SWEP (Severe Weather Emergency Protocol) Support Worker - Female

Location: Gloucester Women’s Centre
Salary: Up to £14.84 per hour (dependent on experience)
Hours: Out of hours between 8pm–8:30am, 7 days a week (including weekends and bank holidays, only when SWEP is activated)
Contract: Zero hours contract - bank work when SWEP is activated
Pension: Auto enrolment pension (6% employer contribution)

Are you passionate about supporting women in a holistic, gender-responsive, trauma-informed way to achieve long-term, lasting change? Do you have the commitment and empathy to empower women to reach their full potential and live a life of recovery?

The Nelson Trust has been funded to deliver a safe space for women verified as rough sleeping, providing somewhere safe to sleep during periods of severe weather. SWEP is activated by the Local Authority during November–March when temperatures fall below zero, and this provision is available to women at those times.

As a SWEP Support Worker, your role will be to ensure the safety of women and the building, as well as offering practical and emotional support during your shift. You will provide access to hot food/drinks, showers, and washing facilities, and offer advice and interventions to address immediate housing and support needs. Out of Hours Support Workers will liaise with other Nelson Trust staff to ensure high-quality, person-centred care.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience supporting women facing multiple disadvantage (homelessness, substance use, mental health, criminal justice involvement)
• Ability to work flexibly and respond quickly when SWEP is activated
• Commitment to trauma-informed, gender-responsive practice
• Strong engagement and communication skills
• Willingness to work holistically and uphold The Nelson Trust ethos
• Adherence to safeguarding, confidentiality, and equality policies
• Good computer literacy and administrative skills
• Car driver with current licence

Due to the nature of the work carried out in our Women’s Centres, this role is restricted to female applicants only in accordance with the provisions of the occupational requirement (Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1).

What We Offer

• Comprehensive training and development programme (including paid induction and ongoing training)
• Generous pension scheme
• Positive working environment
• Opportunity for new, challenging, and highly rewarding experience

This position will close once a suitable candidate has been appointed.