At a Glance
- Tasks: Support vulnerable individuals in accessing essential services and building a stable future.
- Company: Change Grow Live, a leading health and social care charity.
- Benefits: Generous leave, wellness support, career progression, and a diverse, inclusive culture.
- Other info: Join a passionate team dedicated to creating positive change in the community.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives and help them find stability and hope.
- Qualifications: Empathy, resilience, and experience in supporting those facing complex challenges.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 33000 £ per year.
Home is more than a roof over someone's head. It's safety, stability, belonging. Yet every day, people across Croydon face the reality of sleeping rough, living in temporary accommodation or moving between insecure living arrangements. Alongside homelessness, many are navigating challenges linked to substance use, physical health, mental health, trauma, social isolation and exclusion.
At Change Grow Live, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a healthier, safer and more fulfilling future. We're looking for two Homelessness Team Recovery Workers to join our Croydon service and help some of the most vulnerable people in our community access the support, services and opportunities they need to move forward. Guided by our values to Be Open, Be Compassionate and Be Bold, you'll be part of a team that believes lasting change is possible, no matter where someone's journey begins.
Why this role matters
No body chooses a life without stability, security or support. People experiencing homelessness often face multiple and interconnected challenges that can create barriers to accessing healthcare, treatment, housing and wider community services. Too often, they are required to navigate complex systems at a time when stability can feel out of reach. This role helps change that.
As a Homelessness Team Recovery Worker, you'll act as a vital link between individuals, accommodation providers, healthcare services, local authorities and community organisations. You'll help people access the right support at the right time, ensuring they are connected to services that can improve their health, wellbeing, social inclusion and housing outcomes. Whether supporting someone into treatment, helping them engage with health services or coordinating support during a move into accommodation, your work will help create opportunities for sustainable change and greater independence. Every conversation has the potential to build trust. Every intervention has the potential to change a life.
The Opportunity
This is more than a recovery role. It's an opportunity to work at the heart of a partnership approach that brings together housing, health, social care and community organisations to improve outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. Working across Croydon, you'll spend time building relationships with individuals in hostels, shelters, temporary accommodation and community settings, helping them access the support they need to achieve their goals. You'll work proactively to engage people who may have previously found services difficult to access and help create pathways that are responsive, inclusive and person-centred.
You'll coordinate support across a range of partners, ensuring people are connected to treatment services, healthcare providers, housing teams, peer support networks and wider community resources. By advocating for those you support and working collaboratively across multiple agencies, you'll help remove barriers, strengthen engagement and promote continuity of care. No two days will be the same. One day you may be attending a multi-disciplinary meeting with health and housing colleagues. Another might involve supporting an individual to access treatment, reconnect with services or move successfully into longer-term accommodation. Throughout it all, you'll be helping people recognise their strengths, build confidence and take positive steps towards a healthier and more stable future.
The Details
Where: Croydon
Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week
Allowances: Outer London Weighting, pro rata
Responsibilities
About You
We're looking for people who combine empathy, resilience and determination with a genuine commitment to supporting those facing multiple and complex challenges. You may already have experience working with people who are homeless, vulnerably housed or experiencing social exclusion. Your background could be within homelessness services, housing, substance use, mental health, criminal justice, social care or another community-based support setting.
You’ll bring:
- Experience supporting people experiencing homelessness, rough sleeping or insecure housing situations
- The ability to build positive relationships with individuals facing complex challenges
- Strong communication skills and confidence working with a range of partner organisations including health, housing and social care services
- The ability to work independently, remotely and with a high degree of personal initiative
- Experience engaging people from diverse backgrounds and cultures
- A calm and professional approach when managing challenging situations
- A commitment to person-centred, strengths-based support
Most importantly, you’ll believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to access support, achieve their goals and build a brighter future.
What We Offer
At Change Grow Live, we’re committed to supporting our colleagues just as passionately as we support the people who access our services. Our benefits include:
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with service
- A paid weekly Wellness Hour
- Access to our Wellbeing Hub and Employee Assistance Programme
- Contributory pension scheme
- A wide range of employee discounts and benefits
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities
- Career progression within one of the UK's leading health and social care charities
- A supportive, inclusive and values-led culture
A Place Where Everyone Belongs
We are committed to creating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, including those with lived experience of recovery, homelessness or social exclusion. We know that diverse perspectives help us provide better support and create stronger services. Even if you don’t meet every requirement listed, we’d encourage you to apply if you’re excited by the opportunity and believe you can make a difference.
Help People Move Towards Stability, Hope and Opportunity
If you’re looking for a career where your compassion, persistence and commitment can help transform lives, we’d love to hear from you.
A note about using AI in your application: AI can be a really helpful tool when putting together your application, and we’re happy for you to use it. However, what we’re most interested in is you. We want to understand your experiences, achievements and strengths, so please make sure your application reflects your own story and clearly shows how you meet the essential criteria and the impact you’ve made in previous roles. There’s no need to write in a particular style. The strongest applications are those that are authentic, specific and clearly demonstrate your skills, experience and potential. We look forward to learning more about you.
Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must already have the right to work in the UK at the time of application. Unfortunately, we are unable to support new visa applications or visa extensions for this position. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications, therefore early application is encouraged.
Salary Range (pro rata if part time)
CGL points 23 to 28 (£28,557.79 - £32,802.41)
ILW / OLW / Fringe Outer London Weighting (£2,250.61)
Closing Date
27/9/2026
If you have any questions on this opportunity that you would like to talk through please contact us using the below details: Damion Mulrain | This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level.
Recovery Worker - Homelessness Team in London employer: CIH International Housing Group
Transform Housing & Support is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable individuals. Located in Reigate, our supportive work culture fosters personal and professional growth, offering tailored training programmes and flexible working arrangements to help you thrive. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing and a commitment to diversity, you'll find a rewarding career where your contributions truly matter.
Contact Details:
CIH International Housing Group Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Recovery Worker - Homelessness Team in London
✨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 CIH International Housing Group.
✨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 CIH International Housing Group!
✨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 CIH International Housing Group, 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 CIH International Housing Group 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 Recovery Worker - Homelessness Team in London
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 CIH International Housing Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to CIH International Housing Group! 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 CIH International Housing Group
✨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.
