Housing Support Specialist

Description

Location:  Office base in Brighton
Salary:      £28,640 per year (37 hours per week)
Hours:       30-37 per week The working pattern is Monday - Friday 9 am- 5 pm (4.30 pm Fridays)

What you’ll be doing: 

Are you interested in a career in housing support and want to make a difference to people experiencing homelessness in Brighton & Hove? 
Southdown’s Rapid Rehousing Service provides low level support to people with experience of rough sleeping or homelessness to enable them to recover and take steps away from homelessness. The project works alongside Brighton & Hove City Council’s Temporary Accommodation team who provide accommodation. 
As a Housing Support Specialist you’ll support people who have experienced the trauma of homelessness, to make positive and lasting changes in their lives. You’ll provide flexible, trauma-informed support, focusing on supporting individuals to successfully sustain their tenancies in the project and preventing a return to homelessness. You will work with individuals to develop independent living skills and successfully move on from the project by accessing appropriate longer-term accommodation options. 

You’ll provide tailored support, identifying the support each person needs. This may include support with alcohol and substance dependency, mental and physical health needs, domestic abuse, current or historical offending. 

You will manage your own caseload across Brighton & Hove and the surrounding area, and support will be delivered either in the community or in people’s homes. You will be working as part of a small team with an office base in central Brighton.  We welcome applications from candidates with previous experience in roles such as Support Worker, Outreach Worker, Key Worker, Community Specialist, Case Manager, Social Worker, Housing Support Worker, Social Care Prescriber, Community Health Worker, Community Outreach Coordinator or Care Coordinator. However, this is not essential and we will provide a full induction and training programme for all successful candidates.

Perks and benefits:

You’ll be joining one of the largest providers of care, support and housing services in Sussex, which we’re proud to say we’ve been doing for over 50 years!  In exchange we can offer some great benefits, including:

Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover. 

Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car. 

Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets. 

Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.  

Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service. 

25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays. 

Travel expenses in work will be paid.

Skills, knowledge and experience

What you need for the role:  

A personalised care approach, with empathy and understanding

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by Southdown 
 What would be nice:  

Knowledge of complex and diverse support needs relating to homelessness, mental health and substance misuse

Awareness of the causes of homelessness and the barriers preventing people who are homeless from engaging in services

Experience working in a supported housing or homelessness setting

Experience supporting individuals with complex mental health needs 

Training: 

You’ll receive a comprehensive induction followed up with regular training from our award-winning in-house team.  We’ll help you to gain valuable experience, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.
 
How to apply:

Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and fill out our simple one-page application form. 
 
The closing date for applications is 22 April 2026.  Interviews will be held on 29 April 2026.

Please note, if we receive a large number of applications then this position may close before the advertised application closing date. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible