27 Mental health link workers jobs in East of England

About the role:

Housing First changes what is possible for people who have been shut out, moved on and let down for too long.

Single Homeless Project's (SHP’s) Camden Housing First service is expanding, and we’re looking for a passionate and skilled worker to join an innovative team supporting people with long histories of rough sleeping, multiple exclusion and co-occurring needs. This includes a new and important focus on supporting couples who have been rough sleeping and will be accommodated separately in their own self-contained flats, while receiving intensive, relational and trauma-informed support.

Based from King’s Cross, you’ll work across the community and in people’s homes, carrying a small caseload so you can offer flexible, persistent and person-centred support that is shaped around each person’s strengths, safety, needs and goals. You’ll build trust with people who may have had difficult experiences of services, working at their pace while keeping a strong focus on housing sustainment, wellbeing, risk, choice and recovery.

You won’t be doing this work alone. You’ll be part of a multidisciplinary team and will work closely with statutory services, housing partners and specialist colleagues including health, psychology, Solace, occupational therapy and perpetrator support. With safety at the heart of the work, you’ll play a key role in supporting people where relationships, trauma, exploitation, abuse or external risk may be part of their lives. At SHP, you’ll also have access to learning, reflective practice and development opportunities that help you keep growing your skills while doing meaningful, complex and life-changing work.

About you:

• You have experience supporting people facing multiple disadvantage, including homelessness, trauma, mental ill health, substance use, contact with the criminal justice system or long-term exclusion from services.
• You know how to build trust with people who may be wary of services, using patience, consistency and creativity to keep people engaged without forcing change before they are ready.
• You understand the links between severe and multiple disadvantage, VAWG, coercion, abuse, exploitation and safety, and you can respond in a way that is trauma-informed, boundaried and safeguarding-focused.
• You are a confident advocate and communicator, able to work with partners, negotiate well, challenge when needed and keep the person’s voice at the centre.
• You are organised and self-sufficient in your day-to-day work, with the written, IT and recording skills needed to manage a caseload, update systems clearly and keep support plans moving.

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: Monday 28th September at Midnight

Interview Date: Wednesday 7th October online via Microsoft Teams

Please note shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a short psychometric test before being confirmed for interview. 

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/without current right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted or progressed.

About the role:

For women facing multiple disadvantage, the right support can be the difference between remaining trapped by systems and beginning to rebuild safety, choice and control. As our Specialist Multiple Disadvantage Worker at Grace House, you’ll provide skilled, persistent and compassionate support to women whose experiences may include homelessness, domestic abuse, trauma, substance use, poor mental health and contact with the criminal justice system.

Using a gender and trauma-informed approach, you’ll build trusting relationships and work alongside women at their own pace. You’ll manage complex casework, advocate firmly on their behalf and help navigate services and systems that can often feel fragmented or difficult to access. You’ll use creativity, professional judgement and tenacity to challenge barriers and help women move forward on their own terms.

You’ll also bring your expertise into multi-agency discussions, ensuring women’s voices, experiences and priorities remain central to the decisions made about their support. Working closely with colleagues and external partners, you’ll help shape responsive, coordinated support and contribute to the continued development of practice across Grace House.

This is an opportunity to deepen your specialist skills, take real ownership of your work and make a visible difference in women’s lives. You’ll be supported by an experienced team, reflective practice and ongoing learning and development at Single Homeless Project (SHP), giving you the tools and confidence to grow while delivering support that genuinely changes lives.

*For genuine occupational requirement reasons, we are seeking applications from women only for this post (exemption under the Equality Act 2010; Schedule 9 Part 1). 

About you:

• You know how to build trust with women who may have been let down by services before, working with patience, honesty and consistency.
• You bring strong experience of supporting women facing multiple disadvantage and understand how trauma, abuse, homelessness, poor mental health and substance use can overlap.
• You stay calm when situations are complex, using sound judgement to assess risk, make decisions and keep support moving forward.
• You are a determined advocate who will challenge barriers, bring partners together and keep pushing when systems are not responding.
• You are reflective, curious and ready to deepen your specialist practice, with support, supervision and development opportunities at SHP.

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:

Applications will be reviewed and suitable candidates invited to interview online as they are received. Therefore, please submit your application as soon as possible to be considered. We reserve the right to close the vacancy as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. 

