Specialist Support Worker
| Posting date: | 09 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £29,554.50 per year |
| Additional salary information: | DBS |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 08 January 2026 |
| Location: | Ealing, London, W13 9DE |
| Company: | Look Ahead Care, Support and Housing Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | REQ006281_1765278570 |
Summary
We're looking for 3 kind, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Workers to join our Mental Health Service in Ealing.
£29,554.50 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all.
Our benefits include:
Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
Oaklands & St Kilda's is made up of two newly refurbished six-bedroom homes, located close to each other in Ealing, West London. We work with up to 12 young people at a time, providing a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. Many of the young people joining us are moving on from hospital, stepping down from more intensive placements, or transitioning from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services to Adult services.
If you have a genuine interest in the mental health needs of young people and want to play an active role in supporting their recovery, this could be the perfect role for you.
The Specialist Support Worker role involves early shifts (8:00-16:00) and late shifts (14:00-22:00) throughout the week, including some weekends each month.
What you'll do:
Carry out holistic assessments that incorporate relevant statutory referral information.
Conduct regular keywork sessions that are innovative and engaging, aimed at achieving Support Plan goals.
Ensure the ongoing assessment and management of risks, promoting an attitude of positive risk taking.
Support young people to access relevant services and empower them to self-manage their medication through informed consent and decision making.
Adhere to lone working protocols and maintain high levels of awareness regarding the health and safety of yourself and colleagues.
Ensure that Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are adhered to at all times (e.g. fire risk assessments, fire alarm checks, etc.).
Lead groups and activities, offering a range of appropriate therapeutic and recovery-focused interactions.
Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader or Manager.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
What you'll bring:
Ability to advocate for young people in a range of professional and community settings.
Demonstrates cultural awareness and respects the many different ways a person might make sense of their experiences and distress, especially when influenced by trauma.
Appreciates and contributes to a psychologically informed environment, recognising how surroundings, relationships and approaches can support recovery.
Encourages and supports involvement in local community activities.
Recognises the value of both one-to-one work with young people and the importance of working as part of a group or team.
Confident in using IT systems, including SharePoint and Microsoft Office suite.
Able to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours, maintaining a trauma-informed and psychologically aware approach.
Essential:
Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent, or experience supporting young people or individuals experiencing mental health challenges.
Specialist knowledge relevant to supporting young people with a mental health diagnosis.
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.