Specialist housing first worker jobs

This is an exciting role in our committed policy team leading the fight to end child poverty in the UK. The government has just published a UK wide cross-government child poverty strategy, and made some historic commitments to reduce child poverty including scrapping the two-child limit and expanding free school meals in England. However, there is more to do, and this is a great time to join CPAG as we look to monitor the impact of these changes and influence policy makers and parliamentarians to ensure child poverty is high up the agenda.

We are looking for someone with a track record of communicating complex policy areas in an accessible manner to a range of non-specialist audiences. You will have knowledge of parliamentary processes and the different advocacy levers that can be used to influence change. You will enjoy working collaboratively to identify policy issues and develop solutions, working closely with colleagues across the organisation as well as externally.

In addition, in a senior policy officer we are looking for someone to take a lead role in developing CPAG’s policy and research programme, including leading the delivery of research projects, helping to shape our press and campaigns work, and contributing to the development of future projects including fundraising.

You will have a track record of producing high quality research and analysis, including policy briefings, on social policy issues.

The postholder will be working in a fast moving, high profile and complex policy environment and will need to balance short term priorities with long term objectives. Current priorities include influencing the implementation of the forthcoming child poverty strategy, sharing analysis and expertise as part of the DWP’s review of universal credit, and monitoring the development of the green paper on the changes to disability benefits. 

We welcome applications from individuals with the skills and experience outlined and we can be flexible about working arrangements, including considering part time hours. We operate a hybrid working system and would be happy to discuss any flexibilities required. CPAG is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion which you can read more about in the job pack.

Please note we are recruiting for one person with the right fit at either the policy officer or senior policy officer level.

For more information about this post and to apply download the (Senior) Policy Officer job pack.

If you have questions or need specific arrangements or reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process please contact us.

Closing date for applications: Monday 16 March (midnight)

Interviews will be held in London w/c 23 March.

We are recruiting: Housing Officer & Support Worker. 

Location: Telford & Wrekin – onsite only 

Hours: 36, 32 & 18 hr posts available (Please indicate preference when applying) 

Salary: £13.60 p/h (reviewed in April) 

Contract: Permanent 

The role 

Stay is a Telford based charity that supports people experiencing homelessness by providing a range of supported accommodation and tailored support services. Its aim is to help individuals reach their potential and progress toward longer term housing solutions that promote positive wellbeing and healthy lifestyles. 

As a Housing Officer & Support Worker, you will play a vital role in delivering intensive housing management and personalised support to people from diverse backgrounds. Using strength based and Trauma Informed Practice, you will ensure each person receives the guidance they need. You will offer a warm welcome to new tenants as they begin their journey with Stay, ensuring they feel informed, safe, and comfortable in their new environment. Through choice led planning, you will support tenants to work toward their housing aspirations and achieve their personal goals. 

What you need 

A full, valid UK driving licence 

A vehicle insured for business use 

An enhanced DBS check (cost covered by Stay) 

What we offer you 

We offer a friendly, supportive, and flexible working environment where your contribution is valued. You’ll benefit from: 

✅ 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays (enhancements for length of service) 

✅ Birthday off following completion successful probationary period 

✅ Regular supervision and guidance 

✅ Access to our Employee Assistance Programme providing GP access and wellbeing support 

✅ Pension scheme 

✅ Eligible for a Blue Light Card discount scheme 

✅ Fully funded training and continuous development 

About the role:

As a Project Worker at our Stacey Street service in Islington, you’ll support adults who have experienced homelessness or rough sleeping to rebuild stability and move towards independent living. This is a hands-on role in a busy hostel environment where no two days are the same.

You’ll work directly with residents who may be navigating challenges linked to mental health, substance use, trauma or contact with the criminal justice system. Through strengths-based support planning and clear risk management, you’ll help individuals identify goals, overcome barriers and take practical steps forward. From supporting someone to engage with treatment, to sustaining a tenancy or accessing training and employment, your work will focus on realistic, sustainable progress.

Day to day, you’ll build trusted relationships whilst maintaining professional boundaries. You’ll collaborate with internal teams and external partners to coordinate the right support at the right time, ensuring residents are prepared for successful move-on. You’ll keep accurate records, respond calmly in challenging situations and contribute to a psychologically informed environment where people feel respected and motivated to change.

