At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people with mental health needs, building trust and guiding them to the right care.
- Company: Join London's leading homelessness charity making a real difference every day.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, generous leave, and comprehensive training opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment focused on personal growth and impactful work.
- Why this job: Be part of a compassionate team dedicated to transforming lives and creating lasting change.
- Qualifications: Experience in mental health support and strong relationship-building skills.
Single Homeless Project has an exciting opportunity for a Mental Health Practitioner to join our team based in Lewisham, London. You will join us on a full-time, permanent basis. In return, you will receive a competitive salary starting at £32,034.46 rising incrementally to £35,081.51 per annum.
We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done. In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures.
We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own.
Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable.
About the Mental Health Practitioner role:
Too many young people are left waiting, repeating their story, or trying to navigate mental health systems that were never built with their lives in mind. In this role, you’ll help change that. As Mental Health Practitioner, you’ll help young people in Camden Young Person’s High Support Accommodation Service build trust, understand their options and access the health and mental health support they need to move towards safety, wellbeing and independence.
You’ll hold a focused caseload of young people with higher mental health and wellbeing needs, carrying out screenings, building clear health profiles, supporting referrals and helping young people engage with appointments, treatment and care planning. You’ll work alongside young people at their pace, recognising that confidence, choice and trust are often built through patience, consistency and strong relationships.
You’ll also support colleagues to feel more confident when responding to mental health need, distress, crisis, risk or barriers to engagement. Working closely with CAMHS, adult mental health services, primary care, substance use services and other health partners, you’ll help create a more joined-up response so young people are not passed between systems, but actively supported to access the care they deserve. At SHP, you’ll be part of a learning culture that values development, training and career growth – with space to deepen your practice, share your expertise and keep growing while making a real difference.
About you:
- You understand how trauma, instability, care experience or homelessness can shape a young person’s mental health, trust and engagement with services.
- You know how to build relationships with young people who may feel let down, unheard or unsure about accepting support.
- You can support young people through distress, crisis or difficult choices about their care with calm, compassion and clear boundaries.
- You are confident working with health and mental health partners, including CAMHS, adult mental health, primary care or substance use services.
- You can guide colleagues thoughtfully, record clearly and use learning, feedback and outcomes to strengthen support for young people.
Our attractive benefits package includes:
- A salary increase after successfully completing six month’s probationary period
- A 37.5 hour working week including flexible working hours (core hours are 10am – 4pm) in non-accommodation services
- 25 days annual leave, increasing annually to the maximum 30 days (plus paid Bank Holidays)
- A contributory pension scheme: Single Homeless Project will contribute the equivalent of 5% of your annual salary
- Staff Health Cash Plan and discounts scheme
- Comprehensive and integrated training programme designed specifically to develop the skills and knowledge involved in our work
This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant. Single Homeless Project is actively committed to equal opportunities and the promotion of diversity and inclusion, in all of our services and workplaces. We are also Disability Confident Committed and are IIP Silver accredited.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mental Health Practitioner
✨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 SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT.
✨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 SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT!
✨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 SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT, 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 SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT 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 Mental Health Practitioner
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 SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT! 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 SINGLE HOMELESS PROJECT
✨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.
