Volunteer mental health support worker jobs in watford, hertfordshire

Working from home for the most part. Visits to London may be required from time to time

About us

SurvivorsUK exists for men, boys and non-binary people who have experienced any form of sexual violence. 

We support – by providing services such as a helpline, counselling, ISVA and groupwork.
We challenge – by raising public awareness of the issue, and dispelling myths
We build – by creating and facilitating networks for better access to help

Role

In this exciting yet challenging role as Emotional Support Worker, you will provide valuable support to survivors of sexual abuse and their loved ones, through our helpline service. Last year, around 2,400 people contact us via this crucial service. Our helpline is a starting point for support, as men and boy’s take their first steps reaching out for help. We are also integral to the SurvivorsUK eco-system, providing support to client’s on our counselling waiting list and helping survivors navigate the different support options that are available.

We provide emotional support, information and signposting through a national helpline service, which is offered via Webchat, SMS, Email, and soon to be offered via WhatsApp and telephone. We are open from 10am to 8pm, 7 days per week.

Please see attached Job Description and Personal Specification for more information.

Benefits of Working with Us

- We are a Disability Confident Employer
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to Clinical Supervision, if relevant for your role
- Acces to gym at our Hackney Wick offices
- Commitment to your professional development

How to apply

To express an interest in the role and to be considered, please review our JD and Personal Spec and submit the following:

• An up-to-date CV.
• A supporting statement that addresses each requirement within the person specification and outlines your motivations for applying.

Closing date: Monday 26th May at 11:30pm 
Shortlisting for Interviews: Week beginning 2nd June. Interview will be held remotely via Teams or Zoom.

We especially encourage applications from individuals who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, including men, non-binary, Black and Asian, trans, disabled people, and those from other marginalised groups. We recognise and value the unique experiences that arise from the intersections of these identities, and we particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience or a strong understanding of the issues faced by our service users.

At SurvivorsUK, we are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment where everyone is empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work. We also understand the importance of work-life balance and are open to discussing flexible working arrangements, including job share opportunities, to support candidates with caregiving responsibilities or other needs.

If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process or have any accessibility needs, please let us know. We are here to provide any support necessary to ensure the process is inclusive for you.

Organisation Overview:  

Unpaid carers are the unsung heroes in our communities, supporting relatives, friends, and neighbours, often with limited or no support, to live the best lives they can.

Carers Centre Tower Hamlets (CCTH) is a small, committed organisation dedicated to supporting unpaid carers through a variety of specialist services, from social and therapeutic activities to emotional, mentoring, advocacy, and signposting support. We aim to enrich and empower unpaid carers’ lives, providing them with the support they so selflessly give to others. We are now recruiting to our team someone who will lead on our work to support Carers as part of the Barnsley Street Mental Health Project. 

Project Overview:  

The Barnsley Street Project is a Community Mental Health Pilot aimed at delivering continuous, person-centred mental health care to underserved populations in PCN1 (Bethnal Green). This initiative is a collaborative effort between East London Foundation Trust (ELFT), Tower Hamlets Mental Health Alliance (THMHA), and the Look Ahead Housing Association. Driven by the voice of lived experience, the project is designed to address the systemic gaps in mental health services, particularly for marginalised communities.  

Purpose of the role:  

To identify and coordinate an effective support service for unpaid carers who support residents who access the Barnsley Street Project, with the aim of supporting carers to have their needs met as well as develop a healthy and sustainable caring role.    

To facilitate access for unpaid carers in the Barnsley Street Project to appropriate support services, both statutory and voluntary. To provide comprehensive support and information to families and carers. To raise awareness of carers’ needs with professionals in the project environment and contribute to carer friendly policies.   

The post will involve the direct provision of services, referral to and between services, collaborative work with other local agencies and outreach work. The post-holder will provide advocacy, referral, and ongoing practical and emotional support to unpaid carers through individual and group work.    

Responsibilities: 

• Identification and Support: Proactively identify carers of residents who utilise the Barnsley Street Project, and provide them with tailored support, ensuring their well-being is prioritised. 

• Information and Guidance: Offer information about available resources, support services, and community networks to assist carers effectively. 

• Communication Liaison: Facilitate communication between clinical staff and carers, ensuring they are kept informed about the patient's condition, treatment plan, and any discharge process. 

• Emotional Support: Provide compassionate emotional support to carers, listening to their concerns and offering a caring presence during difficult times. 

