Floating Support Practical Skills Worker in Southend-on-Sea

Floating Support Practical Skills Worker

Salary: £27,054 rising incrementally to Point 16, £29,357 per annum

Contract type: 12 month fixed term contract

Apply by: 13/01/2026

Benefits of working at HARP

HARP has a clear pathway for career progression, from Support Worker to Team Leader. Many of our staff have lived experience or started by volunteering with HARP. We also offer a range of central service roles, from HR to finance and fundraising. Whatever your passion, HARP may have something for you.

Life Assurance Scheme

All employees are automatically enrolled in HARP’s non-contributory Death in Service scheme, where the benefit payable is up to 3x your annual salary.

Employee Assistance Programme

We offer all staff an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides 24/7 support. This includes access to a free well‑being app for health, financial, and mental health assistance.

Blue Light Card

Blue Light Card provides those in the NHS, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces with discounts online and in-store. Blue Light Card also works with small and large companies across the UK to get involved in supporting the Blue Light community through offering our members discounts through Blue Light Card.

Staff are entitled to 33 days of annual leave including bank holidays, with an extra day awarded after 5 years of service (pro‑rated for part‑time employees).

A Career Where You Can Really Make a Difference

If you are looking for a job where no two days are the same and you can really make a difference, HARP may be for you.

Training and Development

HARP offers a comprehensive programme of training and development to help you grow in your role. Many roles don’t require previous experience or qualifications—just compassion, kindness, and a willingness to learn and develop.

24/7 Digital GP Access

A GP in your pocket! Access 1:1 video consultations with a GP 24/7

A day off to celebrate your birthday

All staff members are entitled to an additional day off to celebrate their birthday.

Get a new tax free bike

All staff can join our cycle to work scheme where you may be able to purchase a new tax free bike.

Are you passionate about supporting people out of homelessness?

We are looking for people who bring a range of skills to the organisation to help us meet our mission.

HARP is Southend‑on‑Sea’s leading homelessness charity and every year we work with around 1,000 local people to help them overcome or avoid homelessness.

It is an exciting time to be joining HARP. The organisation has undergone significant change and growth over the past twelve months and we have ambitious plans for the future which will continue to transform lives.

About The Role

Ref: FSPSW1

Applicants for this role must be available for interview on 23/01/2026.

As a Floating Support Practical Skills Worker, you will:

• Help residents set up their new homes – assembling furniture, installing essentials, carrying out safety checks, and ensuring properties are move‑in ready.
• Provide hands‑on support during move‑in – helping residents move belongings and settle confidently into their tenancy.
• Teach practical independent living skills – from meter readings and cleaning routines to organising belongings and basic home maintenance.
• Work closely with landlords and other professionals to ensure tenancies start strong and stay stable.
• Support early tenancy sustainment – spotting issues before they escape and preventing unnecessary breakdowns.
• Build trust and empower people through trauma‑informed, strengths‑based practice.

We’re looking for someone who has/is:

• Experience supporting vulnerable people, good problem‑solving skills, and a strong understanding of safeguarding.
• Knowledge of homelessness, PRS housing, and basic repairs/furniture assembly.
• Practical, organised and solutions‑focused.
• Confident teaching basic household skills.
• Patient, empathetic, and good at building rapport.
• Comfortable working independently in the community.
• Motivated by helping people achieve independence.

At HARP, we are committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that equity is essential to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic background, or other characteristics, have access to equal opportunities for employment, advancement, and success.

We are dedicated to ensuring that our hiring, promotion, and compensation practices are fair, transparent, and free from bias. We actively seek to identify and eliminate barriers to employment and professional growth for underrepresented groups, and we embrace diverse perspectives as a source of strength, innovation, and growth.
Our commitment to equity means that we provide ongoing training and support to ensure that all employees can thrive in their roles and contribute meaningfully to our mission. We continually assess our policies, programs, and culture to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our staff and fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and accountability.

By embedding equity in our workplace, we aim to create a culture where differences are not just respected but celebrated, and where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We believe that when everyone has an equal chance to succeed, we all benefit.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please fill out the application form below. You’ll need to confirm your right to work, fill out your contact details, attach your CV and Covering letter and fill our a short equality, diversity and inclusion questionnaire. You can save and resume your application at any time.

• Right to work
• Data protection
• CV and covering letter
• Equality, diversity and inclusion