This role is about creating momentum. By helping residents move from crisis towards stability, you’ll play a key part in freeing up hostel spaces for others in urgent need and strengthening SHP’s mission to end homelessness for good. If you’re resilient, person-centred and motivated by seeing people take meaningful steps forward, this is your opportunity to make a tangible impact every day.

About you:

• A non-judgemental approach to working with multi-disadvantaged clients and to promote a strengths-based approach.
• Strong team-working and interpersonal skills, maintaining a collaborative approach to delivering service objectives across work specialisms.
• Experience helping people to identify personal goals and supporting them through a process of change, including managing challenging situations in relation to people, including responding calmly to crisis and deal promptly, effectively and safely to complex situations.
• Strong time management skills, ability to work on own initiative, manage competing priorities and maintain high standards.
• Willingness and ability to work on a rota system of early and late shifts, which may include some variable hours including some evenings and weekends.

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 March at midnight

Interview date:  Monday 9th March at our Stacey Street service in Islington

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 with insufficient right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted for this role. 

Specialist Behaviour Support Worker

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

£28,808.00 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

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:

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.

Your role will include:

• Supporting the customer to lead a full and active life and do things they enjoy, sensitively and persistently trying to new things to open up new opportunities for the customer.
• Developing the customer's independent living skills and involving them in aspects of maintaining and developing their home, including cooking, shopping, cleaning and decorating.
• Supporting the customer in their sensory routine, trialling and testing new sensory experiences.
• Supporting the customer to communicate their wants and needs and develop new ways of doing this, communicating with them in a person-centred way.

• Supporting the customer to manage their anxieties, using Positive Behaviour Support and Autism-specific approaches.

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in with the hobbies and interests of the customer and can facilitate connections with new people and places.
• Has a reasonable level of physical fitness and is able / likes to participate in active pursuits such as running.

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 engaging vulnerable people with complex needs in meaningful activities.

About 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.

Are you passionate about supporting victims of domestic abuse and making a real difference in their lives? Join our dedicated and compassionate team as an Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA).

In this role, you will provide high-quality, survivor-centred support to standard and medium-risk victims of domestic abuse, helping them to increase their safety, navigate their options, and make informed choices about their future.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality, trauma-informed, survivor-centred support to high-risk victims of domestic abuse
• Carry out comprehensive risk assessments and safety planning, using tools such as DASH
• Advocate on behalf of survivors with statutory and voluntary agencies, including police, social care, housing, health, and legal services
• Represent and support clients through the MARAC process, ensuring risks and actions are clearly communicated and followed up
• Support survivors to understand their options around criminal justice, civil remedies, housing, and welfare
• Maintain accurate, confidential case records in line with GDPR, safeguarding, and organisational policies
• Identify and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns involving adults and children
• Build strong multi-agency relationships to improve outcomes and reduce risk for survivors
• Empower survivors to make informed choices and increase their safety and independence

You will need to be a compassionate and resilient professional with:

• A minimum of an A level, NVQ3 or equivalent, a degree or SafeLives (Desirable not essential)
• IDVA qualification (Desirable not essential)
• Comprehensive knowledge of domestic abuse, it's impact and relevant legislation
• Excellent communication, advocacy and problem solving skills
• Experience of working with victims of domestic abuse
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable individuals
• Able to travel across Bedfordshire

We welcome applications from candidates who are either qualified IDVAs or those who do not yet hold the formal qualification but have relevant experience supporting survivors of domestic abuse. If you have demonstrable experience working with high-risk victims, strong safeguarding knowledge, and the skills to provide trauma-informed, survivor-centred support, we would be keen to hear from you. We recognise the value of lived and professional experience and are open to supporting the right candidate to achieve the IDVA qualification as part of the role

Please note that we are unable to provide visa sponsorship accept applications from individuals who already have the right to work in the UK for the position applied for

As some of our roles involve working with vulnerable members of society, this position may require a Basic or Enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be conducted once a conditional offer is made

Previous Applications: We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. However, if you have applied for a similar role within the last 6 months and were not successful, please consider whether your experience has developed further before reapplying

Accessibility & Adjustments: We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and will strive to be as accommodating as possible. Please inform us in advance of any arrangements you may need to fully participate in the process.

