Support work jobs

Peer support groups are an essential part of South East London Mind services. They differ from other forms of mental health services support as participants play an active role in creating an environment for each other where they can use their shared experiences to give and receive support.

The Southwark Women’s Forum is a monthly peer support group led by and for women aged 18+ who are resident in the London Borough of Southwark and are experiencing low to moderate mental health needs. Trans women are welcome to use this service. There are two different groups and we are currently seeking a skilled female group facilitator, with lived experience of mental ill health, to lead and deliver the second cohort on the penultimate Friday of each month.

We hope to expand this service, and with the help of a lived experience co-facilitator, you will ensure that it is a friendly and comfortable space for new and existing participants who may feel isolated or lack confidence due to their mental health. To keep the service running efficiently, you will also monitor group attendance, distribute and collect feedback forms as required, and assist the women with any signposting needs. 

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Closing date: Friday 12th December (9:00am)

Likely interview date: Friday 19th December

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About Us

SEL Mind supports people with mental health problems and dementia in the boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. We are proud of our diverse workforce and know that our organisation is made stronger by the variety of backgrounds, experience, and ideas within it. We promote a culture of inclusion and representation, and are working hard to build a workforce that even better reflects the communities we support.

SEL Mind is somewhere that you can be your authentic self without fear of discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, neurodivergence, gender, age, lived experience of mental health problems or anything else that’s part of who you are.

Join Us in Making a Real Difference

About YMCA St Paul’s Group

YMCA St Paul’s Group is one of London’s longest-standing charities, dedicated to empowering young people and strengthening communities for over 150 years. Through transformative youth programmes, inclusive health and wellbeing centres, and vital supported accommodation, we work to ensure that people—especially young people—have the opportunity to belong, contribute, and thrive.

Our mission is rooted in long-term transformation of mind, body, and spirit, and we remain committed to building vibrant, supportive, and resilient communities across London.

About the Role

As a Housing and Support Assistant (Nights), you’ll play a pivotal frontline role in ensuring our accommodation remains a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment. You’ll be a steady presence throughout the night—providing guidance, reassurance, and practical assistance for residents and visitors alike.

Whether you’re responding to queries, managing reception tasks, ensuring safety protocols are upheld, or offering a compassionate ear during challenging moments, you will be a vital part of creating a positive and secure atmosphere for those who call YMCA home.

This is a role with real variety and real impact—perfect for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and is passionate about helping others.

Working 4 nights on and 4 nights off (8pm-8am).

Key Responsibilities

Deliver Exceptional Customer Service

You will be the warm, reassuring presence residents and visitors meet first. Your confidence and professionalism will create a positive experience and set the standard for the quality of service YMCA is known for.

A Varied, Engaging Role

No two nights will be the same. Alongside reception duties—such as answering calls, processing payments, handling repairs, and managing post—you’ll take on a broad range of responsibilities that keep the building running smoothly.

Champion Safety and Security

As the on-site first aider and fire marshal, you’ll protect the wellbeing of our residents and staff. From conducting regular patrols to responding swiftly in emergencies, you’ll help maintain a safe and calm environment throughout the night.

A Welcoming and Compassionate Presence

You’ll often be the first to welcome new residents, address concerns, support those facing challenges, and record or escalate any issues such as anti-social behaviour or safeguarding concerns. Your empathy and professionalism will help residents feel heard, valued, and supported.

Be Part of a Supportive Team

You’ll join a dedicated and knowledgeable team of housing professionals who share your commitment to improving lives. Your role will be meaningful, varied, and rewarding—offering plenty of opportunities to develop your skills and make a real difference.

What You’ll Gain

At YMCA St Paul’s Group, we celebrate diversity, individuality, and community. Your voice matters here—and you’ll have opportunities to help shape positive change through our Employee Resource Groups and inclusive culture.

We’re committed to your growth. With access to robust training, qualifications, and hands-on experience, you’ll be supported in developing your career, expanding your expertise, and achieving your goals.

