Support Worker – South East Prevention Team

Role: Support Worker – South East Prevention Team (South East London Prevention Team) (SELPS)

Salary £33,472 per annum

Contract: Fixed term until 15/01/2027

Hours: 37.5 per week

Location: Across South East London

Closing date: 12/07/2026

Interview date: 22/07/2026

Whatever your experience of street homelessness and its impact on people’s lives – personal or professional – when you join the Thames Reach team as a Support Worker we will make the best use of all your understanding, compassion and commitment

About us…

Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in and around London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track. We help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities.

Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 15,000 people.

Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There’s no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.

About this role…

We are looking for a Support Worker to join the South East Prevention Team.

Prevention services support vulnerable people by providing them with skills, housing advice, accommodation, and tenancy sustainment support. All these services to help people transition towards leading independent lives.

SELPS is a prevention service that works across South East London. The team carries out homelessness prevention work as early as possible for people at risk of rough sleeping.

The service is provided across day centres and other partner agencies - individuals are offered intensive casework to achieve access to sustainable accommodation.

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions.

You will:

• Deal with initial referral queries and suggest alternative options to partners where SELPS is not the appropriate service
• Build up a bank of knowledge about service options to assist partners
• Carry out initial triage assessments for all referrals
• Provide signposting and guidance for alternative options where cases are assessed as low risk of rough sleeping
• Hold a small caseload of clients with low support needs and/or where brief interventions can lead to homelessness prevention (e.g. negotiating for a longer stay with family / sofa surfing arrangement where safe to do so)
• Be the named contact for day-to-day liaison with partner outreach teams

You will have:

• A strong commitment to providing a high standard of service
• A good understanding of working with vulnerable adults and supporting them to access services
• Excellent organisation and time management skills in order to remain strongly outcome focused, with the ability to complete tasks promptly and efficiently
• Good communication skills and confidence in public speaking when representing Thames Reach externally
• Experience in working well within a team
• A mature and thoughtful approach to equal opportunities and diversity in service provision

We are listed in the top 100 UK Best Workplaces 2023 in the UK. As part of a commitment to our employees we offer:

• Generous holiday allowance – 29 days per year plus 8 public holidays (pro rata).
• Pension – we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%.
• Excellent development opportunities – career progression, regular supervision and appraisals, and learning programmes to support your career with Thames Reach.
• Wellbeing support – our 24/7 employee assistance programme and opportunities for TOIL.
• Life assurance – four times your annual salary and critical illness cover.
• Other benefits including a blue light discount card, interest free season ticket and cycle to work loans.

Thames Reach is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

To apply visit our website and complete our application form.

For further information please contact, Greg Davies, Lead Manager at

Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.