Job summary
The Senior Support Worker plays a vital role in the Neighbourhood Mental Health Team, delivering high-quality, recovery-oriented support to adults facing severe mental health issues, complex emotional needs, and associated physical health challenges. This position involves working closely within a multidisciplinary team to foster recovery, promote social inclusion, enhance independence, and improve overall wellbeing, all while helping individuals pursue their personal goals and boost their quality of life.

Under the guidance of registered practitioners, the Senior Support Worker will provide a variety of structured psychosocial interventions and wellbeing support. This includes facilitating Waiting Well groups, administering Behavioural Activation interventions--after receiving the necessary training and ongoing supervision from the Team Psychologist--and assisting with physical health and wellbeing clinics. The post holder will keep track of progress, contribute to care planning, and empower service users to develop skills, confidence, and resilience in managing their mental and physical health.

Additionally, the post holder will take on Duty Worker responsibilities on a rotational basis, serving as a first point of contact for service users, caregivers, partner agencies, and professionals seeking access to Community Mental Health Services.

Main duties of the job
Ensure that service users, along with their families and caregivers, receive a wide-ranging array of recovery-oriented, psychosocial, practical, and wellbeing support, all while adhering to established care plans and operating under the guidance and supervision of registered practitioners.

Provide structured low-intensity interventions such as Behavioral Activation and recovery-focused wellbeing strategies, following the necessary training and ongoing oversight from the Team Psychologist and other qualified personnel.

Lead and facilitate Waiting Well groups, as well as other psychoeducational, recovery, and wellbeing sessions, with an emphasis on promoting self-management, resilience, social inclusion, and overall recovery.

Take on the role of Duty Worker on a rotational basis, handling and responding to calls from service users, caregivers, GPs, partner agencies, and other professionals. Gather pertinent information, identify concerns, and ensure that issues are escalated appropriately in accordance with service protocols.

Guide service users and caregivers to suitable clinical, community, and voluntary sector services, while making sure to accurately record all interactions and their outcomes.

Use your judgment within established guidelines to identify any shifts in a service user's condition, recognize potential risks, and promptly escalate concerns to qualified clinicians.

About us
Our mission is to make a positive difference to people's lives by improving the quality of life for all we serve. Our values are: We Care, We Respect, We are Inclusive - so we are looking for people who live and breathe these qualities when supporting service users and carers, and in their relationships with colleagues in the Trust and our partner organisations.

Job responsibilities
Please see attached detailed job description and person specification outlining key skills, experience and knowledge for this role.

Person Specification
Education/Qualification/training
Essential

• NVQ Level 3 or NVQ 4 in health and social Care
• Evidence of professional development
• Good standard of literacy and numeracy

Desirable

• Physical health and well being training relevant

Experience
Essential

• Working with adults with mental health difficulties
• Working within a multidisciplinary team
• Providing recovery focused support/promoting independence
• Maintaining accurate written record and documentation

Knowledge and skills
Essential

• Knowledge of mental health conditions, impact of families and carers
• Ability to establish and maintain effective therapeutic relations with patients
• Contribute to care planning and MDT discussions
• Work collaboratively with a range of professional agencies

Desirable

• Knowledge of behavioural activation principles
• Knowledge of physical health issues affecting people with severe mental health

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).