Benefits for Mind, Body, and Spirit include:

• Free gym access across all YMCA SPG sites

• Discounts at major retailers and supermarkets

• Free wellbeing and counselling services

• The flexibility to work across various outer London locations

• Career development programmes to support your journey

• Family-friendly policies, including enhanced maternity pay

• Life Assurance

A little bit about the role 

Location: Hybrid, 2 days a week expected in our London Office.

Salary: £65,431.97 (including London Office Allowance) plus competitive pension

Please note that this role will be closing on Monday 5 January 2026 at 9am.

The Principal Practice Tutor will play a leading role in and delivering Frontline’s Approach Social Work programme, a fast-track master’s in social work.  This is an exciting role for someone who wishes to combine management and leadership responsibilities whilst keeping a close connection to the work of their team by working directly with participants on the programme.  

The role of Principal Practice Tutor is to provide programme leadership and team management ensuring a high-quality teaching experience as well as ensuring excellent participant placement experience by supporting Consultant Social Workers. 

The role comprises of six core areas of responsibility: 

• Programme leadership and team management
• Resolve escalated participant issues
• Practice learning of participants 
• Support of Consultant Social Workers 
• Delivery (teaching) and Quality Assurance (marking) of the programme’s curriculum
• Supporting and operationalising wider organisational objectives 

You will work alongside the Head of Delivery, Principal Curriculum Leads and Principal Partnership Leads to ensure a high quality, effective learning experience for our participants. You are responsible for successfully incorporating best practice in pedagogy, through the provision of training, guidance and quality assurance activities across teams. 

We are actively seeking applicants from Global Majority backgrounds.

A little bit about you 

We are looking for a master’s-qualified, SWE-registered social worker with substantial children and families experience and a passion for developing others. You’ll be an engaging leader with strong practice insight, confident decision-making skills and a commitment to inclusive, anti-racist social work education.

We have a fast-moving culture within the team and organisation, so we’re looking for someone who is who is well organised, details-focused and can use their initiative to do what works. You will have excellent communication skills, be able to build relationships with people and be willing to learn. There are lots of opportunities for growth and development in this role – and for the right candidate to make the role their own. 

If you feel you have the skills to make a real impact and contribute to creating lasting social change for children and families, we would love to hear from you. 

Important information

We have increased the diversity of Frontline’s workforce in the last 12 months, but we need to do more to have greater racialised minority representation in our senior roles. We know the value racialised minority voices bring and therefore, we are strongly encouraging applicants from these backgrounds to apply. We are also a disability confident employer and welcome applicants with disabilities.

We recognise that artificial intelligence (AI) such as ‘ChatGPT’ etc can be useful for applicants e.g. to shorten an initial draft, so we do not attempt to have an absolute ban on AI in applications. However we would caution applicants not to rely too much on AI in drafting answers to application questions. We want to hear your authentic voice arising out of your experience, and we will be looking for answers that use examples and experiences that are specific to you. You are more likely to be able to produce that kind of content yourself than an AI will.

We reserve the right to close this role ahead of the deadline once we reach a suitable number of applications, so please apply as soon as you can!

This role is ineligible for sponsorship and so all applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Night Support Coach

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: Night Support Coach

Location: Havering, Close to Harold Wood Elizabeth Line station. Please note that this service does not have step free access. 

Salary: £27,000

Shift Pattern: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Sunday on a rota varying between 20:00 - 09:30 which includes 12.5 hour shifts with 1 hour unpaid break, approximately 3 shifts per week. You may need to be flexible on these hours as per service requirements.

