An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment.
Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.
YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns.
Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
At YMCA DownsLink Group, our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.
We are looking for Bank Supported Housing Support Workers to join our Our 16+ Older Looked After Young People (OLYP), Care Leavers and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) services. Our OLYP services delivers specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for living independently, safely explore their increased freedom of choice and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, whilst still having the appropriate level of support from an experienced team.
We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building
Our Bank Support Worker roles are similar to our Support Workers roles, but they work on a more flexible, temporary basis – they are great way into the organisation and can be a stepping stone into other roles.
You will be offered available shifts (day, evening, night, weekends and bank holidays) in advance and at short notice – you choose which ones you want to work.
In this rewarding role you will work proactively and creatively alongside young people providing support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building. You will contribute to the smooth and safe running of the services by providing consistency and reliability.
You will ideally have experience of working with a similar client group and a good understanding of the key risks, challenges and opportunities for young people.
If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Specialist Support Worker - Co-Production Lead
We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our homelessness Social Care Service in Tower Hamlets.
£29.073 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Want to feel valued? 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
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.
What you'll do:
Support customers with job searches and employment search as well as support with completing job applications and CVs
Carrying out holistic assessments of new customers which incorporate relevant statutory referral information
Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
Key-working the most complex service-users with particular needs aligned with the post holder's specialism - Co-Production
Create support plans for providing appropriate services based on on-going assessment and reflecting the services and resources available to enable customer to progress in their recovery
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
Provide support and access to relevant services to enable customers to continue their recovery and empower customers to self-manage their medication regimes through individual re-enablement programmes and informed decision making
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:
Embraces a Psychologically Informed approach
Is capable of maintaining unconditional positive regard
Views challenging behaviour as a support need.
A strong specialist support worker with excellent interpersonal skills
Socially adept, networks widely, well connected in sector, influential
Approachable, open & professional behaviour
At ease in directing others, is assertive and independent minded, will challenge others, and skilled in resolving conflict
Drives change, enjoys dynamic diverse environments and demonstrates entrepreneurialism, creativity and innovation
Demonstrates significant confidence and high levels of self-esteem
Demonstrates significant levels of emotional resilience and a positive attitude
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is passionate and enthusiastic about the business
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Is Customer focussed
We welcome applications from individuals with lived experiences of using services
What you'll bring:
Essential:
Up to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a relevant area (e.g. psychology, Health and Social Care, Mental Health) OR experience in the social care/charity sector.
Experience building and develop strong professional partnerships with external providers aligned to their specialism
Desirable:
2-3 years experience providing targeted recovery focussed support to individuals with needs around trauma, mental health, substance use and dual diagnosis.
For our full job description please visit our website
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.