Specialist behavioural support worker jobs

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 Intervention Worker to play a pivotal role in our Criminal Justice Service in  Streatham

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

Step into a role where your confidence, compassion and professionalism truly matter. This role supports the operations of an Approved Premises working with high-risk offenders. Responsibilities include engaging with residents, helping prepare meals, supporting sentence plans with probation and police partners, and assisting with admin and activity delivery. The role involves enforcing curfews and drug/alcohol testing requirements, maintaining safety, cleanliness, and well-being at the premises, and ensuring accurate and timely record-keeping. Staff are expected to model respectful behaviour, follow operational procedures, and contribute to a positive, enabling environment in line with Hestia and Ministry of Justice standards. 

You'll thrive as part of a supportive team, leading by example and getting involved in practical day‑to‑day tasks such as cooking, gardening and shared activities that help create a stable and enabling environment. Your awareness of safeguarding issues and your ability to respond appropriately will be central to keeping people safe and supported. If you're someone who combines empathy with authority, adaptability with professionalism, and teamwork with initiative, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference every day.

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.

The role requires the capacity to maintain firm boundaries and use authority appropriately while working pro‑socially and positively with others, alongside an understanding of the emotional and behavioural impact of trauma and the ability to support people who may display a wide range of emotions, behaviours and communication challenges. It calls for strong engagement and communication skills, a flexible and responsive approach, and an optimistic belief in people's capacity to change. You'll need to learn quickly, gather information effectively and make defensible decisions, as well as accurately receive, process and record detailed information within confidentiality requirements. Working as part of a team is essential, leading by example and taking a practical, hands‑on approach to tasks such as cooking, gardening, household duties and leisure activities. A solid understanding of safeguarding issues and the ability to address them appropriately is also key.

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.

CONTEXT

An estimated 12,000 men are raped every year and 76,000 sexually abused or assaulted. Yet just 4% of men will tell someone. Of those who do, it takes on average 26 years to do so.

Survivors UK provides specialist support to (cis and trans*) men and boys, and to non-binary people, who have been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. Our aim is to help any man, boy, or non-binary person, to have the confidence to tell someone what’s happened to them, and to know that it’s OK to seek help. When they do, we want to ensure they have access to the right support so they can deal with the impact of their experiences.

We provide emotional support, information and signposting to survivors and anyone worried about someone they know, through a national website and webchat service (open till 8pm most evenings). Last year, 2,600 people contacted us via our webchat services and social media.

In London, we are the only organisation providing specialist services for men and boys, including individual counselling and therapeutic groupwork, available till 9pm six days a week. Across London, we provide the capital’s only Independent Sexual Advisor (ISVA) Service that helps men and boys through the criminal justice system.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is an exciting role at Survivors UK which combines counselling and practical support, specifically to the (circa) 150 people who refer themselves for individual counselling with us each year. You will work specifically with young people aged 13+ and people from Black, Asian and Multi-Heritage communities who have experienced sexual violence.

The people served include those with clinical mental health diagnoses, drug and alcohol dependencies, at risk of suicide, homelessness or involved in the sex industry. You will need to be a highly skilled counsellor with experience of dealing with very vulnerable clients, willing to work flexibly and on your own initiative. Importantly, you will be a compassionate person, able to blend therapeutic work with practical support and care.

Main responsibilities include:

• Provide counselling and practical support interventions to boys, men, trans people and non-binary people from the BAM community who have been raped, sexually abused or assaulted with high levels of need and who are most vulnerable.
• Deliver counselling interventions by phone, video calling and face-to-face with clients 13+ years old.
• With clients, develop action plans to help them address emotional and practical needs and ensure clients can engage with a flexible service.
• An ability, interest and commitment to working and developing a therapeutic approach that is culturally attuned to Black, Asian and Multi and Dual Heritage clients.
• Maintain accurate and timely client case notes, ensuring adherence to confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection procedures.
• Support the monitoring and reporting to funders on the development and delivery of the service.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Clearance
 

PURPOSE

• Provide counselling and practical support interventions to boys, men and non-binary people who have been raped, sexually abused or assaulted with high levels of need and who are most vulnerable.
• Collaborate with clients to discover what their needs are from our service
• Support the monitoring and reporting to funders on the development and delivery of the service.

KEY OUTCOMES

• Survivors who are highly vulnerable and distressed will have access to a service that meets their needs, with improvements in their overall health and wellbeing.
• A reduction in harmful behaviours, such as less suicidal ideation, reduced drug & alcohol use, reduced incidences of self-harm.
• Survivors who are leading chaotic lifestyles report feeling more stable, better able to cope and better supported.

RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Service Delivery

• Deliver counselling interventions by phone, video calling and face-to-face
• Maintain accurate and timely client case notes, ensuring adherence to confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection procedures.
• With clients, develop action plans to help them address emotional and practical needs and ensure clients can engage with a flexible service.
• Provide regular and timely communications with clients so that they are encouraged to remain with the service.
• Attend clinical supervision.
•  
• Liaison and Promotion
• Maintain good working relationships with other support services associated with the client.

1. Monitoring, evaluation and dissemination

• Collect and accurately record one-to-one contact data, including presenting issues, client notes, socio-economic demographics, using Survivors UK Salesforce database.
• Monitor individual client’s progress through the outcomes monitoring framework.
• Where appropriate, and within safeguarding and data protection policies, collate qualitative client stories for reporting back to funders, evidencing need and service user opinion.
• Ensure all clients are aware of and have access to the organisation’s complaints policy.

