Vocational services volunteer jobs

We're looking for a passionate, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Mental Health Social Care Service in Tower Hamlets.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? 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
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
* 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
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
* Free DBS
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.

Tabard Court is a mental health supported accommodation service for individuals with significant
offending histories and complex mental health needs.

The working pattern for this role is: -

Week 1: M8 T0 W8 T8 F8 S0 S0
Week 2: M8 T8 W8 T0 F8 S8 S8
Week 3: M0 T8 W8 T0 F0 S8 S8
Week 4: M8 T8 W8 T0 F8 S8 S8

What you'll do:
1. Keyworking, Support Planning & Recovery
? Hold a keyworking responsibility for at least one customer, meeting them at least weekly for
structured keywork sessions focused on support needs, wellbeing, mental health, daily living
skills, risk and recovery goals.
? Record keywork sessions fully on our systems and share relevant updates with the team so
that concerns, progress and agreed actions are clearly understood.
? Take the lead on your assigned customer's day-to-day support needs, including paperwork,
applications, appointments, meetings and practical support, while ensuring the customer has
an active role in how they are supported.
? Contribute to support plans, risk management plans and crisis plans for your assigned
customer, ensuring these are meaningful, up to date, co-produced where possible and linked
to clear achievable outcomes.
? Ensure your assigned customer's paperwork is completed accurately and within required
timescales, recorded on relevant systems and signed by the customer and management
where required.
? Where you will be away from work when customer paperwork or key tasks are due, provide
a clear handover and agree who will take responsibility in your absence.

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:
Experience & Knowledge
? NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent, or relevant experience in mental health, social care, housing,
criminal justice or another support setting.
? Experience of working with people with significant mental health needs, offending histories,
complex needs, homelessness, substance use or trauma is desirable.
? Understanding of recovery-oriented practice and trauma-informed approaches, or a willingness
to develop this knowledge through supervision and training.

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
* We focus on Excellence and innovation.
* We are Caring and Compassionate.
* We are Inclusive and Trusted.
* We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job description

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite Monday – Friday 9am-5pm.

As a Painter and Decorator, you will be based in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, and will be required to travel and work across any of our YMCA DLG sites, with demand varying throughout the year. A full UK driving licence is therefore essential, and a vehicle will be provided.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.

We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

The focus in our housing services is to help develop the young people’s skills and confidence so that they can move on from supported accommodation and live independently.

Do you take pride in creating safe, welcoming homes that make a real difference in young people’s lives?

Our Maintenance team works across multiple properties to give our residents a good quality, safe home, working closely with project staff to identify repairs required, make repairs, undertake ad hoc cleaning and decoration, ensure compliance with health and safety regulations, and to make empty homes ready for re-occupation.

We operate across Brighton, Guildford, East Sussex, and West Sussex, centred around our Foyers in Hove, Eastbourne, Hastings, Guildford, Horsham, Worthing, and Crawley which provide 24‑hour supported housing for young people aged 16–25. We also manage several larger shared houses (typically 4–8 residents) through our Transitional Housing teams, supporting young people on their journey to independence. This role will primarily deal with the sites within Brighton and Hove but the post holder must be prepared to travel to any of our sites from Guildford, Worthing, to Hastings. 

A key part of the role involves redecorating empty homes to prepare them for new residents. This work must be completed promptly, to an agreed and consistent standard, and with clear communication to site and maintenance teams to ensure properties can be relet within void target times.

You will also carry out planned redecoration within communal areas of our accommodation, as well as offices and workspaces used by our staff and volunteers.

If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t match every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. We know that skills and potential come in many forms, and your background may offer valuable transferable strengths.

Experience and Knowledge

We are looking for someone who brings:

• NVQ 2 or equivalent in painting and decorating, or equivalent work experience
• Practical experience in maintenance, cleaning, or decorating within supported housing, residential, or community‑based settings.
• A proven track record of delivering high‑quality work, with at least two years’ experience undertaking duties similar to those required in this role.
• A strong commitment to safety, quality, and resident wellbeing, ensuring all work is completed to a consistent and professional standard.
• Good knowledge of health and safety requirements relevant to painting, decorating, and maintenance work, including safe working practices and compliance procedures.
• An understanding of professional boundaries, alongside awareness of the challenges faced by vulnerable young people and how these may influence behaviour.
• A proactive and organised approach to managing workload, with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Strong team‑working skills, with the confidence to both support and appropriately challenge colleagues where needed.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 12 July 2026 at midnight. If we find the right candidate sooner than expected, we may close the advert early - so early applications are strongly encouraged.

Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity checks.