Community Support Worker

Confidential; Southampton; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave

Flexible working options

Training and induction

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

The Society of St James (SSJ) in Southampton is seeking a Community Support Worker to join Southampton Floating Support. You will manage a caseload of individuals facing homelessness or housing risk and work with partner agencies to provide housing support and resettlement assistance.

You will help service users improve daily living skills, sustain accommodation, and engage in meaningful activities, while promoting independence and empowerment.

Qualifications

• Experience/knowledge of working with people with histories of homelessness, mental health problems and substance misuse.
• Experience of dealing with difficult and challenging behaviour.
• Understanding of the effects of alcohol and substance use on mental health.
• Understanding of equality and diversity, with respect to staff and service users.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and protection procedures and protocols for vulnerable adults.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and may have complex needs.
• Work with partner agencies to motivate and support service users to improve daily living skills and sustain accommodation.
• Help service users engage in meaningful occupation or learning opportunities and promote empowerment and independence.

Skills

Homelessness experience/knowledge

Dealing with difficult behaviour

Substance use impact on mental health

Equality and diversity

Safeguarding vulnerable adults

Job description

Community Support Worker

Southampton Floating Support

Southampton

37 Hours per week

Salary Scale - 20-21 (£25,947- £26,305 per annum)

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.

The Role

Are you looking for a role that makes a real difference in people's lives, that is both rewarding and fulfilling?

The successful post holder will manage a caseload of vulnerable individuals for whom homelessness, a risk of homelessness or unsuitable housing is a real challenge. They may have issues relating to; substance misuse, mental ill health, (learning) disabilities or be in need resettlement support. You will work as part of a team within Southampton as well as with partner agencies to motivate and support service users to: improve their daily living skills, retain and sustain their accommodation, engage with meaningful occupation or learning opportunities, and will promote empowerment and independence.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will have knowledge and/or experience of working with individuals with complex needs and have knowledge of homelessness and related issues. You will have good organisational skills and the ability to work on your own initiative. You will have good partnership working skills and IT skills.

• Essentially a motivated individual who will be able to demonstrate: Experience/Knowledge of working with people with histories of homelessness, mental health problems and substance misuse.
• Experience of dealing with difficult and challenging behaviour.
• Understanding of the effects of alcohol and substance use on mental health.
• Understanding of equality and diversity, with respect to staff and service users.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and protection procedures and protocols for vulnerable adults.

Staff Benefits

We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping vulnerable people:

• A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Company cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie's Computers
• Electric Car Scheme

SSJ are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website.

Application closing date: Friday 6th November 2026

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.

Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.