At One YMCA, we are an inclusive organisation that actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, welcoming the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We are committed to creating a working environment where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

We welcome applications from all backgrounds, communities, and industries, and are committed to building a diverse workforce made up of a wide range of skills, experiences, and abilities.

This is a  Full Time role.
Hours per week: 37.5
Working Pattern: Monday-Friday

We are recruiting a Young Adult Carers (YAC) Support Worker to join the East London YACs Project, delivered in partnership between Carers Centre Tower Hamlets and City & Hackney Carers Centre. 

About Us 

Carers Centre Tower Hamlets has supported unpaid carers for over 25 years, providing advice, advocacy, wellbeing activities and hospital-based support to carers of all ages. We are rooted in our community and committed to tackling inequality, reducing poverty and improving carers’ life chances. 

City & Hackney Carers Centre has been supporting carers in Hackney and the City of London since 1996. They provide information, peer support, emotional wellbeing services and specialist programmes for carers across the life course. Together, our organisations bring deep local knowledge, strong partnerships and a shared commitment to co-production. 

Through this joint project, we are building a cross-borough service that reduces isolation, improves wellbeing and creates real opportunities for young adult carers aged 16–25. 

About the Role 

Young adult carers often balance education, employment and relationships alongside caring for someone they love. Many experience isolation, stress and limited opportunities. 

This role is about creating safe spaces, building peer networks and supporting young people to shape their futures. 

You will: 

• Provide one-to-one support to young adult carers across Tower Hamlets and Hackney 

• Co-facilitate weekly peer support groups 

• Deliver outreach in colleges, community settings and partner services 

• Organise respite activities, workshops and trips 

• Support young people to access education, employment and wellbeing services 

• Contribute to a co-produced programme designed with young adult carers 

You will help deliver clear project outcomes, including supporting at least 120 young adult carers per year and enabling 80% to report improved wellbeing and reduced isolation. 

About You 

We are looking for someone who: 

• Has experience working with young people aged 16–25 

• Can build trust quickly and facilitate engaging group sessions 

• Understands the pressures faced by young carers 

• Is organised and confident managing a caseload 

• Is committed to equality, inclusion and youth empowerment 

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.

Job Title: West London Family Support Worker 

Salary: £25,353.06

Team: Family Support Team

Hours: 30

Location: Based at Shooting Star House (Hampton), This role will be working across sites and in the community

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our teams support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

About the role

Family Support Workers (FSW) are the frontline of our care. Each FSW holds a caseload of end-of-life and bereaved families. They get to know their families, and check-in regularly with phone calls and home visits and can provide enhanced emotional support where required through more regular contact and interventions. Our FSWs tell families about the many services they can access at Shooting Star, assess their needs and make recommendations to our multi-disciplinary team. They  support families of different ethnicities and families living in poverty, helping our service be as accessible as possible.

Our FSWs work closely with our Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Transition Team and our Care Events Team. Weekly MDT meetings bring the team together to think of ways to help families in crisis. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where the families need it. Our Family Support Workers are hugely appreciated by the families we support.

The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. Day to day duties are:

• Being the on-site duty FSW, welcoming families on site, monitoring email inboxes and answering the Family Support Line.
• Helping with support groups and family events
• Providing on the spot emotional support, sometimes in a crisis where a calm and supportive response is required.
• Visiting newly bereaved families in their homes.
• Supporting families staying at our Christopher’s hospice (booked stays and end of life).
• Attending various locations over the course of a week: hospice, hospital, family homes.
• Building connections with families from different backgrounds, delivering culturally sensitive care.
• Helping safeguard families at risk of harm.
• Acting as an ambassador for Shooting Star’s Specialist Bereavement Service, supporting other care team members with their learning and delivery of the bereavement pathway, and continually seeking ways to improve what we offer families.

The post holder will need to have a UK driving license.

The hours are predominantly worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Once a month, the FSW will work a weekend day (with advance notice). This is in place of a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that week.

About you

This role requires experience of working with children and families who have experienced hardship, or those with complex needs. You should have a calm, positive manner, conveying empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries. We are looking for someone passionate about supporting children and families.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

Pension scheme

• NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
  
  Annual leave

• 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
• 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
  
  Contractual benefits

• Generous sick pay scheme
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
• Flexible working arrangements
• Death in service benefits
• Reimbursed professional membership fees
• Eye care
• Employee referral scheme
• Blue Light discount card
  
  Health and wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Occupational Health
• Mindfulness sessions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Mental Health First Aiders

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.

