Support worker jobs

Role purpose
The Client Support Worker (Crisis Navigator) will work with clients to provide non-judgemental, person-centred support. The work undertaken will be led by the different needs of each client, but will include: liaising with statutory services and advocating for clients’ needs to be met, for example with housing teams, social care, mental health services, etc.; support with form filling; support with grants, welfare benefits and income maximisation; emergency applications; supporting with emotional needs and psychoeducation.

The successful candidate will manage a caseload of individuals, taking referrals from their legal colleagues. This will involve a combination of immediate intervention (for example, access to a medication prescription upon release from custody), and longer-term work, planned in partnership with clients. Preventative work will be actively encouraged, supporting clients to address needs before crisis point wherever possible – both through direct work and through referrals and signposting.

Due to the nature of the work, if successful, you will need to have an up-to-date DBS check completed prior to undertaking unsupervised client work.
 

Key Responsibilities

• Triage, onboard and support a caseload of individuals autonomously
• Maintain an up to date understanding of what needs clients might have (e.g. with welfare benefits, support from statutory services, housing)
• Liaise with core agencies (social services, mental health teams, GPs, VCSE organisations)  
• Provide advice and information relating to all welfare benefits, including assisting clients with form filling and contacting relevant agencies on the individuals’ behalf
• Complete emergency applications and grant applications
• Attend training, forums and meetings to ensure knowledge remains relevant and up to date
• Keep up to date about current best practice and legislation within mental health, as well as within the field of information & advice more generally
• Provide updates and feedback to the relevant lawyers / legal teams
• Engage in multi-disciplinary meetings, both internally and externally
• Use our database to record details of all client referrals and contacts to ensure client information is kept up to date
• Use the correct templates, conduct outcomes and satisfaction assessments with clients on closure
• Record the results of outcome assessments and satisfaction surveys
• Undertake additional duties that may reasonably be required to fulfil the objectives of the post
   

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Substantial experience of working with people experiencing challenging situations with a non-judgemental, person-centred approach
• At least one year experience working in a crisis setting or with people experiencing crises (for example, inpatient mental health settings, homelessness relief services, drug and alcohol services, working with people going through the asylum process)
• Knowledge of statutory entitlements and experience advocating for clients
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health needs and neurodiversity
• Experience of managing complex cases and autonomously managing a caseload
• Experience of multi-agency and/or multi-disciplinary working, especially alongside safeguarding processes
• Experience of maintaining client records, in line with monitoring and evaluation requirements, both for funders and developing best practice

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to support people to express their needs and priorities
• High quality of professionalism in supporting people with complex needs
• Ability to communicate with various types of audiences in support of clients – for example, engaging with statutory professionals, solicitors
• Attention to power dynamics of professional working with people in vulnerable positions, and commitment to challenging structural inequalities
• Ability to work flexibly, in line with changing demands of client-facing work
• Ability to plan and prioritise workload
• Commitment to best practice, and maintaining high standard of professional conduct, in line with safeguarding, data protection and lone working standards

We are recruiting for a Children's Support Worker to join our team in Southwark; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: Children's Support Worker

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

Hours: 37.5

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Children Support Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing date: 9.00am on 7 November 2025

Interview date: 17 November 2025

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.

Location: Sheffield

Salary: £31,600 per annum pro rata plus £802 per annum pro rata essential car user allowance

Contract: Fixed term ending 31st March 2027 – funded by the National Lottery

Hours: Full time – 37.5 per week

Closing date: Sunday 9th November 2025 at 11.30 pm

Do you have a good understanding of child development and the needs of homeless families and children plus proven experience of supporting parents and children with complex needs? Then join Shelter as a Children & Families Support Worker and you could soon be playing a vital role aimed at minimising the impact of bad housing, homelessness and exclusion in the Sheffield area.

About the role 

With your own caseload of families, you will act as their key worker within our Family Service and support homeless and poorly housed families to defend their right to a decent home. Your primary focus will be on households where some tailored interventions are required around the needs of the children in order to stabilise their housing situation and enable the family to thrive.

