Intensive Housing Support Worker

Porchlight; Folkestone; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Sick pay

Maternity pay

Employee assistance

Cycle to work

Mental health support

Professional qualifications sponsor

Staff loans

Hybrid work

Life assurance

Job summary

Porchlight is seeking motivated individuals to join the Rough Sleeping Programme, delivering practical, personalised support to people experiencing homelessness and complex needs across Dover and Folkestone & Hythe.

Three fixed-term roles of 37.5 hours per week, with some flexibility beyond core hours, and travel across both districts. Two posts based in Folkestone & Hythe, one across both districts.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people who have experienced homelessness or rough sleeping.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with reluctant clients.
• Ability to work with housing, health and social care partners.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with ability to manage a small caseload.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, personalised support to help people overcome barriers.
• Support individuals to sustain safe, stable accommodation.
• Coordinate with partner services to develop and monitor support plans.
• Maintain records and support safeguarding responsibilities.

Skills

Experience working with homelessness

Building rapport

Partnership collaboration

Caseload management

Risk assessment

Job description

The vacancy

We are looking for motivated individuals to join our team supporting people with a history of rough sleeping, homelessness and complex needs. These roles form part of the Rough Sleeping Programme, delivered in partnership with Dover District Council and Folkestone & Hythe District Council, with a shared commitment to helping people move away from homelessness and sustain safe, stable accommodation. Working closely with individuals, local services and partner agencies, you'll provide practical, personalised support that helps people overcome barriers, improve their wellbeing and build greater independence.

We have three positions available. One post will work across both Dover and Folkestone & Hythe districts, supporting people in both areas. The remaining two posts will be primarily based in Folkestone & Hythe, working with individuals and communities across the district. These are rewarding roles for people who are passionate about making a difference and want to be part of a dedicated team delivering high-quality support to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.

The role requires

• Experience supporting people who have experienced homelessness, rough sleeping, multiple disadvantage or other complex support needs.
• Ability to build trusting relationships, engage people who may be reluctant to access services, and provide persistent, person-centred support.
• Confidence working collaboratively with housing, health, social care and other partner agencies to coordinate effective support plans.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage a small caseload, assess risk and help people sustain accommodation and achieve positive outcomes.

Porchlight is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Working pattern

37.5 hours per week, In order to maintain service delivery, flexibility to work outside of normal office hours (Mon-Fri, 9-5) will be required.

Location type

Dover and Folkestone & Hythe, with travel across both districts

Contract type

Fixed Term 1 year

Interview date

9th November 2026

The contract for this role runs for 1 year. We hope to extend the contract if new funding is obtained, but this isn't guaranteed at the time of writing this job advert.

Please note, salaries are pro-rata for part-time positions.

For further information about the role, or to have an informal chat with the recruiting manager, please contact Simone Bennett-Crump on 07584802426 or email [e-mail].

For any further information regarding the application process please contact [e-mail]

The charity

Porchlight is a charity supporting people who are homeless, vulnerable, and isolated. At Porchlight, we are passionate about helping vulnerable people to reach their full potential. We strive for a fairer society where vulnerable people find stability, the most excluded are included, and where homelessness and poverty are things of the past.

Porchlight is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Porchlight is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

The benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlements
• Generous pension scheme
• Occupational sick pay
• Occupational maternity and support pay
• Employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Access to mental health first aiders
• Sponsorship for professional qualifications
• Staff loans
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Life assurance