• Training and Education: Organise workshops and peer support groups to equip carers with essential skills for their caregiving role. 

• Advocacy: Advocate for carers' needs and rights within the setting, ensuring their voices are heard and respected. 

Requirements: 

• Previous experience in an advice or support role within a mental health or healthcare environment is preferred. 

• Empathetic and compassionate nature, with a genuine commitment to supporting carers during challenging times. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage effectively with carers, hospital staff, and external partners. 

• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, managing priorities efficiently. 

• Proficient in using technology, including email and Microsoft Office suite. 

Benefits: 

• Competitive salary based on experience. 

• 25 days (pro rata) of annual leave, plus public holidays. 

• Pension scheme. 

• Continuous professional development opportunities. 

• Rewarding work environment making a real difference in carers' lives. 

If you are passionate about supporting carers in a hospital setting and possess the skills and empathy required for this role, we would love to hear from you

Note: We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, or disability. 

Mental Wellbeing Manager

Job Summary:

The Mental Wellbeing Manager will lead Manor Gardens’ culturally competent, trauma-informed mental health work with young men aged 18–25 funded by City Bridge Foundation, and oversee our wider wellbeing programme, funded through other sources including individual giving. They will be responsible for delivering early intervention and therapeutic support for young men from Black and minoritised backgrounds and refugees and asylum seekers, while also managing the delivery of a broader programme of community wellbeing activities for adults.

The postholder will line-manage two Activities Workers and have oversight of a pool of sessional staff and volunteers delivering peer support, group activities, and therapeutic interventions. This role requires a strong understanding of mental health, experience in group and 1-to-1 support, and a commitment to culturally competent, person-centred approaches.

About Manor Gardens Welfare Trust

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust (MGWT) is a health and wellbeing charity based in Islington, supporting communities for over 100 years. Our mission is to reduce health inequalities and empower people to take control of their lives through culturally competent, trauma-informed, and person-centred services. We provide accessible support in multiple languages and work with people experiencing multiple disadvantages, including poverty, poor mental health, social isolation, and barriers to accessing essential services.

We deliver a wide range of services including advocacy, mental health support, youth work, and wellbeing activities. Our approach is rooted in co-production and lived experience, and we work closely with local partners across statutory and voluntary sectors to improve outcomes for underserved communities.

Our core values are:

· Resilience – building strength and adaptability to meet challenges.

· Inclusivity – ensuring everyone feels valued and respected.

· Empowerment – enabling individuals to take control of their lives.

· Teamwork – fostering collaboration and mutual support.

Reporting to:

Director of Services and Development

Hours:

21 hours per week

Salary:

NJC Scale PO1 point 28 - 31 (£40,641- £43,450) pro rata

Liaison with:

Clinical Lead, Service Managers, staff, volunteers, community members, local partners including Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (CANDI), Islington Public Health, Metropolitan University, VCS groups and other stakeholders.

Role Overview and Purpose:

The Mental Health Nurse is a key member of our team, focused on delivering high-quality mental health services to young men in the community. This role requires a proactive approach to engage with individuals who have not previously accessed mainstream mental health support, using culturally sensitive methods to build trust and promote mental well-being.

Key Responsibilities:

1. City Bridge Mental Health Programme Delivery (50%)

· Ensure the effective delivery of therapeutic and early intervention support for young men aged 18–25, including one-to-one and group support.

· Oversee work delivered by sessional psychotherapeutic staff and ensure quality, safeguarding, and continuity.

· Facilitate or coordinate safe, inclusive peer support spaces in community settings.

· Use culturally competent and trauma-informed practices to build trust and engagement among the target group.

· Conduct initial screening or assessments where appropriate and manage referrals to statutory and specialist mental health services.

· Collaborate closely with the Clinical Lead and Evaluation Lead to ensure the quality, safety, and effectiveness of delivery.

2. Recruit, train and support Peer Mentors

· Recruit two cohorts of 8 young bilingual adult men and women from Black, minoritised and refugee backgrounds, who have lived experience of mental ill health, exploitation, violence or traumas related to their experience of migration.

· Oversee the accredited training of 16 young adults as Peer Mental Health Mentors (two cohorts) in partnership with CANDI and ensure additional training in safeguarding, cultural competency and equalities

· Provide 121 support to Peer Mental Health Mentors and ensure they access clinical supervision

3. Management of Wellbeing Team and Sessional Staff (20%)

· Line-manage two Activities Workers responsible for delivering adult wellbeing activities (e.g. gardening, yoga, ESOL, conversation cafés).