Anticipated Start Date: 06/04/2026

Prospectus is pleased to be partnering with a mixed gender homelessness charity based in South West London. It’s mission is to provide secure accommodation to those experiencing homelessness, and to support working towards independence and lasting stability. They do this through the provision of a safe and secure hostel with 14 rooms, and communal areas and kitchen, along with a team of great support workers.

As a Support Worker, you will ensure a safe and welcoming service within this 24 hour hostel where welfare dignity and protection is key. Working with vulnerable adults you will remain alert to risks and respond appropriately to concerns or incidents following safeguarding and risk management procedures. You will also hold a small caseload, supporting clients with their key work support that is person centred and trauma informed, focussed on promoting independence, stability and well being.

Due to the nature of the role, you will have experience in building relationships and supporting vulnerable, disadvantaged, or excluded client groups, as well as dealing with challenging behaviours within a similar setting to the homelessness sector.

The ideal candidate will be able to easily demonstrate similar experience, and also be available to work shift patterns based on site in Richmond. 

If you are interested, please apply with just your CV in the first instance (in Microsoft Word format). We are reviewing CVs on an ongoing basis, so it is highly recommended to submit your application as soon as possible. The successful candidate for this role will also be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

Please note this is a full -time role Monday-Sunday, 37.5 hours per week, working on a 5-week rota basis (one week early / one week late, working 1 in 5 weekends):
•   AM – 8:00 – 4:00
•   PM – 14:30 – 22:00 

As a specialist Recruitment Practice Prospectus is committed to building inclusive and diverse organisations, and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Prospectus invests in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you in your application.

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Lambeth, London
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week (As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call Rota).

We are looking for a Refuge Worker to work within our culturally specific refuge to provide specialist, high-quality support to women and children escaping domestic abuse. Based in Lambeth, London, this role involves delivering practical and emotional support to survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them rebuild their lives. Working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, you will create a safe and welcoming environment 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, 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. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and resilient individual with strong communication and organisational 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 organisation, we encourage you to apply.

Closing Date: 09:00am 27 February 2026

Interview Date: 12 and 13 March 2026

Location: Camden and Islington

Salary: £32,319 - £34,538 per annum 

(Please note that applicants are usually appointed at the bottom of the relevant band)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

Contract: Fixed Term Contract (Until 31st March 2027)

Closing Date: Sunday 8th March 2026

Closing Time: 00:00am

Are you looking for a rewarding role working for an intersectional feminist organisation? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you to join our team as an Multiple Disadvantage Refuge Worker at Solace Women's Aid.  

You will be joining a team of committed and inspiring individuals whose dedication has saved the lives of thousands of women, men and children in the capital. We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our services and help us make a difference.

Our core values reflect our history and were developed in consultation with staff and service users. Feminism and intersectionality are key to our work and we are committed to the principles of being survivor-led, trauma-informed, empowering, diverse, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory.

About the Service 

The Multiple Disadvantage role is aimed at providing specialist support services to women living in refuge with multiple needs, who have experienced domestic or sexual violence, and who have mental illness or use substances problematically. You will liaise with partner agencies ensuring services delivered are of the highest standard in line with the organisation aims and objectives.

About the Role 

You will work with women living in refuge within 2 London boroughs, to devise a support plan that meets their immediate practical and emotional needs and start the process of recovery, linking women into more specialist support services where required. The Multiple Disadvantage Worker will undertake risk assessments, safety plans and identify support needs of women such as accessing benefits, budgeting, and explore re settlement pathways from the refuge. You will promote social inclusion, encourage independence and development of personal resilience. You will build up support network for women, promoting and enabling engagement with other services. You will work in partnership with the refuge workers to deliver holistic support to the Multiple Disadvantage (MD) service users in each refuge. You will be expected to work with and support 5 service users in each borough.You will also be required to take on additional tasks in the refuge i.e. health and safety checks, reporting repairs, welfare checks etc.

