Lead Worker – Outreach Rough Sleepers Team

Homeless Link; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance (29 days +

Pension contribution

Development opportunities and training

Wellbeing support

Life assurance

Other employee benefits

Job summary

Thames Reach is seeking a Lead Worker to join the Hillingdon Street Outreach Rough Sleepers Team in London. You will support the Lead Manager, coordinate outreach to rough sleepers, and help develop services responsive to emerging trends.

The role requires strong commitment, excellent communication, and the ability to work collaboratively with partners while upholding safeguarding and diverse service provisions.

Qualifications

• A strong commitment to providing a high standard of service.
• Understanding of supporting rough sleepers or vulnerable adults.
• Excellent organisation and time management with an outcome focus.
• Good communication skills and ability to represent Thames Reach externally.
• Able to work well within a team.
• Diversity and equal opportunities awareness.

Responsibilities

• Support the Lead Manager with oversight and coordination of the team's work with rough sleepers in Hillingdon.
• Contribute to service development by responding to new developments and trends.
• Lead the team's work with service users who have complex support needs.
• Represent the service to partners and stakeholders.
• Record all work accurately within given timeframes.
• Support data collection, integrity and reporting with police and community safety colleagues.

Skills

Commitment to high quality service

Experience with rough sleepers

Public speaking confidence

Teamwork

Strong organisational skills

Job description

Closing date: 18th October 2026

Interview date: 27th October 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 Hillingdon Street Outreach Rough Sleepers Team.

The Thames Reach Outreach teams operate across London and help those who are rough sleeping to find routes away from the street. The teams respond rapidly and work flexibly to reach people. Individuals are assessed to identify their support needs and support plans are created, including work to obtain identification, access health services and refer to other specialist agencies, including those offering immigration support.

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

You will:

• Support the Lead Manager with oversight and co-ordination of the team's work with rough sleepers in Hillingdon
• Contribute to service development by responding to new developments and trends
• Lead the team's work with service users who have complex support needs
• Represent the service to partners and stakeholders
• Accurately record all work completed within give timeframes
• Support the team by contributing to data collection, integrity and reportingencampments with police and community safety colleagues.

You will have:

• A strong commitment to providing a high standard of service
• A good understanding of working with rough sleepers or vulnerable adults and supporting them to access services
• Excellent organisation and time management skills in order to remain strongly outcome focused, with the ability to complete tasks promptly and efficiently
• Good communication skills and confidence in public speaking when representing Thames Reach externally
• The ability to work well within a team
• A mature and thoughtful approach to equal opportunities and diversity in service provision

We are listed in the top 100 UK Best Workplaces 2023 in the UK. As part of a commitment to our employees we offer:

• 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.

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.

For further information please contact, Jamie Shovlin, Service Manager at [e-mail]