· Provide supervision, direction, and support to ensure delivery aligns with MGWT’s values and trauma-informed approach.

· Oversee a pool of sessional facilitators and volunteers, ensuring coordination, safeguarding, and quality of delivery.

· Support co-production and ensure wellbeing activities are shaped by the voices of service users with lived experience.

4. Monitoring and Evaluation (10%)

· Maintain accurate records of all therapy sessions, assessments, and referrals.

· Collect and analyse data to evaluate the effectiveness of mental health interventions.

· Work with partners at Metropolitan University to ensure the external evaluation of the service.

· Contribute to the development of evaluation reports and share findings with key stakeholders including the All-Age Mental Health Partnership Board and Locality Leadership Boards.

5. Partnerships and Community Engagement (5%)

· Build and maintain strong relationships with local partners (e.g. CANDI, MIND, housing providers, youth and refugee organisations).

· Represent MGWT in borough-wide forums (e.g. All-Age Mental Health Partnership Board, Bright Lives Alliance).

· Promote the service through local outreach, events, and communication with community partners.

6. Organisational and Other Duties (5%)

· Contribute to MGWT-wide initiatives and cross-organisational learning and planning.

· Attend internal meetings, training, and working groups.

· Undertake other duties as reasonably required to support the effective functioning of MGWT services.

Person Specification:

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

· A recognised qualification in mental health or psychological support (e.g. RMN, PGDip in Psychotherapy or Counselling, Occupational Therapy (Mental Health), or other UK-recognised accreditation).

· Significant experience delivering mental health or wellbeing support to people from minoritised or refugee backgrounds.

· Experience delivering trauma-informed and culturally competent support.

· Proven experience facilitating group and 1-to-1 support in community settings.

· Experience line-managing staff or volunteers.

· Experience supporting monitoring and evaluation or working with academic evaluators (desirable).

Knowledge and Skills

· Understanding of structural and cultural barriers to accessing mental health support.

· Familiarity with tools like SWEMWBS and Brief Resilience Scale, or similar wellbeing assessments.

· Strong organisational skills, including managing caseloads and staff supervision.

· Ability to support reflective practice and provide emotional support to peers or staff.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

· IT proficiency including data entry and case recording.

Attributes and MGWT Values Alignment

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong alignment with MGWT’s values:

· Resilience: Emotionally robust, calm under pressure, and able to support others through complex challenges.

· Inclusivity: Culturally sensitive, anti-oppressive, and committed to accessible services for all.

· Empowerment: Committed to co-production, believing in people’s ability to grow and recover.

· Teamwork: Collaborative, respectful, and committed to supporting colleagues and service users alike.

Additional attributes:

· Self-motivated, flexible, and able to manage competing demands.

· Commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, and ethical practice.

· Ability to work across cultures, languages, and experiences with sensitivity and humility.

· Fluency in a relevant community language (e.g. Arabic, Somali, Tigrinya, Bengali) is desirable but not essential.

Job Purpose

• This role sits within our crisis alternative service, Safe Space, which is a core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all our boroughs.
• Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis.
• The objectives of the service include:
• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH.
• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA)
• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the senior support worker is to support the team manager with the smooth running of the allocated site and staff; supporting development and rest of the team including volunteer recruiting, induction (training and development) and supervision. Senior support worker will also lead in delivering interventions on a one-to-one. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing. The role will include deputising for the team manager where applicable including debriefing and providing support to the team.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Understanding of risk and risk management
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Working closely with re-admitters and clients being discharged through the drop-in service on a weekly basis
• Responsible for keeping allocated site to a high standard and reporting any health and safety concerns
• To work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and under pressure
• To attend all mandatory training including safeguarding and GDPR.
• Good time keeping skills - Essential
• To attend and contribute at weekly team meetings
• This role will be considered a key worker role
• Understanding of safety planning and de-escalation
• Experience of working with challenging behaviour
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Understanding CQC standards and NICE guidelines around mental health
• Providing administrative support to the team
• Overseeing and provide shadowing to new staff members and volunteers
• Attend reflective practice, peer debriefing and line management supervision
• Maintaining good working relationships with partner agencies
• Actively participate in training and development
• Provide guidance to support workers and volunteers
• To work with team managers and assist with reporting and monitoring
•  

