Job Description

Specialist Support Worker

=============================

Vacancy Reference peabodygroup/TP/1171/324

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Fixed Term Contract Full Time

Contract Details:

Monday to Friday | 37.5 hours per week | with some occasional evenings.

Salary:

27,765

Working Hours:

37.5

Location:

Colchester

Closing Date:

10/09/2025

Vacancy Category:

Supported Housing

Service Area:

C & S Commissioned Contracts

Directorate:

Care & Support, Inclusion & Communities

Our Vacancy

---------------

Specialist Support Worker (12 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Some days you'll be meeting someone who's just taken the first step off the streets.



Other days, you'll be helping them figure out how to keep a roof over their head for good.


At Peabody, we work with people who've experienced rough sleeping, unstable housing, and all the barriers that come with it -- mental health struggles, substance use, broken trust in services. Your role is to walk alongside them as they rebuild.


It's not easy. You'll be on your own around 80% of the week, making decisions in the moment, helping to calm situations before they boil over. You'll need resilience and patience, but also the belief that people can and do change when they've got the right support.


You'll know the local services, who to call, what's available, and how to get someone through the door. You'll connect them to healthcare, treatment, and community networks. Most of all, you'll help them believe they can manage on their own.


If you've worked in housing or supported adults with complex needs before, you'll already know the kind of challenges you'll face, and the satisfaction of seeing someone make progress, however small.

In summary to be shortlisted, you must have:

Evidence of housing background or working with adults who have complex needs (mental health, substance use, or similar). Confidence working independently, including lone working in the community An understanding of the causes of homelessness and how to prevent it. With demonstrable knowledge of housing law, homelessness prevention, and tenancy sustainment. Evidence of experience working with external agencies, ideally in housing, social care, or health services Evidence of confident and empathetic communication skills, able to engage people in crisis or who are hard to reach. Evidence of IT literacy, effective time management, and well-developed organisational skills

Why Join Us?

When you join Peabody, you're joining a team guided by our values -

Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Love New Ideas, Celebrate Diversity, Keep Our Promises, and Pull Together

. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels supported, included, and empowered.


We offer:

25 days' annual leave plus bank holidays Flexible benefits package - including healthcare, dental, and lifestyle discounts. 4x life assurance. Ongoing training and development, including qualifications and apprenticeships. Two additional paid volunteering days each year. Up to 10% matched pension contribution.

Working Hours

You will need to be able to work outside of normal office hours when required, whilst this post is predominantly 9AM to 5PM Monday to Friday, there may be occasions where there is a requirement to work outside of these hours to ensure support can be delivered, for example where a person being supported is in employment and only available outside of these hours.


If this sounds like the kind of work you want to do, the kind that matters we'd love to hear from you. Please

apply now and submit

an

anonymised CV

and share a brief statement about why you're the perfect fit for this role.


If you need to ask us anything else at all, feel free to drop an email to Talent Specialist Julie-Ann.O'Malley@peabody.org.uk

Interviews will be conducted via Teams on 16 September.

Peabody does not offer visa sponsorship - you must have the right to work in the UK

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.