Play worker jobs

Our Youth and Play Practitioners will play a pivotal role in the Children, Young People and Families (CYPF) team, working as a core team of practitioners to ensure the smooth running of our programmes and services. In this role you will be part of a small and dynamic team which delivers a wide range of programmes and activities, both from Tulse Hill Adventure Playground and in conjunction with local schools. The work of the Children, Young People and Families team is diverse and varied. Our current services include open access adventure play and youth activities at our Adventure Playground, school holiday programmes with off-site trips and activities, mentoring, a Young Leaders programme offering paid work experience to young people, and working together with our youth partnerships Building Young Brixton and Lambeth Peer Action Collective.

We are in an exciting time of development for the team. To support our range of children and young people, our team will be made up of specialist Youth Workers and Play Practitioners bringing in relevant skills and experience. Whilst you will work across all of our Children, Young People and Families services you will have a specific focus:

As a Youth Worker you will:

• Focus on supporting our secondary age cohort
• Plan and run appropriate and engaging activities
• Provide structured interventions to support vulnerable young people
• Work with referral partners to provide additional support and activities
• Foster relationships with families and local schools

As a Play Worker you will:

• Focus on our primary age cohort
• Use your knowledge of Playwork Principles to plan and run appropriate and engaging
  activities
• Foster relationships with families and primary local schools

Both roles will include an element of mentoring, relevant training will be provided to give you the necessary skills to deliver this.

To be successful in this role, you will act as a trusted practitioner in all our service delivery, advocating for children’s right to play throughout our programmes. You will work as part of the team on the delivery and planning of all sessions, ensuring that the children’s and young people’s ideas are central to the construction of a varied and engaging play environment. You will understand the wide-ranging challenges facing young people and will be flexible in adjusting your practice to meet these needs. While practitioners may have a primary focus (primary or secondary age), all staff are expected to work flexibly across all age groups, programmes and delivery model including open access play, targeted youth work, mentoring and school link sessions.

Would you like to make a lasting difference in the lives of children affected by domestic abuse? Join an award-winning trauma recovery service provider that is passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and families.

Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) is a lifeline for children healing from the trauma of domestic abuse. We’re looking for a new Assistant Support Worker to join our team – helping guide children and families on their recovery journey.

Position: Bounce Back for Kids (BB4K) Assistant Support Worker

Location: The role is based in our Reading office with hybrid flexible working arrangements to provide for working at home and in the office. The role requires frequent travel across Reading, West Berkshire, Wokingham, South Oxfordshire and Vale of the White Horse to support our service users.

Contract: Permanent part time – 22 hours per week, weekdays. We’re open to discussing working patterns that match both your needs and our service delivery.

Salary range: £15,387 - £16,447 pro-rata per annum (full time equivalent range £25,878 - £27,661 per annum) 

About the role:

The Assistant Support Worker will work across the BB4K service. Following training they will support the service through groupwork, assessments and, subject to development, hold a small case load providing one to one support work.

The objective of the role is to develop the necessary skills and knowledge to enable service users make positive changes in theirs and their children’s lives and reduce the likelihood of further trauma.

About you:

A successful Assistant Support Worker will need personal, professional or academic experience of support work for people experiencing domestic abuse, and an interest in / experience in supporting vulnerable children and families.

If this sounds like you please visit our website and apply today to join a collaborative and dedicated team who are part of something truly meaningful.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those with personal lived experience of domestic abuse or from underrepresented communities, who meet the essential role requirements.

Closing date: Tuesday, 09 June 2026 at 9am

Interviews are likely to be held on: Friday, 05 June and Friday, 19 June 2026

Early applications are encouraged as we may review and appoint on an earlier basis if a successful candidate is secured.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Trainee Support Worker, Assistant Family Support Worker, Children’s Assistant Support Worker, Assistant Domestic Abuse Worker, Assistant Recovery Worker, Assistant Support Worker, Teaching Assistant, Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA), etc.

Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do at PACT. We have robust measures and best practices in place to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and we take pride in maintaining outstanding safeguarding standards.

Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s safer recruitment pre-appointment enquiries, including a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS). The role description provides information on what our safer recruitment enquiries include and the level of DBS required to work in the role.

All opportunities with PACT are based in the UK.

