At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to support vulnerable individuals in finding work and housing.
- Company: Thames Reach, a top-rated workplace dedicated to ending homelessness.
- Benefits: Generous holiday, pension contributions, career development, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to social impact and personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while building your career.
- Qualifications: Experience in employment support and strong mentoring skills required.
The predicted salary is between 37750 - 37750 £ per year.
Role: Lead Worker (Senior Employment Specialist) – Lambeth Individual Placement Support team
Salary: £37,750 per annum
Contract: Fixed term until 27/02/2027
Location: Lambeth
Hours: 37.5 per week
Closing date: 23/08/2026
Interview date: 02/09/2026
Whatever your experience of street homelessness and its impact on people’s lives – personal or professional – when you join the Thames Reach team as a Lead Worker we will make the best use of all your understanding, compassion and commitment.
About us
Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in and around London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track. We help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities. Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 15,000 people. Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There’s no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.
About this role
We are looking for a Lead Worker to join the Lambeth Individual Placement Support team. Prevention services support vulnerable people by providing them with skills, housing advice, accommodation, and tenancy sustainment support. All these services help people transition towards leading independent lives.
Requirements / Responsibilities:
- Carry a client caseload: Still do direct IPS work: client meetings, rapid job search, employer engagement, and on-the-job support. Caseload is sometimes smaller than standard specialists to free up time for other duties.
- Coach & mentor junior specialists: Model job development calls, join them on employer visits, and review their client work. Give feedback on IPS fidelity and help them problem-solve complex cases.
- Lead on employer engagement strategy: Build relationships with major local employers and develop job opportunities the whole team can use. Track which industries are hiring and share leads in team meetings.
- Monitor fidelity & outcomes: Run data reports on job starts, hours worked, and employer contacts. Complete fidelity reviews, file audits, and prep for external IPS fidelity assessments.
- Liaise with clinical & system partners: Attend leadership meetings with mental health teams, funders, or DWP/Jobcentre staff. Troubleshoot integration issues and promote IPS across services.
- Support the team lead: Supporting senior managers to compile monthly and quarterly data for reporting submissions.
We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions.
Benefits:
- Generous holiday allowance – 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).
- Pension – we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%.
- Excellent development opportunities – career progression, regular supervision and appraisals, and learning programmes to support your career with Thames Reach.
- Wellbeing support – our 24/7 employee assistance programme and opportunities for TOIL.
- Life assurance – four times your annual salary and critical illness cover.
- Other benefits including a blue light discount card, interest free season ticket and cycle to work loans.
Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.
Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.
For further information please contact, Ruth Shepherd, Service Manager at Ruth.Shepherd@thamesreach.org.uk
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