Senior Night Project Worker – Night Shelter The Society of St James in Eastleigh

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.

The Impact You’ll Make

As a Senior Night Project Worker, you will lead the nightly operations of a specialised, high-support emergency shelter that provides a trauma-informed sanctuary for those rough sleeping in Southampton. You will be the point of escalation during the night, ensuring the safety of both service users and staff while facilitating critical pathways into long-term housing. By managing nightly intake, conducting comprehensive risk assessments, and coordinating with the Operational Security Team, you ensure the service remains a safe, welcoming, and effective intervention for those most in need. Your leadership directly impacts the quality of support provided during a vulnerable person’s first steps away from the streets.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking a resilient and experienced leader who can foster a culture of support and development within our night team. You should be someone who thrives in high-pressure environments, capable of making difficult management decisions independently while maintaining a compassionate, psychologically-informed approach. As this is a senior role, we need someone who can role‑model professional boundaries and “one team” values at all times. You will be comfortable providing day‑to‑day coaching and supervision to staff and volunteers, ensuring everyone is clear on their responsibilities and empowered to deliver a high standard of service.

Essential Qualities and Skills

• Professional Experience: Proven experience or a deep understanding of supporting individuals with complex needs, including homelessness, mental health challenges, and substance misuse.
• Leadership & Supervision: Proven ability to supervise and support staff and volunteers, including identifying training needs and managing performance.
• Operational Management: Experience in triage, trauma-informed risk assessments, and managing room allocations to ensure site compatibility.
• Safety & Safeguarding: Experience as a lead for safeguarding and health and safety, including leading fire evacuations and conducting regular safety audits.
• Communication & IT: Ability to communicate complex information clearly to stakeholders and be able to manage data in line with GDPR/Data Protection policies.
• Knowledge Base: A strong understanding of modern psycho-social interventions (ACT, CBT, Mindfulness), the Welfare Benefits System, and housing management processes like Licence Agreements.
• Financial Awareness: An understanding of budget management and the ability to authorise appropriate expenditure in line with organisational procedures.

What We Can Offer You

• A competitive annual leave entitlement of 25 days rising to 30 days, plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and wellbeing services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Company cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme

To apply, please send your CV & cover letter explaining why you would be suitable for the position. SSJ is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.