Accommodation Support Worker(Future Roots 2 Project) 
Salary Banding: £28,893 per annum with potential to progress through salary band.  Plus additional payment for overnight shifts on occasion.  (£85 per night shift required / £50 per on call shift)
Contract: Permanent 
Hours: Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week 
Location:Hatfield, Hertfordshire, but will include travel across hertfordshire and cover of future roots 1 in WGC when required  - Candidates must have a full driving license and use of own vehicle for business purposes.

Herts Young Homeless is an independent charity that has supported vulnerable young people across Hertfordshire since 1998. We are a professional, compassionate and collaborative organisation, committed to helping young people build safe, independent futures.

About the service

Future Roots Hatfield provides supported accommodation for six young people. The service focuses on developing the practical, emotional and life skills needed for independent living, within a safe, respectful and homely environment.

We’re looking for a Supported Accommodation Worker to support residents on their journey towards independence. The role requires flexibility to meet the needs of the house, which may include changes to working patterns and very occasional paid sleep-in shifts.

Future Roots Hatfield is a welcoming, supported home for up to six young people. We focus on helping them build the practical skills, confidence and resilience they need to live independently.

Our approach is simple: create a safe, respectful and homely environment where every young person feels valued, supported and able to grow.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Supported Accommodation Worker to join our team and play a key role in helping young people move towards independence.

This is a flexible role that adapts to the needs of the home, including occasional changes to working patterns and very occasional paid sleep-in shifts.

The Difference You’ll Make

In this role, you’ll help create a positive and empowering space where young people feel encouraged to take ownership of their lives and futures.

You’ll support them to develop life skills, build confidence and navigate challenges—while ensuring the home remains safe, respectful and supportive for everyone.

The young people we work with are resilient and inspiring, but may face complex challenges. We’re looking for someone who brings patience, empathy and curiosity, and who can support them through difficult moments with encouragement and consistency.

 What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll have a varied and meaningful role, including:

• Managing a diverse caseload with different needs and priorities
• Building trusting, professional relationships with young people
• Delivering 1:1 and group sessions focused on independent living skills, such as:
  • Understanding rights and responsibilities
  • Setting boundaries and making decisions
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Education, employment and volunteering
  • Budgeting, rent and managing money
  • Everyday practical living skills
• Supporting the screening and interview process for new residents
• Facilitating group activities and workshops
• Responding to breaches of house rules in line with policies
• Identifying and managing risk, including safeguarding concerns
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to provide consistent support
• Liaising with external agencies and partners
• Keeping accurate and timely records
• Taking part in the on-call rota (after probation)
• Supporting occasional paid sleep-in shifts

What We’re Looking For

We’re keen to hear from people who are:

• Compassionate, resilient and motivated to make a difference
• Skilled at building relationships and setting healthy boundaries
• Confident communicators with strong interpersonal skills
• Organised, reliable and able to manage competing priorities
• Knowledgeable about safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries
• Flexible and responsive to changing needs

You’ll also need:

• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work
• An understanding of the challenges faced by young people experiencing homelessness

Experience in supported accommodation or the voluntary sector is helpful, but not essential—we value attitude, values and potential just as much.

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with children or young adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure will be sought through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) as part of Herts Young Homeless’ pre-employment checks. Please note that additional information referring to the DBS is in the guidance notes to the application form.

What We Offer

We want you to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. We offer:

• A friendly, experienced and supportive team
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (rising to 28 with service)
• An extra day off for your birthday 
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Hybrid working opportunities
• Refer-a-friend scheme
• Discretionary sick pay (subject to eligibility)
• Paid mileage for work travel
• Long service awards
• Blue Light Card discounts
• Pension and Group Life Insurance
• Health Cash Plan & Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing training, development and career opportunities
• Monthly staff perks and prize draws
• Whole-organisation events and celebrations

Full JD available and a day in the life video will be availbale to view via our website and social media platforms..If you are passionate, conscientious and take pride in doing a job well and making a difference, then we would love to hear from you!

