Specialist support worker jobs in bracknell, bracknell forest

Whatever your experience of street homelessness and its impact on people’s lives – personal or professional – when you join the Thames Reach team as a Support Worker we will make the best use of all your understanding, compassion and commitment.

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 this role…

The Thames Reach Outreach teams operate across London and help those who are rough sleeping to find routes away from the street. The teams respond rapidly and work flexibly to reach people. Individuals are assessed to identify their support needs and support plans are created, including work to obtain identification, access health services and refer to other specialist agencies, including those offering immigration support.

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

You will:

• Contribute to the continual improvement of service effectiveness, ensuring that service users or internal customers receive a high-quality outcome-focused service
• Provide key-work, support any crisis intervention work, complete case recording, face to face work, group work, advice giving, advocacy and other interpersonal work
• Maintain good working relationships with colleagues in other Thames Reach teams as appropriate
• Contribute to the provision of timely and accurate information, reports, and analysis
• Deliver support to a caseload of clients with complex and multiple support needs
• Contribute to the meeting of the targets in the areas of Education, Training and Employment / move on of the service users, maximising service user involvement /and other Key Performance Indicators

You will have:

• Strong record and good understanding of the issues involved in delivering effective support services to a range of vulnerable people
• Experience in establishing good working relationships with service users, colleagues, etc.
• Experience in working independently using own initiative whilst remaining accountable to line management and communicating effectively as part of a team
• An understanding of a range of approaches to case working including key working with service users and the implementation of different agendas, such as personalisation
• An understanding of homelessness and the impact on the lives of individuals and a depth of understanding of the needs and aspirations of homeless people which is based either on your own personal experience of being homeless or professional work or voluntary experience

We are listed in the top 100 UK Best Workplaces 2023 in the UK. As part of a commitment to our 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.

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.

To apply visit our website and complete our application form.

Closing date: 30/11/2025

For further information please contact, Folasade Babade, Lead Manager via our website.

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.

Who are you

You are qualified chef or catering professional who is excited by the prospect of developing training, business partnerships and product development in conjunction with the staff and volunteers at our community garden, kitchen and nursery in Richmond.

About your values and strengths 

You will be someone who:

• Grasps new ideas and opportunities and runs with them
• Has the energy and skills to share their knowledge with others
• Is a powerful advocate for learning and development, particularly for people with learning disabilities
• Will be able to mobilise the skills and resources of staff, volunteers and users of the service to deliver work and the work of the kitchen and its development
• Will see the value of, and maximise the opportunities available to through the work of the community garden, its produce and the resources to be developed from it.
• Is confident in approaching other organisations and individuals to drive business and operational development

What we want you to do

Out "Kitchen at the Stud" project is a new initiative funded in partnership with the Royal Borough of Richmond. The Kitchen is a fully refurbished resource at the heart of our Horticultural Service based in grounds of Hampton Court Palace.

The Community Garden is an extensive horticultural resource and the kitchen project is an integrated part of our developing programme of learning and skills development. The Kitchen Lead will work with the garden team in building the kitchen into both a publicly accessible amenity, a training resource, seasonal cafe available on open days and for targeted group dining in addition to exploring the potential for product lines for public sale.

What you can expect from us

Balance is a specialist provider of community based support and services across SW London to people with learning disabilities and enduring mental health support needs. We are:

• A charity that works hard to put its people, those who it supports and those who provide its services at the heart of what we do.
• A charity that takes its mission and values seriously in developing its services, operational approach and commercial relationships
• An organisation supports and encourages its staff to participate as partners in our development as a business, our outcomes and the delivery of our values.

• Entrepreneurial, outward facing, collaborative and embrace the testing of new ideas and initiative.

Additional Benefits of working for us

• A commitment to training and professional development to support internal progression in and beyond the charity.
• Inclusion in and a 3% employers contribution to the charity's pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days a year plus bank holidays and an additional day off for your birthday.
• Access to a range of discount schemes including Blue Light Card
• Access to the charity's employee assistance programme.
• Access to travel card loan, and bike to work scheme.

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Events Manager to join our Care Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

Our Care Events Team provide an extensive programme of groups and events for the 800 life-limited children, their families and bereaved families. There are themed family events, social groups for siblings of different ages, pamper days for mums, counselling groups, bereavement café, memorial days and many festive events such as ice-skating at Hampton Court. Taking place at our hospices and in the communities we serve, there are 5-6 events each week, offering important opportunities for families to make memories together.

About the role

The Care Events Manager is responsible for the delivery and oversight of the annual programme of events. The Care Event Manager leads the Care Events Team, including an Events Assistant, Events Management Intern, Counsellor and care events volunteers, and working with family support workers, children’s therapists and counsellors to deliver an incredible programme of creative and inclusive experiences. The Care Events Manager works alongside the Lead Therapist and Lead Counsellor to ensure that family support at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is everything the children and families need it to be.

