Night support worker jobs

Waking Night Support Workers

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Waking Night Support Workers to join our Mental Health Social Care Service in Ealing.

£23,088.00 per annum, working 30 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.

Support workers will manage a number of young people to help them to identify, plan and achieve their goals, develop relationships meaningful to them and achieve greater independence by providing a flexible and individually tailored support package.

This is a Waking Night role working to support young people throughout the night at the service.

The working pattern for this role Includes: three 10-hour night shifts per week, with shift times varying between 9:30pm-7:30am and 10pm-8am.

What you'll do:
- Building supportive, trusting relationships with young people and creating a positive atmosphere
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
- Conducting key work sessions as required, that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
- Co-producing ongoing assessment and management of risks in collaboration with young people with an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
- Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance to support young people s to independent living e.g. budgeting, cooking, establishing a night time routine
- Supporting young people to maintain a healthy environment and where appropriate assisting them to clean their accommodation and maintain good personal hygiene
- Assisting in the recording and reporting of customer incidents
- Managing referrals, completing assessments and obtaining and maintaining all relevant paperwork

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 different professional and community spaces
- Values working collaboratively with young people to ensure the service best meets their needs.
- An understanding of peoples' contexts and how this might be impacting them their lives and mental health
- Cultural awareness and respect for the many different ways a person might 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 people experiencing mental health challenges.

Desirable:
- Experience working in complex mental health environments

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

Waking Night Support Worker

Night Shelter Southampton

42 Hours per week, on a rota basis of 4 on and 4 off

Salary Point: 20 (£29,453 per annum for 42 hours per week)

About Us

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

The Impact You’ll Make

As a Waking Night Support Worker, you will be on the frontline of providing a safe, trauma-informed service for vulnerable adults in Southampton who are rough sleeping or at immediate risk of it. You will be the steady presence throughout the night, ensuring service users who have no other safe housing options feel welcomed and secure.

Your role is vital to the smooth running of the shelter, from the initial intake at 20:30 through to the morning transition. Whether you are conducting security patrols, assisting with housing management, or simply offering emotional support and de-escalation, your work directly contributes to a safe environment where individuals can begin their journey away from the streets.

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for compassionate, resilient individuals who understand the complexities of homelessness, mental health, and substance misuse. You should be someone who remains calm under pressure and can handle challenging behaviour with a professional, trauma-informed approach.

As this role involves a "4 on, 4 off" night shift pattern, you must be comfortable working independently during the night while maintaining strong communication with your wider team and the Operational Security Team. We value staff who take initiative, maintain clear professional boundaries, and are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our service users.

Essential Qualities and Skills

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Experience & Knowledge: A background in working with vulnerable adults and an understanding of safeguarding, protection protocols, and lone working procedures.
• Communication: The ability to listen and communicate effectively with clients and colleagues, including providing clear handovers regarding risks.
• Crisis Management: Confidence in using your initiative to respond to emergencies and the ability to carry out risk assessments and management plans.
• Administrative & IT Literacy: Sufficient IT skills to use data management systems (INFORM), update online handovers, and complete incident reports by the end of your shift.
• Commitment to Safety: A proactive approach to health and safety, including a willingness to undertake training in administering naloxone and acting as a Fire Warden or First Aider.
• Practicality: Willingness to assist with site management, including setting out breakfast, managing laundry/linen, and ensuring communal areas remain clean.

What we can offer you

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

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

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

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

Application closing date: Sunday 6th September 2026 

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

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

Salary: Balham Home- Waking Nights: £30,227 or Days: £29,635 & Ealing Home- Waking Nights: £30,227 or Days: £27,929 

Contract: Full time/ Permanent

Hours:40 hours per week (including weekends, bank holidays and occasional sleep-ins) 

• Day Shifts: work between 8 am and 10:30 pm 

• Waking Night Shifts: work between 10 pm and 8 am 

Additional Benefits: 

• £50 per sleep-in 

• Time-and-a-half pay for overtime (over 40 hours per week) and bank holidays 

• Two weekends off per month

Locations: Ealing (W13) and Balham (SW12) 

Looking for fantastic career progression, excellent training and therapeutic support? Join our committed and professional team and make a difference to young people living in residential care, where no two days are the same! 

About Us 

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future. 

St Christopher's is a leading charity caring for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK.We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.We provide positive and life-changing support experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home. Our offering in underpinned by therapeutic expertise and young people in our care also benefit from extensive life-skills and participation opportunities as well and learning support regarding their education. 

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities and gender-diverse identities.