Application and Interview Process 

How to Apply

To apply, please visit our website and complete the online application by submitting:

• Your CV
• A covering letter or short video showcasing your skills and experience

Closing date: 4th June 2026 
Recruitment afternoon: 10th June 2026
(Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a further Personal interview stage)

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know—we’re committed to supporting you.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and able to be themselves. We actively promote equality of opportunity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

We will always challenge discrimination and strive to build an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

Our Promise to You

We will handle your personal information with the utmost care and integrity. Your details will never be shared without your knowledge and consent.

Do you have a passion for gardening, the outdoors and creativity and enjoy sharing these interests with children and young people?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

Manchester Young Lives are recruiting a Garden Play Worker to enrich our Ofsted registered afterschool play provision for 6–13-year-olds. This is an exciting opportunity to help children connect with nature develop environmental awareness and take pride in creating and caring for a flourishing garden within our Adventure Playground.

We are looking for someone who can facilitate environmental and outdoor play supporting children to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and wellbeing while learning through the hands-on gardening and exploration.

The successful Candidate will:

Develop and support an engaging garden project within our outdoor play space.

Facilitate creative nature-based play and learning activities.

Build positive trusting relationships with Children.

Encourage Team work, responsibility, and enjoyment of the outdoors.

Manchester Young Lives supports children and young people, often from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to learn, develop and connect with their communities. Our work provides safe supportive relationships with committed staff and space to play, explore and let off steam in our outdoor space.

If you enjoy being outside, love gardening, and have a natural ability to engage and inspire children through play, this role could be perfect for you.

This role is at Manchester Young Lives Adventure Playground in Wythenshawe, and includes Monday – Friday play sessions, 3.45-6.15pm, and daytime holiday playschemes.

CARIS Families is a small charity that supports homeless families living in hostel accommodation in Camden and Hackney.We run play and learning activities for children aged 0-16 from within 4 hostels in these boroughs, as well as a school holiday day trip programme and an Essentials Bank to ease family hardship.Our services for children aim to reduce the stress on children and parents of living in overcrowded, insecure accommodation, and to put back some of the vital childhood experiences that homeless accommodation deprives children of. 

We are currently looking for a trainee playworker who is looking to build a career working with children to join our dedicated frontline play team.You do not need to have any formal experience of playwork, but you do need to be passionate about working with children and supporting them to achieve their potential, and to be able to demonstrate this through previous work or volunteering experience.

This is an exciting opportunity for the right candidate, offering a rare entry-level role which alongside providing plenty of on-the-job training, will also fully sponsor their training towards the Level 2 Diploma in Playwork following successful completion of the probationary period.

Our new Playworker will: 

Role Description 

• Help to deliver our hostel-based Kids Club’s play session for 0-16 year olds during term time in the London Borough of Camden

• Help to deliver our School Holiday programme during school holidays (in Camden, Hackney and the wider London area) 

• Support the running of our term-time Essential Bank programme, providing free household goods to families in hostels 

• Provide a warm and welcoming experience for children & their families attending CARIS Families’ services

• Engage with children in their play and learning experiences, through staff-led activities and supporting child-led play. 

Person Specification 

We are looking for someone at the start of their career (or a career-changer) who is: 

• Experienced in working or volunteering within a play-based setting, with children between the ages of 0-16.

• Enthusiastic about supporting children in their free play and facilitating adult-led activities that stretch and stimulate children in their development 

• Passionate about improving opportunities for disadvantaged children 

• Understanding of the varied needs of children and their families 

• Good communicators, comfortable with working with a wide range of service users and professionals 

• Able to work well as part of a team.

Salary: £14 per hour 

Contract: 12 months initially, with a three month probation period, and the possibility of extension beyond 12 months subject to funding.Training for the Level 2 diploma will commence after successful completion of the probation period.

Hours:12 hours across three days a week in term time (40 weeks a year), Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.Please note on Kids Club days the working day ends at 6pm.One day a week (8 hrs) in school holidays (12 weeks a year), days variable.25 days per year Annual Leave (pro rata) with an additional week off over Christmas. 

Your pay will be equalized out across the 12 months of the year so you receive a consistent salary each month. 

Barnardo's is one of the UK's leading children's charities, and our North England Fostering Service has recently been rated ‘Good' by Ofsted.

We are committed to providing safe, nurturing, and supportive homes for children and young people. Wwe are now looking for a passionate and skilled Supervising Social Worker to join our committed team.