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of contributing to multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of de-escalation
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Understanding of how to report and mitigate risks
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approach
• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Understanding of different databases such as Views, Salesforce and NHS
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and ability to travel to multiple locations (e.g. NHS sites and community sites) would be essential.
• Ability to work out of hours and on weekends at multiple locations including NHS sites and community sites

We’re looking for a compassionate, organised, and proactive Support Worker to join our dedicated Carers in Mind team at Richmond Borough Mind. This is a varied and rewarding role, offering both one-to-one emotional support and the chance to help shape an inspiring programme of workshops, peer-led groups, and social events for adult carers supporting loved ones with complex mental health needs.

As part of a small, friendly team, you’ll be central to the day-to-day running of the service—coordinating events, managing communications, and working collaboratively with health and social care partners to ensure carers feel heard, valued, and supported. You’ll need to be confident with digital tools, highly organised, and comfortable working independently as well as in a team. If you’re someone who enjoys connecting with people, thrives on variety, and is committed to promoting wellbeing and recovery, we’d love to hear from you.

About the Project – Door of Hope (East London)

The Door of Hope Project provides support to women who sell sex in Tower Hamlets.  This includes journeying alongside women, whilst providing advocacy, information, emotional and practical support.  The project also has a strong team of around 15 volunteers, who deliver street outreach to women in Tower Hamlets on a Thursday morning and Friday night. 

About the Role

Beyond the Streets is a UK charity with over 20 years’ experience of partnering with women in the sex industry, to see them safe from coercion, violence and abuse. We deliver trauma-informed, person-centred support, provide training, and create resources and reports informed by research, lived experience, and practitioner experience.

Our ‘Direct Work’ is central to the organisation, and we are looking to recruit a new Women’s Support Worker.

Taking a woman-centred approach, your role is to provide holistic support for women with complex needs who want support, or to exit the sex industry. We are looking for someone with energy, motivation and experience of working with vulnerable adults; someone who a highly developed sense of self-awareness who can work in a gender and trauma informed way.

This role will be part of a small team of support workers, and a service manager, who deliver an in-person support service, with women who sell sex on-street in East London. You will have frontline experience of working with individuals who experience multiple disadvantage. This might be in the VAWG sector, domestic abuse, substance misuse, mental health or counselling or direct experience of women in the sex industry. You will have a good understanding of working with vulnerable people and be aware of the need for Safeguarding.

You will be a champion of the cause, have a passion for supporting women who face multiple disadvantages and be familiar with the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector.

You will have excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence and be able to support women in a trauma-informed and non-judgemental way.  We are looking for someone with energy, resilience, who can increase our reach and positive impact on women.

You’ll enjoy…

· Competitive pay

· Flexible working

· Career opportunities – develop yourself and your career with a reputable national organisation in the VAWG sector

· Personal development allowance – to further your work-based skills and knowledge

· Cycle to work scheme – tax free allowance to buy

· Tech Buying Scheme – spread the cost of personal technology equipment and homeware across 12 months via payroll

· Travel season ticket loan scheme – an interest-free loan to enable team members to purchase a season ticket for travel between their usual place of residence and their usual place of work

· Clinical supervision – all staff are entitled to clinical supervision on request. A place to discuss work issues and challenges, and their emotional impact, on a regular basis

· Blue light discount – a well-recognised national discount card scheme. For only £4.99 for two years’ membership, the discounts are large, and widely accepted

· Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential and independent service designed to help you deal with personal and professional issues that could be affecting your home life, work life, health, and general wellbeing. EAP is available to you and to your immediate family

You’ll need…

• Experience of working withing a front-line delivery team
• Understanding of the complexities of working with women who have multiple disadvantages and the barriers to service access they face
• Experienced with working with and engaging with diverse groups of people from varying backgrounds
• Familiarity with working within Adult Safeguarding protocols and procedures
• A non-judgemental and women-centred approach to support
• Comfortable working within a Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) framework
• Commitment to providing quality, women-lead and trauma-informed support
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Patience, compassion, non-judgemental and motivational attitude
• Resilience to work with women who have often experienced trauma
• A responsible, dedicated and flexible approach to work
• Competent IT knowledge and computer skills

When you join, you will receive a structured induction and training plan, including access to all our in-house paid training.

All roles are subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK, satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check.

Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR)

Due to nature of this role in working alongside women with lived experience of violence against women, this post is restricted to female applicants under Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010. 

