Homeless Support Worker

Homeless Support Worker

Southampton Street Intensive Homeless Hostel

Southampton

42 Hours per week

Rota of 3 days on and 3 days off (8am – 8pm)

Salary Scale: £29,453 per annum for 42 hours per week (FTE £25,947 per annum based on 37 hours per week)

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association.  The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.

The Impact You'll Make

Southampton Street Intensive Homeless Hostel has a permanent vacancy for a Homeless Support Worker to work in a busy, demanding, but rewarding environment. You will work in SSJ’s 24/7 intensive homelessness accommodation, helping to provide life-skills and housing-related support to individuals with complex needs through a trauma-informed, strength-based approach including structured support planning and guidance.

Who We're Looking For

We are looking for an empathetic, flexible, and resilient individual who can adapt to meet the needs of our clients. You will possess a strong sense of humour, emotional intelligence, and a compassionate approach to dealing with individuals with complex needs and challenging behaviour. Ideally, you will have experience or knowledge of working with homeless and vulnerable people in a residential setting or similar environment.

Essential Skills and Qualities

• Experience or understanding of working with people with histories of homelessness, mental health problems, and substance misuse.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues, substance use, equality and diversity, and safeguarding vulnerable adults. 
• Ability to build positive working relationships and communicate effectively (verbally and in writing) with clients, colleagues, and external partners. 
• Strong literacy and IT skills to maintain case notes, write emails, and update client files. 
• Good time management skills, self-awareness, and the ability to maintain professional boundaries at all times. 
• Ability to deal with difficult and challenging behaviour calmly and effectively. 
• Ability to use initiative in responding to emergencies or unexpected situations. 
• Commitment to harm minimisation, promoting life skills, and offering emotional support.

What we can offer you

We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

• A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Company cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme
• Blue Light Card 

SSJ are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life. 

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website at . 

Application closing date: Friday 31^st July 2026 

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.

Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.