New Leaf provides a “home from home” environment for young people aged 16-17 in Ofsted-regulated supported accommodation. Many of the young people we support have experienced trauma, neglect, abuse, exploitation, and/or homelessness risk. Our approach is trauma-informed, relationship-based and outcomes-focused with the voice of the young person central to everything we do.
The Role
We are recruiting Support Workers to join our Wolverhampton team. You will support young people to develop the skills they need for adulthood practical life skills, emotional resilience, healthy routines, and positive decision-making while maintaining a safe, stable and respectful home environment.
This is a role where your consistency, boundaries, and day-to-day support can help a young person move from crisis and uncertainty to stability, confidence, and real-world independence.
This role is ideal for someone who is calm under pressure, clear with boundaries, and committed to high-quality practice.
Key Responsibilities
Independent living and daily support
- Support young people to build independence skills: cooking, budgeting, shopping, keeping their space clean and safe, and tenancy readiness.
- Promote positive routines and structure that support stability and progress.
Safety, safeguarding and risk management
- Maintain a safe and nurturing environment, implementing risk management plans and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
- Work professionally within safeguarding frameworks, recording and reporting concerns promptly and accurately.
Health, wellbeing and access to services
- Support young people to register with essential services such as GP, dentist and opticians (and other relevant health services).
- Accompany and support young people to attend appointments where required, while building confidence and independence so they can progressively book and attend appointments independently.
Education, training and employability
- Encourage and support engagement with education, training, volunteering and employment pathways.
- Promote positive use of time and community involvement.
Relationship-based support
- Build strong, trusting and meaningful professional relationships with young people, offering consistent support, encouragement and appropriate challenge.
- Listen, advocate and ensure each young person’s views influence the support they receive.
Activities and development
- Plan and take part in activities that develop life skills, confidence, social connection and independence.
Recording and professional practice
- Maintain clear, factual and timely records (daily notes, incidents, safeguarding, outcomes and progress).
- Work collaboratively with colleagues and multi-agency professionals (social workers, education providers, health services and others) to ensure consistent support.
Practice Expectations: The Eight Key Principles
As a Support Worker at New Leaf, you will be expected to work in a way that promotes the following Eight Key Principles outlined by the National Children’s Bureau:
- Ensure that young people feel safe and secure where they live and in their wider environment.
- Young people’s voice is respected, heard and advocated for so that they can influence the support they receive.
- Ensure that young people have confidence that the adults who support them understand them by having the right skills and working effectively together to best meet the young people’s needs.
- Provide and respect young people’s own space so that they feel proud of and live in a comfortable, well-maintained and stable accommodation.
- Provide high-quality, tailored support that sustains the young person’s health and well-being.
- Foster strong, trusting and meaningful relationships with young people.
- Support young people to learn and apply skills for independent adult living.
- Ensure young people feel positive about their future and opportunities as a result of the support provided.
What We’re Looking For
Essential
- Minimum 12 months’ experience working with young people.
- Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People (or equivalent).
- Ability to work a rota including mornings, afternoons, evenings, weekends, bank holidays, long shifts and regular sleep-ins (as required by service need).
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, professional boundaries and person-centred support.
- Strong IT skills and confidence using computers (you must be able to complete accurate, timely digital recording and use email and online systems effectively).
- Enhanced DBS and satisfactory references.
Desirable
- Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle (preferred).
- Experience within supported accommodation and/or Ofsted-regulated services.
What We Offer
- Comprehensive induction and ongoing training
- Performance-related yearly increments
- Career progression opportunities
- A supportive team environment with clear expectations and strong practice standards
- Work that is purposeful, measurable and genuinely life-changing
Apply Now
If you want a role where you can deliver meaningful support, hold strong boundaries, and help young people build safer, more independent futures, apply to join New Leaf.
Pay: £12.72 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Wolverhampton WV14: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):
- Can you provide references, including contact details for previous employers, for all roles in which you worked with vulnerable individuals?
- Do you require a sponsorship?
- Are you committed to working as per rota/service need?
- Are you willing and able to undertake lone working as part of this role?
- Do you have a Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young People (or equivalent)?
Education:
- GCSE or equivalent (required)
Experience:
- Support Worker for Young People: 1 year (required)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Clean Driving Licence (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