1. General Duties

• Be responsible for administrative functions associated with the role, including accurate record keeping and filing.
• Provide input and comment on the development of Survivors UK policies and procedures and ensure you follow established procedures.
• As a member of a small team, contribute to the development of new initiatives and services in response to client need.

The post-holder will be required to carry out additional duties from time to time. Such duties will be commensurate with the role.

Survivors UK is an equal opportunities employer.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience and qualifications

• A BACP, UKCP or BABCP accredited counsellor, psychotherapist or CBT practitioner.
• Completed at least 3 parts of EMDR training. Potential for completion of the training to be offered with the role
• At least 2-years’ experience of working with highly vulnerable clients in a counselling and/or support service.
• Knowledge of trauma informed practice
• Demonstrable caseload management, with experience of undertaking initial counselling assessments.
• Experience of using creative approaches such as art, drama or play when working therapeutically with children and young people.
• Proven track record in helping clients who are experiencing high levels of distress and/or chaotic lifestyles, to improve their health and wellbeing.
• Efficient and accurate use of outcomes monitoring frameworks, such as CORE, Outcomes Star, or similar

Skills, knowledge and competences

• Strong understanding of the experiences, needs and impact of rape, sexual abuse or assault on (cis and trans*) men and boys, and on non-binary people
• Self-motivated and a self-starter: high level of confidence to develop and deliver a new service.
• A mature, calm and empathic manner: able to engage with clients who have challenging needs and deal with highly emotional and stressful situations.
• Strong communication skills: able to build trusting relationships and rapport with clients and interact and engage effectively with external agencies.
• Adherence to confidentiality and boundary policies and practices.
• High degree of flexibility in approach to working with clients and the wider team.
• Positive attitude and willing to contribute to developments, improvements and changes more broadly within Survivors UK.
• Competent administrator and highly organised: committed to maintaining accurate client records and reporting on performance.
• Demonstrable commitment to equal opportunities, with a non-judgemental approach to helping men, non-binary and trans people
• A commitment to pursuing professional excellence, personal development and learning.

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 an Intervention Worker to play a pivotal role in our Criminal Justice Service, Approved Premises in Highbury

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

As an Intervention Worker at Hestia, you will play a crucial role in our Highbury Approved Premises. Your contributions will directly influence the lives of our service users, guiding them towards a path of empowerment and independence. A day will never look the same and some of the things you can expect to do/be responsible for are:

The role in Approved Premises (AP) involves supporting high-risk individuals transitioning from prison back into the community. Staff work closely with residents, providing guidance, promoting positive behaviour, and helping them build independence while maintaining a structured environment. Responsibilities include preparing meals, supporting rehabilitation plans in collaboration with probation and external agencies, and ensuring residents follow rules such as curfews and drug/alcohol testing. Staff are also expected to assist in running and documenting activities, completing daily tasks, and keeping the premises safe, clean, and secure through regular checks and communication. A key aspect of the role is empowering residents to take responsibility for their own lives, without doing things for them, while providing support and supervision as needed. Staff must adhere to Hestia's policies and the Ministry of Justice's guidelines. 

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.

Here's what the team will be looking for:

This role requires strong communication skills to engage effectively with others, offering a flexible and responsive approach. You should be optimistic about people's potential for change and able to learn quickly, gather information, and make informed decisions. The ability to set and maintain clear boundaries is essential, using authority appropriately while maintaining a positive, pro-social approach. Accurate record-keeping and sharing of information, while respecting confidentiality, is crucial. Understanding the emotional and behavioral impact of trauma and working with individuals displaying various emotions and behaviours is key. You must work well within a team, leading by example, and taking a hands-on approach to practical tasks like cooking, gardening, and leisure activities. A good understanding of safeguarding issues and how to address them is also required.

This role is open to female applicants, in accordance with the applicable equality legislation and the genuine occupational requirement for the position.

You will be working on a rolling rota including early shifts, late shifts, weekends and bank holidays.

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.

At We Are Survivors, every role exists for one reason: to support male survivors of sexual harms and the people who stand alongside them. While each position has a different focus, they all contribute to helping survivors feel safer, more connected, and better able to move forward in their lives.

The ISVA supports male survivors throughout the criminal justice process, from making an initial report through to the conclusion of any investigation or court proceedings. Alongside providing specialist advocacy within the criminal justice system, the role ensures survivors understand their options, have their voices heard, and receive consistent emotional and practical support throughout their journey. The ISVA also works holistically, recognising that recovery extends beyond the legal process and helping survivors access the wider support they need. We are particularly keen to hear from men who want to support other men through the criminal justice process. We will provide training for the right candidate.

You'll be someone who is comfortable working with trauma and has experience in mental health, support, or community engagement. We're particularly interested in hearing from people who have worked with men, sexual harms, and their loved ones, but we also recognise that great people bring transferable skills and different experiences. If you're committed to learning, building trusting relationships, and making a meaningful difference, we'd love to hear from you.

At We Are Survivors, our values shape how we work every day. Transparency underpins our relationships, creating the openness that abuse so often takes away. Integrity is at the heart of everything we do, recognising that trust is fundamental to healing. Understanding means we take every survivor and their experiences seriously, meeting people without judgment and with genuine compassion. Being Responsive means we're committed not only to supporting survivors today, but also to predicting, educating, and preventing sexual harm against boys and men in the future.

If you're passionate about creating a society where no male survivor is left behind, and you share these values, this could be the role for you.

Why Join Us?

· a competitive salary.

· annual leave package with incremental rises plus bank holidays.

· company sick pay.

· Birthday annual leave.

· monthly clinical supervision.

· pension contribution.

· and a range of discount and benefit programmes.