Please note there will be a second stage interview in service in Camden for suitable candidates. 

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. 

Are you passionate about making a direct financial difference in the lives of unpaid carers?

Join the Carers’ Hub Lambeth team and help ensure carers across our borough receive the financial recognition, stability, and specialist support they deserve.

In this vital role, you will deliver specialist, high-quality welfare and disability benefits support across our Young Carers and Adult Carers teams. Working directly with unpaid carers and their families, you will help maximise household incomes, navigate complex benefit systems, and ensure their rights are upheld.

What you’ll be doing:

• Specialist Casework & Income Maximisation: Deliver 1-to-1 welfare benefits casework, carry out calculations, complete application forms, and support carers through mandatory reconsiderations and appeals (covering PIP, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, Attendance Allowance, etc.).

• Workshops & Outreach: Design and facilitate engaging information workshops and drop-in sessions (online and face-to-face) on key benefit topics affecting carers.

• Collaborative Support: Respond to internal and external referrals (from health, social care, and voluntary partners), working closely with team leaders to support particularly vulnerable carers.

• Partnership & Impact: Maintain accurate case records, track outcome metrics (e.g., financial gains), and represent Carers' Hub with local statutory and voluntary services.

What we are looking for:

• Benefits Expertise: In-depth, practical knowledge of the UK welfare benefits system and proven experience delivering 1-to-1 casework, form-filling, and reconsideration support.

• Strong Communicator: Excellent written and oral skills with a knack for breaking down complex benefit regulations into clear, understandable advice.

• Organised & Database Literate: Confidence managing a busy caseload, prioritising deadlines, and using CRM databases (e.g., Charity Log) and benefit calculation software.

• Empathetic & Inclusive: A genuine commitment to carers' wellbeing, safeguarding protocols, and non-judgmental, inclusive support.

About Carers' Hub Lambeth

Unpaid carers make huge sacrifices to look after loved ones, often facing steep financial, emotional, and practical challenges. At Carers' Hub, we work to limit these obstacles by raising awareness, influencing local policy, improving carer wellbeing, and connecting carers to essential resources and networks.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and warmly welcome applications from carers, disabled people, ethnic minority communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and South London residents. As part of our disability commitment, we guarantee an interview to any disabled applicant meeting the essential criteria.

Ready to apply? Download our full Application Pack for detailed person specifications and instructions on how to apply. We look forward to hearing from you!

Closing date: 9am Wednesday 7th October
Interviews will take place on Thursday 15th October at 336 Brixton Road

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 27th September at midnight

Interview date: Tuesday 6th October at our Stacey Street service in Islington

Please note there will be a second stage interview in Islington for suitable candidates

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. 

SMART is hiring!

SMART is a warm and welcoming mental health charity that provides a holistic programme of support to the people we serve.

We have a vacancy for a full time Mental Health Community Navigator. The Navigators support people with serious mental illness, with a range of issues including: housing, benefits, finance and social isolation. Please refer to the attachments below for the full job description and person specification. 

We offer a friendly, collaborative, hybrid and integrated work environment in partnership with the NHS and other voluntary sector services, We have a strong focus on staff well-being including a 35 hour working week, 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a wellbeing hour, regular clinical supervision, an Employee Asisstance Programme and an annual schedule of training and events designed to support personal and professional progression

Ideally you will have experience of working within mental health/vulnerable adult services, working within multi-disciplinary teams, knowledge of the issues people face with housing/benefits etc and liaising with other services and professionals on service users behalf.

Mental Health Navigators make a real difference to people's lives.

Application Deadline: 11th Octoberat 23:30. PLEASE NOTE: We may interview before the closing date if we receive enough suitable applications. Interviews are likely to be held on the 16th October.

Feedback: Unfortunately, we are not able to give feedback to candidates not shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within a week of the closing date, please assume your application has not been shortlisted at this time.

Providence Row is recruiting for a Housing Case Worker. Founded in 1860, we are an established charity that delivers support for individuals who are homeless and rough sleepers.

This is a permanent full-time role (35 hours per week) with a salary of £35,020 per year.

Job located at The Dellow Centre, London E1 7SA.

Auto enrolment from day one into the People’s Pension.

