Practitioner jobs in Charing cross, greater london

Alongside Youth Workers and Senior Youth Workers you will focus on delivering face-to-face youth work in schools and in community settings.

You’ll be working alongside young people who may be navigating complex challenges, including community safety concerns and the risks of exploitation. Your role will be to build trust, provide meaningful support and empower them to make positive choices for their future.

If you’re committed to creating lasting change and have the skills to connect with and inspire young people, we’d love to hear from you!

Every day at our Robertson Street hostel, people arrive at a crossroads in their lives. Some have been sleeping rough. Some are leaving hospital, prison or other forms of temporary accommodation. Many are facing challenges with their mental health, substance use, trauma or isolation. What they have in common is the need for stability, support and the opportunity to move forward.

As Deputy Hostel Manager, you'll lead a dedicated team helping people take that next step.

About us
Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in and around London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track. We help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities.

Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 15,000 people. 

Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There’s no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.

About the role
Robertson Street is a 42-bed hostel that provides a safe place for people to stay while they plan their next move towards independent living. As the Deputy Hostel Manager, you'll be responsible for creating an environment where both residents and employees can thrive. You'll lead a skilled and committed team, ensuring people receive the support they need to move on successfully and build more stable futures.

This is a role for someone who combines strong operational leadership with genuine compassion. Someone who can keep a complex service running effectively while never losing sight of the people at the heart of it.

Working closely with the Lead Manager and in-house Clinical Psychologist, you'll help shape a positive, psychologically informed culture where employees feel supported, residents feel respected and everyone is working towards better outcomes.

Your main responsibilities:

• Oversee the day-to-day running of a busy 42-bed hostel.
• Support residents to move on to more independent accommodation and achieve positive next steps.
• Develop, motivate and manage a team through supervision, coaching and performance management.
• Oversee referrals into and out of the service, ensuring people access the right support at the right time.
• Build strong partnerships with housing providers, local authorities, healthcare services and other agencies across London.
• Ensure the service remains safe, responsive and effective through strong oversight of incidents, safeguarding and health and safety processes.

About you
We're looking for a confident and compassionate leader who believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to move beyond homelessness. You'll bring:

• Experience of delivering positive outcomes and supporting people through change.
• Experience of managing a complex service within homelessness, housing, health, social care or a related field.
• Strong leadership skills and experience of managing, developing and supporting employees.
• The ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues, partners and people using services.
• Confidence making decisions, managing competing priorities and leading in a fast-paced environment.
• An understanding of the challenges faced by people with multiple and complex needs, and a commitment to delivering person-centred support.

Why join Thames Reach?
This is an opportunity to lead a service that changes lives every day. You'll join an organisation that combines ambition with compassion and is committed to ending homelessness in London. You'll be supported to develop your career, contribute your ideas and make a meaningful difference to the lives of people who need it most.

We are proud to be recognised as one of the UK's Best Workplaces.

As part of our commitment to employees, we offer:

• Generous holiday allowance – 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).
• Pension – we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%. 
• Excellent development opportunities – career progression, regular supervision and appraisals, and learning programmes to support your career with Thames Reach. 
• Wellbeing support – our 24/7 employee assistance programme and opportunities for TOIL. 
• Life assurance – four times your annual salary and critical illness cover.
• Other benefits including a blue light discount card, interest free season ticket and cycle to work loans.

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions.

To apply visit our website and complete our application form.

For further information please contact, Elinor Withington, Lead Manager (via our website).

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Closing date: 15 July 2026 at midnight. Interview date: 24th July 2026.

The Outrunners are recruiting two Youth Practitioners to deliver our Schools Programme, in collaboration with Nike!

Job Description

• Job title: Youth Practitioner (Sessional) - two roles availables

• Location: East London - Newham, Hackney, Tower Hamlets

• Salary: £15-£17 p/h 

• Hours: Up to 15 hours a week with the potential for more. Core hours: 10am-8pm, must be available evenings and occasional weekends

Who are we?

