“Floating” means mobile and multi-site: HHS Group’s Floating Support Workers travel between several homeless hostels and supported accommodation schemes in one geographic area, rather than being based at a single site overnight. This is a daytime casework and tenancy-sustainment role, distinct from our Night Support Workers, who provide waking night welfare cover at one site, and from our Security Guards, who handle site security rather than support work.
When hostels use Floating Support cover
Floating Support suits providers who run several smaller sites and need cost-effective, shared support-worker cover rather than a dedicated worker at each one, or who need flexible cover to fill a rota gap across a cluster of properties. We supply this through fully outsourced Contract Cover, or reactively through Agency Cover when you need short-notice cover across multiple sites.
What our Floating Support Workers do
- Provide tenancy-sustainment support and casework across several sites in a defined area
- Support residents with budgeting, benefits, resettlement and move-on planning
- Offer phone support and guidance to residents, and coordinate with emergency services when needed
- Observe and record safeguarding concerns and escalate them appropriately
- Work to a planned rota across sites, backed by our on-call control room for lone-working support
Because our floating support workers cover more than one hostel, this service is a cost-effective way to provide consistent, trained support-worker cover to smaller sites that don’t need — or can’t budget for — a dedicated worker of their own.
Vetting, training and site-specific induction
Every Floating Support Worker is Enhanced DBS checked and receives a site-specific induction for each location they cover, so they understand the residents, risk assessments and procedures at every site on their rota — not just one. Training covers safeguarding, lone working, conflict management and working with vulnerable people, kept up to date with the changing needs of the sector.
Frequently asked questions
How is Floating Support different from a Night Support Worker?
Floating Support Workers are mobile, covering multiple sites during planned shifts, typically in the day. Night Support Workers are based at one site overnight, providing waking night welfare cover.
Can Floating Support cover a rota gap at short notice?
Yes — our Agency Cover service supplies vetted staff reactively across multiple sites, alongside fully outsourced Contract Cover for planned, ongoing rotas.
Are workers checked and inducted for every site they cover?
Yes — every Floating Support Worker is Enhanced DBS checked and receives a site-specific induction for each location on their rota.
Partnering with HHS Group means your homeless hostel projects get consistent, well-supervised cover across every site. Contact us today to discuss floating support cover, read why hostel managers choose HHS Group, or see who we support. We have offices in London, Cardiff, Gloucester and Manchester.