The role will support individuals who are rough sleeping and those who are at risk of homelessness in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets into appropriate accommodation. Also to work in partnership with other organisations including health to help people move away from a life on the streets.

Closing date is Monday 05 October 2026.

To apply, please upload your CV with a covering letter detailing how you meet the person specification.

Job Title: Support worker

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Salary: £30,784.00 per annum 

Hours: Hours: 40 hours per week, including weekends

Contract: Permanent

PRHA is a great place to work – Our award-winning teams work together to improve the lives of our residents and make a real contribution to ending homelessness. As an IIP Gold standard employer, we value our staff and commit to develop their skills and support them in their important work.

We have an exciting opportunity for Support Workers within two of our specialist services. We are looking for self-starters with a passion for sparking change in people’s lives. You will have the necessary skillset to empower people and support residents to achieve their goals.

PRHA hostels guarantee a fast-paced, challenging and dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same. We are seeking motivated and energetic individuals to join our teams and help our residents to change their lives for the better.

We are looking for:

Competencies

• Knowledge, empathy, understanding and proven ability to work creatively and engage homeless people whose alcohol/ drug misuse/ mental health/ complex trauma has had significant effect on their physical and mental health, social and coping skills .
• Ability to assess needs, risks (within a framework of positive risk taking) and develop user led support plans.
• Awareness of and ability to identify and address health and care issues with partners, especially substance misuse, mental health, dementia etc.
• Ability to respond to challenging behaviour in a safe way.
• Ability to develop successful professional relationships, working collaboratively with external and internal partners , sharing expertise and learning from colleagues in health, social care,probation and voluntary sector etc
• Knowledge of and commitment to service user involvement, self empowerment, equalities, diversity andservice improvement
• Basic understanding of the principals of delivering support within a Psychologically Informed Environment (PIE) and commitment to working within this model
• Robust knowledge and practical application of adult safeguarding requirements.
• Knowledge and understanding of Healthand Safety in a hostel setting, including dealing with emergencies and working alone.
• A good listener and communicator at all levels, including people with communication difficulties
• A good standard of literacy, numeracy, computer skills and the ability to write accurate and succinct reports.
• Proven ability both to work within a team and use initiative to problem solve.
• Excellent time management skills
• Willingness and ability to support personal care where the service user is at risk
• Ability to implement policies and procedures,standing orders and financial regulations

What we offer

We offer our staff a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Pension Scheme – We offer a group stakeholder pension scheme with 3% employer's contribution, employee contribution is 5%
• Holidays - Employees receive up to 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with long service
• Medical – we provide a “Cash Back" Scheme for a range of services such as dental, physio, chiropody, health& wellbeing
• Training Programmes – We provide comprehensive training to our employees to enable them to grow in their career and achieve their professional aspirations.
• Season Ticket Loans – We offer interest-free season ticket loans after successful probation
• Life Assurance - Upon death whilst in service, a Death in Service payment may be made according to the scheme rules. The payment covers 3 times of the employee’s annual salary.

How to apply

Please read the full Job Description & Person Specification which can be found on our website. To apply, please send your CV and Supporting Statement outlining your interest in working for PRHA and explaining how you meet the criteria set out in the Job Description & Person Specification. Please send your CV and Supporting Statement by clicking the Apply Now button. Furthermore, applications with no attached personal statement explaining how you meet the job description will not be considered.

It is required for this post that the successful candidates will have to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Are you someone who stays steady in moments of crisis, brings empathy to tough conversations, and adds creativity to community spaces?

We are launching an exciting new service which will aid in de-escalating individuals in a state of crisis which is excaberated or influenced by gambling related behaviours,and we’re looking for a Support Worker ready to make a meaningful impact.

What You'll Do

• De‑escalate mental health crises linked to gambling behaviours with calm, confidence and compassion

• Hold your own caseload, offering bespoke 1:1 support around gambling, mental health, finances, housing and more

• Co‑produce psychoeducation workshops exploring root causes of gambling harm

• Create safe, meaningful peer‑led spaces for affected others and loved ones

• Engage in outreach across Hounslow, connecting communities to support

• Collaborate with NHS, Public Health and internal teams to deliver integrated care

• Ensure accurate documentation and safeguarding practice, aligned with policy and legislation

• Finalise case reports with clear preventative outcomes and insights

What We're Looking For

You’re autonomous, creative, and calm under pressure. You’ve worked in mental health and addiction settings. You bring empathy, flexibility, and a non‑judgemental approach to every conversation.

