Specialist Support Worker

We\’re looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Mental Health Social Care Service in Ealing.

£29,555.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you\’re making a difference? You\’ll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
• Online wellbeing resources
• A generous pension – we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff\’s commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Oaklands & St Kilda\’s is made up of two newly refurbished six-bedroom homes, located close to each other in Ealing, West London. We work with up to 12 young people at a time, providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. Many of the young people joining us are moving on from hospital, stepping down from more intensive placements, or transitioning from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to Adult services.

The Specialist Support Worker role involves early shifts (7:30 – 15:30/8:00 – 16:00) and late shifts (14:00 – 22:00) throughout the week, including some weekends each month.

What you\’ll do:

• Build supportive, trusting relationships with young people and provide psychologically and emotionally informed support, maintaining a calm, consistent and professional presence at all times.
• Confidently represent the service at external meetings such as MDTs, ward rounds or discharge planning discussions, advocating for the young person\’s needs and goals.
• Act as shift lead when required – coordinating task allocation, maintaining oversight of risk, and ensuring safe and effective handovers between shifts.
• duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

• Strong understanding of how trauma, adversity and systemic inequalities can shape a young person\’s experiences, behaviour and mental health.
• Culturally curious and respectful – recognises and honours different ways people understand and express distress or identity.
• Lived experience relevant to the service is welcomed where it is applied professionally and with appropriate boundaries.
• Actively encourages young people\’s participation in community life, social opportunities, education and independence-building activities.
• Warm, approachable and emotionally attuned – contributes to a calm, safe and relational atmosphere.

What you\’ll bring:

Essential:

• Significant experience supporting young people or adults with complex mental health needs, ideally in hospital discharge, step-down or supported accommodation settings.
• Strong understanding of risk assessment, safety planning and safeguarding, with confidence to escalate concerns appropriately.

Desirable:

• Level 3 (or above) qualification in Health & Social Care, Psychology, Mental Health, or related field, or equivalent professional training.
• Experience contributing to multi-disciplinary meetings such as ward rounds, discharge planning or CPA reviews.
• Experience mentoring or supporting the development of less experienced staff.
• Experience embedding trauma-informed or psychologically informed practices (PIE, DBT-informed work, recovery approaches).
• Lived experience applied professionally and appropriately in a support setting is welcomed.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.