Accordingly, you will provide intensive, tailored support as part of a whole family approach in a 1-2-1 setting and through group work. You will also need to regularly visit clients’ homes, schools and community venues across the city and liaise with other agencies in the community in order to provide a co-ordinated service.

About you 

You have knowledge of child development and a strong understanding of homeless children and families, with experience of supporting parents, children and young people who have complex needs.  You also have knowledge of housing, homelessness and ASB legislation and welfare benefits that affect families and the skills to network and gather information as well as advocacy, negotiation and problem-solving skills.

You will need to be able to demonstrate that you have worked within, or understand, a safeguarding framework, are IT literate and have experience of managing a caseload and can prioritise, organise and set boundaries. With a full driving licence, you will have access to a vehicle for work purposes, an allowance and mileage will be paid.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About the team 

Shelter Sheffield provide housing advice and support to people across the city, with a focus on emergency homelessness, intensive support for children and families, people experiencing domestic abuse and people with multiple and complex needs. We take a holistic approach to help people deal with interrelated issues that can impact their ability to keep a home and work for systemic changes to prevent homelessness and support over 5000 people every year.

About Shelter 

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

How to Apply 

You are required to submit a CV and a separate supporting statement to the following points of the ‘About You’ section of the job description of no more than 350 words each.  Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the following knowledge, experience and behaviours throughout your responses:

1. Your knowledge of;

•Child development and an understanding of the needs of homeless families and children

•And homelessness and housing legislation/ASB legislation/ welfare benefits that affect families.

2.  Your experience of;

•Working within a safeguarding framework and be able to demonstrate your role within this.

3.  Your experience of;

•Supporting parents and children with complex needs and developing parent and child activities, including through play.

4.  How you prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

5.  How you enable decision making

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Job Purpose

This role sits within our crisis alternative service, Safe Space, which is a core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all of our boroughs.

Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis.

The objectives of the service include:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH.
• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA)
• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the support workers will be to support the rest of the team in delivering interventions on a one-to-one. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Understanding of safety planning
• Experience with de-escalation, recognising and mitigating risks.
• Experience of working with challenging behaviour
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Good time keeping skills – Essential
• To attend all mandatory training including safeguarding and GDPR
• To work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and under pressure
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Providing administrative support to the team
• Attend reflective practice, clinical supervision, peer supervision and line management supervision
• Create and maintain good working relationships with partner agencies
• Follow workplans and actively participate in training and development
• Provide and manage resources for clients and staff

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approach
• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and willingness to travel to locations would be desirable.
• Ability to work out of hours and on weekends

You’ll hold a small caseload of families while also supporting the smooth running of our service—helping to coordinate hospital visits, review caseloads, and ensure families get the right help at the right time. You’ll play a key role in building strong relationships with hospital teams, supporting service development, and deputising for the Family Support Manager.

This role covers management of our caseload of families across London and Surrey, supporting families linked to our hospital partnerships including Kingston, Royal Marsden, St George’s, Epsom, St Peter’s and Royal Surrey—with the Evelina Children’s Hospital joining in the future.

Role overview

Leadership & Team Support

· Manage a team of Family Support Workers.

· Oversee caseloads and conduct monthly reviews.

· Ensure regular hospital visits are co-ordinated and met as planned, adjusting in line with need. 

· Support the allocation of referrals across the team to make sure families receive timely and appropriate support.

· Contribute to the recruitment, supervision, and development of Family Support Workers.

· Deputise for the Family Support Manager when needed, including leading team meetings and taking minutes.

· Participate in the weekend on-call rota.

Family Support Delivery

· Hold a small caseload, providing empathetic, non-judgemental emotional and practical, needs-led, support.

· Plan and attend family events, working with external suppliers where needed.

· Provide regular visits to nominated hospitals and ensure families are linked in with appropriate services.

· Participate in multidisciplinary meetings, safeguarding boards, and service planning discussions.

Hospital & Community Partnerships

· Build and maintain strong working relationships with hospital teams and community partners.

· Maintain regular contact with paediatric teams to share patient updates and identify new needs.