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services

• Minimum of 1 year working with those impacted by addiction

• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children

Benefits of working with us

• Contributory pension — A solid pension that supports your future while you support others

• Generous annual leave — 25 days plus bank holidays, rising each year up to 30 days

• Mind Mental Health Day — a day off for your birthday  

• Perkbox wellness hub — Rewards, discounts and wellbeing tools to keep you feeling your best

• Cycle to Work — Save money, stay active and make your commute greener

• Flexible working — Balance life and work with supportive flexibility

• Employee Assistance Programme — Free counselling and confidential support whenever you need it

• Paid medical appointment time — Take care of your health without losing pay

• Training & development — Grow your skills with ongoing learning and professional support

• Mind Federated Network resources — Access shared training, expertise and tools from the wider Mind community

Please find a full JD and Person Specification attached to the ad. 

We’re looking for a compassionate and motivated Community Connector to join our GP Integrated Mental Health Service and Mental Health Integrated Community Service in Surrey Heath.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of local communities, supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing by helping them access the right support at the right time. Working alongside GPs, mental health practitioners, partner agencies and community organisations, you will provide timely assessments, brief psychosocial interventions and practical support that helps people build on their strengths, overcome barriers and connect with services, activities and networks that promote independence and recovery.

As part of Catalyst Support, you will be joining a Surrey charity committed to supporting wellness together through kindness, integrity and commitment. We are looking for someone who is confident working with people experiencing mental health challenges, able to build positive relationships with professionals and community partners, and passionate about making support more accessible, joined-up and person-centred.

Location: Surrey Heath
Salary: £30,280
Hours: 35 hours across Monday to Friday
Contract type: Permanent

Key responsibilities:

To work jointly with the Mental Health Practitioner in conducting assessments, including risk assessment, and to work with patients to support them in identifying their socially determined needs and goals, provide self-management tools and facilitate the development of personal support plans

• To provide a range of motivational and structured psychosocial interventions
• To promote independence through an enabling asset-based approach that draws on individuals’ strengths, preferences and ‘natural’ support networks
• To establish effective working relationships with a range of agencies to facilitate a ‘joined up’ approach to support plans
• To liaise with, develop and maintain good relations with GPs, practice managers and other health practitioners across mental health and physical health pathways and wider support networks
• To provide continuity throughout recovery; engaging the patient with key services such as Safe Havens, accessing CMHRS, and providing support for those engaged with and leaving CMHRS, and linking into local wellbeing services and activities
• To co-ordinate and support patients to access a range of community services such as wellbeing services, housing providers, family and carer support services, debt and employer advisors where appropriate
• To assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain a database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision across the PCN and wider geography and work with other VCS organisations to develop resources where most needed
• To promote and support (where necessary) advised follow up actions from physical health checks for people with serious mental illness
• To support patients to engage with local peer support workers and volunteering services
• To support and supervise any peer support workers linked to PCN
• To work with the service to identify opportunities to expand provision particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified
• To broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector agencies to enhance service delivery and access to services
• To develop and sustain professional relationships with service users, partner agencies and appropriate external agencies
• To complete locally agreed quality outcome measures, with patients and to undertake regular reviews
• You may be required to cover duties not listed within this job description.

About the organisation

Through Community, Specialist and Outreach services, we support recovery, mental health, and wellbeing—together, every step of the way.

 About you

Essential:

• A diploma or degree in an appropriate subject, e.g. counselling, psychology, social work, probation, mental health, or Health and Social Care Level 3; and/or a minimum of two years’ community experience in drug, alcohol or mental health work.
• Understanding and ability to work to confidentiality, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies within an integrated service.
• Good communication and written skills, with a commitment to accurate and confidential record keeping.
• Ability to interact effectively with the client group, colleagues and other professionals while maintaining clear boundaries.
• Ability to break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group.
• Understanding of the issues and needs of the client group.
• Knowledge and understanding of community working and lone working, with the ability to maintain safety while working in the community.
• Ability to work to all policies, procedures and standards of the service and joint-working arrangements with key partners.
• Good understanding of personal limitations, with the ability to identify when to seek advice and support and deal with emotionally challenging issues objectively and professionally.
• Ability to manage challenging behaviour, anger and verbal aggression from patients.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the service.
• Demonstrates Catalyst’s values of kindness, commitment and integrity.
• Ability to maintain equal opportunity standards at all times.
• Ability to be resilient when working with the client group, while demonstrating compassion and willingness to go the extra mile.
• Ability to maintain respect for the client group, peers and partners.
• Adaptable to change.
• Dynamic and self-motivated.
• Proactive, motivated and energetic.
• Ability to work calmly in a challenging environment.
• Capacity to innovate and work flexibly on own initiative as well as part of a team.
• Commitment to developing skills and knowledge through ongoing learning and development.
• Ability to work flexibly across operational hours.
• Ability to work to the policies, procedures and standards of the charity.

