Lead Practitioner

Turning Point Scotland; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading homelessness service provider in the UK is looking for a Lead Practitioner to enhance their Housing First service. The role focuses on supporting people with complex needs in securing and sustaining permanent housing. Candidates should have experience in direct support for individuals facing challenges like mental health and substance use. The position offers extensive training, career development, and a supportive work environment, emphasizing a person-centered approach and collaboration with partner agencies.

Benefits

Salary Matching within pay points

123 Learning and development courses

Pension Scheme with employer contribution 4%

35 holiday/public holidays days' per year

Qualifications

• Experience working directly with individuals with complex needs.
• IT skills are required for all vacancies.
• Ability to lead and support colleagues in practice.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality, person-centered support to clients.
• Lead by example and model trauma-informed, strengths-based practice.
• Support customers in sustaining their permanent accommodation.
• Provide guidance to colleagues and work with partner agencies.
• Champion harm reduction and positive risk-taking.

Skills

Experience with complex needs

Hands-on support

Calm and non-judgmental approach

Understanding of safeguarding

Job description

Service: Dumfries and Galloway Housing First

Hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

We are hiring! - Work with Us

Turning Point Scotland is the biggest provider of services to people experiencing or at risk of Homelessness across Scotland, delivering support to around 2000 individuals on any given day, 4500 per year.

We believe that in many cases, Homelessness is entirely preventable. Where Homelessness is not or cannot be, prevented the experience should be brief and non-recurring.

Around two thirds of our work is with people who are experiencing Homelessness.

We believe a menu of options should be available to individuals to prevent, or support someone to move on from Homelessness. This ensures we use a ‘no wrong door’ approach to accessing service and behind this door, people should be met with a ‘Whole System Approach’ to support.

We’re looking for a Lead Practitioner to join our frontline Housing First service, supporting people with multiple and complex needs to move straight into a permanent home — without having to prove they’re “ready”.

Housing First is about starting with housing, then wrapping flexible, long-term support around the person to help them sustain their tenancy and work through challenges such as mental health needs, substance use, and involvement with the criminal justice system.

The Role

• Deliver high-quality, person-centred frontline support
• Lead by example and model trauma-informed, strengths-based practice
• Support customers to move into and sustain permanent accommodation
• Provide guidance and practice support to colleagues
• Work closely with partner agencies across housing, health, substance misuse, and criminal justice
• Champion harm reduction, choice, and positive risk-taking

About You

• Experienced in working with people with complex needs
• Confident supporting others while remaining hands-on
• Calm, non-judgemental, and values-driven
• Understanding of safeguarding and multi‑agency working

Our Housing First Approach

• Choice and control for the individual
• Individualised support for as long as needed
• Harm reduction and community integration

Please note that IT skills are required for all our vacancies.

Turning Point Scotland offers a Salary Matching within the pay points of the role.

Where applicable, successful candidates will be required to register with the SSSC within 6 months of start date.

We value lived experience, please read more about our views.

Turning Point Scotland has Platinum accreditation in Investors in People. Our staff are our most important asset, therefore we offer extensive training and impressive personal and career‑focused development opportunities. You could be part of an organisation that not only offers excellent careers but makes a real difference to thousands of People’s lives and achieve your own personal fulfilment.

• 123 Learning and development courses
• 29 eLearning courses
• Funded qualification – SVQ Social Services and Healthcare, work based assessment
• Your Career Pathway, we promote from within and advertise internally all jobs
• Pension Scheme, employer contribution 4%
• Wide range of family friendly policies
• 35 holiday/public holidays days' per year.

Does this position require a valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle? Yes

Does the post include personal care? No

Does the post include cooking and housekeeping skills? No

Will the service users be involved in this process? No

Interview Date 29 January 2026

If you would like to chat about any aspect of the role, please call our Recruitment & Engagement Team on 0808 1643100.