Hostel Night Support Worker

Morgan Hunt; London Borough of Richmond upon Thames; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Three-night pattern

Training opportunities

Supportive team

Job summary

Morgan Hunt is seeking a Hostel Night Shift Worker for a homelessness services site in Richmond, operating on a 30-hour weekly pattern with nights from 9:45pm to 8:45am. You will support adults experiencing homelessness, ensuring safety and dignity during the night hours.

Role requires staying awake during the waking night shift, building trust with residents, and coordinating with on-call managers when needed. The team focuses on safeguarding, risk management and confidential record-keeping.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people affected by homelessness or rough sleeping.
• Understanding of complex needs including mental health, substance misuse and trauma.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment and incident reporting.
• Ability to remain calm, resilient and professional in challenging situations.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence supporting individuals who may display challenging behaviour.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team, including lone working overnight.
• Good organisational skills and confidence using IT systems for case notes and records.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical and emotional support to residents throughout the night.
• Build positive, trusting relationships using a person-centred and non-judgemental approach.
• Help maintain a calm, supportive and respectful hostel environment.
• Liaise with key workers and on-call managers when additional advice or support is required.
• Remain alert to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm or deteriorating mental or physical health.
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and elevate incidents when necessary.
• Support residents experiencing distress or crisis, using appropriate de-escalation techniques.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and ensure residents receive appropriate follow-up support.
• Conduct regular patrols of the building and surrounding areas.
• Monitor entrances, access points and visitors in line with procedures.
• Carry out checks of communal areas and residents’ rooms when required.
• Respond calmly to emergencies, disputes and anti-social behaviour, contacting additional support where necessary.
• Take responsibility for the hostel while on duty, including when working as the sole staff member on site.
• Maintain accurate overnight logs, incident reports, client notes and electronic records.
• Complete clear handovers to daytime colleagues to ensure continuity of support.
• Handle telephone enquiries professionally and liaise with on-call managers when needed.
• Manage petty cash, rent floats and relevant administrative records accurately.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with GDPR and data protection requirements.

Skills

Homelessness support

Complex needs awareness

Safeguarding knowledge

Calm under pressure

Strong communication

Independent night shift work

IT literacy for records

Tools

IT systems for case notes

Job description

Hostel Night Shift Worker - Homelessness Services

Location: Richmond, South West London, TW9

Salary: £23,714.23 per annum

Hours: Part-time, 30 hours per week

Shift Pattern: Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 9:45pm - 8:45am

About the Role

We're recruiting a Hostel Night Shift Worker to join a supported accommodation service in Richmond, providing overnight support to adults experiencing homelessness.

You’ll help maintain a safe, welcoming and secure environment for residents, many of whom may have complex needs relating to homelessness, mental health, substance misuse and trauma.

Working overnight, you’ll provide practical and emotional support, respond to safeguarding concerns and ensure residents feel safe and respected. This role is ideal for someone compassionate, resilient and confident working independently during night shifts.

Please note: This is a waking night position, so you must remain awake and alert throughout your shift.

Key Responsibilities

Resident Support

• Provide practical and emotional support to residents throughout the night.
• Build positive, trusting relationships using a person-centred and non-judgemental approach.
• Help maintain a calm, supportive and respectful hostel environment.
• Liaise with key workers and on-call managers when additional advice or support is required.

Safeguarding & Risk Management

• Remain alert to signs of abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm or deteriorating mental or physical health.
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns and elevate incidents when necessary.
• Support residents experiencing distress or crisis, using appropriate de-escalation techniques.
• Follow safeguarding procedures and ensure residents receive appropriate follow‑up support.

Safety & Security

• Conduct regular patrols of the building and surrounding areas.
• Monitor entrances, access points and visitors in line with procedures.
• Carry out checks of communal areas and residents’ rooms when required.
• Respond calmly to emergencies, disputes and anti‑social behaviour, contacting additional support where necessary.
• Take responsibility for the hostel while on duty, including when working as the sole staff member on site.

Record Keeping & Administration

• Maintain accurate overnight logs, incident reports, client notes and electronic records.
• Complete clear handovers to daytime colleagues to ensure continuity of support.
• Handle telephone enquiries professionally and liaise with on-call managers when needed.
• Manage petty cash, rent floats and relevant administrative records accurately.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with GDPR and data protection requirements.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Experience supporting people affected by homelessness or rough sleeping.
• Understanding of complex needs, including mental health, substance misuse and trauma.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment and incident reporting.
• Ability to remain calm, resilient and professional in challenging situations.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Confidence supporting individuals who may display challenging behaviour.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team, including lone working overnight.
• Good organisational skills and confidence using IT systems for case notes and records.
• Commitment to confidentiality, professional boundaries, equality and inclusion.
• Flexibility to attend occasional daytime meetings, training and supervision sessions.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of local homelessness services and community support networks.
• Understanding of trauma‑informed practice and recovery approaches.
• Training in safeguarding, mental health first aid, substance misuse or de-escalation.
• Awareness of health and safety within residential or supported accommodation settings.
• Confidence handling basic financial records and administrative tasks.

What's on Offer?

• Salary of £23,714.23 per annum.
• A consistent three-night working pattern.
• The opportunity to make a genuine difference to people experiencing homelessness.
• Work within a supportive team focused on safety, dignity and independence.
• Opportunities for training, personal development and ongoing professional learning.