Lead Practitioner - Homelessness

Turning Point Scotland; Dumfries; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Learning courses

eLearning courses

Funded SVQ

Internal career progression

Pension scheme

Family friendly policies

35 holidays/year

Job summary

Turning Point Scotland is recruiting a Lead Practitioner to join our frontline Housing First service, supporting people with multiple and complex needs to move straight into a permanent home and sustain tenancy.

The role requires trauma-informed, strengths-based practice; you will lead by example, provide practical and emotional support, and work in partnership with housing, health, substance misuse and criminal justice services to help people achieve meaningful outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience working with people who have complex needs.
• Calm, non-judgemental, and values-driven approach.
• Understanding of safeguarding and multi-agency working.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, person-centred frontline support.
• Lead by example and model trauma-informed practice.
• Support customers to move into and sustain permanent accommodation.
• Provide guidance and practice support to colleagues.
• Work closely with partner agencies across housing, health, substance misuse, and criminal justice.
• Champion harm reduction, choice, and positive risk-taking.

Skills

Complex needs experience

Calm, non-judgemental

Safeguarding knowledge

Multi-agency collaboration

Job description

Hours: Full Time - 37 Hours

Contract Permanent

We are hiring! - Work with Us

Homelessness and Prevention

Turning Point Scotland is the biggest provider of services to people experiencing or at risk of Homelessness across Scotland, delivering support to around 2000 individuals on any given day, 4500 per year.

We believe that in many cases, Homelessness is entirely preventable. Where Homelessness is not or cannot be, prevented the experience should be brief and non-recurring.

We provide support to people who are;

• At risk of Homelessness; and / or
• Need some support to protect their home

Around two thirds of our work is with people who are experiencing Homelessness.

We believe a menu of options should be available to individuals to prevent, or support someone to move on from Homelessness. This ensures we use a ‘no wrong door’ approach to accessing service and behind this door, people should be met with a ‘Whole System Approach’ to support.

We deliver a range of outreach services including Housing Support (Short and Long Term / Intensive); Housing First and Crisis Support.

Our ambitions are high for those we help; we want everyone to reach their full potential, to become active and valued members of their community, to acquire the life skills and decision‑making capabilities to lead a stable productive and fulfilling life. We will challenge, coach and encourage to help achieve this, sometimes involving the peer support of others who have shared similar personal journeys.

We are also active members of the European Federation of National Organisations with the Homeless (FEANTSA) and founding Members of the Housing First Europe Hub.

We're looking for a Lead Practitioner to join our frontline Housing First service, supporting people with multiple and complex needs to move straight into a permanent home — without having to prove they’re “ready”.

Housing First is about starting with housing, then wrapping flexible, long‑term support around the person to help them sustain their tenancy and work through challenges such as mental health needs, substance use, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

The Role

• Deliver high-quality, person‑centred frontline support
• Lead by example and model trauma‑informed, strengths‑based practice
• Support customers to move into and sustain permanent accommodation
• Provide guidance and practice support to colleagues
• Work closely with partner agencies across housing, health, substance misuse, and criminal justice
• Champion harm reduction, choice, and positive risk‑taking

About You

• Experienced in working with people with complex needs
• Confident supporting others while remaining hands‑on
• Calm, non‑judgemental, and values‑driven
• Understanding of safeguarding and multi‑agency working

Our Housing First Approach

• Choice and control for the individual
• Individualised support for as long as needed
• Harm reduction and community integration

As a Lead Practitioner , you will work with individuals who have a wide range of support needs, providing them with practical and emotional support and encouraging them to achieve their own personal outcomes in all aspects of their daily lives e.g. keeping safe, meaningful activities, community involvement, physical health, relationships, emotional health and wellbeing.

As a Lead Practitioner , you will work with individuals who have a wide range of support needs, providing them with practical and emotional support and encouraging them to achieve their own personal outcomes in all aspects of their daily lives e.g. keeping safe, meaningful activities, community involvement, physical health, relationships, emotional health and wellbeing.

Please note that IT skills are required for all our vacancies.

Where applicable, successful candidates will be required to register with the SSSC within 6 months of start date.

We value lived experience,

We welcome applications from all candidates who are eligible to work in the United Kingdom. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.

Turning Point Scotland offers a Salary Matching opportunity within the pay points of the role and based on experience.

Turning Point Scotland havePlatinum accreditationinInvestors in People. Our staff are our most important asset, therefore we offer extensive training and impressive personal and career‑focused development opportunities. You could be part of an organisation that not only offers excellent careers but makes a real difference to thousands of People’s lives and achieve your own personal fulfilment.

• 123 Learning and development courses
• 29 eLearning courses
• Funded qualification – SVQ Social Services and Healthcare, work based assessment
• Your Career Pathway, we promote from within and advertise internally all jobs
• Pension Scheme, employer contribution 4%
• Wide range of family friendly policies
• 35 holiday/public holidays days' per year.

Does this position require a valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle? Yes

Does the post include personal care? No

Does the post include cooking and housekeeping skills? No

Will the service users be involved in this process? No