Mental Health and Housing Coordination Officer

Why Southwark? Could your professional expertise help prevent homelessness, strengthen recovery, and change the future for residents facing some of life’s most complex challenges? Do you believe that the right housing support, delivered at the right time, can help someone regain stability, maintain their independence and build a more secure future? If yes, we have a great opportunity for you!

We are looking for an experienced professional to join us as a Mental Health and Housing Coordination Officer - a unique role at the heart of the partnership between housing, Adult Social Care, NHS mental health services and the voluntary sector.

About the Role:

At Southwark Council, we believe housing and mental health cannot be considered separately. A safe and secure home is fundamental to wellbeing, recovery and independence. This is an opportunity to use your social work expertise and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) experience to create meaningful change. You will help shape how services respond to residents with complex mental health needs, ensuring people receive coordinated support that prevents crisis, protects tenancies and achieves sustainable housing outcomes.

Working across one of London’s most diverse and dynamic boroughs, you will influence practice, strengthen partnerships and help deliver better outcomes for residents. This is a role where your decisions will have a direct impact - helping people maintain their homes, avoid crisis, and move towards greater independence. What You'll Be Doing You will act as a key professional link between housing and mental health services, bringing together expertise, resources and support to achieve positive outcomes for residents.

You will:
Lead coordinated responses across housing, Adult Social Care, NHS mental health services and voluntary sector partners to support residents with complex needs. Work with residents experiencing mental health challenges where housing stability, safeguarding and risk management require a joined-up approach. Support key points in a resident’s journey, including hospital discharge, crisis intervention, tenancy breakdown and homelessness prevention. Apply your social work expertise to ensure housing decisions are person-centred, trauma-informed, legally robust and focused on recovery and independence.

Undertake statutory responsibilities associated with your AMHP status, including Mental Health Act assessments and related decision-making. Use professional judgement when balancing risk, safeguarding, capacity and individual rights. Develop practical housing solutions that enable residents to access and sustain safe accommodation. Identify risks early and intervene proactively to prevent homelessness. Work creatively with partners to overcome barriers, secure appropriate housing options and reduce reliance on temporary accommodation.

Provide specialist advice and guidance to colleagues on mental health, safeguarding, statutory responsibilities and effective practice. Contribute to improving pathways between housing, health and social care services.

This role offers genuine professional autonomy. You will not simply manage cases - you will influence systems, strengthen partnerships and help shape how services work together for residents. What We're Looking For We are looking for a qualified Social Worker with current professional registration and Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP) status who is passionate about improving outcomes for residents with complex mental health needs.

You will bring:
Experience supporting people with complex mental health needs, safeguarding concerns, risk and housing-related challenges. The confidence to make sound professional decisions in complex and high-pressure situations. A strong understanding of homelessness prevention, tenancy sustainment, and housing pathways. The ability to identify risks early and take effective action to prevent housing instability. Experience developing practical, outcome-focused plans that help people secure and maintain accommodation.

Strong partnership-working skills, with the ability to influence others and bring services together around…