· Deliver presentations and training to raise awareness of Momentum.

· Identify new partnership and referral opportunities in clinical and community settings.

· Support the transition of hospital services from the Royal Marsden to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.

Service Monitoring & Development

· Support the Family Support Manager in delivering service outcomes and contributing to operational planning.

· Assist in monitoring budgets and ensuring services align with the operational plan.

· Maintain accurate and timely records to support reporting requirements.

· Provide case studies and updates to support fundraising and communications.

Organisational Contribution

• Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
• Attend relevant training and family support events (including evenings/weekends).
• Provide insights and case studies to support fundraising and communications.
• Attend occasional family events and community activities.
• Champion Momentum’s values and safeguarding standards in all areas of work.

Kineara has a new vacancy for an experienced Housing support worker to join our small and dedicated team for our new School Housing Advice project.

About the project 

The School Housing Advice Support Project builds on the success of a pilot program and aims to provide tailored housing advice and support to families, particularly those living in temporary accommodation (TA). The project started in January 2025 and is currently being delivered at three primary schools in the borough of Southwark.

The initiative offers practical housing advice, casework, workshops, and legal support through a collaborative partnership between Kineara and Southwark Law Centre. It also addresses challenges such as poor housing conditions, legal proceedings, and impacts on families' health and wellbeing.

About the role 

We are looking for an experienced, motivated and compassionate support worker to deliver housing advice and practical support to parents from four Primary Schools in Southwark. This role involves conducting housing surgeries, providing follow-up casework, and running workshops to empower clients with the knowledge and skills to address their housing-related issues. The successful candidate will work closely with clients to identify their needs and offer tailored solutions to help them achieve sustainable housing outcomes. The role will be based mostly in Southwark, and you will be working in partnership with schools, community organisations and the council to coordinate tailored support for each client to avoid eviction and sustain tenancies, address suitability of the property, mediating with landlords where necessary and providing advice for onward housing when needed. The objectives of these programmes are to avoid evictions, sustain tenancies or move to a better suited property, improve wellbeing and awareness of tenancy rights and housing polices.

About you 

• You will have experience of working with families and individuals with complex needs, as well as some experience of providing housing support.
• You will be an enthusiastic person who has empathy, patience, and a non-judgmental approach to working with clients and who thrives when working independently with a passion to support change.
• You will have excellent interpersonal skills. 
• Have good knowledge of housing policies and tenants' rights, experience of delivering holistic support.
• You will be a solution-minded thinker, have a good understanding of strength-based approaches and be able work committing to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of work.
• Be able to work as part of a team and independently, the roles require you to think creatively and use the resources around you effectively.

About Kineara 

Kineara is a unique community interest company and Charity that supports people in poverty across London who facing barriers to housing, employment and education. We break down barriers, provide holistic support for families, vulnerable adults, and school pupils, and deliver intensive one-to-one interventions to those in need of extra help through challenging times. We use holistic, trauma-informed methods, partnership working and a flexible, non-judgemental approach that puts the needs of those we work with first.

Support Worker at Plus Services

Are you a positive, engaging and caring person that wants to make a real difference to the world?

Do you think the greatest gift you can give is to make other people’s lives better?

Do you believe that people living with Learning Disabilities and Autism should have happy fulfilling lives, with access to the Community and enjoy the same things the rest of us take for granted?

If you answered “Yes” to these 3 Questions then Plus has an amazing role for you!!!!!
 
Who are Plus Services?

Plus is one of the most respected Learning Disability and Autism Charities in London with a proud history stretching back more than 30 years.  We have an amazing team that is dedicated to supporting people to live their best possible lives and we have literally changed people’s worlds with the support we have provided.

Our Client Group is quite varied and during the recruitment process you would be specifically recruited to work with those that your personality, skills and experience would fit best with.  Some have really challenging behaviour, but unless you had the capability to best serve those people you would be assigned to a different group.  So, there is no need to worry about being out of your depth.

