Supported Housing Support Worker

YMCA DownsLink Group; Horsham; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading organization is seeking a Supported Housing Support Worker to assist young people in their journey towards independent living. The role involves managing caseloads, providing coaching, and ensuring adherence to housing regulations while fostering a supportive environment. Ideal candidates will have experience in housing or support work, strong communication skills, and the ability to work autonomously. The position requires a commitment to safeguarding and professional boundaries, ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents.

Qualifications

• Experience related to housing or support work with at-risk young people.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and maintaining professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of residents and build support plans.
• Coach young people on independent living and adherence to house rules.
• Maintain detailed client records and monitor service performance.

Skills

Communication

Relationship Building

Autonomous Working

Teamwork

De-escalation

Tools

IT Skills

Job description

37.5 hours per week / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.

Our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, increasing life skills and self-confidence, and improving emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our 16+ Older Looked After Young People (OLYP), Care Leavers, and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC) services deliver specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills for independent living, explore their increased freedom of choice, and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, with appropriate support from an experienced team.

We adopt a trauma-informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents, helping them build essential life skills, identify their goals, and transition into independent accommodation. Our dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers, and Bank Workers provides support, guidance, and signposting in areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, employment, and relationship building.

We are seeking a Supported Housing Support Worker for our Cook Road, Horsham team. The role involves managing a caseload of residents and meeting with them weekly to build support plans. Main responsibilities include:

Housing

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreements and adhere to house rules, preparing them for independent living.
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up with all rent payments.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and stay informed on significant changes to housing law.
• Handle non-compliance issues effectively, such as non-payment of rent or property damage, using restorative practices and collaborating with the team.

Coaching and Engagement

• Coach young people to articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring skills for independent and fulfilling lives.
• Encourage young people to take responsibility for their personal development, engage with available services, and build strong community networks.
• Ensure safeguarding and Trauma-Informed Practice standards are maintained, observing safeguarding procedures, and respecting professional boundaries to keep everyone safe.
• Maintain detailed client records on In-Form, documenting progress, strengths, needs, risks, and outcomes to monitor service performance.

General

• Work as part of a team on a rota shift pattern, ensuring support is non-judgemental, objective, and supportive during day/evening shifts, and take responsibility for personal safety during lone working periods.
• Contribute to a positive working environment with a calm yet assertive manner, capable of handling challenging situations.
• Participate in relevant professional development and utilize Reflective Practice Supervision to support psychologically informed practice.

There will be times when lone working is required, but you will receive an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the full job profile for detailed role information.

If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your skills are transferable. You may be the right candidate for this dynamic and varied role, passionate about supporting and growing young people.

Experience and Knowledge

• Experience related to housing, support work, or working with at-risk young people.
• Experience managing a caseload of young people with complex needs to enable independent living.
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources for young people with complex needs.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and maintaining professional boundaries.
• Confidence in recording notes, actions, incident reports, and safety checks.

Skills and Abilities

• Clear verbal and written communication skills, including documentation and outcome evidence.
• Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders, signpost, and advocate for clients.
• Autonomous working skills, initiative, and teamwork capability.
• Proficient IT and keyboard skills.
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviors appropriately.

For more information or an informal discussion, contact [e-mail]. For application assistance, email [e-mail].

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 8 June 2025 at midnight

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK; visa sponsorship is not available.

An inclusive workplace committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Accessibility support is available for the application process.

All staff and volunteers must commit to safeguarding children and young people, including undertaking an Enhanced DBS check, reference, and background checks.