At a weekly meeting, the team are made aware of children and family members who are struggling and think together about where they might benefit from the opportunity to spend time with others who share similar experiences or receive group therapy. Utilising professional events management skills, each event is planned meticulously to be a safe and inviting space. Providing this opportunity for families is integral to their mental wellbeing.

About you

This role requires an individual with professional events management experience, with a proven track record of executing high-profile and bespoke events. The individual should have skills in marketing, events administration and able to create events for families from diverse backgrounds. Excellent project management skills are required to keep the fast-paced programme on track, alongside diligence in health and safety. Leadership and management expertise enable the team to thrive, so that we can provide outstanding support to families. The Care Events Manager should be a compassionate and caring individual, sensitive to the needs of families at Shooting Star, with the emotional resilience to work with families who are experiencing grief and trauma. This is a unique opportunity for an events manager to utilise their skillset to make a huge difference to the families that we support.

Once or twice a month the Care Events Manager is expected to work on a Saturday or Sunday (time is given back during the week). The Care Events Manager will be working predominantly from either of our hospice sites (Guildford and Hampton) so they’re able to interact with the wider team. There may be one day a week when the Care Events Manager is able to work from home, however this isn’t every week.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity.

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

Pension scheme

• NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions

Annual leave

• 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service

• 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service

Contractual benefits

• Generous sick pay scheme

• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay

• Flexible working arrangements

• Death in service benefits

• Reimbursed professional membership fees

• Eye care

• Employee referral scheme

• Blue Light discount card

Health and wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Occupational Health

• Mindfulness sessions

• Cycle to work scheme

• Mental Health First Aiders

• Nutritionally balanced meals at Christopher’s (free for employees) and free fruit at our Hampton site

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.

In addition, an enhanced disclosure will be required for this role. Our recruitment checks, induction and ongoing support and supervision reflect our commitment to safeguarding the families we support and consider all applicants in line with the Rehabilitation of Offender Act 1974.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.

To apply please complete our online application and send a statement outlining how your skills and experience meets the criteria set out in the person specification.

We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Team Leader to join our Young People Services in Bracknell.

£32,156.80 per annum, working 40 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
* Free DBS
* 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
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
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.

The post holder will be fully involved in all aspects of the day to day management of their designated service, including line managing the relevant front line staff. You will lead and develop competence of direct reports as well as carry caseloads of customers requiring support.

The working pattern for this role is: 8am-4pm, 12.30am-8.30pm and 9am-5pm

This is a fixed Term Contract

What you'll do:
- Lead and motivate your team to ensure the championing of and maintenance of a positive local culture within your service
- Deliver effective supervision and team meetings with staff and ensure that information, reporting and communication
- Responsible for the personal development of staff, identifying high performers and feeding into the organisations succession plans
- Ensure that Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) required as part of the Contract are met and recorded correctly
- Develop key business relationships with all appropriate relevant customers/external parties to ensure service delivery excellence and maximise new business opportunities in own patch
- Participate in and monitor the initial and continuous assessment of needs and ensure that support planning is carried out in line with assessed needs of the customer
- Carry out other administrative tasks as relevant to the service and directed by the Contract/Heads of Operations
- Deliver an out of hours on-call service for region, where required
- Ensure that all safeguarding cases are managed in line with safeguarding protocols and are reported to Contract Manager/Head of Operations, as appropriate

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:
- Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, networks in local business community
- Approachable and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
- Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments

What you'll bring:

Essential:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent

Desirable:
- Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications are desirable

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

AtaLoss is recruiting a skilled, motivated and creative Marketing and Communications Executive to help raise national awareness of bereavement and increase engagement with our services across the UK. This full-time role offers the chance to apply your marketing expertise to meaningful, purpose-driven work that supports people who are grieving.

You will lead a variety of marketing and communication activities, including planning and delivering digital and print campaigns, managing social media and website content, producing creative digital assets, supporting PR, media work and Ambassadors, and reporting on performance analytics. You will also assist with events, webinars and exhibitions, working closely with the Director of Communications and Development and collaborating with the Marketing and Income Generation Executive. This is a rewarding role for someone who is highly organised, digitally confident and passionate about impactful, compassionate communication.

AtaLoss is seeking an organised, proactive and mission-driven Executive Assistant for our Church Engagement department to support the continued growth of The Bereavement Journey® and our work equipping churches to become Bereavement Friendly. This full-time role provides essential administrative, digital, coordination, resourcing and delivery support, for webinars, events, resources, websites and church engagement activities, helping to expand our reach and impact across denominations in the UK.