We also provide industry leading training and on-going support, so rest assured you will be ready for anything the job throws at you.  I cannot promise you it will be easy, but I can promise you it will be worth it.  And when you go home you will know you have made a massive difference and the world is a slightly better place as a result of your efforts.

Who are you?

You are a caring, compassionate and capable individual?  You could be either already working within Social Care or are thinking about joining the sector.  We recognise everyone, regardless of their personal history, talents, abilities and unique personal qualities

What does matter is you must care and you must want to enhance the lives of the people who we support and rely on us.

You will need to be comfortable spending large amounts of your day one-to-one with the Service Users, there is no leaping from client to client here with 15 minute blocks.  You will need to be happy supporting people to learn new skills and become independent.  And you will need to thrive on taking people out into the big wide world, expanding their horizons, bringing a smile to their faces and adding a spring in to their step.

To be considered for the role you will need to be able to:

•  Do your share of weekend shifts, sleep-ins, waking nights and bank holidays.
•  Be physically fit and able to move freely and physically and to support service users who may be physically dependent.
•  Have a supportive attitude and want to help individuals to maximise their lives.
•  You must be able to support people with Learning Disabilities who have different ways of expressing themselves
•  Be eligible to work in the UK

In return we offer opportunities for professional development and real job satisfaction.  We can help you to develop your professional skills and knowledge and progress toward recognised qualifications such as Diploma in Adult & Social Care levels 3/4/5.

We are reviewing applications on a regular basis as part of our ongoing recruitment process and we are committed to ensuring all candidates are treated fairly 

Available positions: 
Full time Support Worker (38 Hrs per week) 
Locations: Lewisham, Southwark, Greenwich or Sutton
Pay: £27,367
Holidays: 28 days per Annum  

Part time Support Worker  
Locations: Lewisham, Southwark, Greenwich or Sutton
Pay: £27,367 pro-rata 
Holidays: 28 days per Annum (Pro Rata)

Bank Support Worker (zero hours contact)
Location: Lewisham, Southwark, Greenwich or Sutton
Salary:  £13.85 per hour.
Holidays: Based on hours accrued 

Our benefits package includes: 
• Pension contribution scheme
• Fully funded Learning and Development
• Company employee assistance programme service
•  Sleep in allowance

Kineara has a new vacancy for an experienced Housing Support Worker to join our small and dedicated team in this new project supporting recent granted refugees to find accommodation.

About the project

Set up by Southwark Council, the Homes for Ukraine project supports families and individuals from Ukraine who have been granted visas to live and work in the UK. After an initial period living with host families or in temporary accommodation, the project helps households take the next step towards independence by supporting them to move into private rented accommodation, assisting them in finding employment, and linking them with wider community support networks, while working holistically to ensure their individual needs are met. This approach aims to help Ukrainian households settle and thrive in the UK.

This project will be delivered alongside our Refugee PRS Renters Support Programme in Southwark. We will provide crucial crisis support to vulnerable renters and are looking for a passionate housing support worker to be part of the next phase of the project. You can find out more about the work here.

About the role

We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, and energetic support worker to take up a full-time role within our organisation as a Housing Support Practitioner in our small and dedicated team. The role will be based mostly in Southwark, and you will be working in partnership with the Council’s housing officers and resettlement workers, refugee support organisations, community services.

The role involves:

• Coordinate tailored support for each client to find and sustain tenancies and mediating with landlords where necessary.
• Providing housing advice and help find employment. 
• Support access to PRS properties.
• Provide information about housing market and polices.
• Help set up sustainable tenancies.
• Support to increase employment and training opportunities.

About you

• You will have experience of working with individuals with complex needs and comple needs assessments.
• You will be an enthusiastic person who is self-motivated, confident and thrives when working independently with a passion to support change.
• You will have excellent interpersonal skills, experience delivering holistic support, be a solution-minded thinker, have a good understanding of strength-based approaches and be able work sensitively and empathetically with people in vulnerable circumstances.
• You have good knowledge of housing and homelessness policies in England.
• You will also have experience working in a systemic and therapeutic way and ideally have trauma informed training or experience.
• You have experience with keeping records and contributing data for reports and monitoring purposes.
• It is also important to us that you have the competency to work with people from a variety of cultural backgrounds.
• Be able to  work as part of a team and independently, the roles require you to think creatively and use the resources around you effectively.