Our North England service covers Yorkshire, Humber, and the North East of England.

About the Role

This exciting opportunity has arisen following an internal promotion.

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will play a vital role in supporting foster carers to deliver high-quality care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a protected caseload with access to innovative social work training
• Supervising, supporting, and developing foster carers
• Undertaking assessments of prospective foster carers
• Contributing to the matching process and foster home stability
• Working collaboratively with children, families, carers and professionals
• Maintaining accurate and timely records in line with regulatory standards
• Delivering training to foster carers
• Following Induction period participating in the out-of-hours rota (with additional payment)

What We're Looking For

We're seeking an individual who is:

• A qualified Social Worker (DipSW, CQSW or equivalent)
• Registered with Social Work England
• Experienced in fostering or children's social care
• Skilled in building strong, supportive relationships
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children

Why Join Barnardo's?

• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• Access to high-quality training and development, including DDP and trauma-informed approaches
• Generous annual leave and pension scheme
• Opportunities to develop your career within a well-respected national charity

Additional Information

• A recognised Social Work qualification and SWE registration are essential
• Experience in Family Placement, Child Protection, or Looked After Children services is required
• A full UK driving licence, access to a car, and business-use insurance are essential due to the nature of the role

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

We are recruiting a Play and Events Coordinator to join our team. This role will be responsible for coordinating our commissioned Theatre in Education school tours in Scotland, London and Northern Ireland, as well as coordinating other DSMF fundraising, networking and information-sharing events.  

Suitable candidates will:

• be passionate about supporting young people to make safer choices about drugs and alcohol,
• have experience of project and event coordination, with excellent organisation skills
• be a skilled and effective communicator, both in writing and orally, with a range of people and agencies
• be proactive, self-motivated and confident to take initiative
• enjoy working as part of a small and busy team

The Job description, person specification and application form are available below.  Please click 'how to apply' to view the application form. 

Please share with anybody you think might be interested in joining our brilliant team!

Interviews are likely to be held on Tuesday 30th June 

Housing First Support Worker – Connect Community Trust (Somerset)
Salary: £27,669.10 per annum (pro rata) 35hrs a week

Are you passionate about walking alongside people as they rebuild their lives? We’re looking for a compassionate and committed Housing First Support Worker to help people move on from homelessness into secure, independent living.

This is a truly person-centred, community-based role where relationships are at the heart of everything. You’ll work with individuals who have often experienced significant trauma and exclusion, offering flexible, long-term support that adapts to their needs. Through patience, consistency, and trust, you’ll support people to maintain their tenancies, improve their wellbeing, and reconnect with their communities.

You’ll hold a small caseload, enabling you to provide meaningful, tailored support – whether that’s helping someone set up their new home, access health and recovery services, manage finances, or simply being a steady, reliable presence in their lives. Working collaboratively with local partners, you’ll play a key role in helping people build a stable and hopeful future.

About you:
You’ll bring experience of working with people facing homelessness, mental health challenges, or other complex needs, alongside a genuine belief that everyone deserves a safe place to call home. You’ll be resilient, empathetic, and able to work both independently and as part of a wider team. Strong communication skills are essential, as is a full driving licence and access to a vehicle, given the rural nature of the role.

For an informal conversation, please contact Suzanne Addicott directly.

Rolling interviews – we encourage early applications.

At Age UK Kensington & Chelsea, we believe that ageing should be about living well — staying connected, independent, and fulfilled at every stage of life.

Age UK Kensington and Chelsea’s Memory service provides support for people living with mild to moderate dementia, focusing on living well, providing relevant information on diagnosis and engaging in activities such as memory work.

The service is delivered through a range of channels, including face to face, home visits, telephone and email, through Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Groups across the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

As well as responding to enquiries and carrying a caseload, the role focusses on continuous improvement of the service by implementing best practices and contributing to the development of more effective procedures to enhance service delivery and client outcomes.

We are recruiting part time - 2 days per week - come and join our fantastic team!

We will be interviewing on a rolling basis, so please don't wait to apply!

Due to the number of applicants we may not be able to respond to all unsuccessful candidates.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Recovery Worker to play a pivotal role in our Complex Needs Service in Notting Hill.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

This role provides person centred support to service users, focusing on increasing independence, maintaining accommodation, and improving quality of life.

