Floating Support Worker

NFP PEOPLE; Southend-on-Sea; On-site; GBP 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected homelessness service in Southend-on-Sea is hiring a Floating Support Worker to empower individuals and help them maintain their homes. This full-time position requires providing trauma-informed support and collaborating with local services to ensure holistic care. Candidates should have experience with complex needs, strong relationship-building skills, and a commitment to inclusivity. Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends is required. This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with a salary of £28,000 annually.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting individuals with complex needs like trauma or mental health issues.
• Strong understanding of homelessness pathways and tenancy sustainment.
• Basic numeracy for budgeting and bills.

Responsibilities

• Provide trauma-informed support promoting dignity and empowerment.
• Conduct client-paced assessments and produce SMART support plans.
• Collaborate with local services for holistic support.

Skills

Trauma-informed practice

Client relationship building

De-escalation techniques

Record-keeping skills

Understanding of safeguarding

Job description

Floating Support Worker

We are seeking a compassionate and motivated Floating Support Worker to empower people across Southend to sustain their tenancies and rebuild independence.

Position: Floating Support Worker

Salary: £28000pa

Location: Southend-on-Sea

Hours: Full time, with some evening/weekend flexibility

Contract: 12-month fixed term

Closing date: 20th January 2026

About the Job

This is an opportunity to join a multi-disciplinary homelessness service delivering trauma-informed, strengths-based tenancy sustainment support to people living across Southend. You will work flexibly in the community, helping individuals maintain their homes, improve wellbeing and prevent homelessness.

Key responsibilities

• Providing person-centred, trauma-informed support that promotes dignity, empowerment and psychological safety.
• Carrying out gentle, client-paced assessments and co-producing SMART support and safety plans.
• Offering practical, non-judgemental guidance around home safety, hygiene, clutter, routines and tenancy responsibilities.
• Completing trauma-informed risk assessments and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
• Identifying early tenancy risks and taking proactive steps to prevent homelessness.
• Working collaboratively with landlords, local authority housing teams, health services, substance use providers and community organisations.
• Maintaining accurate, strengths-based case notes and outcomes using internal systems.
• Supporting clients to build confidence through education, training, volunteering and community participation.
• Facilitating group activities that promote belonging, empowerment and psychological safety.
• Caseloads are varied and dynamic, typically up to 30 clients, and you’ll work closely with colleagues across the service to ensure holistic, coordinated support.

About You

• You will be someone who brings warmth, patience and a genuine commitment to trauma-informed practice. You’ll have experience supporting people with complex needs such as trauma, rough sleeping, mental or physical ill health, or substance use.
• You will also bring:
• Strong understanding of trauma, psychological safety and how trauma affects engagement.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, homelessness pathways, tenancy sustainment and welfare benefits.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with people who may distrust services.
• Skills in de-escalation, grounding techniques and supporting emotional regulation.
• Confidence managing a community-based caseload independently.
• Good IT and record-keeping skills, plus basic numeracy for budgeting and bills.
• A non-judgemental approach to supporting clients with home safety, clutter and cleanliness.
• Reliability, consistency, strong boundaries and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Flexibility to work some evenings, weekends and bank holidays is required.

About the Organisation

You will be joining a respected homelessness service in Southend that supports individuals to sustain tenancies, improve wellbeing and build brighter futures. The organisation is values-driven, person-centred and committed to trauma-informed practice, inclusion and long-term recovery.

Other roles you may have experience of could include:

Tenancy Support Worker, Housing Support Worker, Homelessness Support Worker, Outreach Worker, Keyworker, Recovery Worker, Supported Housing Officer, Community Support Worker, Complex Needs Worker, Resettlement Worker.