At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals experiencing homelessness with complex needs to transition into sustainable accommodation.
- Company: Join St Mungo's, a leading charity dedicated to ending homelessness.
- Benefits: Flexible working, 28 days annual leave, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with strong career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Passion for helping others and good communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
Are you a creative person looking for a role where you can make a lasting difference to people experiencing homelessness in Oxford? This post is offered as a 12 month fixed term contract until 11 October 2027, or secondment for internal staff (maternity cover). We are looking for a Complex Caseworker to join our Rough Sleeper team in Oxford who provide intensive support to people with complex needs experiencing homelessness. This passionate team offer person centred support services to help people who require a specialist intervention approach to support them through the transition from rough sleeping into sustainable accommodation.
In this role you will work collaboratively with the Rough Sleeper Navigator Coordinator and Outreach team as well as relevant partner agencies in Oxford to deliver sustainable outcomes to clients. You will advocate for clients who have been some of the most marginalised in the local area, to make a real and long lasting difference to their recovery. You will be responsible for overseeing a caseload of clients and providing day to day support to clients with their transition from the streets into accommodation and independent living with a strong focus on tenancy sustainment and rescue. This includes working with people on health, housing, employment and training support. You will be given support to build strong relationships with a range of other services to find creative and sustainable routes to recovery for clients.
Your typical working hours will be Monday – Friday, with flexibility to work outside of these hours at times to support the team through SWEP.
About you
Above all we are looking for people who share our values; who are passionate about supporting our clients to sustain their recovery. Even if you don’t think you match 100% of the criteria, we would still like to hear from you as we value transferable skills. Potential can be equally as important as experience, so if you think you have what it takes, please do apply! If you have good communication skills, with the ability to network and build effective relationships with a variety of people, you should have a good working understanding of supporting vulnerable individuals with complex needs, such as substance use, mental and physical health issues, and the ability to understand the difficulties they experience in accessing services that fully meet their needs. We will provide you with support, supervision and training so that you can develop the necessary skills to offer a high quality service to clients.
St Mungo's are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We strongly encourage applications from all under-represented groups.
How to apply
To view the job description and guidance on completing your application form, please click on the ‘document’ tab on the advert page on our website. When you're ready to apply click the ‘Apply Now’ button to start your online application form. Closing date: 10am on 23 September 2026. Interview and assessments on 6-9 October 2026. Please note: This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must have existing and ongoing right to work in the UK for the duration of employment. Successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
About Us
Our purpose is to end homelessness and rebuild lives. It drives everything that we do. For the past 55 years, we have been on the ground every day and every night, supporting people to recover from homelessness and advocating for change. We support around 28,000 people each year and our work means that more than 2,700 people have somewhere safe to stay each night.
What We Offer
We are working hard to create a diverse and fully inclusive culture where all colleagues feel valued, and we welcome applications from all under-represented groups. We believe that equity, diversity and inclusion improves the health, wellbeing and development of our colleagues and helps to ensure everyone feels valued. We know that when diversity, inclusion and wellbeing are prioritised, we are happier, healthier and can ultimately achieve better outcomes for our clients.
- A growing number of diversity networks including LGBTQ+, Women's Action, Lived Experience and Anti-Racist networks.
- Increasing visibility by ensuring that all interview panels across the organisation are diversely represented to ensure fair and balanced decision making during the recruitment process.
- A safe and supportive working environment championing positive action via various internal schemes such as upward mentoring and a Steps into Management programme.
- Mandatory Diversity & Inclusion training for all staff, unconscious bias training for managers, and a range of other courses such as Trans awareness and Autism Awareness.
- In recognition of the importance of transparency, we publish our employee diversity statistics and pay gap reports on our website.
We offer a comprehensive package of benefits to our colleagues to ensure wellbeing remains a key priority. Maintaining a good work life balance can be tricky, but with family friendly policies, flexible and agile working options and an incremental annual leave allowance, we are committed to making sure you have the options available as and when you need them. These include:
- Agile working model for suitable roles.
- Supportive flexitime and toil arrangements.
- 28 days annual leave rising to 31 after five years’ service.
- Family friendly leave policies including maternity, adoption and parental leave.
- Carers leave, and fertility treatment leave.
- Financial wellbeing platform offering loans, advances and saving options.