Responsibilities include creating and reviewing SMART support plans, delivering home or community based support, facilitating access to medical and community services, and minimizing hospital admissions for mental health. The role also involves working with external agencies, developing interventions for hard-to-engage users, and promoting ongoing engagement with support networks.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Experience supporting people with ill mental health in a community based setting is key along with knowledge of the relevant mental health acts and legislations. it would also be beneficial to have strong IT skills and knowledge of safeguarding, recovery approach, and the benefits system.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.

About Us: Richmond Borough Mind has been delivering mental health support to people and their carers in the local community for over 65 years, and we are seeking an experienced Senior Support Worker to join our Emotional Wellbeing Service.

The Role: The Emotional Wellbeing Service (EWS) provides support to those experiencing and recovering from mental ill health. The Senior Support Worker plays a key role in delivering high-quality, strengths-based emotional wellbeing and prevention services for adults across Richmond. The role supports individuals to build resilience, improve wellbeing, reduce crisis and achieve personal outcomes through strengths-based assessment, personalised support planning, risk management and trauma-informed practice.

Key Responsibilities:

· Provide structured 1:1 and group-based emotional wellbeing support in line with strengths-based and recovery-focused principles.

· Complete trauma-informed, strengths-based assessments and co-produce personalised support plans within specified timescales.

· Deliver flexible support in the community venues, homes, online and by phone to maximise accessibility.

· Use evidence-based tools (e.g. solution-focussed scaling, WEMWEBS) to support and measure progress.

· Support clients of the service to build coping strategies, independence, social connection and community participation.

· Provide support to individuals experiencing distress, escalation or early crisis, using de-escalation and trauma-informed approaches.

About You: The successful candidate will have experience of delivering 1:1 support in the community and within people’s homes as well as delivering group-based intervention. The successful person will also have experience of working with a range of mental health conditions across the spectrum of recovery and be able to support those with complex needs such as (but not limited to) substance use, complex trauma, housing and debt issues, relationship challenges, social isolation and financial issues.

We offer:

· 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays per year, increasing by 1 day per full year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days) [pro rata]

· Contributory pension

· Bonus 1 day of annual leave per year over the festive period (pro rata)

· Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which includes free counselling sessions

· Training and personal development opportunities

· Paid time off for medical appointments

· Staff away days and socials

The successful candidate will be subject to a Disclosure & Barring (DBS) check.

Hours 25 Hours Per week across 5 days – to include daily play sessions 4-6pm each day. 

Manchester Young Lives is offering an exciting opportunity to join our team as an Early Intervention Worker, providing high-quality pastoral and therapeutic support for children and young people aged 6–14 years.

Following successful delivery for the last three years, we are delighted to be recruiting to a vacancy within our Early intervention team. The Early Intervention role focuses on providing support specifically for children and young people suffering increased levels of anxiety, loss of confidence and self-esteem, missing school or other types of isolation and trauma.

This role involves working directly with children and young people through face-to-face support, while also integrating into Play and Youth Sessions at our Adventure Playgrounds. You will work closely with families, schools, and other education and support agencies to help create the best possible opportunities and outcomes for the children and young people we support.

Based at our Adventure Playgrounds in Moss Side and Ardwick, the successful candidate will bring enthusiasm and passion for working with children and young people, the ability to use creative and innovative approaches to engage, support, and reassure them alongside a strong commitment to making a positive difference within local communities.

Working hours include after-school sessions and evening work, Monday to Friday, with some weekend work required to respond to local needs. Staff may also be required to work across a number of locations as part of the wider team.

Are you passionate about improving the wellbeing of others?

We are offering a rewarding opportunity within Crawley and Mid Sussex team, with a focus on Mid Sussex, to provide a range of services which aim to make a difference to family and friend carers. You will be expected to work across all localities as required.

Carer Wellbeing Workers provide invaluable services to help improve carers’ resilience and ensure they are supported to maintain their caring roles. They provide tailored information and advice, practical, emotional and planning support, peer opportunities, contingency planning, active listening and through partnership working are pro-active in the identification of carers.