Job Purpose

This role sits within our new forensic Women’s Nova Roots service, which is a peer led service for women who are leaving forensic services, based in West London. The service will be open 3 days a week: one weekday evening out of hours and three weekends a month (flexible weekend pattern and times can be arranged).

The aim of the service is to support women who are leaving forensic care to re-integrate into society by offering a community social hub. The focus of the service is to provide social engagement, relaxation and a touch point for out of hours forensic support. The Women’s Hub will provide face-to-face holistic group support, offer psychoeducation and health workshops tailored and coproduced to the direct needs of clients, offer peer-led groups which will be co-designed and led by the clients accessing the hub. We will also offer a range of activities onsite.

Nova Roots will be an extension of the existing support offered by the Specialist Community Forensic Team (SCFT), offering out of hours social support. All referrals into the hub will be directly from the SCFTs and local hospitals.

The Nova Roots will be staffed with 1 part time Project Coordinator and 4 Forensic/Peer Led Volunteers – with Service Manager oversight. The Project Coordinator will work directly and closely with the SCFTs.

The Role

The role of the Nova Roots Project Coordinator is to arrange and coordinate a range of psychoeducation, health and peer-led workshops which will be delivered 3 times a week. The Nova Roots Project Coordinator will be responsible for managing the 4 peer-led volunteers and oversight of the site 3 days a week. The Nova Roots Project Coordinator will also be required to be in regular communication with the SCFTs.

The role will require hybrid working: onsite when the hub is open and 1 day of planning/coordination which can be worked remotely on a rota basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Understanding of safety planning
• Experience of working within forensic services
• Understanding and experience of challenges for forensic leavers (social, health, welfare, interpersonal)
• Experience with de-escalation, recognising and mitigating risks.
• Experience of working with those in crisis and challenging behaviour
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Understanding safeguarding adults and children processes and legal requirements
• Understanding of social issues such as debt, housing and welfare benefits
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g., CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CAMHS, Safe Space, SCFT etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Providing administrative and management support to the team
• Attend reflective practice, clinical supervision, peer supervision and line management supervision
• Create and maintain good working relationships with partner agencies
• Follow workplans
• Actively participate in training and development
• Provide and manage resources for clients and staff

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in forensic mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress, crisis and forensic/criminal backgrounds
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Minimum 1 year of project coordination/management
• Experience of facilitating workshops/group sessions
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approaGood communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and willingness to travel to locations would be desirable.
• Ability to work out of hours, during the day and on weekends
• Staff within this role will be considered key workers, so in the event of a government lockdown, staff will be expected to continue working
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations

Job Purpose

This role sits within our Adult Services, across Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing, Hounslow. You will be responsible for the operational delivery and service development, of a portfolio of services. Namely (but subject to change):

• Safe Space Community Drop In Service 
• Hounslow Helpline
• Nova Roots (Forensic Community Hub)

One large service you will be responsible for is our crisis alternative service – Safe Space - which is a tri-borough core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00 across all of our boroughs. You will be responsible for managing peripatetic teams: we currently have 3x in person Safe Spaces, a Helpline and a Forensic Community You’re your portfolio may expand as new services are acquired.

Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all of our boroughs.

Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis. 

The objectives of the service include: 

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH. 

• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA) 

• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients 

• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning. 

• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing. 

• To remain a source of independent support for all clients. 

• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support 

• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation 

• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service 

• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service. 

• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual. 

The Role

The role of the Crisis Alternative Service Manager will provide operational management, mobilisation and service development of all Crisis’ Services within Adult Services. The ideal candidate will have experience of mobilising and developing high quality, large services. In addition to managing and supporting staff working within challenging environments and experience of working with challenging behaviour and complex needs. The Service Manager will hold all operational risk.

Excellent organisation and decision-making skills are essential for this role, as it requires being able to manage time effectively to meet tight deadlines and work unsupervised during evenings and weekends. You will also be required to be rostered into the on-call rota.

The Crisis Alternative Service Manager will be required to work collaboratively with the Director of Adult Services and will be proficient at communicating effectively with staff at all levels, a wide range of key stakeholders and service users. They will ensure the service is well resourced from a staffing perspective and embed high-quality operational plans and processes. The Service Manager will also be expected to build and sustain working relationships with statutory services and represent HFEH Mind at external meetings.

