Support Worker

Totalwellnessacupuncture; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days annual leave

Bank holidays (on-call may be required

Free DBS checks

Health plan and wellbeing programme

Blue Light Card access

Job summary

Orwell Housing Association is seeking a dedicated Support Worker for Christchurch House in Ipswich. You will help young people who are homeless or at risk to build confidence, skills and independence through personalised, outcome-focused support plans.

The role emphasises safeguarding, collaboration with partners, and empowering young people to access education, training, and local services, within a values-driven organisation.

Qualifications

• Compassionate and empathetic with a commitment to supporting young people
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Experience in professional, voluntary or customer-facing support roles or transferable skills
• Noise awareness of safeguarding, inclusion and promoting independence
• Teamwork, collaboration and open communication
• Commitment to diversity and belonging

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with young people to understand their aspirations and challenges
• Develop personalised support plans focused on education, training, employment, health care or community integration
• Advocate for each young person and ensure their voice is reflected in the support received
• Coordinate with colleagues, partner organisations and community services to create safe environments and move towards independence
• Promote safeguarding and inclusive practice across the team

Job description

Support Worker - Christchurch House

Salary: FTE £28,668.31 per annum

Hours: 1x 37 hours per week and 1x16 hours per week

Ref: CCH056

Support Worker - Young People's Supported Housing Service

Are you passionate about helping young people build brighter futures?

At Orwell, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to feel safe, respected, valued and empowered to achieve their goals. As a Support Worker in our Young People's Supported Housing Service, you'll play an important role in helping young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to develop the confidence, skills and independence they need to thrive.

Using a person-centred, strengths-based approach, you'll build trusting and supportive relationships with young people, helping them identify their aspirations and overcome challenges at their own pace. Together, you'll develop meaningful support plans focused on their individual goals, whether that’s accessing education, training, employment, healthcare, or opportunities within their local community.

You’ll be an advocate and ally, ensuring each young person’s voice is heard, respected and reflected in the support they receive. Working alongside colleagues, partner organisations and community services, you’ll help create safe environments where young people can build resilience, improve wellbeing and move towards greater independence.

What We’re Looking For

• Is compassionate, empathetic and committed to supporting young people to achieve their potential
• Enjoys building positive relationships based on trust, respect and understanding
• Has experience supporting people in a professional, voluntary or customer-focused environment, or can demonstrate transferable skills and a genuine desire to learn
• Can remain calm and supportive when working through challenges or difficult situations
• Understands the importance of safeguarding, inclusion and promoting independence
• Values teamwork, collaboration and open communication
• Celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an environment where everyone feels they belong

Why Orwell?

Everything we do is guided by our PACE values: People-focused, Ambitious, Collaborative and Effective.

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds, experiences and communities feel welcome, respected and supported. We recognise that no candidate will meet every requirement, and we encourage applications from people who share our values and believe they can make a positive difference to the lives of young people.

If you’re looking for a rewarding role where you can have a meaningful impact every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Join Team Orwell and help young people build confidence, achieve their goals and create brighter futures.

About Christchurch House…

Christchurch House is conveniently located close to Ipswich town centre, offering easy access to shops, cafés, leisure facilities and excellent public transport links. Situated directly opposite the beautiful Christchurch Park, it provides a peaceful green space perfect for a relaxing walk during your lunch break.

The service provides temporary supported accommodation for young people, each supported through a personalised, outcome‑based plan.

More benefits of joining #TeamOrwell:

When you join Orwell, you become part of a values‑driven team that puts people first and you’ll also have access to a variety of benefits that help you feel appreciated and able to thrive, such as:

• 22 days annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays (Please note that bank‑holiday work may be required as part of this role).
• Reward and recognition awards.
• Free DBS checks.Cashback Health plan.Access to Blue Light Card - membership fees apply.
• Wellbeing programme.
• Person Specification...

GCSE Maths and English (Grade 9-4 / A-C or equivalent)A full driving licence is desirable

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Before applying…

Orwell is committed to safeguarding and safer employment and the principles of empowerment.

Please note Orwell Housing Association does not provide visa sponsorship. You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply. You will be required to provide the relevant right to work documentation if successfully appointed to the role.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check with Children's Barred List. All new arrivals to the UK must also provide a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC).

The definition of new arrival is an applicant who has worked or been resident overseas in the previous five years and this includes citizens of the UK who have worked or lived overseas for a continuous period of six months or more.

Apply with Confidence

Orwell is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We believe in creating an accessible and supportive environment, where every team member can thrive and contribute. Join us in our commitment to building a workplace that celebrates diversity and empowers all individuals to reach their full potential. We actively welcome applications from candidates with disabilities and are dedicated to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process to ensure equal access and opportunity for all.

We know that diverse teams drive innovation and deliver better outcomes. Research shows that people from underrepresented groups often hesitate to apply for roles unless they meet every requirement. If you're excited about this opportunity but don't meet every listed qualification, we still encourage you to apply anyway. Your unique experiences, perspectives, skills and most importantly your alignment with our culture and values could be exactly what we’re looking for.

We are committed to building an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported to succeed.

If there is anything that might prevent you from applying for one of our roles, we want to help remove that barrier.

For more information and career guidance, check our career hub.