Working closely with the Head of The Bereavement Journey® and Church Engagement, you will manage administrative processes, source and assess suitable Bereavement Friendly Church material and resources, update website content, support online programme delivery, coordinate communications, resource practitioners and monitor engagement data. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys varied work, can balance detail with initiative, communicates sensitively and effectively, and thrives in a purpose-driven Christian environment. As AtaLoss continues to grow nationally, this role offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful change and strengthen bereavement support within churches and communities.

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic safeguarding specialist to be our Diocesan Safeguarding Officer (DSO) to lead safeguarding across the Diocese. Effectively as Head of Safeguarding, this is a senior leadership role with independent authority of the Diocesan Bishop, responsible for the professional oversight of safeguarding children, young people, and vulnerable adults. 

The Head of Safeguarding provides expert guidance, manages safeguarding concerns and allegations, and ensures the implementation of national safeguarding standards. You will lead a dedicated team, collaborate with senior clergy and external agencies, and ensure that safeguarding is embedded in every aspect of diocesan life. 

Some of the key responsibilities of the role include:  

Culture, leadership, and Capacity 

• Lead the development and implementation of the diocesan safeguarding strategy. 

• Work closely with the Bishop of Guildford, Cathedral Dean, Diocesan Secretary, and senior clergy to promote a culture of safeguarding excellence. 

• Support the Independent Chair of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel (DSAP), ensuring effective governance and oversight. 

• Oversee diocesan responses to audits, quality assurance, and Safeguarding Practice Reviews. 

Prevention 

• Implement the Church of England’s Safeguarding Code of Practice across the Diocese. 

• Provide expert safeguarding advice to clergy, parishes, and the Cathedral. 

• Ensure safer recruitment practices are followed across all diocesan bodies. 

• Develop and oversee the diocesan safeguarding training plan in line with the Church of England’s Learning and Development Framework. 

• Ensure training is high-quality, legally compliant, and regularly reviewed. 

Recognise, Assess and Manage Risk 

• Lead and coordinate all safeguarding casework within the Diocese, ensuring that work is completed as required by Church of England Managing Safeguarding Allegations Code of Practice, and statutory guidance and legal responsibilities.

• Participate in Case Management Groups, supporting the chair to ensure proper case management and ensure lessons learned are shared with DSAP. 

• Collaborate with senior leaders to report Serious Safeguarding Incidents to the Charity Commission. 

Victims & Survivors 

• Coordinate responses to disclosures of abuse, ensuring timely and compassionate support. 

• Implement the House of Bishops’ policy on responding well to victims and survivors. 

Learning, Supervision and Support 

• Work collaboratively with the National Safeguarding Team and other Church of England Safeguarding Officers, attending national safeguarding events and activities as required. 

• Engage in continual professional development, including ensuring that the requirements of the National Safeguarding Learning and Development Framework for Diocesan Safeguarding Officers are met. 

General 

• Lead and develop the safeguarding team, fostering a culture of collaboration and reflective practice. 

We are looking someone who has: 

• Proven leadership and strategic planning skills. 

• A professional qualification or equivalent experience (e.g., in social care or criminal justice), with current professional registration where applicable.

• In-depth knowledge of safeguarding legislation, policy, and best practice. 

• Experience of leading/facilitating/influencing organisational culture change to develop good safeguarding practice and healthy safeguarding cultures.

• Experience in managing complex safeguarding casework and risk assessments. 

• Experience working with victims, survivors, and perpetrators of abuse. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively. 

• Familiarity with Church of England safeguarding frameworks and governance structures. 

• Commitment to the values and mission of the Church of England. 

Please refer to the attached Job Description for full details of the Head of Safeguarding 

Benefits of the role include: 

• Competitive salary within the Charity Sector 

• A 10% non-contributory pension 

• Life assurance provision of 3x annual salary 

• 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays 

• An employee assistance programme 

• Learning and development opportunities 

Ready to Apply? 

Submit your CV along with a detailed supporting statement (cover letter), outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria in the person specification. The supporting statement is an essential part of the application process and thus a failure to provide this information will mean that the application will not be considered. 

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with our Safer Recruitment Guidelines. 

The Diocese take our responsibility for the safeguarding of children and adults seriously. Our recruitment processes reflect this commitment. 

We take your privacy seriously. To understand how your personal data will be processed during the recruitment process, please read our Candidate Privacy Notice before applying 

We believe that diversity is a strength. We actively welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities, particularly those who identify as female, younger, of a UK Minority Ethnic/Global Majority Heritage, or disabled, as it is essential that we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. 

Please note that if you are shortlisted and are unable to attend on the interview date, it may not be possible to offer you an alternative date.