Receptionist / Administrator

Receptionist/ Administrator

37 hours per week

Permanent

Southampton SSJ&I Service, London Road

Salary Scale: 20 - 21 (£25,947 - £26,305 per annum)

About Us

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic Charity and Housing Association. The Society of St James (SSJ) has been working in Hampshire for over 50 years, delivering high impact, person-centred, accommodation services to adults and young people experiencing homelessness, problematic substance use and mental health problems. We believe that every person is of worth and we are prepared to take risks to house and support the most at risk and socially excluded members of society.

The Impact You'll Make

As one of the primary faces of the SSJ&I Alcohol and Drug Service, you will set the tone for every individual walking through our doors or reaching out over the phone. Operating with a calm, controlled, and welcoming manner, you will seamlessly guide clients to their appointments, pass queries to duty teams or care coordinators, and serve as a reassuring presence during critical moments in their recovery journey.

Working with a person-centred approach, you will directly support Southampton residents who are ready to make meaningful changes to their lives. By connecting service users to vital interventions-from therapeutic groups to prescribing and needle exchange services-and maintaining strong risk management standards, you will help create a safe environment where individuals feel heard, supported, and empowered to grow.

Through building genuine, trusting relationships with our client base, you will actively contribute to SSJ's core mission. Your everyday interactions will help cultivate a community of continuous growth and development, delivering real, positive change for both our service users and the wider organisation.

Who We're Looking For

Engaging & Personable: An innovative, tenacious individual who can connect meaningfully with service users and multitask effectively in a busy reception environment.

Empathetic & Resilient: Someone equipped with a self-reflective, motivated mindset who thrives both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

Flexible Team Member: A dedicated professional ready to work service-based across a 37-hour week, Monday - Friday working week.

Essential Qualities and Skills

Sector Knowledge & Experience: Experience working with this client group and a strong understanding of the impact of substance misuse on individuals, families, and communities. (Transferable skills from working with other disadvantaged groups will also be considered.)

Awareness of Resources: Up-to-date awareness of the issues this client group presents with, as well as knowledge of the relevant interventions, resources, and agencies available locally.

Core Competencies: Strong IT system skills, excellent multitasking capabilities, and proven expertise in risk management and building trusting relationships.

What we can offer you

We value and recognise our staff, offering some generous benefits, as well as the satisfaction of helping people at risk:

SSJ are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.

At SSJ, we recognise the benefits of a supported workplace. SSJ is affiliated with Unite the Union. To learn more about their membership benefits or to sign up, you can visit their official website.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact us.

Application closing date: 5pm on Thursday 24th September 2026

Interview date: Wednesday 1st October 2026

Due to the high number of expected applicants, we do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier.

Should you not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.