Waking Night Support Worker

About the role

This is a waking night role within the Housing & Outreach Support Team (HOST), based at a newly refurbished supported accommodation project in central Maidenhead. The service accommodates up to 20 care leavers who require step-down provision before moving into more permanent housing.

You will be the first point of contact for residents during the night, providing a friendly and warm welcome whilst maintaining the safety and security of the building. The Maidenhead project is a new service, operational from October 2026, expanding a model already well established in Kingston. This is a 12-month fixed-term, part-time post of 30 hours per week. The salary advertised is the full-time equivalent and will be pro rata'd for part-time hours.

Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring the safety of young people and the security of the building throughout the night
• Providing emotional support and a compassionate ear to residents
• Carrying out reception duties, including taking telephone calls, handling mail, taking rent payments, and managing guests
• Dealing with noise complaints and reporting safeguarding concerns appropriately
• Acting as designated fire marshal and first aider, ensuring safety and evacuation processes are followed

To apply, submit your application via the Achieving for Children careers site. For an informal discussion about the role, contact Paul Coates, Housing & Outreach Support Team Manager, at paul.coates@achievingforchildren.org.uk.

About You

Achieving for Children is looking for housing professionals who have direct experience supporting vulnerable young people and understand the particular demands of working overnight in a supported accommodation setting. This role requires calm judgement, the ability to work independently, and a genuine commitment to helping care leavers build towards independent living.

The ideal candidate will:

• Have previous experience delivering services to vulnerable young people within a housing setting
• Hold GCSEs and a relevant professional qualification in working with children, young people, or supported housing
• Be able to assess risk and generate solutions to problems, including through effective mediation
• Be committed to the protection and safeguarding of young people, with the ability to identify and record safeguarding issues accurately
• Be able to work unsociable hours, including lone working
• Be able to carry out cleaning tasks and Health & Safety checks as required

Achieving for Children is committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences. Applications are particularly welcomed from sections of the community currently underrepresented within the team. AfC is proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointment is conditional upon a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK; guidance is available via the GOV.UK website.

Achieving for Children's Offer to You

Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company with a public sector ethos, owned by three local authorities: Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston, and Richmond. As a not-for-profit social enterprise, it combines the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government.

Staff have access to a positive, supportive environment with a comprehensive range of resources and a commitment to career development. Benefits include:

• 29 days annual leave, rising to 33 days after two years and 35 days after four years, plus an additional day off in your birthday month
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
• An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway
• A range of staff discounts and benefits
• And more