Support Worker

Spires was established as a response to homelessness in the late 1980s. Spires has developed into an organization that provides a range of services, including day centre style drop-ins for homeless people, a Women’s drop in, a Refugee drop in and outreach targeted at supporting Women who are sex working. Our core mission is to support homeless people into housing and to assist those who have been homeless in maintaining their accommodation.

Part 1: The Role

This role sits within our Housing and Homelessness [H&H] team. The post holder will support with the running of our drop-ins and support a caseload of clients who will be homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Part 2: Key duties and responsibilities

• Service Delivery & Support

• Welcome and engage service users in a non-judgemental, compassionate manner.
• Provide basic needs support such as food, clothing, and access to a safe space.
• Offer advice, advocacy, and signposting on housing, health services, and other support agencies.
• Conduct assessments of need and develop personalised support plans.

• Maintain accurate, confidential records of interactions and support plans.
• Liaise with housing teams, healthcare providers, social services, and other partners to coordinate support.
• Monitor individuals’ progress and update plans as required.
• Assist with daily tasks such as setting up service areas, distributing supplies, and managing donations.
• Ensure safeguarding procedures and organisational policies are always followed.

• Identify signs of crisis, risk, or safeguarding concerns and respond appropriately.
• Support individuals experiencing emotional distress, mental health issues, or substance misuse challenges.

• Be proactive in reviewing and evaluating own performance and identifying and acting upon areas for improvement and development.
• Undertake other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by more senior members of staff, including session cover.
• Attend and participate in staff and team meetings and other meetings as required.

This job description covers the current range of duties and will be reviewed from time to time. It is Spire’s aim to reach agreement on changes, but if an agreement is not possible, Spires’ reserves the right to change this job description.

Part 3: Person specification

• Working with vulnerable and socially excluded people, particularly people experiencing homelessness or insecure accommodation and associated culture – drugs, alcohol, violence, mental and physical ill-health.
• Managing a caseload, needs assessment, planned support, key working, goal setting and advocacy.
• Experience of challenging appropriately and maintaining clear and appropriate boundaries.
• Networking and effectively liaising with specialist service providers or agencies to establish and/or improve access to services for clients.
• Working with volunteers.
• Working in the charity sector and/or a day centre environment.

Essential knowledge

• Sound understanding of the issues faced by homeless or vulnerably housed people and the difficulties they experience in accessing services that are fully responsive to their needs.
• Good understanding of safeguarding practices in a social care and/or day centre environment.
• Good understanding of confidentiality and working with sensitive information.
• Working knowledge of health and social care services.

Desirable knowledge

• A relevant NVQ2/3 or equivalent qualification in a relevant field.

Essential skills and personal qualities

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills.
• Information and relationship management skills.
• Ability to effectively manage time, work under pressure and balance competing priorities to meet deadlines.
• IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and databases.
• Non-judgemental with the ability to empathise.

Part 4: Summary of terms and conditions of service

• Location: The postholder will be an employee of The Spires Centre. This post is based at Elmfield House 5 Stockwell Mews SW9 9GX, and will work across Spires’ drop-ins in Lambeth, Wandsworth and Croydon.
• Probation: This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period.
• Notice: This post is subject to a four-week notice period.
• Annual leave: The annual leave entitlement is 35 days per year pro rata, made up of eight bank and public holidays and 27 days annual leave. The 27 days annual leave is normally split between 24 ‘bookable’ days and three closure days that fall between Christmas and the New Year. Although the centre is closed between Christmas and the New Year.
• Pension: The Spires Centre will contribute 5% of annual salary for those who qualify for our group pension plan.
• Other benefits: The Spires Centre will provide life and income protection insurance for those who qualify for our group plans. We operate a staff loan scheme.
• Expenses: The role may require travel within the UK. Out-of-pocket expenses will be paid when incurred in accordance with our expenses policy.
• Safeguarding: The postholder will adhere to The Spires Centre’s safeguarding policy for vulnerable adults. This post is also subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service check.