About Kineara

Kineara is a unique community interest company that supports people in poverty across London who facing barriers to housing, employment and education. We identify and address barriers by providing holistic support for families, vulnerable adults, and school pupils, and deliver intensive one-to-one interventions to those in need of extra help through challenging times. We use holistic, trauma-informed methods, partnership working and a flexible, non-judgemental approach that puts the needs of those we work with first.

HOW TO APPLY: Please send a CV and a cover letter explaining how you meet the criteria for the role. Please also include:

Why you wish to apply for this role

What you would like to gain from this role

Your relevant experience, knowledge and skills, based on the person specification above.

Location: Cambridge, England (Travel required to all Baca Services locations)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £24,754 - £28,454 per annum FTE plus Cambridge living allowance of £2301 per annum.

Working Hours: 37.5 hrs per week (including evening and weekend hours on a rota)

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of young people seeking safety and a fresh start?

Join Baca, a dedicated organisation supporting unaccompanied asylum-seeking children aged 16–18. We’re looking for a compassionate, proactive, and resilient Support Worker to help young people rebuild their lives with dignity, hope, and purpose.

What You’ll Do

As a Support Worker, you’ll provide holistic, therapeutic support to young people transitioning to adulthood. Your role will include:

• Supporting physical and emotional wellbeing
• Encouraging engagement in education, employment, and training
• Promoting social inclusion and personal safety
• Teaching essential life skills like cooking, budgeting, and cleaning
• Building trusted relationships and being a positive role model
• Collaborating with social workers, volunteers, and external agencies
• Maintaining accurate records and contributing to support plans

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone who is:

• Empathetic and resilient, with a genuine passion for supporting young asylum seekers
• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple priorities
• A strong communicator, both written and verbal
• A team player, who thrives in a diverse, multicultural environment
• Flexible, with the ability to work occasional evenings and weekends

Essential Requirements

• Alignment with Baca’s values and mission.
• Experience working with young people (1:1 and group settings)
• Understanding of safeguarding and child protection
• Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle
• Enhanced DBS check (required)

Desirable

• Experience working with unaccompanied asylum seekers or trafficked young people
• Knowledge of asylum processes and trafficking risks
• Experience working cross-culturally and with statutory agencies

Why Join Baca?

At Baca, you’ll be part of a passionate team committed to empowering young people to thrive. We offer:

• A supportive and inclusive work culture
• Ongoing training and development
• Opportunities to make a lasting impact

How to Apply:

If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young asylum seekers and have the skills and attributes we are looking for, we would love to hear from you.

Please note we cannot provide sponsorship for this role. We are not on the Home Office list. Further information about the role, competencies and experience can be found on our website.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Social Care Learning Disabilities service in Hertfordshire.

£24,548.00 per annum, working 37.5 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

Support Workers will provide support to customers to help them develop the life skills they require to meet the assessed needs of the customers of the service. In some services, this will include providing physical, domestic, emotional and social care. They will work with customers to promote social inclusion and alongside other members of the team to promote independent living, encouraging customers to maximise their skills and choices.

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.

About you:

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
Flexible
Open to feedback and self development
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can-do attitude
Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:

Essential:

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector
Full UK drivers' licence

Desirable:

Relevant experience working with people with learning disabilities

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 120 services, providing support to around 6000 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, young people 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.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Young People's service in Ealing.

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

Want to feel valued? 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
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)

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:

• Build supportive, trusting relationships with young people and help create a positive, welcoming atmosphere.
• Work proactively with other members of the team to manage the service caseload and carry out necessary administrative tasks.
• Conduct keywork sessions as required, using creative and engaging approaches to help young people achieve their Support Plan goals.

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:

• Ability to advocate for young people in a variety of professional and community settings.
• Values working collaboratively with young people to ensure the service truly meets their needs.
• Understands the impact of individual context, including experiences of trauma and adversity, on young people's lives and mental health.
• Culturally aware and respectful of the different ways people make sense of their experiences and distress.

