Waking Night Support Worker

Waking Night Support Worker

The Registry

Portsmouth Rough Sleeping Services

42 hours per week

8pm – 8am, 4 nights on and 4 nights off

Permanent

Pay point: 20 (£29,453 annum based on 42 hours per week) plus unsocial premium

About Us

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.

Join The Society of St James to work at The Registry—a high-support temporary accommodation hostel in Portsmouth—offering a wide range of support to people with histories of homelessness, substance and alcohol use, poor mental ill health, and other complex needs.

The Impact You'll Make

• Uphold Our Core Mission: Put into practice our core belief that every person is of worth, actively demonstrating a willingness to take risks to house and support the most vulnerable and socially excluded members of society.
• Facilitate Sustainable Move-Ons: Provide safe accommodation and work intensively with service users to help them overcome barriers to change and transition into suitable, long-term housing.
• Maintain Safety and Wellbeing: Oversee the smooth running of the service during overnight shifts (20:00 – 08:00), implementing risk management plans, carrying out health and safety checks, and upholding strict safeguarding protocols.
• Collaborate for Better Outcomes: Work in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies, including the PCC Housing Needs and Advice Support Team (HNAS) and Housing Management, to optimise client support.

Who We're Looking For

• A Compassionate and Mission-Driven Advocate: Someone who firmly believes in the worth of every individual and is committed to supporting socially excluded members of society.
• An Experienced and Knowledgeable Practitioner: An individual who brings existing experience and knowledge of the specific needs of vulnerable people with histories of homelessness, alcohol/substance dependency, and mental ill health.
• A Resilient Communicator: Someone who is open, approachable, honest, and capable of active listening to build trusting relationships with service users, colleagues, and external partners.
• An Initiative-Taker: A reliable team player who can use their own initiative to make sound decisions during overnight shifts, handle difficult situations calmly, and adhere to risk management plans.
• A Dedicated Overnight Support Worker: Someone ready to work a 42-hour per week, 4-on / 4-off waking night rota (20:00 – 08:00) while prioritising self-care in a high-support environment.

Essential Qualities and Skills

• Experience & Understanding of Complex Needs: Knowledge and practical experience regarding the interconnections of homelessness, mental ill health, and substance/alcohol dependency.
• Trauma-Informed & Risk Management: Familiarity with Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE), trauma-informed care, harm minimisation strategies, risk assessments, and managing challenging behaviours.
• Safeguarding & Safety Protocols: Sound knowledge of adult safeguarding, health and safety regulations, lone-working procedures, and maintaining data protection and confidentiality.
• Communication & IT Proficiency: Excellent interpersonal skills combined with standard literacy and IT abilities to effectively write emails, letters, case notes, and maintain client records.
• Equality & Diversity: A clear understanding of equality and diversity principles in relation to both staff members and service clients.
• Core Competencies Alignment: Ability to demonstrate SSJ core competencies, including personal accountability, constructive conflict resolution, and commitment to organisational values.

What we can offer you:

SSJ recognises that our staff are our greatest assets. We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

• 25 days pro-rata annual leave plus public holidays
• Flexible working options
• Buying additional annual leave
• Comprehensive induction and training
• Counselling, financial, personal support and health and well-being services via our Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted laptops and computers with Jamie’s Computers
• Electric Car Scheme
• Blue Light Card

SSJ are an equal opportunities employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website.

Closing Date: Sunday 16th August 2026

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.

Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.