Specialist Caseworker - Emergency Department

Fixed-Term Contract until 31 March 2027

Full-time, 35 hours a week.

Based at Newham University Hospital

Are you a proactive, compassionate and engaging individual with a proven record of engaging successfully with ‘challenging’ young people? Then join St Giles as an ED Specialist Caseworker, and you will be embarking on a highly rewarding and career-enhancing position.

About St Giles

An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others. 

St Giles is expanding its delivery of hospital-based projects; this service is aimed at vulnerable 12 to 25-year-olds who attend the adult or paediatric emergency department or Urgent Care Centre at Northwick Park Hospital. We will work alongside hospital staff to proactively identify vulnerable young people and help them to access and engage the support they need to prevent any potential escalation of violence and reduce the risk of repeat victimisation or exploitation.

About this key role

You will be embedded in the hospital, providing support for those young people admitted to emergency departments right through to their discharge back into the community. This support extends post-discharge from the ED or Hospital with our Caseworkers working with the CYP and the professional networks to ensure the CYP voice is front and centre, this is to support the betterment of the CYP and their future, as well as reducing risks. This is done through providing 121 support in formulating the support plan with the CYP. This can also include supporting the family and advocating for them and CYP within the wider professional network.  

We actively encourage people with personal experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing this client group to apply for this role.

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience of providing support, advice and advocacy and communicating the needs of clients to other professionals
• Substantial experience of engaging successfully with ‘challenging’ young people, for example people who have complex needs, people who are reluctant to discuss their needs, and people who are angry and confused
• Experience of assessing risk and implementing safety procedures when thinking about children and young people involved in or at risk of violence or exploitation
• Substantial experience of working as part of a multiagency team, working together to achieve positive outcomes for young people
• Knowledge and an understanding of issues facing this client group such as youth offending, knife crime, social exclusion and isolation, child criminal exploitation, adverse childhood experiences, and trauma

In return, you can expect a competitive salary, generous leave allowance, staff pension, access to clinical supervision, flexible working, a mentoring programme, an advice and counselling service, season ticket loan and much more.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.

As an organisation that works with children and adults at risk we are committed to safeguarding, protecting and promoting the safety of our clients and successful applicants will be Enhanced Adult and Children with the Child Barred DBS Checked.

This role will require the post holder to obtain an honorary contract with the NHS.  An honorary contract enables St Giles Trust staff to work in the hospital and access hospital IT systems. 

This is a fixed term role until 31 March 2027

Closing date: 24th August 2026.