Floating Support Practical Skills Worker

Harpsouthend; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading charity in Southend-on-Sea seeks a Floating Support Practical Skills Worker to assist residents in setting up homes and teaching independent living skills. The role involves supporting individuals as they transition into their new living spaces, collaborating with landlords, and addressing any tenancy issues. Applicants should have experience in support roles, a strong understanding of safeguarding, and the ability to teach practical skills. This position offers a chance to make a significant impact on people's lives.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting vulnerable people with a strong understanding of safeguarding.
• Knowledge of homelessness and basic repairs/furniture assembly.
• Practical, organised, and solutions-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Help residents set up their new homes and ensure properties are move-in ready.
• Provide hands-on support during move-in and help residents settle into their tenancy.
• Teach practical independent living skills like cleaning routines and basic home maintenance.
• Work closely with landlords and professionals to ensure stable tenancies.
• Support early tenancy sustainment by spotting issues before escalation.
• Build trust and empower people through trauma-informed practice.

Skills

Experience supporting vulnerable people

Problem-solving skills

Understanding of safeguarding

Knowledge of homelessness

Practical and organised

Confident teaching basic household skills

Patient and empathetic

Good at building rapport

Comfortable working independently

Motivated by helping people

Job description

Floating Support Practical Skills Worker

Salary: £27,054 rising incrementally to Point 16, £29,357 per annum

Contract type: 12 month fixed term contract

Apply by: 13/01/2026

See all benefits:

Are you passionate about supporting people out of homelessness?

We are looking for people who bring a range of skills to the organisation to help us meet our mission.

HARP is Southend-on-Sea’s leading homelessness charity and every year we work with around 1,000 local people to help them overcome or avoid homelessness.

It is an exciting time to be joining HARP. The organisation has undergone significant change and growth over the past twelve months and we have ambitious plans for the future which will continue to transform lives.

About The Role

Ref: FSPSW1

Applicants for this role must be available for interview on 23/01/2026.

As a Floating Support Practical Skills Worker, you will:

• Help residents set up their new homes – assembling furniture, installing essentials, carrying out safety checks, and ensuring properties are move‑in ready.
• Provide hands‑on support during move‑in – helping residents move belongings and settle confidently into their tenancy.
• Teach practical independent living skills – from meter readings and cleaning routines to organising belongings and basic home maintenance.
• Work closely with landlords and other professionals to ensure tenancies start strong and stay stable.
• Support early tenancy sustainment – spotting issues before they escal es and preventing unnecessary breakdowns.
• Build trust and empower people through trauma‑informed, strengths‑based practice.

We’re looking for someone who has/is:

• Experience supporting vulnerable people, good problem‑solving skills, and a strong understanding of safeguarding
• Knowledge of homelessness, PRS housing, and basic repairs/furniture assembly.
• Practical, organised and solutions‑focused
• Confident teaching basic household skills
• Patient, empathetic, and good at building rapport
• Comfortable working independently in the community
• Motivated by helping people achieve independence

At HARP, we are committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered. We believe that equity is essential to creating an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, socioeconomic background, or other characteristics, have access to equal opportunities for employment, advancement, and success.

We are dedicated to ensuring that our hiring, promotion, and compensation practices are fair, transparent, and free from bias. We actively seek to identify and eliminate barriers to employment and professional growth for underrepresented groups, and we embrace diverse perspectives as a source of strength, innovation, and growth.

By embedding equity in our workplace, we aim to create a culture where differences are not just respected but celebrated, and where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their full potential. We believe that when everyone has an equal chance to succeed, we all benefit.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please fill out the application form below. You’ll need to confirm your right to work, fill out your contact details, attach your CV and Covering letter and fill our a short equality, diversity and inclusion questionnaire. You can save and resume your application at any time.

Job application form

• Right to work
• Data protection
• CV and covering letter
• Equality, diversity and inclusion

Right to work and processing your application

The following individuals do not need a visa for the UK, but do still have to prove their right to work before employment can commence: British Citizens (but not a British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) or British Protected Person); EU/EEA/Swiss nationals resident in the UK by or before 31 December 2020, holding status via the EU Settlement Scheme; Non‑EEA nationals with Indefinite Leave to Remain/Settlement in the UK. You will need to produce documents from List A in order to provide evidence of your right to work before you can be employed.

Are you currently eligible to work in the United Kingdom? *

Yes