Desirable

• If holding a professional qualification, maintain up-to-date professional registration, e.g. BACP, HCPC, BPS or recognised equivalent.

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Pension scheme and access to Simply Health (including optical, dental, counselling sessions)
• Birthday leave, employee discounts, and flexible working where possible
• Supportive probation, sick pay after probation, and wellbeing/EAP resources

Safeguarding & Checks

• This role is subject to a basic DBS check.
• A past history of drug/alcohol issues or criminality will not necessarily exclude you from this role; we encourage applications from people with lived experience where appropriate.
• All applicants must have a valid right to work in the UK

Catalyst Support is an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate difference and are committed to fairness, accessibility, and inclusion throughout recruitment and employment.

We welcome requests for reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process.

Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

You will have autonomy and will need to help guide the team, shape priorities, and will be working closely with Foundation colleagues delivery partners, funders and communities, the postholder will lead on the collection, analysis and communication of evidence to demonstrate impact, improve delivery and inform future investment decisions. This role will work closely with the Impact Manager and Sport for Development Officer. 

The role will support a range of programmes including: 

• Sport and Life Skills 

• Young People's Mental Health and Wellbeing 

• Youth Crime Prevention

• Community Development and Strengthening Communities 

• Other Foundation-funded programmes and initiatives 

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that learning and evidence are translated into action, helping Active Essex Foundation maximise its impact and continuously improve its programmes. You will be a self starter with strong motivation to drive the work.

Active Essex Foundation is a successful and growing charity dedicated to creating the conditions for young people and communities across Essex to thrive. Our work focuses on three core areas: improving young people’s mental health, reducing vulnerabilities to youth crime and exploitation, and strengthening communities through trusted relationships and positive engagement. We collaborate with a network of over 100 community organisations and local partners to design and deliver programmes that use physical activity, mentoring and community support as tools to build resilience, improve wellbeing and reduce inequalities. Everything we do is shaped by the real experiences of the people we serve, ensuring our interventions are meaningful, accessible and rooted in what communities tell us they need.

The AEF Impact Leadwill operate within a matrix management structure.Professional line management, technical supervision and quality assurance will be provided by the Impact Manager and Intelligence Manager within the Insight & Evaluation Team.

Operational direction and programme priorities will be provided by the AEF Operations & Development Manager and the 3 AEF Project Managers ensuring the role is fully embedded within Foundation activity. The post holder will require relationship building and negotiation skills to work with AEF team to scope the priorities and the work required whilst maintaining consistent research and evaluation standards across Active Essex.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

This role is responsible for delivering a high-quality, trauma-informed and gender-informed support service for women living in the Complex Needs service. The post-holder will hold a caseload of women residents who may be experiencing multiple disadvantage, including homelessness, rough sleeping, domestic abuse, mental ill health, substance use, exploitation, offending histories, social isolation and complex trauma.

The Women’s Support Worker will provide persistent, compassionate and practical support to women who may find it difficult to trust services, sustain engagement or accept support consistently. The role requires someone who can build safe, respectful relationships at the woman’s pace, while maintaining clear professional boundaries and supporting women to stabilise, feel safer, reduce risk and work towards their own goals.

The post-holder will work as part of the wider frontline support team, leading on support planning, advocacy and multi-disciplinary working for women residents. They will also support colleagues’ day to day to apply gender-informed practice, strengthen engagement with women and ensure support is coordinated, responsive and centred on women’s safety, choice and wellbeing.

This role forms part of a seven-day rota and will include some evening and weekend working.