They will be responsible for the delivery, progression and continual improvement of the service. They will have responsibility for ensuring Crisis Services operate in line with organisational H&S processes and procedures, HFEH Mind policies and CQC requirements

Key Responsibilities

· To oversee the management of the Crisis Alternative Drop-in Services and other services, in line with organisational values and service quality expectations.

· To ensure all risks are recognised and mitigated in line with the serious incident and safeguarding policies.

· To ensure safe working and risk management

· To ensure feedback is provided on risk mitigation through serious incident reports.

· To continually drive enhancements to operational effectiveness and maximise outcomes against targets (key performance indicators)

· To complete audits and high quality reports for senior internal and external stakeholders

· To ensure interpret performance and impact data for crisis services and be responsible for reporting against service targets

· To provide effective line management supervision to Team Managers, Senior Support workers and Support Workers where applicable.

· To collaborate with the Director of Adult Services and the Head of HR to deal with performance management/disciplinary issues confidently and effectively in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

· To mobilise the crisis services in line with agreed project plans and ensure they are promoted and marketed well.

· To pro-actively develop relationships with external stakeholders in order to improve and develop crisis provision for people with mental health needs.

· To develop robust referral routes and pathways into the service with both statutory and non-statutory bodies.

· To ensure excellence in the recruitment, training and ongoing support of staff and volunteers where applicable.

· To support the Deputy Manager, Team Managers to ensure adequate and appropriate staffing at all times within the service.

· To ensure high levels of meaningful service user involvement in service provision, responding to the needs of service users locally.

· Work collaboratively with West London Mental Health Trust staff to support, develop and promote both the service.

· Establish excellent working relationships with core and out-of-hours services such as Emergency Services, Crisis Teams and GPs, around inward and outward referrals.

· Ensure quality and compliance (in line with CQC standards, NICE guidelines, MQM and other relevant standards)

·        Work within HFEH Mind’s policies and procedures including; Performance Management, Confidentiality, Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Service User Involvement, Health & Safety, GDPR and Professional Boundaries.

· To embed all operational policies across managed services in line with a consistent organisational approach.

· Ensure service users satisfaction surveys are undertaken.

· Ensure data and qualitative information is collected, collated and communicated to key partners and key stakeholders, as required and directed by the Director of Adult Services.

· Ensure that all managed services are effectively informed by service user feedback.

· Keep up to date with best practice and contribute to the continuous improvement of the service.

· Monitor the quality of the service and ensure appropriate data is collected (in line with GDPR) to monitor outputs and outcomes.

· Produce regular service summary reports.

· To be rostered on the on-call rota

· Undertake such duties not included in the job description as are reasonably requested by the Director of Adult Services

Person Specification

· A minimum of three years managing a crisis service or similar setting with high complexity and high incident rates

· Experience of managing and mitigating risks

· Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children

· Understanding of how to report and mitigate risks

· Understanding of suicide prevention

· Understanding of trauma informed care

· Understanding of mental health and safety planning

· An understanding of CQC requirements for mental health

· Managing services for vulnerable people in a service delivery organisation.

· Excellent people and project management skills and significant experience of supporting and managing staff.

· Experience of working in the voluntary sector and/or statutory services

· Experience of motivating, developing and training staff

· Successful track record in performance management of staff

· Experience of creating and implementing safety and risk policies and procedures.

· Compiling and interpreting performance data and reporting against service targets.

· Successful track record in planning and project management.

· Experience of report writing and presentation.

· Supporting people with mental health problems.

· Knowledge of and empathy for the issues facing people with mental health problems.

· Knowledge of the day-to-day application of relevant legislation e.g., Health and Safety.

· Understanding of the principles of ensuring safe service provision for people at risk and how these are put into practice.

· Knowledge and understanding of the relevant statutory authorities including NHS and social care.

· Excellent communication skills and able to communicate effectively to a variety of audiences.

· Commitment to service user involvement and able to work with service user groups to develop this. 

· Is committed to working in an anti-oppressive way and striving to create equal opportunities for all people.

· Clear understanding of Equality, Equity, Diversity and inclusion organisational approach

· Commitment to working within the policies of HFEH Mind including confidentiality and safeguarding.

· Positive attitude, passionate about working for HFEH Mind and able to inspire people to higher levels of performance.

· Team player and able to form positive, professional relationships with staff at all levels.

· Able to work effectively with a range of external stakeholders to promote and develop the service.