About the Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Support Coach to join our new Independent Approved Premises (IAP) covering the night shift on a rolling rota. You will play a key role in supporting our residents who have left prison and are based within a residential setting to reintegrate into the community. You will develop and engage with our residents to produce tailored support plans which support their individual needs in successful rehabilitation and reintegration within the community. You will identify their needs, goals and skills, and then support and motivate them to achieve their potential. The service holds a strong focus on public protection and effective risk management.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of residents and participants at all times
• Engaging with residents throughout the night, ensuring they are adhering to their license conditions. This may include planning activities to engage with them such as movie nights, games nights, and other activities applicable
• Be a valued and reliable member of the team on the night shift, completing handovers for day colleagues for a seamless service
• Building trusting professional relationships with residents, helping them to achieve their goals and aspirations which could be through tailored one to one sessions, group sessions, in and out of service activities, and general wellbeing check ins
• Focusing on empowering our residents to take control over their lives and meet their personal goals

About You

We're looking for someone who has a true passion to help make a difference and contribute to providing safer communities for all. You will be comfortable working within the criminal justice setting, and supporting residents to have access to the tools and resources to better enhance their quality of life after their release from prison. You will have an understanding of criminal justice settings and will have the ability to build meaningful rapport with others who have multiple and complex needs and backgrounds. We look for adaptability, proactiveness, and confidence within your own skillset and ability to drive meaningful impact. We also look for:

• Understanding of the housing and social needs of people with multiple and complex needs
• Cultural awareness, Self-awareness, and ability to identify personal growth areas and take feedback
• Ability to use IT systems to record case notes, email relevant people, and use other software required within the role
• Ability and willingness to show flexibility of working patterns, responding to the needs of the service and residents
• Alignment with our values of Ambition, Empowerment, Inclusivity, and Transparency

We are interviewing on an ongoing basis so this job role may close early. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages. As a note, Interviews are scheduled for week commencing 1st December.

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. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact us on the details below. 

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

Additional information on our company policies including Gender Pay, Equality and Diversity, Company Benefits and our Candidate Privacy Policy can be found on our website.

Salary: £22,932 per annum pro rata (£12.60/hour)
Location:Caerphilly
Contract Type: Permanent in line with funding -Workplace based
Hours & working Pattern:

14 Hours per week - Saturday and Sunday 9.30am - 5.00 pm (Incorporating 30 minutes of unpaid break during each shift) 

Team members are offered the opportunity to undertake additional shifts to cover absences. 

All team members must work flexibly on occasions to meet the needs of the Charity and the people we support
Accountable to:Project Manager
Purpose of the post: Assist in the delivery of specialised, holistic support to adults and families who have experienced domestic or sexual abuse, harm and violence
Specific responsibilities

Assist in the delivery of specialist, trauma-informed support to adults and/or families living in refuge recognising the impact of domestic or sexual abuse, harm or violence, and responding with empathy, respect, and consistency.

Contribute to an environment where support is psychologically informed, compassionate, equitable, and grounded in integrity—where every individual feels safe, heard, and supported.

Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns in line with legislation and organisational policies, maintaining a trauma-informed, reporting concerns to your line manager without delay

Carry out Initial Contact Assessments, working alongside refuge or on call colleagues identifying together which support options best meet the individual's needs and preferences, prioritising need and risk

Support individuals to access refuge, including arranging transport if needed, offering a warm and respectful welcome, meeting immediate needs (e.g. donated clothing, food), and helping them settle into their accommodation.

Assist individuals in understanding and completing initial paperwork in a timely and supportive manner, including licence agreements, House Expectations, housing benefit claims, and service charge arrangements.

Undertake basic support activities, as requested by a Support Worker or senior colleague, in line with an individual’s support plan, needs assessment, risk assessment, safety plan and licence agreement/contract

Support individuals to maintain their licence/contract agreement through reflective, strengths-based conversations around any minor breaches, and escalating serious concerns to senior colleagues.

Keep Routes to Support updated with current refuge vacancies to support access and referrals

Facilitate opportunities for connection and community among residents, including inclusive evening and weekend communal activities.

Ensure contributions to records are factual, person-centred, accurate, timely, and confidential, using Cyfannol’s Case Management System and other internal records.