Using experience of working with adults and families, a working knowledge and / or lived experience of social care and health, the postholder will use excellent communication and interpersonal skills to offer carers one-to-one and group support either face to face, via the telephone or using virtual video mediums such as Zoom or MS Teams. 

The role is a mix of remote / homeworking and community venues. You will be expected to be readily able to travel across Crawley and Mid Sussex to deliver carer support and on occasion to venues across the County to attend meetings and training as required.

Interview Date: 15/16 June 2026.

Key Responsibilities 

Carer Support: Provide a blend of in-person, online, telephone, 1-to-1, and group support to carers in Crawley and Mid Sussex. Proactively reach carers from under-represented and diverse communities, ensuring the service is accessible to all.
Information & Guidance: Offer tailored, personalised information, guidance, emotional, and practical support to carers, helping them navigate local services and make informed decisions. Use the Carers Star™ framework to support carers in creating personal plans and achieving positive change.
Empower: Enable carers to communicate issues important to them, set their own priorities, and articulate their needs and wishes. Work in co-production with carers to ensure services are person-centred, engaging, and make a real difference.
Community Presence: Work as part of the team to maintain a presence in the community, delivering support through various channels and formats.
Partnerships: Collaborate with health, social care, and voluntary sector partners, seeking opportunities to enhance support for carers. Refer and signpost carers for targeted and specialist support, develop local relationships, and attend partnership meetings as required.
Carer Identification: Promote carers as expert partners in care. Promote the service and the importance of identifying and supporting carers and deliver “Think Carer” sessions.
Involvement: Proactively identify opportunities to involve carers and volunteers in service design and delivery. Provide mentoring and support to volunteers within the team.
Data Recording: Accurately record all interventions on the Client Record Management System to enable timely and informative reports, ensuring decisions are evidenced and all actions recorded.
Demonstrate Impact: Showcase the difference the service makes in carers’ lives through Carers Star™ reviews, surveys, case studies, and feedback.
Please see the Job Description in the Recruitment Pack for the full list of role responsibilities and person specification.

Employee Benefits

•  Training and Development: Opportunities for professional development and training.
•  Flexible Working: Flexible working hours and remote working options.
•  Annual Leave: 33 days increasing to 35 days after completion of two years and 36 days after 5 years of service   (inclusive of Bank Holidays).
•  Healthcare and Employee Assistance Programme with perks and discounts.
•  Enhanced Maternity/ Paternity/ Adoption Pay.
•  Supportive Environment: Work in a supportive and collaborative environment with a focus on making a positive impact on the lives of carers.

Before you keep reading ...

Please do not see everything in this job advert as a "Must Have", but rather a guiding list of what we are looking for. We know no candidate will be the perfect match for all we have mentioned in this advert, so do not be afraid to apply if you feel you are close to the brief but not "Spot On". For example, some of our wonderful Carer Wellbeing Workers come from a non-social care background and they do amazingly well!

Our Culture and Diversity 

At Carers Support, we are building an inclusive workplace where everyone can do their best work and be proud to belong.

We believe that talent is distributed to all of us in equal measure and our differences are a strength not a weakness. We recruit for potential, not perfection. At Carers Support West Sussex, we value everyone's unique history. Our doors are open to individuals of all races, religions or beliefs, abilities, ages, nationalities or citizenships, ethnic origins, marital, domestic or civil partnership statuses, sexes, sexual orientations, family structures, and gender identities. 

The carers we support come from such different walks of life that we are particularly interested in attracting candidates from similarly diverse backgrounds, including Asian, Arab, Black, Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups, White Other (e.g. Eastern European, Gypsy, Roma) and any other Ethnic minorities. 

Values we are looking for in Candidate

We are focused, putting carers at the heart of everything we do.

We act together, working with and for carers, the communities they live in and the people that can make a difference to them.

We are leaders, working with each other to find potential and opportunities across all communities, enabling carers to be identified and involved.

We are committed to behaviours that support:

Quality – the highest practical level we can reach in outcomes, learning and behaviour
Inclusivity – respecting people, cultures, and organisations
Caring – improving quality of life and influencing behaviour change
Integrity – operating with honesty and reliability
Loyalty – long-term committed partnerships and co-operation
Innovation – driving our service development and our will to succeed

Disclaimers

Please note we reserve the right to close this role prior to the stated end date, should we receive a sufficient number of applications. Please apply as soon as possible to be considered.

