About the Role

We are looking for a passionate and motivated Housing Support Officer to join our Rough Sleeping Initiative Team

As a Housing Support Officer RSI you will provide intensive, trauma-informed, person-centred support to individuals with high and complex needs who are living in temporary, supported or independent accommodation.

You will be responsible for helping people sustain their accommodation, improve their health, wellbeing and independence, and reduce the risk of repeat homelessness. You will provide tailored support and advocacy and will work with partners to help people overcome barriers to sustain stable accommodation.

This is a full-time position working 34 hours per week on a permanent contract. The role is predominantly working with people in their homes across the Borough of Swale but may involve some travel to neighbouring authorities such as Medway.

About Swale Borough Council

Swale Borough Council is a progressive and ambitious Local Authority, located less than an hour from Central London in an attractive and diverse part of Kent involving urban, rural, and coastal areas. We believe that staff are our most valuable asset and we’re committed to attracting and retaining the very best. In recent times we have adapted and evolved to meet the current world by introducing a highly flexible hybrid working policy, along with a 34-hour week, recognising that staff wellbeing and work life balance is high on our agenda.

Our Offer

A range of benefits including:

34 hour full time working week with the offices closing at 1:30pm on Friday
Highly flexible hybrid working opportunities
7am to 7pm flexi time to suit personal circumstances for most role
Generous holiday entitlement which increases after 5 years LG service plus bank holidays with the option to buy additional leave.
Additional 3 days leave given to enable a close down of the offices between Christmas and New year.
Free parking
Range of flexible working opportunities to accommodate people’s home/work life balance including compressed hours, 9-day fortnight, part time.
Invitations to staff events to celebrate success and support wellbeing that include holistic therapies and outdoor activities
Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential & independent information and access to counsellors
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with valuable life cover and financial protection for your family.
Life Assurance – three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand-new car. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.
Annual flu vaccine
Cycle to work scheme
Staff benefits discounts on leisure, eating out, holidays and shopping
Excellent learning and career opportunities for committed individuals
A professional fee payment, if required for the role

About You

You will have experience of supporting vulnerable individuals with complex needs, ideally within a homelessness, supported housing, housing management, social care, mental health, substance misuse or a related support environment setting.

You will be passionate about helping people to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes and be able to build trusting relationships with individuals who may have experienced trauma, homelessness, social exclusion or multiple disadvantage.

You will be resilient, adaptable, and confident working independently in the community, engaging with people in a variety of settings and providing person-centred, trauma-informed support that promotes wellbeing, and independence.

The role is predominantly community-based and may involve some working outside normal office hours.

A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is essential due to the nature of the role and the requirement to travel across the Borough.

Selection Process

Following the submission of your application form, it will be reviewed by the recruiting manager. Those that are successful in securing an interview can expect job specific interview assessment, followed by an interview.

Swale Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employee and volunteers to share this commitment.

The Council considers that the successful applicant will have access to young people and/or vulnerable adults and it is a requirement under The Rehabilitation of Oﬀenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 that you hold an enhanced disclosure and barring scheme check. Upon successful appointment, you will be required to provide evidence of an enhanced DBS check if you subscribe to the DBS Update Service or complete the process to obtain a DBS check.

If you would like to discuss this position, please contact, SUE DAVIS, rough Sleeper & Prevention Manager on 01795 417621 or 07768 535924

Interview Date: Monday 24 August 2026