Homeless Support Worker- YMCA Bath

Bath and North East Somerset Council; Bath; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA is seeking a compassionate Homeless Support Worker to provide housing-related support to individuals accepted as homeless and placed in temporary accommodation. You will help identify and secure accommodation, support residents toward independent living, and coordinate with local housing authorities and agencies.

The role covers accommodation and community-based work, including supporting young people aged 16-24 with low to medium levels of support while maintaining safe living environments

Responsibilities

• Work as part of the housing team to identify and meet residents' personal, social, health, learning and employment needs while following safeguarding procedures.
• Collaborate with Bath & North East Somerset council housing options team to move referrals quickly.
• Maintain up-to-date confidential case records with clear, complete documentation.
• Manage admissions and transfers between properties, including licence & support agreements and resident onboarding.
• Advise residents on occupancy conditions to sustain housing.
• Ensure residents have live Housing Applications with the relevant Housing Authority.
• Assist with Housing Benefit and other benefits applications to cover rent and living costs.
• Help residents arrange rent payments and arrears payment plans; complete entitlement calculations if employed.
• Support residents to sustain education, employment or training and refer to external provision for EET.
• Facilitate resident meetings and ensure adherence to Licence agreements, hosting contracts and House Rules.
• Address anti-social behaviour and occupancy breaches.
• Provide ongoing resettlement support for up to 6 months via agreed intervals if required.
• Deliver support which may include weekend/evening work and on-call cover; adapt to cover for staff absence.
• Participate in supervision, training and continued professional development.

Job description

Please note this is not a Bath & North East Somerset Council Vacancy.

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Homeless Support Worker to join our team in supporting people and providing housing related support to those who the local authority have accepted a homeless duty for, and placed in the YMCA under temporary accommodation.

Support will be provided across the area where needed, both accommodation and community-based work, to assist those who are not housed but need comprehensive housing support to identify, secure and set up accommodation to achieve independent living.

The post is also responsible for providing housing related support to vulnerable young people aged 16-24 requiring low - medium support to help them maintain their licenses/tenancies and support them towards independent living. To prioritise finding appropriate alternative accommodation for residents, whilst maintaining a safe living environment and managing any additional support needs of residents through one-to-one meetings and liaising and signposting to relevant agencies.

Main Responsibilities

• To work as part of the housing team to help identify and meet their personal, social, health, learning and employment needs as identified in their support needs assessment, ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed.
• To work closely with Bath & North East Somerset council housing options team to ensure that all referrals can move on as quickly as possible.
• To maintain up to date accurate and confidential case records, documenting events as they happen, ensuring records are clear, complete, and legible.
• Admissions into and transfers between properties; including issuing of Licence & Support agreements, key handover and inducting resident into the new accommodation.
• Provide advice and assistance to residents to understand and comply with the conditions of their occupancy agreement to enable them to sustain their accommodation.
• Ensure all occupants have a live Housing Application in with the relevant Housing Authority.
• Ensuring claims for Housing Benefit and any other benefits are made & submitted to cover rent and give living expenses.
• Support residents to make arrangements for rent payments, arranging payment plans to address arrears and completing ‘entitled to’ calculations if the resident is working.
• To work closely with each person to help sustain education, employment or training and/or refer to outside provisions to find EET.
• To facilitate resident meetings.
• Ensure that the Licence agreement, hosting contract and House Rules are being adhered to.
• To deal with anti-social behaviour and occupancy breaches.
• Provide ongoing resettlement support for up to 6 months via contact at agreed intervals if required.
• Deliver support work at times that may include weekend/evening work, including active participation in the on-call support service and be flexible and adaptable to cover for staff absence as required.
• Actively participate in supervision, training and commitment to continued professional development.

The working atmosphere is usually relaxed; however, the job may be stressful at times and the post holder should expect a degree of crisis management to be part of the role. Setting and maintaining boundaries are a fundamental part of the role, fostering a professional, safe, and sustainable relationship with residents.

Full driving licence and the use of a vehicle with appropriate motor insurance is preferable.

This role offers an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of those you support while working within a rewarding environment that values compassion and professionalism.

Please note that YMCA is no longer able to offer sponsorship for this role.

Closing date: 25/09/2026

Interviews will be held the week commencing 5th October 2026.

Safeguarding Statement:

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We follow safer recruitment practices and appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check.