Youth Support Worker

Hightown Housing Association; St Albans; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sleep in payments

33 days annual leave

Blue Light Card

Mileage paid

Pension and life assurance

Annual performance bonus

Monthly attendance bonus

Salary and cost of living review

Training & development

Employee assistance helpline

Job summary

Hightown Housing Association in St Albans is seeking a dedicated Support Worker to help young people build confidence, skills and independence. You will provide practical and emotional support in young people’s homes, while maintaining compassion, respect and inclusion.

The role demands strong communication and teamwork, the ability to work lone and to manage workloads with professional curiosity. DBS Update Service and Level 4/ equivalent training are required within one year.

Qualifications

• Genuine commitment to supporting young people.
• Must start Level 4 or equivalent within one year of joining.
• Must sign up to DBS Update Service.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical and emotional support within young people’s homes.
• Build trusted relationships and empower young people to take ownership of their futures.
• Collaborate with colleagues and partner agencies to deliver outcomes.
• Maintain professional boundaries and manage workload effectively.

Skills

Support young people

Communication

Teamwork

Lone working

Record keeping

Professional boundaries

Learning & development

Education

Level 4 Diploma in Children, Young People & Families

Job description

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Full Time - 37.5 hours per week - £26,853pa - St Albans

Are you passionate about making a real difference in young people’s lives? We are looking for a dedicated Support Worker to help young people (including separated migrant children) build confidence, skills, and independence.

In this role, you will provide practical and emotional support within young people’s homes, always working with compassion, respect and inclusion. You will build trusted relationships, celebrate progress, and empower young people to take ownership of their futures, while working collaboratively with colleagues and partner agencies.

What we’re looking for:

• A genuine commitment to supporting young people
• A patient and understanding approach, taking time to understand each young person’s experiences and needs
• A focus on empowering independence, not personal care
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with a collaborative mindset
• Confidence in lone working, with accountability and professional curiosity
• Good record-keeping and organisational skills
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and manage your workload effectively
• A positive, proactive attitude and commitment to learning and development

This role follows a 24-hour rota, including evenings, weekends, and regular sleep-ins (paid at £52.78 per night).

Shifts:

• 2pm - 10pm
• Sleep in
• 7am-3pm
• Full UK driving licence with business insurance and access to a vehicle for business use

Please note:

• You must commit to starting aLevel 4 or equivalent Children, Young People & Families Practitioner Workforce Diploma within one year of joining
• You must sign up to the DBS Update Service

Hightown Benefits

• £26,853 per annum, plus sleep in payments of at least £52.78
• 33 days annual leave, including bank holidays, rising to 35 days with service
• Blue Light Card, access to discounts for national and local retailers
• Mileage paid for car usage
• Workplace pension and life assurance (three times annual salary)
• Annual performance bonus and monthly attendance bonus
• Annual salary and cost of living review
• Ongoing training and development
• Employee assistance helpline

This role involves working with young people, including those aged 16 and 17. The successful candidate must always maintain appropriate professional boundaries and understand their responsibilities in relation to positions of trust.

All appointments are subject to satisfactory right to work, enhanced DBS, reference and medical clearances. Successful candidates will be required to join the DBS Update Service, with the subscription cost reimbursed by Hightown.

We will be shortlisting and interviewing on an ongoing basis so may close the vacancy early.

We are an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident Employer.