The Outrunners are a running charity based in Hackney, on a mission to empower young people through movement. Backed by an incredible crew of volunteers and partner brands like Nike and Moju, we help young people in East London to build confidence, wellbeing, health and leadership skills.

We deliver free, fun, sociable, youth‑led running and movement sessions for 8–18 year olds every week - during term time and holidays. But we’re about more than just running. We also create spaces for young people to explore creativity and culture, go on exciting trips, access wraparound wellbeing support, and develop the skills and opportunities they need to shape the futures they want.

Over the past five years, we’ve supported thousands of young people and helped push greater diversity within the running world.

Last year we launched an exciting partnership with Nike’s Social and Community Impact team. As a Youth Practitioner, you’ll deliver our programmes across schools in East London, aiming to engage more young people in movement and running. 

What do we want?

We are looking for a new sessional Youth Practitioner to work alongside the Youth Programme team to develop and deliver our Nike-funded schools programme across East London. 

You need to be passionate about getting young people moving, in particular girls and young women, and believe in the power of excellent youth work. You'll have a good understanding of the barriers and challenges faced by young people living in East London.

What you’ll be working on: 

Supporting our movement programmes 

• You’ll deliver fun and engaging sessions in schools to young people aged 11-18, alongside teachers and other coaches.

• You’ll work with the Youth Programme Lead and other Youth Practitioners to design movement  programmes, with a focus on running and movement whilst also bringing other sports, games and wellness activities.

• You’ll support the development of our programmes targeted at 8-18 year olds outside of schools.

• You’ll undertake administration tasks such as planning sessions, ensuring evaluation forms are completed and uploading data to our database.

• You’ll complete any other business required by management and pitch in to help with other tasks at busy times during the year. 

Working with young people and their families 

• You’ll develop and maintain relationships with young people and parents.

• You’ll support young people's attendance at approximately 5 races per year (weekends)

• You’ll work with the Youth Programme Team to plan and deliver activities over half-term and summer holidays. 

• You’ll ensure safeguarding procedures are upheld for all young people. 

Does this sound like you?

• A positive attitude, with lots of energy and enthusiasm and a passion for working with young people

• Someone who enjoys movement/running and sees the importance of encouraging young people out of their comfort zone

• A natural people-person with a high level of empathy, able to make people feel valued, respected and heard

• Reliable with patience, professionalism and an understanding of the importance of confidentiality

This job is for you if: 

• You have experience of working with young people and their families 

• You have experience delivering youth programmes targeted at young people with proven successful outputs

• You have relevant youth work experience/a relevant youth work qualification 

• You have a working understanding of safeguarding children and young people and how to maintain appropriate professional boundaries

• You have a commitment to, and working understanding of, equality and diversity, with the ability to work in culturally diverse communities, as well as a readiness to challenge discriminatory behaviour

• You have excellent communication, time management and organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and multitask

Desirable:

• Experience working in schools 

• Experience working with young people in sports and fitness 

• Youth work or fitness qualification 

What’s in it for you?

• Working alongside aspirational brands such as Nike

• The chance to attend exclusive, exciting events with our brand partners, Nike and MOJU 

• Learning and development opportunities to fit your aspirations, including with some of our partners

• Nike-branded kit provided for work, upon passing your probationary 

We strongly encourage women from ethnically diverse backgrounds to apply for this role since the  project is aimed at ethnically diverse young women. Even if you feel you don’t meet all the criteria, please still apply as we want to hear from a diverse range of people. 

The successful applicant will need to be subject to a background enhanced disclosure check by the Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) before any appointment can be confirmed.

Interested? Here’s how to apply!

• Upload a copy of your CV, and a covering letter explaining why you would like the role, and how you meet the requirements listed in the job description. The covering letter should be no longer than two A4 pages.

• If you meet our requirements, we will contact you for an interview after the closing date.

• If you are not contacted within a month of submitting your application, on this occasion you have been unsuccessful. We will keep your details on file for any other suitable vacancies.

Please submit your application by 11.59pm on Wednesday 8th July 2026.