At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable young people in a night-time role, helping them lead positive lives.
- Company: Join Centrepoint, the UK's leading youth homelessness charity making a real difference.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, healthcare cash plan, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Diverse applicants are encouraged; your lived experience can make a difference.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission to end youth homelessness by 2037 and create lasting change.
- Qualifications: Effective communicator with a passion for supporting young people and report writing skills.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 31000 £ per year.
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time (37.5 hours per week)
Salary: £28,000 - £31,000 per annum
Closing Date: 3rd August 2026
Interviews will be held w/c 10th August 2026
Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, is looking for talented X2 Night Support and Progression Officers to join our London Accommodation Pathfinder service based in Barnet.
About Us
We support vulnerable young people by giving them the practical and emotional support they need to find a job and live independently. Centrepoint provides homeless young people with accommodation, health support and life skills in order to get them back into education, training and employment. We want to end youth homelessness by 2037. Together with our partners, we support over 15,000 young people each year.
Service Information
The London Accommodation Pathfinder (LAP) is a London wide pilot providing supported accommodation as an alternative to youth custody for children, primarily boys aged 16-17. The programme aims to reduce the use of custody, improve outcomes, and address racial disproportionality within the youth justice system, particularly for Black and Mixed heritage children. The service provides intensive, tailored support to help children move from pro-offending to pro-social identity and behaviours.
About You
- Effective communicator with natural ability to engage and build productive relationships with vulnerable young people.
- Passionate about enabling vulnerable young people to lead positive and progressive lives.
- Excellent at report writing and communicating with internal and external stakeholders.
- Flexible, always adapting to changing needs and working as part of a team.
- Engaging, committed to self-development by engaging with training and continuous learning.
- Proactive, always looking for creative ways of working and keeping young people engaged.
We are particularly interested in receiving applicants with lived experience and practitioners from diverse ethnic backgrounds to deliver identity-focused and culturally competent support within the LAP.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Delivering a pilot supported housing project, that has ministerial oversight, to 16/17 year-olds as an alternative to custodial sentences.
- Working on a rota from late evenings and overnight, you will engage, support and safeguard 16/17 year-olds who are involved in the criminal justice system.
- Keeping key professionals, including Social Workers and Youth Justice practitioners up to date with young peoples’ progress, safeguarding needs and risk management plans.
- Creating and delivering innovative techniques to engage young people and enable them to adhere to their court orders.
- Working within a tight, reflective and well-coordinated integrated staff team.
- Generating positive outcomes with the young people to create a body of evidence that will be used to change the criminal justice’s response to 16/17 who offend.
Why join Centrepoint?
In return for your efforts, you’ll receive a competitive salary, excellent training and development, and a host of staff benefits including:
- 25 days of annual leave per year, rising by one day per year to a maximum of 27 days
- Healthcare cash plan (Cover the costs of a wide range of medical treatment including Dental, Optical, Complementary and Alternative therapies).
- Private Medical insurance
- Income protection
- Employer pension contributions of 5%
- Access to Cycle 2 Work loan scheme
- An interest-free travel loan
At Centrepoint we challenge the discrimination within society that contributes to youth homelessness, and we are just as committed to fairness and equality within Centrepoint itself. We are passionate about ensuring all of our colleagues are made to feel included in the work we do and that we value the rich diversity within the organization. We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications regardless of sex, gender, race, age, belief in any religion and none, gender identity, ethnic origin, class, sexuality, nationality, appearance, unrelated criminal activities, disability, responsibility for dependents, part time or shift workers, being HIV positive or living with AIDS, lived experience of homelessness or using young people’s services and any other matter which causes a person to be treated with injustice.
Centrepoint’s policy is to recruit, employ and promote people on the basis of their suitability for the work to be performed, and to this end, our aim is to ensure that all applicants, employees and volunteers receive equal treatment.
Our approach to applications
We recognise that candidates may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support their applications. While this is absolutely fine, all examples and statements included must be truthful, accurate and based on your own experience. We’re keen to understand your individual skills, experience and motivations, so please ensure your application reflects your own voice.
Night Support and Progression Officer X2 employer: Centrepoint
Centrepoint is an exceptional employer dedicated to ending youth homelessness, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that values diversity and personal growth. As a Service Manager in London, you will lead a pioneering service that provides vital support to vulnerable young people, with access to excellent training, competitive benefits, and a commitment to your professional development. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying a range of employee benefits, including generous annual leave and private medical insurance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Night Support and Progression Officer X2
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Centrepoint.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Centrepoint!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Centrepoint, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Centrepoint or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Night Support and Progression Officer X2
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Centrepoint:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Centrepoint! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Centrepoint
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