· Strong organisational skills and able to take control of own workload and meet deadlines.

· Ability to work independently with minimum support.

· Confident in challenging poor performance assertively, constructively and successfully.

· High professional standards and the ability to communicate these clearly to others.

· IT literate to aid communication and analysis of data.

· Willing to undertake training and development.

· Ability to travel to multiple sites

Desirable:

· Mental health registration (nurse/doctor/therapist etc)

· Mental health qualification

· Has a full driving licence and use of own vehicle (desirable, not essential)

· Experience of working with databases such as Views, IAPTUS, Rio and Python

· Project management qualification

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

Post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

We're looking for two kind, compassionate and resilient Mental Health Support Worker to join our Mental Health service in Hackney.

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

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
Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
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.

Mixture of early, late and sleep in shift as rostered.

Early shifts: 8am-4pm. Late shifts: 2.30pm-10.30pm, Sleep in shifts: staying over to sleep after the late shift till following morning.

If you enjoy making a difference and passionate about mental health, why not join us?

What you'll do:

Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere in the home.
Following lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness to health and safety for self, colleagues and customers.
Supporting customers to maintain a healthy and clean living environment, where appropriate, provide assistance to maintain their living areas are clean and safe from hazards.
Providing support and assistance to customers during the day who may be experiencing difficulties with their own mental health and seeking appropriate support.
Providing support with daily living activities including practical assistance to customers who may require this.
Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
Support customers actively in the community and engage with the local area.
Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local community
Pro actively manage health and safety on a daily basis for self, colleagues and customers.
Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to

For the full list please see our website.

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, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
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
Flexible
Open to feedback and self development
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is essentially customer-focused
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours

What you'll bring:

Essential:

Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector

Desirable:

Experience working in mental health
Experience working in a CQC registered care setting
Experience of delivering personal care / assistance.

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.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Night Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities service in Tower Hamlets.

£28,808.00 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 (take this out if BSW advert)
* 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
* Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
* 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.
Night Support Workers enable people with particular needs to manage their tenancies and live independent lives of their choosing in the community. Night Support Workers are responsible for ensuring continuity of a support service at night and for keeping customers and the building safe.
This role is initially 3 months fixed term contract.
The shift pattern for this role is as follows: 10pm to 8am for 10 nights every fortnight, including every other weekend. This is a waking night position and sleeping on shift is strictly forbidden.

What you'll do:
- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
- Conducting key work sessions as required, that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
- Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
- Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance to support customers to independent living e.g. budgeting, cooking, establishing a night time routine
- Supporting customers to maintain a healthy environment and where appropriate assisting them to clean their accommodation and maintain good personal hygiene
- Supporting customer with administering medication and prescription.
- Assisting in the recording and reporting of customer incidents

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, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
- Exudes a warm friendly presence 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 organized
- Able to apply the right balance of care and support dependant on the needs of the customer
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments

What you'll bring:

Essential:
- NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with some previous relevant sector work experience
- IT literate /basic IT proficient

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

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: This is an on-site role, located within the London Borough of Hillingdon, there may be a requirement to occasionally work in the London Borough of Hounslow. 
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum, including London weighting allowance if applicable
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Refuge Worker to provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges.

The post holder will provide high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence and their children living in our refuges. This includes safety planning and enabling women to access housing, welfare, benefits, and legal advice. A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.  

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota.

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. 

Closing Date: 09:00am 30 May 2025

Interview dates: 6, 9 and 10 June 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development.

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Night Support Worker to join our Learning Disabilities service in Tower Hamlets.

£28,808.00 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 (take this out if BSW advert)
* 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
* Healthcare Cashplan through our partner Healthshield
* 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.
Night Support Workers enable people with particular needs to manage their tenancies and live independent lives of their choosing in the community. Night Support Workers are responsible for ensuring continuity of a support service at night and for keeping customers and the building safe.
This role is initially 3 months fixed term contract.
The shift pattern for this role is as follows: 10 x 8 hour shift pattern per fortnight, to include every other weekend.