About You 

You're an individual who has previous relevant experience and direct work within specialist support services to women/families with multiple needs. You'll also have case work experience, providing proactive and emotional support to women who have experienced domestic abuse and provide the support to enable them to recover and rebuild their lives.You bring experience of effective multi‑agency working and a proactive approach to building strong, collaborative partnerships, always representing the organisation with professionalism.

What we can offer you

We provide a comprehensive benefits package to all our employees, including:

• Flexible working
• Focus on learning and development (internal career progression and training)
• Generous holiday entitlement
• Employer pension contribution
• Family-friendly leave and enhanced maternity pay
• Access to Inclusion Networks
• Daily clinical debriefing
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free 24/7 support and advice
• Employee Benefits Platform offering staff discounts, benefits and savings
• Flow & Restore yoga classes
• Meditation sessions
• Cycle to Work Scheme

How to apply

When applying for this role, kindly highlight in your Supporting Statement how your values, knowledge, transferrable skills, and experience align with each point within the following sections of the Job Profile Document:

• Values, Behaviours & Competencies
• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Solace Women's Aid values diversity, promotes equity, and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates of diverse cultures, abilities, perspectives, and lived experiences. We have policies and processes in place to ensure that all employees are offered an equal opportunity in recruitment and selection, promotion, training, pay, and benefits. Our Inclusion Networks support staff with protected characteristics and offer inclusive spaces to connect.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. We anticipate and provide reasonable adjustments as needed and support employees who acquire a disability or long-term health condition, enabling them to stay in work.

This service is run by women for women and is therefore restricted to female applicants under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, and Part 1. Section 7(2) e of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 apply. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

As part of safer recruitment practices, we carry out pre-employment checks including references, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and right to work in the UK checks.

No agencies.

In accordance with the Christian ethos and values of the Boaz Trust, the Support Worker is responsible for participating in the successful delivery of a frontline support service working with people who are facing homelessness after being granted refugee status:

• To provide practical and holistic support to people with refugee status who are referred into the project (individuals and families)
• To build positive and productive relationships with colleagues in local authorities, housing providers, landlords and voluntary sector organisations
• To play a supportive and collaborative role working alongside the wider staff team.

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. 

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Recovery Worker to play a pivotal role in our Medway Recovery House in Kent.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

The role involves supporting service users from referral through admission, ensuring their physical and emotional needs are met while collaborating with clinical teams for smooth transitions. Staff provide activities and interventions to help reduce crises, identify triggers, and create safety plans that promote mental health and prevent hospital admissions. One-on-one sessions are conducted to develop wellness recovery action plans, set SMART goals, and build social networks, alongside practical life skills training such as food preparation. Staff also liaise with statutory and voluntary agencies, deliver post-admission welfare support, and maintain high living standards between admissions, all while engaging in professional development to address challenges like self-harm and substance use.

The position emphasizes teamwork, co-production, and administrative duties. Staff collaborate with Recovery Workers and management to deliver a team-based approach, promote services, and support user engagement in peer-led activities and forums. They are responsible for maintaining accurate service user records, monitoring service upkeep, ensuring health and safety compliance, and working with multi-agency providers under governance protocols. Additionally, they contribute to developing service standards, follow policies and legislation, report maintenance issues, and undertake additional duties as required, always upholding health and safety rules and procedures.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here's what the team will be looking for

The role requires demonstrable experience supporting people with mental health and complex needs, along with a strong understanding of recovery approaches and co-production. Staff should be able to design and deliver activities that reduce anxiety, build confidence, and support individuals in creating their own recovery journeys. This includes engaging service users in assessments, co-producing and reviewing support and safety plans, and maintaining accurate monitoring records for internal use and external reporting. A good knowledge of legislation, including welfare reform, the Care Act, and housing pathways, is essential, as well as the ability to handle financial transactions accurately and use IT systems, including MS Office and case management tools.

Flexibility and resilience are also key, with the need to work evenings, weekends, and bank holidays, while maintaining high service standards in unpredictable or challenging situations. The role requires excellent stakeholder relationship skills and the motivation to deliver consistent, high-quality support. An understanding of basic building safety issues and the ability to identify repairs is desirable. Overall, the position combines strong technical knowledge, administrative accuracy, and interpersonal skills to ensure effective support and recovery-focused care for service users.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.