Trainee, Social Work, Community Support Services

£27,212.50 per annum + £1,500 budget for personal and professional development

Job Reference shelter/TP/1309/223

1

Fixed Term

12-month fixed term contract

£27,212.50 per annum + £1,500 budget for personal and professional development

35

Merseyside

18/11/2026

Equity and Inclusion

Shelter

Equity, Inclusion and Culture

The GROW Traineeship gives people with lived experience of homelessness and/or other related disadvantages (including but not limited to; contact with the criminal justice system, mental ill-health or substance use) access to paid employment, training and personal development opportunities. The traineeship lasts for up to 12 months, and each GROW receives personalised training and support to help remove some of the barriers that may have prevented them from getting meaningful employment.

We are looking for people who are passionate about using their own experiences to help make change for people in the UK experiencing bad housing and homelessness.

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time.

This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

We are looking for someone who can help us to support our community and the team. You will be based at the Merseyside hub and will have the opportunity to work closely with a variety of teams to support people from many different backgrounds who access our services. No day will be the same as every person who accesses our service is unique with different support needs.

As well as supporting the Merseyside Hub with administration, engagement and support, you will develop in your role and build knowledge of issues facing people engaging with our lived experience group. You will be given training, support, and supervision, and will have access to a flexible personal budget to help in your own personal and professional development. Previous trainees have used the personal budget for things like training, qualifications, mental health support and more.

The GROW trainee programme includes opportunities to get involved in Shelter at a national level, using your experiences to influence our work as a whole. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute to community hub priorities and be involved in systems change work in the area.

You’ll be a team player who is flexible, open to learning, and willing to ask for support when needed. You’ll have basic IT skills, such as using email and searching the internet, and be able to stay organised and manage your time well. You’ll also be proactive, curious, and interested in learning more about housing and the…