Where will I be based? Expand Our services work across London boroughs, so this depends on which service you will be joining and which role you are applying for. Take a look at our individual services for more information on where they operate. Our Head Office is located in London Bridge.
How do I apply? Expand Click on your desired role and you will be taken to our recruitment site. Here you can provide your contact details and upload your CV. Our current opportunities list is updated continuously so you can be sure you are viewing all currently available paid and volunteering vacancies. Browse our latest career opportunities.
How soon after the closing date should I hear back? Expand We aim to shortlist and inform candidates within 2 working days of the role closing however at times this can take a bit longer if your details are on a reserve list. We will get back to all applicants.
Can I volunteer at Hestia? Expand Yes, we are proud to have over 300 volunteers across London supporting adults and children in crisis. For more information about volunteering, please visit our volunteer page.
Does Hestia offer work experience? Expand We offer work placements to students currently enrolled on a social work university course. For more information, please contact Donna Kauffman +44 (0) 20 7378 3100 or email [email protected]
What are the benefits of working at Hestia Expand BHSF will give you access to a range of health, wellbeing and lifestyle tools such as GP helpline Advice, services and products for you or your loved ones’ care needs Telephone helpline providing practical and emotional support Pension scheme Season ticket loan Discounted memberships at over 2500 gyms Holiday trading Toil & flexible working Hundreds of money-saving offers Training & development Online health assessment proving a comprehensive health and wellbeing overview
I am currently employed, when should I hand in my resignation? Expand If you are currently employer, we recommend you do not resign until we have received your reference and DBS unless instructed otherwise by our HR department.
What is the shortlisting process? Expand Our Managers usually shortlist within 2 working days of the vacancy closing. You will receive an email from our HR department with a conditional offer and the relevant paperwork for you to complete. HR will arrange to meet with you in person to complete our pre-employment checks. Please don’t hand in your notice until HR informs you that everything is in order.
How shall I best prepare application? Expand We are looking for candidates with a passion to change lives who identify with our values. Your cover letter is your chance to tell Hestia all about this. Why you wish to work for Hestia Transferable skills Our vision is ‘Empowering people, changing lives’. How will you contribute to this if you are successful? We are looking for candidates who live our values; respectful, genuine, dedicated, collaborative, courageous. How will you ensure to incorporate our values in your everyday work? The experience a person has on their CV would not necessarily be an indication of how a candidate will live our values. Your cover letter is your chance to tell Hestia all about this. If you have any questions during the application process, contact our HR team on [email protected] (strictly no agencies). We aim to reply to any messages within 48 hours.
Is there a pension scheme? Expand Your pension scheme is a special type of savings plan designed to provide you with an income once you retire. As soon as you start with us, you will be automatically enrolled into the pension scheme where Hestia will match your personal contributions up to a maximum of 5% of your salary.
"This is not just work for me, it is my life passion to help people." Expand Vicky's Story I joined Hestia in 2018, as a service manager for the Wandsworth Recovery & Rehabilitation mental health service. By that point, I had worked in the care sector for 20 years, across homelessness, substance misuse and mental health services, crisis house and forensic services. I started off as a resettlement officer and support worker and worked my way up. I have wanted to work in social care setting since I was young. My dad was a teacher in a school for children with learning difficulties back in Africa, so I was a pupil there growing up. I made friends with the other children and from then on, it was my dream to help more vulnerable people in society. I came to the UK, got a degree in health and social care, and haven’t looked back. You feel satisfaction because you can see the results of your work. A while ago I bumped into a man I used to support 20 years ago; I remember helping him to start an IT course at college. He was so keen to do it and I remember telling him to go for it. He is now a computer engineer. I was so proud. Knowing that I’m having a positive impact gives me strength and motivates me to do more. I love my job. Sometimes, the journey to a success story like that is not smooth. Someone can take one step forward and then five steps back – that is the nature of recovery. I have learnt to walk that recovery journey with the person I am supporting. Strive for their goal alongside them and follow their lead – that is the greatest thing you can do for their recovery. They are the experts in their own experience. Recently, I secured a promotion to Area Manager, covering Hestia’s Registered Care Homes. This involves sustaining our services, supporting my colleagues to be the best they can be and checking in with service users. We are all working towards the same goal. I have been able to go to our services during the COVID-19 restrictions, but I can’t wait for things to go back to normal again so I can go more often. I miss it. One-on-one time with the people we support is what brings me joy; I love being a listening ear. This is not just work for me, it is my life passion to help people. In my spare time, I volunteer at my local church, helping refugees and the homeless. Our work can involve helping them to attend GP appointments or cooking for them, all the way to finding them supported accommodation or even helping them to reunite with family members. When you have worked in this field for as long as I have, you must know when to put up boundaries and take time to look after your own health, too. I always make sure to set time aside for my children and my grandchild. I also phone my dad, who still lives in Africa, every morning before I start work. He usually comes to the UK frequently to visit, so not being able to see him during lockdown has been hard. Our daily catch ups over a cup of tea have helped though. I used to have long-term career goals, but I do not now – I feel like I’ve achieved them all. However, I would love to stay with Hestia and continue being there for service users and making a difference. I would also love to become a director in Hestia one day. As a Black woman, I must remember that other people from my background will be looking up to me. I want to show them that you can achieve anything if you are focused and work hard. When the time comes to retire, I want to become a trustee somewhere and continue to grow. It is my proudest achievement that I have been able to take that dream I had as a child and achieve it. To see how my dream has helped others to achieve theirs is all I could ask for.