Recovery Worker

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Job Title: Recovery Worker

Location: Bedfordshire. Unfortunately this service does not have step free access.

Salary: £26,200

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Sunday 08.00 - 16.00 or 14.00 - 22.00. You may be required to work outside these hours as per service and resident requirements, including bank holidays as required on the rota.

About the Role

We are seeking a dedicated, patient, and compassionate Recovery Worker to join our team in Bedford. The service provides an 11-bed short stay, trauma informed alternative to hospital admission and facilities, part of a wider integrated initiative for urgent and emergency care. You will support our residents who are at risk of admission but can be supported outside of mental health hospital settings, by providing tailored support to them to help them overcome their personal barriers, and achieve their goals, to live more fulfilled lives and independent living. 

With a focus on achieving outcomes in line with contractual requirements, while ensuring quality and consistency within a trauma informed, psychologically informed environment. You will deliver flexible, tailored, person centred support to help residents improve their quality of life, overcome challenges, and achieve personal goals. Using your communication skills, you will build trusting professional relationships, support residents to reintegrate into the community, and play a vital role in helping them rebuild their lives through personalised support plans, activities, and partnership working. 

Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.

Some Key Responsibilities Include:

• Create tailored support plans through one to one sessions, group sessions, and multi agency meetings
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents at all times
• Focusing on empowering our residents to take control over their lives and meet their personal goals
• Planning activities to engage residents with other people, communities, and opportunities
• Be a valued and reliable member of the team, completing handovers for night colleagues for a seamless service
• Follow safeguarding procedures and report any concerns when needed.
• Support residents with taking their medication and keep accurate records. Build good working relationships with colleagues and outside agencies.

About You

We're looking for a compassionate, motivated, and proactive individual with a commitment to delivering high quality, person centred mental health support. You will be knowledgeable of mental health and have an understanding and experience in how to support those who struggle. You thrive in fast paced environments and adapt well to changing situations, maintaining a non judgmental and trauma informed approach. Your ability to build meaningful, effective relationships with people from diverse backgrounds, while respecting and promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, sets you apart.

• Experience working with people with multiple and complex needs, ideally in mental health and residential setting
• Ability to engage with people from different backgrounds, build rapport, and empower them to achieve their personal goals
• Ability to show empathy and compassion to our residents, and different challenges they face
• IT Proficiency, ability to learn new software programs, basic Microsoft experience
• Ability and willingness to show flexibility of working patterns, responding to the needs of the service and residents
• Cultural awareness, Self awareness, and ability to identify personal growth areas and take feedback
• Ability to promote the service and provide outreach based provision, with an ability to liaise and work effectively in partnership with stakeholders
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

Please refer to the JDPS attached for more details on the vacancy and our requirements/key criteria.

What we Offer

• 25 days (Full time equivalent) annual leave, increasing with the length of service
• Employer Pension Contribution
• Eligibility to register with Blue Light Discount Card
• Access to discounted tickets for music events, shows, sports and more
• Reflective Practice regular sessions with a therapist provided by an external provider to support Mental Health and Wellbeing at work
• Training and Development, including access to courses, upskilling, and progression plans
• Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Annual Staff Awards
• EDI Ambassador programme

About Social Interest Group (SIG)

SIG is a not-for-profit organisation providing thousands of people with good-quality support and care in residential, drop-in centres, community floating support settings, probation settings, and hospitals. We do so across London, Brighton, Bedfordshire, Luton, Kent and Liverpool. Our goal is to transform lives through empowering change. 

We believe good care and support improves lives with the vision to create healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities. Join us on our mission to empower independence through trauma-informed solutions and dynamic partnerships that keep people out of prison, out of hospital, and off the streets.
Want to know how we work? Watch our short Theory of Change video to see how we support people towards a brighter future: Theory of Change Further details can be found on our website here: Theory of Change - Social Interest Group - Social Interest Group. 

Additional Information

Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Please note that as part of our process, we complete an enhanced DBS check, some roles may require further vetting. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide sponsorship, please ensure you have full right to work in the UK prior to applying to our positions.