What you'll do:
- Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere
- Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
- Conducting key work sessions as required, that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
- Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
- Providing support with daily living activities, including practical assistance to support customers to independent living e.g. budgeting, cooking, establishing a night time routine
- Supporting customers to maintain a healthy environment and where appropriate assisting them to clean their accommodation and maintain good personal hygiene
- Supporting customer with administering medication and prescription.
- Assisting in the recording and reporting of customer incidents
- Managing customer referrals, completing assessments and obtaining and maintaining all relevant paperwork

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, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
- Exudes a warm friendly presence 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 organized
- Able to apply the right balance of care and support dependant on the needs of the customer
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments

What you'll bring:

Essential:
- NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent with some previous relevant sector work experience
- IT literate /basic IT proficient

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 ouur website for full Job description

Job description

We are recruiting one or more Support Workers to work primarily at our Stud Nursery community garden project in Home Park, Richmond Borough as well as the potential of supporting our clients in the Wandsworth Borough.
 

Who we are

At Balance we are committed to empowering those we support to build independent, fulfilled and self-confident lives. We work hard to ensure our charitable values are central to the professional experience of those who work for us, with us and who benefit from our services.
 

About this post
You will be creative and independent thinker, with a desire to demonstrate and develop positive relationships with your colleagues and clients alike. You must have excellent IT skills. You will need the patience and and a commitment to enhancing the experience of those using our services on the basis of individual preferences, strengths and skills.
 

You are someone who:

• shares our values of professionalism, staff recognition, independence, empowerment, partnership and sustainability
• has excellent interpersonal, organisation and IT skills. 
• is willing to actively support and promote the charity's objectives across its core boroughs and contractual partnerships.
• works well both in a team and independently.

Working expectations:

• The working day is 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday to Friday, with the possibility of some out of hours or weekend working. Clients are typically on site from 9:30am - 3:30pm.
• Attendance and commitment to further training. 
• We are open to the possibility of multiple part-time roles within this setting.

Key Responsibilities for this role

• Through partnership, support and develop client’s skills, confidence and interests as part of a multi-disciplinary service offer. 
• To support your colleagues, team leaders, service managers, volunteers and other key professionals to put those using our services at the centre of your daily work. 
• To support the planning and delivery of garden-based activities and therapeutic interventions for adults with complex needs. 
• To maintain and update client and related operational records with an accurate and professional commitment. 
• To ensure compliance with and the delivery of the charity policies and procedures particularly those related to safeguarding, inclusion and disability discrimination. 

Please note we will be holding interviews as we get applicants in and may close the post early.

We are unable to support applicants who do not already have the right to work in the UK.

You must submit a cover letter explaining why you feel you are a suitable fit for this role and what your expectation of commitment to hours would be.

Project Background

Come and join our award-winning place-based volunteering programme that works with residents living across Hackney and the City of London.

You will be based out in the community - the programme is based at GP practices - to engage, support and enable local residents and patients to deliver local services for themselves, to meet local needs. We support residents to come together, to share their skills and experience for the benefit of each other, to deliver local groups and activities such as a book group, film club, exercise classes or cooking group. Residents from diverse backgrounds and demographics attend these activities together and make new connections, building strong local communities, all working together to make their area a better place to live. People, many of whom are isolated across all ages, and who have difficult life circumstances, are brought together, providing each other with mutual support and encouragement to develop new skills and pursue life goals, and to feel better able to voice their concerns to services.

You will be joining a nationally recognised project - having won an award from the Royal Society of Public Health in November 2024 - to support residents to fulfil their personal goals, make connections with others, and design activities and services that meet local needs. You will also be supporting people to improve their mental and physical health through signposting them to appropriate services and encouraging them to talk to their GP if they have concerns; and will be working in partnership with GP practice staff to co-create volunteer roles to make the practice more efficient and a better place to visit.

Who are we?

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a medium sized charity (currently 30 staff) based in the London borough of Hackney, working to support local residents to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others.

Our mission is to build and strengthen communities across Hackney through supporting residents of all ages and backgrounds to volunteer and build projects together.

In 2021, we were awarded the Freedom of the Borough Award by Hackney Council for our efforts to support residents during COVID, which included mobilising over 2000 volunteers to deliver food, prescriptions and essential items, provide emotional support to isolated residents and support the vaccine rollout. 

We work with hundreds of diverse community organisations and deliver various programmes to help residents share their skills and deliver their own social action projects to improve people’s lives. These include a befriending programme, volunteering brokerage matching local people to volunteer roles based on their skills, interests and goals, a specialist mental health programme, peer research and multiple resident engagement programmes at GP surgeries and estates across Hackney.

Post holders need to be enthusiastic and engaging, bringing energy to the role, be self-motivating and confident to work primarily alone, albeit with some support from the team members based at other sites.