St Christopher’s Academy 

At St Christopher’s, we offer more than a job in social care— we offer a real career pathway. You’ll have the chance to build your skills, grow your knowledge, and make a lasting difference to young people’s lives, as well as your own. 

When you join us, you’ll receive a tailored development plan designed around your goals. Whether you want to move into a different service, progress into a leadership role, or just explore your current role further, we’ll support you every step of the way. If you want to learn more aboutSt Christopher’s Academy, please clickhere 

Our development programme, St Christopher’s Academy, is built to help you reach your full potential — and the results speak for themselves: 
84% of our Team Leaders, Deputies, and Managers are promoted internally. 

About the Role 

As a Support Worker in a Children’s Home, you will provide direct support and care for our young people, who have complex emotional and mental health difficulties (such as trauma and loss) and can struggle to regulate their emotions. Working within a therapeutic framework, you will develop a direct programme of work aimed at developing authentic relationships with our children and young people (aged between12 – 17 years old), you will also have responsibility for making sure our those in our care are safe, providing support, liaison with other external professionals and completion of support documents to record information.

If applying for the Waking Night role, you will have the additional support of an on-call manager should there be any emergencies. Further to this, you will be involved in monthly team meetings and receive monthly one-to-one supervision with your manager. 

Applicants should have 

• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working and supporting Young People in residential, semi-independent, fostering settings or youth work centres, caring for Children and Young People with emotional behavioural difficulties, neurodivergent or SEND, etc. 

• Willingness to achieve the Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare within 2 years as per Children’s Homes Regulations 2015 (England) 

• Genuine commitment to working with and supporting children and Young People to achieve their full potential; with the ability to build and promote trusted relationships while maintaining professional boundaries. 

• An understanding of the issues facing children and Young People and a basic understanding of safeguarding Regulations and Procedures. 

• The ability to cope effectively with challenging behaviour. 

• Good communication and team working skills. 

• Flexibility to work shifts, including weekends and bank holidays, and if applicable, sleep-in’s. 

• Commitment to undertake any mandatory training (outside of working hours) and continuous learning to ensure a high level of service. 

• Creativity, enthusiasm and energy to inspire and encourage young people to achieve their goals. 

What you should expect from us 

• Competitive pay. 

• 4 weeks full induction and training program (paid). 

• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services, Tailored career development plan through our“St Christopher’s Academy”. 

• Industry leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and social pedagogy. 

• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata. 

• Contributory pension scheme, enhanced maternity and company sick scheme. 

• UK Life Assurance (Death in service) to the value of 3 times your annual salary. 

• BUPA employee assistance programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support. 

• Cycle to work scheme. 

• Bluelight card; discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK both in store and online. 

• Discretionary funded training programs for you to explore and attain new and relevant skills. 

• Employee awards based on performance and length of service. 

Recruitment Process 

At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.

Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. CV’s will not be accepted. 

Application Process 

1. Application:Complete our online form and include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification.Please note that applications without supporting statement will not be accepted. 

1. Interview:Shortlisted candidates attend a face-to-face interview at our Putney office. 

1. Second Stage:Successful candidates will visit the home they applied to. 

We advise applying as soon as possible as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

Important note: 

• This post has a minimum age restriction of 21 year for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and supported accommodation Homes in line with the Equality Act ‘occupational requirement’. 

• It is illegal to applyfor any role that involves working with children and young people under the age of 18, if you know you are barred from working with children. 

• All shortlisted candidates invited to interview will be asked to submit aSelf-Declaration and Disclosureform which will need to be returned prior to an interview being booked. 

• It is a requirement that practitioners working in Children Homes are qualified with the Diploma 3 in residential childcare within 2 years of starting in the job role. (Children Home Regulations England 2015). St Christopher’s provide access and funding to undertake this qualification. Applicants who have Citizenship or Visa status restrictions that may preclude them from being able to meet the qualification requirement may be considered for other options such as fixed term contracts. Each applicant’s situation will be assessed as part of the recruitment process. 

Waking Night Support Worker

The Registry

Portsmouth Rough Sleeping Services

42 hours per week

8pm – 8am, 4 nights on and 4 nights off

Permanent

Pay point: 20 (£29,453 annum based on 42 hours per week) plus unsocial premium

About Us

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

Join The Society of St James to work at The Registry—a high-support temporary accommodation hostel in Portsmouth—offering a wide range of support to people with histories of homelessness, substance and alcohol use, poor mental ill health, and other complex needs.