Encourage and support adults and children to have a voice within Cyfannol and the wider sector, for example by completing surveys, sharing feedback, and participating in relevant events
Assist in providing the organisation’s out of hours response: 

• Respond to all out of hours phone calls from the Live Fear Free Helpline, other refuges or Tier 2 and 3 on call colleagues across Cyfannol ensuring effective communication and continuity of support across the team.
• Undertake assessments for refuges, with support from on-call colleagues, to make timely and safe decisions based on individual need and risk.
• Provide support to colleagues and residents in the event of an incident or emergency at another refuge, contributing to a coordinated and calm response.
• Liaise with 2nd and 3rd tier colleagues as needed, ensuring effective communication and continuity of support across the team.
• Complete handovers at the end of each shift, both face to face and via email, to ensure consistency, safety and shared understanding across the team.

Housing Management:

Contribute to the creation of a safe, welcoming, clean, and calm refuge environment that supports wellbeing and dignity.

Carry out routine monitoring of CCTV and security systems to help maintain a secure setting for residents and staff.

Complete and record daily and weekly health and safety checks as directed by the Facilities Coordinator, ensuring refuge spaces meet required standards.

Ensure communal areas are safe and secure before the start of sleep-in shifts, creating a settled environment for the night.
Report repairs and maintenance issues promptly, liaising directly with landlords or housing associations, and involving the Facilities Coordinator when needed.

Provide access to contractors attending the building and monitor their presence to ensure safety and accountability.
Advise line manager of any needs relating to furnishings, equipment, or refuge infrastructure.

Monitor stock levels of consumables and first aid supplies, supporting the ordering process as needed.

Support Cyfannol’s carbon reduction goals by switching off lights and equipment not in use and promoting sustainable practices.

Ensure recycling and refuse are ready for collection on designated days, and support residents to engage with these routines.

Clean private bedrooms/flats between occupancies as promptly as possible to prepare for Routes to Support listings.

Wash and change bed linen, towels, cot bedding, and similar items between occupancies to maintain hygiene and comfort.

Clean communal areas when necessary to uphold standards and minimise health and safety risks, including monitoring residents’ recycling and refuse removal.

Facilitate ‘motivational cleaning’ activities with residents when appropriate, using a strengths-based and non-judgmental approach.

Liaise with community neighbours when necessary, seeking guidance from your line manager to ensure respectful and constructive communication

General responsibilities:
Actively contribute to the achievement of Cyfannol Women’s Aid’s Mission, Vision, Aims, Goals and Objectives ensuring your work reflects our commitment to trauma informed practice.

Demonstrate and positively promote Cyfannol’s core values of compassion, integrity, and equity in all aspects of your role.

Proactively promote equality of opportunity, challenging and addressing discriminatory practices wherever they arise.

Represent Cyfannol Women’s Aid in professionally manner, enhancing the organisation’s reputation.

Participate fully in team meetings, management supervision, clinical supervision and relevant training to support continuous learning and development.

Work in accordance with Cyfannol’s policies and procedures, ensuring safe, ethical, legally compliant and consistent practice.

Contribute to Cyfannol’s environmental goals by participating in carbon-reducing initiatives, including the organisation’s pledge campaign 

Undertake any other reasonable duties required to support the effective delivery of support services and the wider aims of the organisation

It may be necessary, following consultation, to amend the job description in light of experience and changing circumstances.  

This role requires frequent travel for business purposes. A current valid driving licence, access to a car and insurance covering business use

Closing Date: 12th December 2025

We have an exciting opportunity for 2 x Children and Young People Domestic Abuse Practitioners to join New Era working in Staffordshire. The position is 37.5 hours a week on a Permanent Contract with the Safe Accommodation Team.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

These roles are based in Staffordshire (we have an office in Stafford or Stoke). You will work directly with children and young people across the area; with hybrid working an option after the 6 month probationary period.