- Auto-enrolment to pension scheme after six months service with an employer contribution of 6%.
- Employee Assistance Programme and access to SmartHealth app – 24/7 GP appointments, health checks and nutrition advice.
- Cycle to Work scheme and interest free season ticket loans.
- Discount vouchers including gym, retail, food & drink, travel, electricals and more.
Want to find out more? Click here to visit our Work For Us page.
At St Mungo’s we are committed to providing development opportunities for all our colleagues. We welcome people with a wide range of experiences and value transferable skills so that we can provide the best support for people experiencing homelessness. That’s why we have a robust induction, training and development programme that supports colleagues throughout their career at St Mungo’s. These include:
- Highly praised internal training courses and access to external learning to build your skills and meet your professional development goals.
- Steps into Management programme to support colleague progression.
- Commitment to continued professional development with access to career development forums, internal mentoring and internal secondment opportunities.
A DBS disclosure check is a requirement for this post and will be undertaken for the successful candidate. Please be advised that all appointments will be made on St Mungo’s current standard Terms and Conditions (T&Cs); this also applies to any internal candidates.
Complex Needs Caseworker in Oxford employer: St Mungo's
St Mungo's is an exceptional employer dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness. With a strong focus on employee development, we offer comprehensive training and supervision, fostering a collaborative work culture that empowers our staff to create meaningful change in the community. Located in Reading, our team enjoys a supportive environment where every contribution is valued, and opportunities for growth are abundant.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Complex Needs Caseworker in Oxford
✨Get Involved in Local Community Projects
One of the best ways to land a temporary role in social work is to dive headfirst into local community projects. Volunteer your time or skills at local charities or community centres to not only gain experience but also to connect with professionals in the field. They might just have some insider knowledge on temporary positions that pop up!
✨Engage with Social Work Networks
Join online forums and social media groups specifically for social workers. Platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn have dedicated groups where professionals share temporary job opportunities. Being an active member can help you stay in the loop and even get recommendations from those already in the field.
✨Attend Workshops and Seminars
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences related to social work in your area. These events aren't just great for learning; they're also hotbeds for networking! You never know who might be hiring or can point you towards a temporary position while you're soaking up new skills.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website!
When you spot a role that piques your interest, especially for a temporary position, make sure to apply directly through our website! This not only shows your commitment to St Mungo's, but also gives you an edge by putting your application right in front of the hiring team. Let’s get you moving on that path to your next opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Complex Needs Caseworker in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let's highlight why you're passionate about social work and how your values align with those of St Mungo's. Share specific experiences where you made a difference, as this field thrives on genuine motivation and connection.
Demonstrate Relevant Experience:When listing your experience, focus on any internships, volunteer roles, or temporary positions you've had in social work or related fields. Those skills are gold! Think about situations where you helped individuals or communities, and don't forget to mention any relevant certifications, like safeguarding or mental health first aid.
Keep It Concise and Relevant:Remember, for a temporary role, hiring managers want to see how you fit in and can hit the ground running. Keep your CV clear and to the point, showcasing only the experience that really matters for the role at St Mungo's. We recommend a two-page limit – make every word count!
Emphasise Flexibility and Adaptability:Considering this is a temporary position, it's vital to show you can adapt to new environments quickly. In your application, highlight any past experiences where you had to adjust to different teams or roles smoothly. This shows you understand the nature of temporary work and are ready for the challenge!
How to prepare for a job interview at St Mungo's
✨Sharpen Your Empathy Skills
In social work, it's all about understanding and connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. Make sure to prepare some examples from your experience where you've demonstrated empathy and resilience. Practising active listening techniques can help you articulate your approach during the interview with St Mungo's.
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with key social work theories and frameworks, like the ecological systems theory or person-centred approaches. These concepts might pop up during your interview for the temporary Complex Needs Caseworker role at St Mungo's, so it's good to have a couple of insights ready to share.
✨Highlight Flexibility and Adaptability
Since this is a temporary position, showcasing your flexibility is key. Be prepared to discuss past experiences where you quickly adapted to new environments or changing client needs, which is crucial in the dynamic world of social work.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions that test your decision-making skills and ethical judgement. Think about how you would handle specific challenges you might face in the field. Having a clear structure for your answers will show St Mungo's that you can think critically and act effectively under pressure.
