At a Glance
- Tasks: Support residents facing mental health challenges and housing instability through coordinated services.
- Company: Southwark Council, dedicated to improving lives and preventing homelessness.
- Benefits: Permanent role with 36 hours per week, competitive salary, and a commitment to diversity.
- Other info: Join a passionate team focused on tackling racial inequality and promoting inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives by helping them regain stability and independence.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with AMHP status and experience in mental health and housing support.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 44000 £ per year.
Could your professional expertise help prevent homelessness, strengthen recovery, and change the future for residents facing some of life’s most complex challenges? Do you believe that the right housing support, delivered at the right time, can help someone regain stability, maintain their independence and build a more secure future? If yes, we have a great opportunity for you!
At Southwark Council, we believe housing and mental health cannot be considered separately. A safe and secure home is fundamental to wellbeing, recovery and independence. This is an opportunity to use your social work expertise and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) experience to create meaningful change. You will help shape how services respond to residents with complex mental health needs, ensuring people receive coordinated support that prevents crisis, protects tenancies and achieves sustainable housing outcomes.
Working across one of London’s most diverse and dynamic boroughs, you will influence practice, strengthen partnerships and help deliver better outcomes for residents. This is a role where your decisions will have a direct impact - helping people maintain their homes, avoid crisis, and move towards greater independence.
What You'll Be Doing
- Act as a key professional link between housing and mental health services, bringing together expertise, resources and support to achieve positive outcomes for residents.
- Lead coordinated responses across housing, Adult Social Care, NHS mental health services and voluntary sector partners to support residents with complex needs.
- Work with residents experiencing mental health challenges where housing stability, safeguarding and risk management require a joined-up approach.
- Support key points in a resident’s journey, including hospital discharge, crisis intervention, tenancy breakdown and homelessness prevention.
- Apply your social work expertise to ensure housing decisions are person-centred, trauma-informed, legally robust and focused on recovery and independence.
- Undertake statutory responsibilities associated with your AMHP status, including Mental Health Act assessments and related decision-making.
- Use professional judgement when balancing risk, safeguarding, capacity and individual rights.
- Develop practical housing solutions that enable residents to access and sustain safe accommodation.
- Identify risks early and intervene proactively to prevent homelessness.
- Work creatively with partners to overcome barriers, secure appropriate housing options and reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.
- Provide specialist advice and guidance to colleagues on mental health, safeguarding, statutory responsibilities and effective practice.
- Contribute to improving pathways between housing, health and social care services.
This role offers genuine professional autonomy. You will not simply manage cases - you will influence systems, strengthen partnerships and help shape how services work together for residents.
What We're Looking For
We are looking for a qualified Social Worker with current professional registration and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) status who is passionate about improving outcomes for residents with complex mental health needs. You will bring:
- Experience supporting people with complex mental health needs, safeguarding concerns, risk and housing-related challenges.
- The confidence to make sound professional decisions in complex and high-pressure situations.
- A strong understanding of homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment, and housing pathways.
- The ability to identify risks early and take effective action to prevent housing instability.
- Experience developing practical, outcome-focused plans that help people secure and maintain accommodation.
- Strong partnership-working skills, with the ability to influence others and bring services together around shared goals.
- A creative, solution-focused approach and the determination to find positive outcomes in challenging circumstances.
You will be someone who understands that housing is more than a service - it is a foundation for recovery, independence, and wellbeing. You will combine professional expertise with compassion, resilience, and a commitment to making a lasting difference.
For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.
Contact Information:
To arrange an informal discussion about the role, please contact our dedicating Housing Needs inbox via email at HNASapplications@southwark.gov.uk
Additional Information
Working hours: 36 hours per week
Location: 25 Bournemouth Road, Peckham, London, SE15 4UJ
Type of contract: Permanent
Benefits and more information: https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/
Recruitment Timeline:
Advert close date: 11:59pm on Friday 14th August 2026
Shortlisting date/s: 17th - 19th August 2026
Interview date/s: Week commencing 7th September 2026
The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme: As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition
Mental Health and Housing Coordination Officer employer: Southwark Careers
Southwark Council is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the community, particularly for those facing complex mental health challenges. With a strong focus on professional development, a collaborative work culture, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion, employees are empowered to influence positive change while enjoying a supportive environment. Located in one of London's most vibrant boroughs, this role offers the unique opportunity to work at the intersection of housing and mental health, ensuring that every resident receives the tailored support they need to thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Mental Health and Housing Coordination Officer
✨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 Southwark Careers.
✨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 Southwark Careers!
✨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 Southwark Careers, 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 Southwark Careers 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 and Housing Coordination Officer
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 Southwark Careers:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Southwark Careers! 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 Southwark Careers
✨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.