As a CYP DA Practitioner you will be:

• Working directly and indirectly with children and young people
• Delivering services mostly through education establishments
• Working within a wider DA service for the whole family approach

You will need:

• Good communication skills
• An ability to engage, build rapport and motivate young people
• Good understanding of domestic abuse and its impact on young people

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.

As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Team Leader to join our Victim Service team, working 37.5 hours per week on a hybrid basis.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to lead and inspire a team to achieve their goals, continually learn, and adapt to provide the best service for victims of crime?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you.

What we offer:

At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:

• Flexible working options including hybrid working
• 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
• An extra day off for your birthday & options to buy or sell annual leave
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
• High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment & leisure discounts
• Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
• Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
• Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes
• Cycle to work scheme & season ticket loans
• Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression

About the role:

As a Team Leader you will be:

• Ensuring the effective delivery of services to victims in accordance with the London Adult Service against contract specifications, operating procedures, confidentiality, information sharing and safeguarding policies.
• Leading the caseworker team, ensuring victims receive timely, professional needs and risks assessment and referral to appropriate support, assuring the quality of service provision.
• Working collaboratively with the Operations Manager/Management team, in order to achieve the implementation of business plan and the development of the service to maximise positive outcomes for clients.
• Focusing on performance management of their reports including auditing cases, allocation of cases and input into performance reporting.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

Victim Support strives to represent the diverse communities we serve and are passionate about creating an environment where all staff and volunteers feel respected and heard. Being a diverse organisation with an inclusive culture is integral to us being able to meet our aim of ensuring that anyone who is a victim of crime gets the support they need.
As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. VS is also a Disability Confident Employer and we provide a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of our selection process, we'll be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We look forward to hearing from you.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

YMCA Hastings provides medium-low supported accommodation for a total of 47 young people at risk of homelessness, aged 16 to 25, and care experienced young people under the age of 18. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Support Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building. Situated just of the seafront, the service has strong links with and contributes to the local community.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our team, who will hold a caseload of residents and meet with them weekly to build a support plan. Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing

• You will hold a caseload of young people who are housed across our sites with the support of the team.Support provided is light touch, and a good knowledge of partner agencies is essential for relevant signposting
• Interview young people to assess their suitability for our housing
• Support young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules in preparation for independent living.Helping young people navigate shared living skills is key to this role and includes facilitating house meetings, rotas and cleaning sessions
• Support young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent and liaise with housing benefit
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people
• Complete Occupancy Sign up and induction with incoming residents
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent, ASB or breaches of Health and Safety, using restorative practices
• Contribute to maintaining properties to a high standard including conducting health and safety checks

Support and Engagement

• Light touch support to residents, signposting to partner agencies as appropriate
• Support each resident to develop their own person-centred Support Plan with short- and long-term goals to work towards independent living skills and their next accommodation steps
• Arrange Review Meetings with young people at least once every 3 months to update and review risk assessments and support plans
• Check in with each resident at least once a week
• Encourage a culture of education, employment and engagement
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General 

• Work as part of a team
• Treat young people at the service in a non-judgmental and psychologically informed way
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice
• Liaise effectively with other professionals and services

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Strong time management skills with the ability to plan and prioritise

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 28 December 2025 at midnight. If we identify a strong candidate, we may invite them to interview ahead of the closing date.

TO APPLY: Scroll down the page to the application form. Please download the job profile (below), which includes the full role description and person specification.

We are not able to support a work permit or offer a visa sponsorship for this role. Candidates must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.

Reading Support Specialist - HMP Full Sutton

Location: HMP Full Sutton

Department: Prison delivery

Salary: £28,274 per annum

Hours: 35 hours (5 days a week)

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Full Sutton. Working closely with the prison and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.  

Ideally, you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach. 

This role is a fixed-term role until 31st December 2026, with the opportunity to be made permanent subject to contract renewal.

The role will be prison-based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

Please note this role is subject to contract award.

‍Interviews are planned for the week commencing 14th January 2026.

Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.

REF-225 477

Salary: £23,970 per annum (Full Time) rising to £24,480 per annum after successfully completing six-month probation period 
Location: Caerphilly
Contract Type: Permanent in line with funding  - Agile – working where and when required, to do the job most effectively 
Hours & working Pattern:

• 35 hours per week (full time) 

• Generally, Monday to Friday, with occasional evening and weekend work 

• Flexible start and finish times that incorporate the hours of 9.30am to 4.30pm and a minimum of 30 minutes unpaid break during these times. 

• Mandatory hwb days as part of a rota 

• All team members must work flexibly on occasions to meet the needs of the Charity and the people we support    

• Participate in the organisation’s Tier 2 emergency on-call rota (paid) 

Accountable to: Project Manager
Purpose of the post:To provide specialist, trauma-informed support to individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness because of experiencing domestic or sexual abuse, harm or violence 
Specific responsibilities:

1. Deliver specialist, trauma-informed support to a case load of adults and families, recognising the impact of domestic or sexual abuse, harm or violence, and responding with empathy, respect, and consistency. #

2. Contribute to an environment where support is psychologically informed, compassionate, equitable, and grounded in integrity—where every individual feels safe, heard, and supported. 

3. Respond to safeguarding concerns in line with legislation and organisational policies, maintaining a trauma-informed, non-judgemental stance that prioritises dignity and emotional safety. 

4. Work collaboratively with the team to provide Hwb cover in line with the agreed rota, ensuring individuals can access planned or emergency appointments, either in person, on the phone or online. 

5. Receive referrals into the service and carry out Initial Contact Assessments collaboratively, identifying the most suitable support options based on individual needs and preferences. Complete risk assessments and develop risk management plans, including the SafeLives DASH risk indicator and safety planning. 

6. Work closely with the team to manage and maintain the outreach waiting list, ensuring timely updates, regular contact, and effective triage for individuals. 

7. Work in partnership with individuals to identify support goals and outcomes, co-developing and regularly reviewing needs assessments, risk assessments, and support/safety plans 

8. Provide clear advocacy, signposting and referrals to internal and external services, guided by the individual’s expressed needs, interests, and readiness —such as social services, police, parenting support, health, legal advice, DWP, housing, education, recreation, and Cyfannol’s internal services (e.g. group work, sexual violence services, counselling). 

9. Build and maintain respectful, collaborative relationships with external agencies, and attend multidisciplinary meetings to promote the needs and rights of individuals through trust and partnership.

10. Maintain factual, person-centred, accurate, timely, and confidential records of all casework and service activity, using Cyfannol’s Case Management System and other internal records 

11. Contribute to audits and reporting, engaging positively supporting service evaluation and development and recognising the value of reflective learning and continuous development.

12. Encourage and support adults and children to have a voice within Cyfannol and the wider sector, for example by completing surveys, sharing feedback, and participating in relevant events

General responsibilities:

1. Actively contribute to the achievement of Cyfannol Women’s Aid’s Mission, Vision, Aims, Goals and Objectives ensuring your work reflects our commitment to trauma informed practice. 

2. Demonstrate and positively promote Cyfannol’s core values of compassion, integrity, and equity in all aspects of your role. 

3. Proactively promote equality of opportunity, challenging and addressing discriminatory practices wherever they arise. 

4. Represent Cyfannol Women’s Aid professionally at external meetings, public events, conferences, and similar forums, safeguarding and enhancing the organisation’s reputation. 

5. Participate fully in team meetings, management supervision, clinical supervision and relevant training to support continuous learning and development. 

6. Work in accordance with Cyfannol’s policies and procedures, ensuring safe, ethical, legally compliant and consistent practice. 

7. Contribute to Cyfannol’s environmental goals by participating in carbon-reducing initiatives, including the organisation’s pledge campaign

8. Undertake any other reasonable duties required to support the effective delivery of support services and the wider aims of the organisation. 

