Waking Night Support Worker

Society of St James; Southampton; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25–30 days

Flexible working

Buy extra leave

Training & EAP

Cycle to work

Discounted laptops

Electric car scheme

Job summary

Society of St James in Southampton invites applications for a Waking Night Support Worker at the Night Shelter. The role covers 42 hours per week on a 4 on/4 off rota, with security patrols, housing support tasks, and night-time client engagement.

The successful candidate will work trauma-informed with vulnerable adults, showing calm, compassionate leadership during the night shift and contributing to a safe transition to daytime housing options.

Qualifications

• Background with vulnerable adults; safeguarding knowledge.
• Clear handovers and risk communication.
• Ability to respond to emergencies and carry out risk assessments.
• IT literacy to use data systems (INFORM) and incident reports.
• Willingness to train as Fire Warden/First Aider.
• Willingness to assist with site tasks (breakfast; laundry; cleaning).

Responsibilities

• Conduct security patrols and night checks.
• Support housing management during night shift.
• Provide emotional support and de-escalation.
• Maintain a safe, calm environment for service users.

Skills

Vulnerable adults

Communication skills

Crisis management

IT literacy

Safety commitment

Site management

Tools

INFORM

Job description

Employment Type

Full Time, Permanent

Application Start Date

13-08-2026

Application End Date

06-09-2026

Location

Southampton

State/County

Hampshire

Country

United Kingdom

Work Style

On-site

Non-profit charitable organisations

Category

Position

Description

Waking Night Support Worker

Night Shelter Southampton

42 Hours per week, on a rota basis of 4 on and 4 off

Salary Point: 20 (£29,453 per annum for 42 hours per week)

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association.The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.

The Impact You’ll Make

As a Waking Night Support Worker, you will be on the frontline of providing a safe, trauma-informed service for vulnerable adults in Southampton who are rough sleeping or at immediate risk of it. You will be the steady presence throughout the night, ensuring service users who have no other safe housing options feel welcomed and secure .

Your role is vital to the smooth running of the shelter, from the initial intake at 20:30 through to the morning transition. Whether you are conducting security patrols, assisting with housing management, or simply offering emotional support and de-escalation, your work directly contributes to a safe environment where individuals can begin their journey away from the streets .

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for compassionate, resilient individuals who understand the complexities of homelessness, mental health, and substance misuse. You should be someone who remains calm under pressure and can handle challenging behaviour with a professional, trauma-informed approach .

As this role involves a "4 on, 4 off" night shift pattern, you must be comfortable working independently during the night while maintaining strong communication with your wider team and the Operational Security Team. We value staff who take initiative, maintain clear professional boundaries, and are committed to the safety and wellbeing of our service users .

Essential Qualities and Skills

To be successful in this role, you will need to demonstrate:

• Experience & Knowledge: A background in working with vulnerable adults and an understanding of safeguarding, protection protocols, and lone working procedures.
• Communication: The ability to listen and communicate effectively with clients and colleagues, including providing clear handovers regarding risks.
• Crisis Management: Confidence in using your initiative to respond to emergencies and the ability to carry out risk assessments and management plans.
• Administrative & IT Literacy: Sufficient IT skills to use data management systems (INFORM), update online handovers, and complete incident reports by the end of your shift.
• Commitment to Safety: A proactive approach to health and safety, including a willingness to undertake training in administering naloxone and acting as a Fire Warden or First Aider.
• Practicality: Willingness to assist with site management, including setting out breakfast, managing laundry/linen, and ensuring communal areas remain clean.

What we can offer you

We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

• A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and trainingCounselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Company cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme

SSJ are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website.

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.

Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Employer pension contributions via salary sacrifice
• Flexible working opportunities
• Counselling, financial, personal support, and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme

DBS (disclosure and barring service check)

DBS website
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
DBS suitable documents for identity checking
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-identity-checking-guidelines

Do you have any convictions, cautions, reprimands, or final warnings that would not be filtered in line with current DBS guidance? * Required

Do you have any unspent convictions in a Court of Law under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974? * Required

Are you currently barred from working with children and/or vulnerable adults? * Required

Right to work in the UK

Do you currently have the legal right to work in the UK?

Do you currently have the legal right to work in the UK? * Required

The shift pattern for this role requires working 42 hours per week on a "4 on, 4 off" rota from 20:00 to 08:30. Are you fully available to work regular night shifts on this schedule, and are you willing to work flexibly or stay beyond shift ends in exceptional circumstances to ensure essential service coverage? * Required

Do you have experience working with vulnerable adults who have histories of homelessness, mental health problems, or substance misuse? Please briefly highlight a role where you supported individuals with complex needs. * Required

This role involves de-escalating challenging situations during the night. Can you give an example of a time when you used a calm, trauma-informed approach or motivational interviewing to diffuse a high-stress situation or manage difficult behavior? * Required

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Date of Birth*

Sexual Orientation*

Do you consider yourself to have a disability, impairment or condition?*

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Applicant Declaration & Confirmation: - At The Society of St James, honesty and openness matter deeply to us. Before submitting your application, please take a moment to read and agree to the points below.Honesty & Accuracy:- Everything I’ve shared in this application form, supporting statement, and attached CV/resume is true, complete, and accurate. I understand that providing false or misleading information, or leaving out key facts, may mean my application isn't taken further. If I am hired and false information comes to light later, it could lead to the termination of my employment.Your Data & Privacy: - I know that SSJ will treat my personal details with care, confidentiality, and respect, strictly adhering to UK data protection laws (UK GDPR). My information will only be used for recruitment and selection purposes, and employment purposes if appointed.