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent, or experience supporting young people or individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

Desirable:

• Experience working in complex mental health environments, supported accommodation, or similar settings.
• Understanding of trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches.
• Experience supporting people to develop independent living skills.

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. 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.

Please see our website for full Job Description

About the role

We are looking to recruit a support worker to be the main point of contact for a specific set of service users who access housing, EET (education, employability, and training) and mental health support through First Choice Housing. You will work closely with those service users that you support to develop support plans, identify appropriate activities and services, and collaborate with internal and external partners to help each person achieve their goals and deliver great impact. You will work with the Programmes and Impact Manager and external partners to develop programmes or projects of interest to our service users and encourage engagement. As support worker you will also support the delivery of discreet streams of work including one to one or group digital skills sessions.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Responsible for coordinating tailored support for each client to help them ultimately enter sustainable independent living (likely in the privately rented sector). This includes supporting service users to: access internal and external opportunities and services; liaise with voluntary and statutory agencies; and maintain their tenancies with FCH and to access privately rented housing.
• Managing the onboarding of clients who are newly accessing FCH services. This includes assessing client needs and co-producing support plans; supporting their integration into their shared accommodation with their housemates; and helping them identify local amenities.
• To maintain weekly contact with service users assigned to you as part of building strong relationships and delivering high quality services.
• Develop and strengthen relationships with external stakeholders including the local authority, other charities and community leaders. Maintain awareness of the activities and services on offer locally and disseminate knowledge to the broader team as appropriate (please note this is a shared responsibility across the team).
• Update and accurately maintain First Chocie Housings database, including collecting timely data for monitoring and evaluation purposes. This data will include recording interactions with service users, progress towards achieving or meeting goals, baseline and subsequent outcomes stars and client surveys.
• Where appropriate, work with the Programmes and Impact Manager to manage volunteers delivering discreet programmes.
• Proactively working with the broader team to improve service delivery and drive impact.
• Please note, this job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, skills, or qualifications associated with the role. While you will occasionally deliver support to service users in their homes, the role is mostly office based.

Essential Requirements:

• 5 A*- C GCSEs or up to NVQ Level 2/3
• Full UK driving licence (you would only be required to travel within Swindon for work purposes)
• Right to work in the UK

Desirable

• Understanding of trauma informed or psychologically informed approaches
• Experience supporting people to develop independent living skills

Interviews: Week commencing 10th November 2025 (interviews will be face to face in our offices (travel expenses will be reimbursed), we may seek to conduct second interviews should we need further information to make final decisions)

Start date: Ideally Early December 2025

DBS Requirement: You will be required to have an enhanced DBS check. If you don’t have one already, we’ll process one for you.

Job Title: Children's Support 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

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Children Support Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

The job involves working closely children and their mothers who are living in our refuges escaping domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse.  A key requirement is to provide personal one to one and group support to children and young people to ensure they are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.

The post holder will support children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence and plan and provide stimulating, safe, and appropriate activities.

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. An enhanced DBS will also be required. 

We particularly welcome applications from candidates that have an understanding of African and Caribbean heritage and/or culture, as we strive to better support the communities we serve and enrich our team with a wide range of perspectives.

Closing Date: 09:00 am 3 November 2025

Interview Date: 19 and 20 November 2025

About Trade

Trade Sexual Health (Trade for short) is a small health and wellbeing charity based in Leicester. We currently have eight staff and more than 40 volunteers.

Trade began as a grassroots gay community response to HIV in Leicester in the late 1980s. Throughout the 1990s, Trade worked creatively to spread information about sexual health and HIV prevention to gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men in the city (GBMSM).

Trade has been a registered charity since 2000. Over the last 25 years, our core work has focused on improving the sexual health of gay and bisexual men across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. We have always taken a holistic approach to understanding and addressing the range of issues that might impact gay and bisexual men’s ability to look after their sexual health. As a result, we started a counselling service – Approach Counselling – to support community members in improving their mental wellbeing.

