Assistant Homelessness Support Worker

CIH International Housing Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tailored training

Flexible working

26 days leave

Family-friendly leave

Pension up to 7%

EAP with 24/7 GP

Discounts across retailers

Cash health plan

Death in service

Legal support access

Job summary

Depaul UK is seeking an Assistant Homelessness Support Worker in London to provide hands-on support for residents experiencing homelessness. The role covers housing access, health, welfare, and wellbeing services, in a supportive environment.

You will work 37.5 hours per week on a rota that includes weekends and bank holidays, with ongoing training and development opportunities offered by the organisation.

Qualifications

• Some experience dealing with the public in a busy service environment.
• Experience managing complex behaviours and emotional situations.
• Personal experience of homelessness or empathy with homelessness issues.
• Discretion and confidentiality with professional boundaries.
• Commitment to diversity and equality and respectful treatment.
• Commitment to health and safety.
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills for records.
• Ability to reflect for learning and development.
• Effective communication across cultures.
• Respect for Depaul ethos and values.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a friendly, supportive environment according to rota.
• Cover reception tasks: phones, petty cash, rent, post.
• Lead health and safety checks and liaise with contractors.
• Provide crisis intervention for immediate needs.
• Coordinate appointments with GP/DWP/Probation and accompany to services.
• Advise clients on housing, welfare benefits and related issues.
• Keywork a small caseload under supervision.
• Diffuse difficult situations and manage behaviour safely.
• Attend team meetings and training.
• Prepare accommodation for new clients and settle them in.

Skills

Public interaction

Challenging behaviours

Homelessness empathy

Discretion & confidentiality

Diversity & equality

Health & safety

Literacy & IT

Reflective practice

Cross-cultural communication

Depaul values

Job description

Join Us and Help Shape Brighter Futures

At Depaul UK, we believe in people's potential - and we take action every day to help unlock it. Whether you're supporting young people directly or strengthening our organisation behind the scenes, your work will create real, lasting impact.

About the Role

Assistant Homelessness Support Worker

Haringey | Full Time | £29,068 pa | Make a Real Difference Every Day

Are you driven by helping people move forward? Join our dedicated team and support individuals experiencing homelessness to build confidence, develop independence, and achieve lasting positive change. You'll play a hands-on role in providing day-to-day support, connecting residents with housing, health, employment and wellbeing services, and creating a safe, welcoming environment where people can thrive.

We're looking for a proactive, compassionate and resilient individual with great communication skills and a genuine commitment to supporting vulnerable people. If you enjoy building positive relationships, solving problems, and making an impact in people's lives, this is an opportunity to be part of a supportive, values-led organisation that invests in your development and success.

Please note that this job opportunity is offered as a full-time (37.5 hour per week), permanent role (Rota based, including every other weekend, some late shifts and bank holidays).

KEY DELIVERABLES

• Working within an agreed rota shift pattern as required; to maintain a friendly and supportive environment within the project.
• To cover all reception tasks, including dealing with phones, petty cash management and rent collection, project post, and all reception enquiries.
• Within the team, to lead on completing the health and safety requirements of the project including regular building and fire checks, reporting issues promptly and liaising with contractors.
• To deal with the immediate support needs of clients as appropriate, providing crisis intervention where necessary.
• Coordinating appointments for clients e.g. with GP/DWP/Probation and to accompany clients on visits to other services where appropriate.
• To provide advice to clients on housing, health, welfare benefit claims and other issues as necessary.
• Under the supervision of your Line Manager, keywork a small caseload of clients.
• To diffuse difficult or dangerous situations, resolve conflict between service users effectively and sensitively and to summon outside emergency or other assistance when necessary.
• To be supportive of your colleagues when managing challenging behaviour.
• To complete reports following serious incidents and submit them to the appropriate manager.
• Preparing the accommodation for new clients to move into and supporting the client to settle in.
• You will undertake further duties as commensurate to the role, in line with Depaul Policies and Procedures and as identified by your line manager.
• You will form an integral part of the team and as such attend team meetings when required.
• To participate in regular training, supervision, reflective practice sessions and annual appraisal, and help in identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To work within a psychologically environment to facilitate change and support clients with challenging behaviours and complex needs

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR FROM YOU - PERSON SPECIFICATION

• Some experience of dealing directly with the public and/or clients or customers in a busy service environment.
• Some experience of dealing with complex and difficult behaviours in relation to people. The willingness to develop skills to support people who may be in difficult personal or emotional situations.
• Personal experience of homelessness and/or an understanding of and empathy with the issues faced by those experiencing homelessness and the ability to maintain enthusiasm for a high level of contact with clients on a day-to-day basis.
• Understanding of the importance of discretion and confidentiality in relation to work and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Commitment to working in a manner which promotes diversity and equality ensuring that everyone is treated with respect and dignity, and no-one suffers from discrimination.
• Commitment to promoting an environment which has the highest regard for the health and safety of others.
• Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills, to maintain clear and accurate records.
• Ability to reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills and the ability to communicate across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Respect for the values and ethos of Depaul and its founding partners.

What You'll Receive

• Tailored training and development
• Flexible working options where suitable
• 26 days annual leave, rising with service
• Family-friendly leave policies
• Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%
• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access
• Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more
• Cash health plan for you and your family
• Death-in-service benefit
• Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

Locations Mulberry Heights, Harringay Yearly salary £29,068 Advert Start Date 04 September, 2026 Deadline for Application Submission 20 September, 2026 Employment Type Permanent Hours per week 37.5