Floating Support Deputy Manager

We are looking for people who bring a range of skills to the organisation to help us meet our mission. ​HARP is South Essex’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.

Applicants for this position must be available for interview 18 November 2026.

HARP’s Floating Support service provides supported housing across a dispersed portfolio of properties in Southend and South Essex. There are offices in Westcliff-on-Sea and Southend-on-Sea and you will be required to work from both as well as visiting the various supported housing sites.

Lead a service that helps people build and sustain a home. As Deputy Manager of HARP’s Floating Support service, you’ll guide a dedicated team, oversee safe and effective housing support across Southend and South Essex, and ensure residents receive consistent, trauma-informed help. This hands-on leadership role offers real operational responsibility, the chance to shape excellent practice and an opportunity to step up when the Service Manager is away.

• Level 3 qualification in housing, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. — Desirable
• Commitment and ability to complete a leadership and management qualification, supported by HARP. — Essential
• At least two years’ experience in supported housing, homelessness or a related frontline service, working with people facing multiple disadvantage. — Essential
• Experience of leading or coordinating the work of others, for example as a senior worker, shift lead or practice lead. — Essential
• Experience of risk assessment, support planning and safeguarding practice, including making referrals and working with multi-agency partners. — Essential
• Experience of formal line management, including supervision and appraisal. — Desirable
• Sound understanding of trauma-informed practice and PIE, and the ability to coach others to use it. — Essential
• Working knowledge of housing management in a supported housing setting: voids, repairs, rent and tenancy management. — Essential
• Strong recording and IT skills, including case management systems and spreadsheets, and the ability to write clear, accurate reports. — Essential
• Able to prioritise, make sound decisions under pressure and know when to escalate. — Essential
• Working knowledge of safeguarding legislation (including the Care Act 2014) and the Regulator of Social Housing’s Consumer Standards. — Desirable
• A calm, steady presence who stays kind and clear in conflict or crisis. — Essential
• Honest and open about mistakes, and actively seeks and learns from feedback. — Essential
• A genuine commitment to people-first practice and belief in people’s capacity to change. — Essential
• Able to travel across dispersed sites in Southend and South Essex in a timely way. — Essential
• Lived experience of homelessness or related disadvantage. — Desirable

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. Our commitment to equity means that we provide ongoing training and support to ensure that all employees can thrive in their roles and contribute meaningfully to our mission. We continually assess our policies, programs, and culture to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our staff and fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and accountability. 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.