WHY THIS ROLE IS DIFFERENT

This specialist frontline role is for someone who wants to make a real difference with women who have experienced exclusion, trauma and barriers to support. You will hold a focused caseload, build trust and coordinate support that helps women feel safer, more connected and able to move forward.

At Your Place, you will join a values-led organisation committed to ending homelessness and providing safe, supportive accommodation. You will be supported through reflective practice, team learning and collaboration with colleagues, managers and partners.

This role gives you the opportunity to shape gender-informed support across the Complex Needs service. You will support colleagues with engagement, risk, safety and advocacy, while keeping women’s voices, choices and experiences central to support planning. Our Values in this role:

• Compassion: We meet women with empathy, patience and respect.

• Inclusion: We value women’s identities, experiences and voices.

• Collaboration: We work with women, colleagues and partners to reduce risk and improve outcomes.

• Growth: We support women, colleagues and services to learn, develop and build on strengths.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Deliver safe, consistent and high-quality support to women living in the Complex Needs service.

• Hold and manage a caseload of women residents, ensuring support plans, risk assessments and safety plans are clear, current and outcome focused.

• Lead on casework, advocacy, support planning and reviews, ensuring agreed actions are followed through and progress is recorded.

• Build trusting, persistent and professional relationships with women who may be difficult to engage, distrustful of services or reluctant to accept support.

• Use trauma-informed, gender-informed, strengths-based and motivational approaches to assess needs, plan support and promote positive change.

• Assess, monitor and respond to safeguarding concerns, risk, incidents, non-engagement and changes in presentation, escalating concerns appropriately.

• Coordinate multi-agency support with health, mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, criminal justice, adult social care, housing, police and specialist women’s services.

• Lead or contribute to MDT meetings and case discussions, ensuring clear actions, accountability and follow-up to reduce risk and improve outcomes.

• Promote women’s safety, recognising risks linked to trauma, exploitation, coercion, abuse, unsafe relationships, rough sleeping and homelessness.

• Support women to access healthcare, benefits, mental health support, substance misuse services, advocacy, legal advice, education, training and meaningful activity.

• Support the wider frontline team to apply gender-informed approaches in day-to-day casework, engagement, risk management and safeguarding practice.

• Respond to referrals, ensuring eligibility, risks and support needs are clearly understood and recorded.

• Maintain accurate, timely and high-quality records of casework, support activity, safeguarding actions, risk, outcomes and multi-agency communication.

• Work within Your Place policies and procedures, including safeguarding, equality and diversity, data protection, health and safety and professional boundaries.

• Contribute to reflective practice, team learning and service improvement within a Psychologically Informed Environment.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The requirements below set out the experience, knowledge and personal qualities needed for this role. We welcome candidates with relevant direct experience, education, training or lived understanding of the issues affecting women with complex needs.

Experience, education and knowledge

• Experience of supporting women or adults experiencing multiple disadvantage, complex needs, homelessness, rough sleeping, trauma, domestic abuse, mental ill health, substance use, exploitation or social exclusion.

• Relevant education, training or qualification in women’s support, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, domestic abuse, mental health, substance use, social care, psychology, criminology, housing, homelessness or a related field.

• Experience of building trust with people who may be difficult to engage, inconsistent in contact, distrustful of services or reluctant to accept support.

• Experience of holding or contributing to a caseload, completing support plans, risk assessments, safety plans, reviews and case notes.

• Understanding of safeguarding, risk management, professional boundaries, confidentiality, equality and diversity, and data protection.

• Awareness of multi-agency working and the role of health, mental health, substance misuse, domestic abuse, criminal justice, adult social care, housing and specialist women’s services.

Skills and abilities

• Ability to provide trauma-informed, gender-informed, strengths-based and practical support.

• Ability to assess risk, respond to safeguarding concerns and escalate appropriately.

• Ability to advocate for women and coordinate support with colleagues and external partners.

• Ability to communicate clearly, build professional relationships and maintain boundaries.

• Ability to manage a caseload, prioritise work and keep accurate records.

• Ability to support women to access services, build confidence and take realistic steps towards safety, stability and independence.

• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and case management systems, or willingness to learn.

Personal qualities

• Compassionate, non-judgemental and respectful, with a strong commitment to supporting women affected by homelessness, trauma and multiple disadvantage.

