Deputy Manager (Senior Practitioner) - Lambeth Assessment Centre

Thames Reach; Hounslow; On-site; GBP 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A nonprofit organization supporting the homeless is seeking a Senior Practitioner for the Lambeth Assessment Centre. You will manage the staff team and ensure clients transition to long-term accommodation effectively. The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with strong communication skills and a focus on outcomes. This role offers a competitive salary and generous benefits, including a holiday allowance and pension contributions.

Benefits

Generous holiday allowance – 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays

Pension with contributions

Development opportunities

24/7 employee assistance programme

Life assurance

Blue light discount card

Interest-free season ticket loans

Cycle to work loans

Qualifications

• Experienced in directly managing staff and overseeing operations.
• Excellent communication to form effective working relationships.
• Able to manage finances effectively in a busy service.

Responsibilities

• Manage the staff team and day-to-day management of the assessment centre.
• Ensure clients move on from the assessment centre within 28 days.
• Develop and manage partnerships with key agencies across London.

Skills

Leadership

Effective communication

Operations management

Outcome-focused approach

Job description

Role: Senior Practitioner – Lambeth Assessment Centre

Salary: £39,518 per annum

Hours: 37.5 per week

Location: Vauxhall

Closing date: 19/10/2025

Interview date: 28/10/2025

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

About us

Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in and around London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track. We help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities.

Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 15,000 people.

Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There’s no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.

About this role

We are looking for a Senior Practitioner to join the Lambeth Assessment Centre team.

Assessment Centres are fast paced services where people are referred in, usually from the street, and rapidly referred on to appropriate longer term accommodation. The services are short stay, and staff provide wrap around support and liaison with several external partners, including physical health, mental health, substance use and housing. Staffed 24 hours to ensure this quick turnaround, they are a key service to ensure people are off the streets and in stable accommodation.

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

You will

• Be responsible for directly managing the staff team and overseeing the day to day management of a fast paced assessment centre.
• Make sure that clients are moving on from the assessment centre within 28 days
• Report incidents to senior management and commissioners and ensure staff are aware of and working to health and safety guidelines
• Foster a culture of high performance and continual striving to improve upon successes throughout your team.
• Develop and manage partnerships with key agencies across London

You will be

• Outcome focussed.
• Experienced in organising the operations of a complex, busy service.
• A decisive and effective leader.
• An excellent communicator able to form and maintain effective working relationships with all partners.
• Experienced in directly managing staff, overseeing the management of others and ensuring the services finances are well managed.

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

• Generous holiday allowance – 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).
• Pension – we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%.
• Excellent development opportunities – career progression, regular supervision and appraisals, and learning programmes to support your career with Thames Reach.
• Wellbeing support – our 24/7 employee assistance programme and opportunities for TOIL.
• Life assurance – four times your annual salary and critical illness cover.
• Other benefits including a blue light discount card, interest free season ticket and cycle to work loans.

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

To apply visit our website and complete our application form.

For further information please contact, Nancy Hughes, Lead Manager at [e-mail]

Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.