Hostel Night Worker

SPEAR; London Borough of Richmond upon Thames; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days holiday

Wellbeing support

Eye test contribution

Cycle to Work

Season ticket loan

Flexible working

Life assurance

Maternity pay

Training & progression

Blue Light Card

Job summary

SPEAR is seeking a Hostel Night Worker to provide a safe, welcoming overnight service for hostel residents in Richmond. You will stay vigilant for risk, respond to incidents swiftly, and follow safeguarding procedures while on duty.

You\'ll work a night rota from 21:45 to 08:45, collaborate with daytime staff, keep clear records and handovers, and help residents feel secure and supported in a calm environment.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people affected by homelessness or rough sleeping.
• Strong safeguarding and risk assessment knowledge.
• Ability to identify, respond to and escalate concerns promptly.

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe, welcoming overnight service for hostel residents.
• Respond quickly to incidents and follow safeguarding procedures.
• Keep accurate records and handovers to ensure seamless support.
• Work 21:45–08:45 on a rota and stay awake during shift.

Job description

Hostel Night Worker
Richmond, London
£23,714,23

ABOUT US

We are SPEAR, a charity working tirelessly to end homelessness across South West London and beyond. We believe homelessness should be rare, brief, and non-recurring, and we work every day to make that a reality. Our services include street outreach, assessment hubs, supported accommodation, and tenancy support, helping people move off the streets and into safe, secure housing. We take a person-centred, trauma-informed approach, building trust and supporting people to achieve long-term stability and independence.

ABOUT YOU

You have experience supporting people affected by homelessness or rough sleeping, including those with complex needs such as mental ill-health, substance use or trauma. You bring strong safeguarding and risk assessment knowledge, and you're confident identifying, responding to, and escalating concern promptly.

You are approachable and resilient and able to stay calm in a busy and sometimes challenging environment. You understand the issues, barriers and behaviours that people experiencing homelessness may display, responding with compassion and psychologically informed strategies.

You're skilled at building positive relationships and motivating individuals who may initially be wary of services, and you know how to use de-escalation and support techniques with clients displaying challenging behaviour. You communicate clearly and are committed to confidentiality and professional boundaries. You work well both independently and as part of a team.

THE ROLE

As a Hostel Night Worker, you'll provide a safe, welcoming and responsive overnight service for hostel residents, safeguarding their welfare at all times. Staying alert to risk, you'll respond quickly to incidents and follow SPEAR's safeguarding procedures — taking sole charge of the hostel while on duty.

Working closely with daytime colleagues, you'll keep accurate records and clear handovers, so support continues seamlessly. Your presence overnight helps residents feel secure, respected and supported, in a calm, well-managed environment.

You’ll typically work 21:45- 08:45 (hours subject to change) on a rota basis and must remain awake throughout your shift.

OUR VALUES

Everything we do is guided by our values. We're looking for people who are:

• Collaborative
• Aspirational
• Respectful
• Determined
• Visionary

If these values resonate with you, we'd love to hear from you.

YOUR BENEFITS

You’ll be part of a welcoming, values-driven charity committed to ending homelessness and supporting staff wellbeing. Benefits include:

• Generous holiday - 26 days plus public holidays (pro rata), rising by up to five extra days with length of service.
• Wellbeing & EAP - 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme with free counselling, money, and legal advice.
• Health support - Occupational health service and free annual eye test (with contribution towards glasses if required).
• Cycle to Work - Save on a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice.
• Season ticket loan - Interest-free loan for annual travel passes.
• Moving house day - Extra day’s leave when you move home.
• Financial security - Life assurance (4x salary) and interest-free emergency staff loan.
• Family-friendly policies - Enhanced maternity and adoption pay, plus flexible working options.
• Career development - Ongoing training, learning, and progression opportunities.
• Blue Light Card - Discounts across a wide range of shops, restaurants, and services.

At SPEAR, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We are facing diverse problems, so we need diverse people to tackle them.