At a Glance
- Tasks: Deliver early intervention programmes to prevent youth homelessness in a Manchester school.
- Company: Centrepoint, the UK's leading youth homelessness charity.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, paid leave, healthcare plan, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to fairness and equality.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives and help end youth homelessness by 2037.
- Qualifications: Experience supporting children and families, excellent communication skills, and knowledge of safeguarding.
The predicted salary is between 30155 - 36856 £ per year.
Term time only, 37.5 hours per week, working 41 weeks per year.
Salary: £26,403.93-£32,238.68 per year, including paid annual leave.
Based within a Manchester school, reporting to Senior Upstream Practitioner.
Delivering early intervention programme to prevent youth homelessness.
Contract: Fixed-term, two-year contract.
Location: Based within a Manchester school.
Closing date: Monday 16th November 2026.
Interviews: Week commencing 23rd November 2026.
Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, is looking for a passionate and proactive Upstream Practitioner to join our team based in Manchester.
About us: Centrepoint is the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity. We help vulnerable young people by giving them the practical and emotional support they need to find a job and live independently. We provide homeless young people with accommodation, mental health support and life skills to help them get back into education, training and employment. We want to end youth homelessness by 2037. Together with our partners, we support over 16,000 young people each year.
The Role: We have an exciting opportunity for an Upstream Practitioner to join our Policy and Prevention Directorate on a fixed-term, two-year contract. This school-based role will report to the Senior Upstream Practitioner and play a key part in delivering our pre-16 prevention pilot, helping to identify and address the root causes of youth homelessness. Working closely with colleagues, school staff, children and their families, you will support early intervention and prevention activities, ensuring that children at risk receive the help they need before reaching crisis point. You will join Upstream at an important stage in its development. Alongside delivering direct support, you will contribute to a wider Quasi-Experimental Design (QED) evaluation, helping us build robust evidence about the impact of early intervention on young people’s risk of homelessness and other outcomes. Through high-quality data collection, monitoring outcomes and delivering the intervention consistently, you will help shape our understanding of what works in preventing youth homelessness.
This is a term-time position, working 37.5 hours per week within a Manchester school. The role follows a 41-week working pattern, comprising 39 term-time weeks plus two additional weeks. The advertised annual salary reflects this working pattern and includes paid annual leave.
What you’ll be doing:
- Delivering a school-based early intervention programme aimed at preventing youth homelessness, ensuring a consistent approach that supports the wider evaluation.
- Administering the Upstream Survey to children aged 11–16 to help identify hidden risk factors.
- Managing and maintaining a caseload of children and families, carrying out holistic assessments to understand children’s wellbeing, relationships and home life, and working proactively with them and their families before issues escalate to crisis point.
- Working closely with schools, families and community services to support sustained positive outcomes.
- Collecting and recording high-quality data, monitoring outcomes and tracking progress to support the QED evaluation and continuous service improvement.
What we’re looking for:
- Experience supporting children and families in a support role.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trusted relationships with children, families and professionals.
- Strong skills in completing risk assessments and managing safeguarding concerns, alongside a commitment to safeguarding and trauma-informed practice.
- Knowledge of local services and referral pathways.
- Ability to work independently within a school-based environment while collaborating with partner agencies.
- Interest in using data and evaluation to inform and improve practice, with a commitment to accurate recording and consistent service delivery.
- A relevant qualification in Family Mediation, Social Work or a related field is desirable.
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:
- Paid annual leave included in the advertised term-time salary.
- Healthcare cash plan covering a wide range of medical treatments, including dental, optical, complementary and alternative therapies.
- Private medical insurance.
- Income protection.
- Employer pension contributions of 5%.
- Access to the 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 organisation. 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.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to join our team as an Upstream Practitioner.
Upstream Practitioner in Manchester employer: Consortium
Micro Rainbow is an exceptional employer dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive work environment for its employees. Located in London, the company offers meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth, particularly for those passionate about social justice and equality. With a strong emphasis on employee well-being and a culture that values lived experiences, Micro Rainbow empowers its staff to make a real difference in the lives of LGBTQI asylum seekers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Upstream Practitioner in Manchester
✨Get Involved in Local Community Projects
One of the best ways to land a temporary role in social work is to dive headfirst into local community projects. Volunteer your time or skills at local charities or community centres to not only gain experience but also to connect with professionals in the field. They might just have some insider knowledge on temporary positions that pop up!
✨Engage with Social Work Networks
Join online forums and social media groups specifically for social workers. Platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn have dedicated groups where professionals share temporary job opportunities. Being an active member can help you stay in the loop and even get recommendations from those already in the field.
✨Attend Workshops and Seminars
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences related to social work in your area. These events aren't just great for learning; they're also hotbeds for networking! You never know who might be hiring or can point you towards a temporary position while you're soaking up new skills.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website!
When you spot a role that piques your interest, especially for a temporary position, make sure to apply directly through our website! This not only shows your commitment to Consortium, but also gives you an edge by putting your application right in front of the hiring team. Let’s get you moving on that path to your next opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Upstream Practitioner in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let's highlight why you're passionate about social work and how your values align with those of Consortium. Share specific experiences where you made a difference, as this field thrives on genuine motivation and connection.
Demonstrate Relevant Experience:When listing your experience, focus on any internships, volunteer roles, or temporary positions you've had in social work or related fields. Those skills are gold! Think about situations where you helped individuals or communities, and don't forget to mention any relevant certifications, like safeguarding or mental health first aid.
Keep It Concise and Relevant:Remember, for a temporary role, hiring managers want to see how you fit in and can hit the ground running. Keep your CV clear and to the point, showcasing only the experience that really matters for the role at Consortium. We recommend a two-page limit – make every word count!
Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability:Considering this is a temporary position, it's vital to show you can adapt to new environments quickly. In your application, highlight any past experiences where you had to adjust to different teams or roles smoothly. This shows you understand the nature of temporary work and are ready for the challenge!
How to prepare for a job interview at Consortium
✨Sharpen Your Empathy Skills
In social work, it's all about understanding and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Make sure to prepare some examples from your experience where you've demonstrated empathy and resilience. Practising active listening techniques can help you articulate your approach during the interview with Consortium.
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with key social work theories and frameworks, like the ecological systems theory or person-centred approaches. These concepts might pop up during your interview for the temporary Upstream Practitioner role at Consortium, so it's good to have a couple of insights ready to share.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, showcasing your flexibility is key. Be prepared to discuss past experiences where you quickly adapted to new environments or changing client needs, which is crucial in the dynamic world of social work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your decision-making skills and ethical judgement. Think about how you would handle specific challenges you might face in the field. Having a clear structure for your answers will show Consortium that you can think critically and act effectively under pressure.