It may be necessary, following consultation, to amend the job description in light of experience and changing circumstances.  

This role requires frequent travel for business purposes. A current valid driving licence, access to a car and insurance covering business use

Closing Date: 12th December 2025

Please download and read additional documents on our website

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / fixed term contract (paternity cover) until 4 August 2026 / working across Monday to Friday 9am-5pm, office based in Worthing, delivering Transitional Services in the community across Horsham, Crawley, Burgess Hill and Worthing.

It is essential that you hold a current UK driving license and have a car for this role (expenses for mileage paid at 45p per mile, excluding home to work journey).

At YMCA DownsLink Group, our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

West Sussex Transitional Housing provides homes for young people in a range of settings across the county. Services provide a low level of support for young people who already have a basic level of daily living skills and can keep themselves safe without daily supervision.Services are staffed Monday to Friday 9 to 5, with some services having on site staff and others visiting staff; all services are supported by a mobile night team who carry out regular safety and security checks. The aim of the service is to enable and empower young people to move on to independent accommodation and articulate and start to achieve their aspirations and ambitions.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our team, who will hold a caseload of residents and meet with them weekly to build a support plan. Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing:

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team

Coaching and Engagement:

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General:

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details. 

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience does not align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 4 January 2025 at midnight. If we identify a strong candidate, we may invite them to interview ahead of the closing date.

We are not able to support a work permit or offer a visa sponsorship for this role. Candidates must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns.

Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / fixed term contract (maternity cover) until January 2027 / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our 16+ Older Looked After Young People (OLYP), Care Leavers and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) services delivers specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for living independently, safely explore their increased freedom of choice and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, whilst still having the appropriate level of support from an experienced team.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Cook Road, Horsham team, who will hold a caseload of residents and meet with them weekly to build a support plan. Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing:

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team

Coaching and Engagement:

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General:

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately

CLOSING DATE: Monday 15 December 2025 at midnight. If we identify a strong candidate, we may invite them to interview ahead of the closing date.

We are not able to support a work permit or offer a visa sponsorship for this role. Candidates must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Crawley Foyer provides 24-hour supported housing services offering medium levels of housing-related support for young people aged 16-25 with 38 bedspaces and shared communal facilities. We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and work towards aspirations so that they can move on to enjoy fully independent futures. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs, relationship building and wellbeing. Situated in the centre of Crawley, the service has strong links with and contributes to the local community.

Each Support Worker holds a caseload of residents and meets with them weekly to build a support plan and help them achieve their goals.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Crawley Foyer team. Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing:

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team

Coaching and Engagement:

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General:

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately

Are you looking for a rewarding job with flexibility to work around your commitments, whilst making positive changes in young people’s lives?

You will be offered available shifts (day, evening, night, weekends and bank holidays) in advance and at short notice – you choose which ones you want to work.

At YMCA DownsLink Group, our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

We are looking for Bank Supported Housing Support Workers to join our Brighton and Hove services. Gareth Stacey House and Lansworth House are our 24-hour supported housing services in central Brighton and Hove offering high levels of housing-related support for young people aged 16-25. The services have up to 20 bedspaces, with shared communal facilities; the services support young people to manage their daily living activities in areas including finances and budgeting, developing life and work skills, and managing self-care.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building

Our Bank Support Worker roles are similar to our Support Workers roles, but they work on a more flexible, temporary basis – they are great way into the organisation and can be a stepping stone into other roles. 

In this rewarding role you will work proactively and creatively alongside young people providing support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building. You will contribute to the smooth and safe running of the services by providing consistency and reliability.

You will ideally have experience of working with a similar client group and a good understanding of the key risks, challenges and opportunities for young people.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate. 

Please note this is a rolling advert; applications will be reviewed regularly, and suitable applicants will be invited to attend interviews on a rolling basis.

We are not able to support a work permit or offer a visa sponsorship for this role. Candidates must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider.