Specialist support worker

Peabody Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days' annual leave

Flexible benefits scheme

Life assurance 4x salary

Pension contribution up to 10%

Job summary

Peabody is seeking a Specialist Support Worker for our Complex Needs Service to support young homeless women aged 18-25 with high support needs. You will safeguard wellbeing, foster positive relationships, and assist residents in moving toward independence within a safe, caring environment.

The role emphasizes trauma‑informed care, boundary setting, and maintaining professional standards while managing complex caseloads and night-time coverage to ensure safety and stability across shifts.

Qualifications

• Experience working with vulnerable young people (18–25) in social housing, education, or the charity sector.
• Complex needs experience, including homelessness, mental health, high-risk behaviours or high vulnerability.
• Managing challenging behaviour and maintaining professional boundaries in youth work.
• Safeguarding and trauma-informed care knowledge and practice.

Responsibilities

• Safeguard wellbeing, encourage positive relationships, and support residents’ journey toward independence.
• Ensure safety, calmness, and security of the service overnight.
• Maintain accurate casework, timely reporting, and professional boundaries.

Skills

Vulnerable youth experience

Complex needs support

Behaviour management

Trauma-informed care

IT skills

Time management

GCSE Maths

GCSE English

Education

GCSE Maths

GCSE English

Job description

Our Vacancy

We're looking for a Specialist Support Worker to join our Complex Needs Service, supporting young homeless women aged 18-25 (including care leavers and ex-offenders) who have high support needs.

In this role, you'll be safeguarding wellbeing, encouraging positive relationships, and supporting each resident's journey towards independence, all while ensuring the safety, calm, and security of our service overnight.

What We're Looking For

• Background: Experience working with vulnerable young people (18-25 years) in social housing, education, or the charity sector, with a focus on development and personal growth.


• Complex Needs: Professional experience of supporting people with complex needs, including homelessness, mental health, high-risk or high-harm behaviours, or high vulnerability.


• Managing Challenging Behaviour & Maintaining Professional Boundaries: Experience of working with young people who display challenging behaviour or conflict, while remaining approachable, engaging effectively, providing constructive support, and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.


• Safeguarding and Trauma-Informed Principles: Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of safeguarding and trauma-informed care.


• IT Skills, Complex Casework & Time Management: Good IT skills, demonstrable experience of managing a complex caseload, strong report writing skills, and effective time management.


• Must hold GCSE Maths and English at grade C/4 or above (or equivalent).

Why Join Us?

When you join Peabody, you're joining a team guided by our values, Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Love New Ideas, Celebrate Diversity, Keep Our Promises, Pull Together. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels supported, included, and empowered.

What We Offer

• 25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays


• Flexible benefits scheme, including family-friendly options and discounts


• 4x salary life assurance


• Up to 10% pension contribution

Important Information

This role requires an enhanced DBS check.

Please note: Peabody is not a licensed UK sponsor, so we're unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

If you need to ask us anything else at all, feel free to drop an email to Talent Specialist charlene.moore @peabody.org.uk

Interviews for this role will take place over MS Teams on the 22nd September, followed by an in-person meeting at our scheme in Hackney on 28th September 2026.