• Patient, persistent and able to build trust at the woman’s pace.

• Reflective and open to learning, supervision, feedback and development.

• Calm and professional when responding to challenging, high-risk or emotionally demanding situations.

• Able to work independently while contributing positively to a wider frontline team.

• Committed to Your Place values of Compassion, Inclusion, Collaboration and Growth.

Desirable

• Experience in a women-only service, complex needs accommodation, rough sleeping pathway, domestic abuse service or specialist homelessness service.

• Experience using In-Form or a similar case management system.

• Knowledge of local services and pathways for women experiencing homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health needs, substance use or exploitation.

Offer of this role is subject to satisfactory DBS and employment checks being completed before starting employment.

The Baobab Centre is a non-residential therapeutic community supporting unaccompanied minors who have experienced human rights abuses and are seeking asylum, refugee status and settlement in the United Kingdom.

The role of a Therapeutic Community Caseworker at the Baobab Centre is to support unaccompanied asylum seeking and refugee adolescents and young adults to access care, basic rights and entitlements and to support their social development and rehabilitation.This role involves working closely with the clinical key worker of each young person and with our wider multidisciplinary team. As a Caseworker you will aim to empower individuals to build stable, independent lives in the UK, including by supporting them to communicate their views, needs and experiences in decision-making processes, and supporting them to make challenges when necessary. Caseworkers assist young people to make effective choices about what happens in their lives and encourage them to speak up and build agency.

Baobab aims to be a non-residential therapeutic community with a holistic and integrated perspective.As a Caseworker, you will play a key role within our multidisciplinary team. We aim to be a thinking organisation and place a high value on shared thinking time and shared responsibilities. Our team work together with each other and with agencies and key individuals in young people’s lives, both within and outside of Baobab. A key aspect of the role is communicating with members of the clinical and admin staff team within the Baobab Centre and with other workers in the network around each young person including social workers, teachers, foster carers, lawyers, hospital consultants, housing and benefits workers. etc. You will strive to develop relationships across networks and advocate access to rights and entitlements for our community members. 

It is critical that as a Caseworker: 

• you have an insight to the backgrounds and experiences of both the internal and external factors impacting on the lives of unaccompanied young people attending our centre and an understanding of the broader context in our society as it impacts on young asylum seekers (including invisibility, marginalisation, discrimination and the fact of waiting in uncertainty for a long time.

• You have an insight in how trauma and the many human rights violations and persecution that most members of our community have experienced impact on all aspects of a young person’s internal and external world. 

• You have an insight in how current immigration rules and social care system procedures act as barriers to rehabilitation, including by restricting access to education, adequate benefits, housing and healthcare provision.

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Part time (21 hours per week)

Location: London Centre

Starting salary: £29,004 to £33,645 (FTE £48,340 - £56,075)

Closing date: 12/10/2026

Expected date of interviews: 22/10/2026

Freedom from Torture is the Winner of the Overall Award for Excellence and the top prize for Campaigns and Advocacy at the 2023 Charity Awards.

 We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Care Coordinator to support in our clinical service delivery. Many of our clients have complex needs and this role ensures that clients acquire the support they need to receive multi-agency services.

Would you like to join our award-winning organisation?

About the role

The role involves managing the care coordination service area assessment and organising the allocation of care-coordination tasks, working alongside the Adult Team Manager and Clinical Services Manager as part of the intake panel and holding a caseload offering care coordination to survivors of torture. This role ensures that service users at Freedom from Torture have a central role in planning their care planning and are supported to access the most appropriate support for their needs.

Working together with our therapists, and legal and welfare staff as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the ideal candidate will be a Registered Mental Health Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist with significant experience of working in the mental health sector with complex mental health presentations and will have a passion for working with asylum seekers, refugees and survivors of torture.

The role will include delivering line management and supervision to care co-ordinators within the team and may at times include delivering supervision to social work students, lived experience support workers as well as other clinical staff and approved volunteers.

The Senior Care coordinator also works closely with the national pain lead in support of pain management for our clients, which involves linking with, GPs, community physio services and at times the role may include running and facilitating 1:1 and group psychological pain management interventions or stabilisation strategies alongside clinical colleagues.