We now draw on this experience to tackle wider health inequalities related to sexual health and HIV, and to provide peer support for anyone living with HIV in the areas where we work. For a small charity, Trade has always ‘punched above its weight’ and we have a national profile for the innovative sexual health work we do.

We currently hold contracts to deliver sexual health promotion and HIV prevention outreach in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland to LGBTQ+ people, asylum seekers, and a range of racialised communities that experience significant inequalities in relation to their sexual health.

We have a history of providing peer support to people living with HIV, and this is now becoming a growing strand of our work. This post is central to the delivery of HIV Peer Support in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland (and builds on our experience of delivering similar services in Northamptonshire).

Role Purpose

The primary purpose of this role is to deliver first-line peer support to people living with HIV, of all genders and backgrounds, in Leicestershire. The postholder will be based at the Trade offices in central Leicester and will work closely with clinical staff at the Jarvis Clinic at Leicester Royal Infirmary. They will ensure that people who have been recently diagnosed, are struggling with their diagnosis, or are re-engaging with HIV care feel supported and have the information they need to live well and thrive with HIV.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), bringing personal knowledge and experience to the role.
• Collaborate with a small group of volunteer peer mentors to support people living with HIV.
• Assist in recruiting new volunteers and ensure patients needing ongoing peer mentoring are matched with suitable mentors.
• Support individuals in developing self-management strategies, addressing stigma, reducing social isolation, and improving wellbeing.
• Develop a catalogue of services, groups, and support options for signposting.
• Encourage engagement with HIV treatment and care, improving ART adherence and promoting viral suppression.

Job Activities

• Triage new patients to identify specific support needs.
• Coordinate appointments between mentors and mentees.
• Refer or signpost individuals to specialist services (e.g. mental health, housing, benefits, immigration).
• Support the British HIV Association Standards of Care and National Standards in HIV Peer Support.
• Contribute to innovative approaches to peer support delivery.
• Maintain accurate, confidential, and secure records.
• Assist in compiling quarterly monitoring reports for Leicester Public Health.
• Represent Trade professionally at forums and meetings.
• Develop and maintain professional relationships with partners.

Accountability

• Reports to the Chief Executive Officer.
• Receives peer staff supervision for project-specific needs.
• Accountable to the Trade Board of Trustees.

General Competencies and Conditions

• Competent in using software for word processing, data management (e.g. Excel), and social media.
• Able to work across various venues in Leicester and Leicestershire.
• Full driving licence preferred but not essential.
• Capable of independent decision-making and appropriate signposting.
• Maintains professional boundaries and handles client distress sensitively.

Working Conditions

• Primarily based at Trade offices, with regular visits to the HIV clinic.
• Expected to attend team meetings, training days, and key events (e.g. World AIDS Day, National HIV Testing Week).
• Shares domestic tasks with staff and volunteers.
• Undertakes other duties as reasonably required by the Board of Trustees.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested upon appointment.

Person Specification

Genuine Occupational Requirement:
The postholder must be living with HIV (as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Experience

• Lived experience of HIV and understanding of its impact – Essential
• Experience supporting vulnerable or marginalised communities – Desirable
• Experience working collaboratively with NHS services, charities, or support organisations – Essential

Skills

• Effective communication with diverse individuals and organisations – Essential
• Ability to work independently and use initiative – Essential
• Mentorship skills to support and motivate others – Desirable
• Strong organisational and time management skills – Essential
• Ability to deliver and develop a peer mentoring scheme – Essential

Knowledge and Understanding

• Knowledge of HIV and the support needs of people living with HIV – Essential
• Understanding of peer support benefits for long-term health conditions – Essential
• Familiarity with safeguarding policies and practices – Desirable
• Awareness of the benefits and challenges of volunteering – Essential

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to personal development – Essential
• Alignment with Trade’s mission, vision, and values – Essential
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion – Essential
• Supportive of team and volunteer development – Essential

We will shortlist for interview week commencing 3rd November, all candidates will recieve a response at this time.

We plan to hold interviews the week commencing 10th November