Lead Worker - Lambeth Assessment Centre

Thames Reach; Greater London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Pension contribution

Career development

Wellbeing support

Life assurance

Blue light card

Cycle to work

Season ticket loan

Job summary

Thames Reach is seeking a Lead Worker for the Lambeth Assessment Centre in London. The role involves coordinating frontline and management, guiding clients from street situations into appropriate accommodation, and working with partner services to ensure swift move-on.

37.5 hours per week, salary £38,996 per annum, closing 18 October 2026. We focus on delivering wraparound support and safeguarding while enabling independence and successful outcomes for clients across London.

Qualifications

• Experience providing flexible service to people experiencing rough sleeping or homelessness.
• Strong communication and relationship-building with colleagues and partners.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines autonomously.
• Excellent IT and data-recording skills (Outlook, Excel, Word).
• Commitment to safeguarding and equality/diversity.

Responsibilities

• Bridge between frontline staff and management; lead worker role as a first step into management.
• Support a team to rapidly assess clients and move them into suitable accommodation.
• Lead a Whole Team Approach to Casework.
• Liaise with and support client engagement with specialist agencies (substance services, mental health, housing).
• Provide person-centred support and co-produce plans to help clients achieve their aims.

Skills

Experience with homelessness

Communication skills

Organisation skills

Autonomous working

IT skills

Tools

Outlook

Online recording systems

Excel

Word

Job description

Job Summary

Role: Lead Worker - Lambeth Assessment Centre

Salary £38,996 per annum

Hours: 37.5 per week

Location: Vauxhall

Closing date: 18/10/2026

Interview date: 28/10/2026

Whatever your experience of street homelessness and its impact on people's lives - personal or professional - when you join the Thames Reach team as a Lead Worker we will make the best use of all your understanding, compassion and commitment

About us

Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in and around London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track. We help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities.

Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 15,000 people.

Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There's no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.

About this role

We are looking for a Lead Worker to join the Lambeth Assessment Centre Team.

Assessment Centres are fast paced services where people are referred in, usually from the street, and rapidly referred on to appropriate longer-term accommodation. The services are short stay, and staff provide wrap around support and liaison with several external partners, including physical health, mental health, substance use and housing. Staffed 24 hours to ensure this quick turnaround, they are a key service to ensure people are off the streets and in stable accommodation.

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions.

You will

• Be a bridge between front line staff and management - the lead worker role is an excellent introduction into managerial roles.
• Support a team of workers to rapidly assess clients and move them into appropriate accommodation.
• Lead a Whole Team Approach to Casework.
• Liaise with, signpost, and support client engagement with specialist agencies as appropriate, such as substance treatment services, Community Mental Health Teams, doctors, community groups etc.
• Provide person-centred support to individuals and co-produce all plans to assist them to achieve their aims and ambitions.

You will have

• Experience in providing a flexible and responsive service to people with experience of rough sleeping and homelessness.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to form and maintain effective working relationships with all colleagues and partners.
• Commitment to supporting people to achieve the best outcomes as they work towards move on and ultimately independence.
• Strong organisation skills, with the ability to manage conflicting priorities and deadlines whilst working autonomously as part of a team.
• Strong IT skills with the ability to use Outlook, online recording systems, Excel, and Word.

We are listed in the top 100 UK Best Workplaces 2023 in the UK.

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance - 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).
• Pension - we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%.
• Excellent development opportunities - career progression, regular supervision and appraisals, and learning programmes to support your career with Thames Reach.
• Wellbeing support - our 24/7 employee assistance programme and opportunities for TOIL.
• Life assurance - four times your annual salary and critical illness cover.
• Other benefits including a blue light discount card, interest free season ticket and cycle to work loans.

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

For further information please contact, Nancy Hughes, Lead Manager at [e-mail]

Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Job Profile

Location

London - Vauxhall