Housing Night Worker at YMCA DownsLink Group

Community Base; Brighton; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

YMCA DownsLink Group in Brighton is seeking a Housing Night Worker to safeguard young people at Lansworth House and Gareth Stacey House, on a seven‑day rolling rota. You will respond to incidents overnight, monitor safety, support residents, and carry out administrative checks, with shifts including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

The role involves trauma‑informed care, de‑escalation, and collaborative work with support staff to maintain a calm, supportive environment for young people aged

Qualifications

• Experience in a customer-facing role.
• Understanding of the needs and experiences of young people and adults at risk.
• Awareness of trauma and the ability to work in a strengths-based, compassionate way.
• Confidence in accurate record-keeping, including incident logs and health and safety checks.
• Basic safeguarding knowledge and the ability to maintain professional boundaries (training provided).

Responsibilities

• Provide a friendly, professional presence and ensure the building remains safe, secure and welcoming at night.
• Support resident wellbeing by upholding health and safety procedures, house rules and tenancy requirements.
• Monitor risks and respond to incidents calmly and appropriately, recording and reporting to the relevant teams.
• Welcome residents and offer informal, responsive assistance to help them develop confidence, independence and life skills.
• Encourage residents to share their views and engage with available services and opportunities.
• Assist with evening groupwork sessions that promote learning, wellbeing and positive development.
• Complete essential admin tasks including data entry, case notes and record management.
• Carry out routine health and safety, compliance and room checks.
• Log maintenance issues to ensure the building remains safe and well maintained.
• Work collaboratively on a four‑on, four‑off rota, providing consistent, non‑judgemental support overnight.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

Lone-working

Team collaboration

IT skills (Microsoft 365)

De-escalation

Record-keeping

Safeguarding basics

Tools

Microsoft 365

Job description

We are looking for a Housing Night Worker to join our teams across Lansworth House and Gareth Stacey House, working flexibly between both sites to ensure young people are safe.

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite / this role operates on a seven‑day rolling rota following a four‑on, four‑off shift pattern. Shifts will include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.

We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

Gareth Stacey House and Lansworth House are our 24-hour supported housing services in central Brighton and Hove offering high levels of housing‑related support for young people aged 16-25 with multiple and complex needs. The services have 15 and 20 bedspaces respectively, with shared communal facilities; the services support young people to manage their daily living activities in areas including finances and budgeting, developing life and work skills, and managing self‑care.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and work towards aspirations so that they can move on to enjoy fully independent futures.

We are looking for a Housing Night Worker to join our teams across Lansworth House and Gareth Stacey House, working flexibly between both sites to ensure young people are safe.

You will respond promptly to any reported incidents, accidents, or concerns, carrying out thorough checks and taking appropriate action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone on site. You will also take a proactive approach to preventing anti‑social behaviour, working closely with support staff to maintain a positive environment. In addition, you will carry out one‑to‑one interventions with young people who may be experiencing a mental health crisis or who require medical assistance, ensuring they receive timely and appropriate support.

What you will be doing - this is more than a night shift role - it’s an opportunity to make a real difference, working as part of a dedicated team committed to helping young people grow and develop.

Main areas of responsibilities are:

Safety and security

• - Provide a friendly, professional presence and ensure the building remains safe, secure and welcoming at night.
• - Support resident wellbeing by upholding health and safety procedures, house rules and tenancy requirements.
• - Monitor risks and respond to incidents calmly and appropriately, recording and reporting to the relevant teams.
• - Welcome residents and offer informal, responsive assistance to help them develop confidence, independence and life skills.
• - Encourage residents to share their views and engage with available services and opportunities.
• - Assist with evening groupwork sessions that promote learning, wellbeing and positive development.

Administration and housekeeping

• - Complete essential admin tasks including data entry, case notes and record management.
• - Carry out routine health and safety, compliance and room checks.
• - Log maintenance issues to ensure the building remains safe and well maintained.

General

• - Work collaboratively on a four‑on, four‑off rota, providing consistent, non‑judgemental support overnight.
• - Maintain a calm, professional approach and handle challenging situations effectively.
• - Take part in ongoing training and reflective practice to support psychologically informed care.

  Experience and knowledge

  • - Experience in a customer‑facing role, staying calm and solutions‑focused during challenging situations.
  • - An understanding of the needs and experiences of young people and adults at risk.
  • - Awareness of trauma and the ability to work in a strengths‑based, compassionate way.
  • - Confidence in accurate record‑keeping, including incident logs and health and safety checks.
  • - Basic safeguarding knowledge and the ability to maintain professional boundaries (training provided).

  Skills and abilities

  • - Clear verbal and written communication, with accurate handovers for day‑time colleagues.
  • - Strong interpersonal skills, able to build positive relationships.
  • - Comfortable lone‑working, using initiative, and working as part of a team.
  • - Competent IT skills, including Microsoft 365 and basic system navigation (training provided).
  • - Ability to de‑escalate situations and manage challenging behaviour calmly.
  • - You will bring an awareness of the challenges young people face and the ability to connect with them positively

  37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite / this role operates on a seven‑day rolling rota following a four‑on, four‑off shift pattern. Shifts will include evenings, weekends and bank holidays.