Specialist Support Worker - Tower Hamlets, London

Look Ahead; Greater London; On-site; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading care and support provider in London seeks a Specialist Support Worker for its Mental Health Service in Tower Hamlets. This role involves a keyworker position where support is provided to individuals with significant mental health needs in a structured environment. The ideal candidate will possess NVQ Level 2/3, experience in mental health care, and an understanding of recovery-oriented practice. With competitive compensation and ample benefits, this position encourages professional growth in a compassionate setting.

Benefits

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days

Free DBS

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Generous pension contributions

Qualifications

• Experience of working with people with significant mental health needs.
• Familiarity with forensic or criminal justice settings.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed approaches.

Responsibilities

• Hold a keyworking caseload, meeting customers for structured sessions.
• Complete and review support and risk management plans.
• Use trauma-informed approaches to explore behaviour and support customers.

Skills

Experience with mental health needs

Understanding of recovery-oriented practice

Risk assessment knowledge

Education

NVQ Level 2 / 3 or equivalent

Job description

Specialist Support Worker – Tower Hamlets, London

We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Mental Health Service in Tower Hamlets.

£29,209.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way.

That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award‑winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all.

These aren't token gestures — we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team.

After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24‑7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension – we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Tabard Court is a mental health supported accommodation for individuals with significant offending histories and complex mental health needs.

You will work within a multi‑disciplinary team, providing support to customers with a range of mental health needs – emotional, social, physical or domestic – who have had contact with the Criminal Justice System.

This is a 3‑month Fixed term contract with possibility for extension.

Working pattern for this role is as follows:

Week 1: M0 T8 W8 T8 F8 S0 S0

Week 2: M8 T8 W8 T8 F0 S8 S8

Week 3: M0 T8 W8 T8 F8 S0 S0

Week 4: M8 T8 W8 T8 F0 S8 S8

What you'll do:

• Hold a keyworking caseload (typically 4‑6 customers), meeting each customer regularly for structured keywork sessions focused on mental health, risk, daily living skills and recovery goals.
• Complete and regularly review support plans, risk management plans and crisis plans with customers and the wider team, ensuring they are meaningful, co‑produced and linked to clear, achievable outcomes.
• Use a psychologically‑and trauma‑informed approach to explore behaviour, triggers and patterns, and support customers to understand their own risks and responsibility.
• Ensure customer paperwork (support plans, risk assessments, reviews and keywork notes) is completed to a high standard and within required timescales, recorded on relevant systems and shared appropriately with the team.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

About you:

Look Ahead is looking for a candidate who meets the following experience and knowledge criteria.

Experience & Knowledge

• NVQ Level 2 / 3 or equivalent
• Experience of working with people with significant mental health needs, ideally in forensic or criminal justice settings (secure services, probation, prison, step‑down or similar).
• Understanding of recovery‑oriented practice and trauma‑informed approaches in mental health.
• Awareness of risk assessment and risk management processes in forensic mental health (e.g. working with index offences, relapse indicators, safeguarding, conditions of discharge or licence).
• Experience of keyworking or case management, including multi‑agency liaison and report writing.
• Comfortable working in a structured environment with policies, procedures and clear documentation standards, while remaining flexible and responsive to individual need.

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not‑for‑profit care and support provider in London and the South East.

Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities.

As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year.

Our mission is to co‑design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive.

We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values: We focus on Excellence and innovation. We are Caring and Compassionate. We are Inclusive and Trusted. We work in Partnership and are One‑Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021.

We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job Description.