The role will also involve providing clinical manager cover – i.e. on-site managerial cover and duty cover in line with the clinical cover procedure, and to provide guidance for clinicians with urgent queries. The Senior Care coordinator will work alongside the National safeguarding leads to support clients and colleagues by attending internal and external safeguarding/ child protection meetings and provide consultation to line reports and other colleagues around managing safeguarding concerns and regularly updating and reviewing our internal safeguarding tracker.

About you

In return, we offer a competitive package, with a generous 30-day annual leave entitlement, and 6% employer pension contribution (minimum 1% employee contribution).

Freedom from Torture is committed to showing the salary for all advertised roles and not negotiating salaries for roles, in light of evidence that this contributes to structural inequality.

Our policy is that all appointments will be at the start of the salary range but successful candidates will have the opportunity to move up the scale over time. The progression up the salary range is reviewed on an annual basis and subject to affordability. For this role, the salary range is £29,004 to £33,645 (FTE £48,340 - £56,075). 

Please note a CV and a cover letter addressing the job description and person specification of the role are mandatory to be considered for the position.

Freedom from Torture is dedicated to healing and protecting people who have survived torture. We provide therapies to improve physical and mental health, we medically document torture, and we provide legal and welfare help. We expose torture globally, we fight to hold torturing states to account and we campaign for fairer treatment of torture survivors in the UK.

We campaign for national and global change, using evidence from our services and survivor voices to protect and promote survivors' rights and hold torturing states to account. We are proud to play a significant role in the global anti-torture movement. Survivors, active and empowered, are at the centre of all of our work.

Freedom from Torture is committed to its responsibilities under safeguarding, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to a satisfactoryenhanced DBS disclosure, as well as a need for full employment history and up to date employment references.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.)

Freedom from Torture is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of torture or asylum, from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

No agencies please.

Earliest Start Date: 2nd November 2026

Contract: 12 Months with Potential for Exentension

Job Title: Known internally as "Key Work Manager (Maternity Cover)"

Location: 30 Petworth Street, Battersea, SW11 4QW. The post will also involve working in the community so some local travel will be required.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, including some evening & occasional weekend work

About the Role

As Key Work Manager you will lead on and oversee all Key Work activity at Carney’s Community. This includes undertaking key work yourself on a one to one basis with young people involved in the criminal justice system as well as managing a small team of key workers.

You will provide advice, practical support and befriending to a caseload of participants, aged 11-30, who are at risk of/involved in offending; to encourage and enable them to participate in Carney’s Community’s personal development opportunities and to access the wider services and support they may need in order to give them the best chances of being “the best they can be”. This will involve supporting young people to engage in positive and constructive activities, attend Youth Justice Service or Probation appointments and creating opportunities for their personal, social and emotional development

You will work alongside the employment support manager to plan and deliver the employment group, supporting participants that attend this group and leading specific employment programmes. As manager of the key work project you will oversee the small team of key workers, provide support, guidance and supervision. You will be involved in monitoring and reporting for the project, collecting feedback from participants. You will manage referrals to the project from other organisations including schools, social services, probation and the youth justice service.

About You:

You must have proven experience of working directly with young people in a youth work or key work setting, providing one to one support. You will have the ability to empathise and mediate for young people, a strong understanding of the local area, barriers facing young people, the interplay between material disadvantage, vulnerability and social exclusion and be highly skilled in diplomacy, professional distance, demonstrating empathy, boundaries and sound judgement. You will have experience managing other staff or volunteers.

About Carney’s Community

We support young people living in and around Wandsworth, targeting ages 11-30 facing extreme challenges including criminal justice system involvement or care experience. Carney’s works differently by providing long-term, consistent, unconditional support with empathy; a safe space and activities including boxing, bike workshops, employment support, studio sessions, mentoring and key work. Inspired by boxing legend Mick Carney, the charity was founded in his name after his passing in 2011, building on work led by our co-founders. We aim to create a “virtuous cycle”: while support is free of charge, we ask that when young people are ready, they channel the positivity they have received into others. As a result, many go on to volunteer, mentor, join our staff team or even set up their own community initiatives. Former participants make up the majority of our workforce. They provide the most authentic role models, people who genuinely understand the challenges our young people face and who show what is possible. For our young people we strive for equality and aim to: Improve Physical and Mental Health; Improve Education, Skills and Employability; Improve Community Engagement; Reduce Offending and Reoffending.