Support Practitioner Widnes

Homeless Link; Widnes; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

You Matter is seeking a dedicated Support Practitioner in Widnes to work with residents experiencing homelessness and addiction. The role involves creating a safe environment, providing unconditional support, and promoting independence through collaborative planning with leadership teams.

The post is permanent/Fixed Term, with a salary of £30,000 per annum and 37.5 hours per week. The role requires empathy, confidentiality, and a commitment to inclusive service delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience in charity/hac homelessness sector or similar settings.
• Knowledge of welfare benefits and housing law.
• Excellent communication and confidentiality.
• Empathy with boundaries in professional care.
• Commitment to flexible, innovative approaches and learning.

Responsibilities

• Welcome residents and conduct risk assessments in line with policies.
• Ensure basic needs: accommodation, meals, guidance, and support.
• Promote welfare, safeguarding, and access to health/financial support.
• Develop and review written support plans with residents.
• Coordinate with health teams for physical and mental health needs.
• Address health and safety issues and maintenance promptly.
• Participate in team meetings and reflective practice.
• Support a diverse, inclusive service culture.

Skills

Experience

Knowledge

Communication

Empathy

Commitment

Organisation

Computer literacy

Education

NVQ/L2 Health & Social Care

Job description

Support Practitioner Widnes

Location: Widnes

Salary: £30,000 per annum

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Job Type: Permanent/Fixed Term

Shortlisting: TBC

Interview: TBC

Why this role would be great for you

As a Support Worker at You Matter you will naturally be an empathetic and caring person wanting to provide unconditional support for those experiencing homelessness and addiction issues. Your role as a Support Worker will be to create a safe environment that empowers residents to make positive changes in their lives. To work closely as part of a team with the Director of Homeless Services and Operational Leadership Team in the development of operational planning and service delivery to the highest standard.

This post is only available to male applicants as an Occupational Requirement and permitted under the Equality Act 2010

What your week may look like

• Welcoming new residents in line with the service’s policies and procedures, carry out risk assessments and support people to continue in their journey towards independence
• Ensuring the basic needs of residents are met including good quality accommodation and facilities, healthy food, advice and guidance
• Responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of adults/children/young people who are at risk
• Advocate for social inclusion of the people you support ensuring they are able to access health and financial support
• Ensuring Housing Benefit and Services Charges are collected and managed effectively
• Developing and reviewing written support plans with the your residents that reflect their own needs, changes and hopes for the future
• Work alongside the people in our services to address their physical and mental health issues, including liaison with primary and secondary health teams
• Carrying out the immediate support needs of residents as appropriate, providing crisis intervention where necessary and working with services
• Ensuring all health and safety and maintenance issues are raised in a timely manner
• Participating in team meetings, supervisions and reflective practice encouraging open, honest and transparent feedback where continuous improvement is encouraged.
• Being flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the service, ensuring our SHREK values runs through all of the work that you do
• Promoting a supportive and inclusive culture within the service, valuing people and their diversity

It is recognised that the association is operating in a dynamic environment and as such this job description may be varied in consultation with the post holder to reflect evolving needs of the business and changing nature of the job.

What We Can Offer You

Working with You Matter comes will a whole host of benefits. We hope that people will find personal fulfilment and purpose by working with alongside people in our services. Our teams are compassionate and supportive, fostering a strong sense of community. With opportunities for professional growth, You Matter offers training to support your role and personal development. For a full list of benefits see here: Careers Page | You Matter.

The skills we are looking for

• EXPERIENCE– Ideally you will have a background of working within a charity, community project and/or previous involvement in the homelessness sector. You will have knowledge around supporting people with challenging and complex behaviours including substance misuse and Mental Health within a 24-hour residential support service
• KNOWLEDGE – A basic understanding of relevant and appropriate legislation, including welfare benefits and housing law. An understanding of health and safety requirements in the workplace
• COMMUNICATION – Excellent communication, fostering a respectful, collaborative and professional approach to the people who you work alongside ensuring confidentiality at all times
• EMPATHY and RESPECT – The ability to empower people to make positive changes, showing empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries
• COMMITMENT – The ability to work in an innovative and solutions focused way, including reflecting and learning as you go, and a willingness to flex and adapt approaches as needed
• ORGANISATION – Strong time management and the ability to manage to prioritise tasks
• COMPUTER LITERACY – You will be IT literate and have experience of working with multiple software programs such as Microsoft Office and Outlook.

What is a nice to have

• NVQ/L2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent
• Experience of working within a psychologically informed working environment
• Knowledge of housing management and IT databases
• Awareness of benefits and how they work including Universal Credit and other welfare systems

Even if you don’t feel that you have all the relevant skills and “nice to haves” we would still like to hear from you and invite you to fill out our application form.

You Matter is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.

Closing Date: 25 Sep 2026