The Impact You'll Make

• Uphold Our Core Mission: Put into practice our core belief that every person is of worth, actively demonstrating a willingness to take risks to house and support the most vulnerable and socially excluded members of society.
• Facilitate Sustainable Move-Ons: Provide safe accommodation and work intensively with service users to help them overcome barriers to change and transition into suitable, long-term housing. 
• Maintain Safety and Wellbeing: Oversee the smooth running of the service during overnight shifts (20:00 – 08:00), implementing risk management plans, carrying out health and safety checks, and upholding strict safeguarding protocols. 
• Collaborate for Better Outcomes: Work in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies, including the PCC Housing Needs and Advice Support Team (HNAS) and Housing Management, to optimise client support.

Who We're Looking For

• A Compassionate and Mission-Driven Advocate: Someone who firmly believes in the worth of every individual and is committed to supporting socially excluded members of society.
• An Experienced and Knowledgeable Practitioner: An individual who brings existing experience and knowledge of the specific needs of vulnerable people with histories of homelessness, alcohol/substance dependency, and mental ill health. 
• A Resilient Communicator: Someone who is open, approachable, honest, and capable of active listening to build trusting relationships with service users, colleagues, and external partners. 
• An Initiative-Taker: A reliable team player who can use their own initiative to make sound decisions during overnight shifts, handle difficult situations calmly, and adhere to risk management plans. 
• A Dedicated Overnight Support Worker: Someone ready to work a 42-hour per week, 4-on / 4-off waking night rota (20:00 – 08:00) while prioritising self-care in a high-support environment.

Essential Qualities and Skills

• Experience & Understanding of Complex Needs: Knowledge and practical experience regarding the interconnections of homelessness, mental ill health, and substance/alcohol dependency. 
• Trauma-Informed & Risk Management: Familiarity with Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), trauma-informed care, harm minimisation strategies, risk assessments, and managing challenging behaviours. 
• Safeguarding & Safety Protocols: Sound knowledge of adult safeguarding, health and safety regulations, lone-working procedures, and maintaining data protection and confidentiality. 
• Communication & IT Proficiency: Excellent interpersonal skills combined with standard literacy and IT abilities to effectively write emails, letters, case notes, and maintain client records. 
• Equality & Diversity: A clear understanding of equality and diversity principles in relation to both staff members and service clients. 
• Core Competencies Alignment: Ability to demonstrate SSJ core competencies, including personal accountability, constructive conflict resolution, and commitment to organisational values.

What we can offer you: 

SSJ recognises that our staff are our greatest assets. We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

• 25 days pro-rata annual leave plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme
• Blue Light Card

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

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

Closing Date: Sunday 16^th August 2026 

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

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

Waking Night Support Worker

Southampton

24 hours per week, Permanent

Shifts covering: 8pm to 8am, on a rota basis.

Salary point 20: £16,830 per annum (pro rata FTE £25,947)

About Us

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

The Impact You'll Make

As a Waking Night Support Worker at our Woolston, Southampton facility, you will be the steady presence that vulnerable individuals rely on during the night. Your role goes far beyond basic supervision; you will:

• Empower Lives: Help individuals experiencing homelessness, substance misuse, and mental health challenges overcome the barriers preventing them from leading fulfilling lives.
• Provide Person-Centred Care: Deliver high-impact support that puts the individual at the heart of everything you do.
• Ensure Safety and Stability: Offer a calm and consistent environment, ensuring our clients feel supported and secure at all times.

Who We're Looking For

We are seeking a compassionate and resilient individual who shares our core values. No two days are the same here, so we look for:

• Value-Driven Individuals: People whose attitudes and behaviours align with our mission of empathy and respect.
• Experienced or Insightful Caregivers: Ideally, you have experience working with adults facing alcohol and substance misuse problems, or at the very least, a deep understanding of the complexities they face.
• Dedicated Professionals: Someone committed to long-term professional growth within the Health and Social Care sector.

Please note: Candidates must have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.

Essential Skills and Qualities

To succeed in this role, you will need to demonstrate the following:

• A calm, caring, and motivational nature is essential for supporting our clients effectively.
• Educational Commitment: You must already hold, or be willing to work towards, a Care Certificate and a Diploma Level 2/3 in Health & Social Care (as these are essential requirements for the post).
• Strong Communication: The ability to accurately document and record vital information using electronic systems.
• Personal Drive: You must be naturally empathetic and highly motivated to make a difference in the community.

What we can offer you: 

SSJ recognises that our staff are our greatest assets. We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

• 25 days pro-rata annual leave plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme
• Blue Light Card

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

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

Closing Date: Friday 21^st August 2026 

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

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