Job summary
37.5 hours per week

Hello, I'm Tracy, team manager for Barnsley's Older Peoples Community Mental Health Team. We are proud to be offering a full-time band 3 community mental health support worker post.

Based at Summer Lane clinic, Wombwell in Barnsley, you will work across the Barnsley locality and must have a full UK driving licence and access to a car.

Our team has achieved reaccreditation from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, a testament to the exceptional care and compassion we provide to the people of Barnsley. We place older adults, their carers and families at the centre of our work.

Joining us means stepping into a supportive, inclusive, and values led team where your ideas, strengths, and contributions will have real impact. Were looking for someone who shares our passion for holistic mental health care and who will flourish in a team proud of its achievements and excited about what lies ahead.

If you meet the required criteria, wed be delighted to receive your application. And if you'd like an informal chat about the role, Id be more than happy to talk with you.

At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.

All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.

Main duties of the job
Using your skills, knowledge and experience of working with mental health conditions in later life, you will work closely with our MDT to facilitate the care plans developed by our qualified practitioners.

You will support people living with a wide range of mental health conditions, many of whom also experience physical health needs. Using a recoveryfocused, empowering approach, you will help individuals build confidence, develop independence, and work toward fulfilling and meaningful lives. Your practice will be grounded in highquality, evidencebased care tailored to each person, delivering therapeutic interventions such as psychosocial support and facilitating purposeful, engaging activities. You will identify and respond to risk, supporting service users in safe and positive risktaking.

You will either already have, or be willing to develop, essential physical health monitoring skills including venepuncture, blood pressure monitoring, and ECG application.

You will work in line with all relevant local and national policies and procedures, maintaining confidentiality at all times. Competence with IT systems, including electronic patient records, is required.

Mandatory training will be completed, with opportunities for ongoing professional development. You will receive regular supervision and an annual appraisal to support your growth and practice.

About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.

Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.

We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.

Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.

Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.

We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder will:

• under the supervision/direction of registered health care professionals/associate practitioner, within a delegated framework for agreed tasks, seek support as and when necessary, in the delivery of therapeutic interventions, psychological and physical care to a defined group of people.
• as part of a healthcare team, provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care to people that maximises their recovery and rehabilitation potential.
• develop and maintain meaningful therapeutic relationships with people. Adopt a polite, positive and empathetic approach, communicating effectively and informatively.
• demonstrate an understanding of the care and treatment programmes required for a designated group of service users.
• To instruct, advise & guide service users, family and carers in therapeutic interventions and make the appropriate adjustments independently (within own competence and skill set) and be able to communicate any changes to service users and registered health care professionals.
• be required to concentrate for periods of time, depending upon the care intervention/care plan This may include areas of work requiring physical effort, with regard to risk, health & safety.
• exercise a degree of independence, initiative and judgement and consider different approaches when delivering tasks. Assess situations, identify and resolve potential problems, within own competence and skill set.
• ensure the care experienced is positive and service user safety is maintained. Treat everyone eg, service users, their relatives, visitors, colleagues etc, with respect, dignity, courtesy and in accordance with the Trusts Values.
• contribute to the care planning process. Understand the principles underlying care planning eg, enabling the service user to reach an optimum level of functioning/ independence/recovery.
• implement care within well-established policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and established clinical care plans. Organise a range of activities eg, facilitate meaningful activities for individuals or small groups.
• apply knowledge of longer term health conditions eg, Diabetes, Obesity, smoking cessation etc, providing advice and support.
• Undertake the physical aspects of care eg, moving and handling of service users. Use items of equipment in delivering care eg, hoists, wheelchairs etc. (as appropriate to the role), ensuring appropriate instruction on their use has been received.
• assist in dealing with verbal/physical aggression using de-escalation techniques, this may include the need for restraint and/or seclusion (as appropriate to the role and in line with Trust policy and training)
• attend to the service users personal care needs as and when required.
• participate in a flexible rostering arrangement providing 24-hour/7 day care (as appropriate to the role/service)

For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.

We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.

Person Specification
Training
Essential

• Must be willing/able to undertake all appropriate Trust mandatory training requirements, and subsequent refresher training relevant to the area.
• Must be willing/able to undergo job development and training.
• Demonstrate excellent knowledge of service user safety, eg, Prevention & management of violence & aggression, moving and handling, etc.

Special Knowledge/Skills
Essential

• As appropriate to the role:
• Demonstrates excellent customer care skills.
• Enthusiastic, able to work flexibly to meet the needs of service users (where appropriate to the role).
• Demonstrates safe decision making skills commensurate with role.
• Excellent communicator, numeracy and literacy skills level 3 and good IT/keyboard skills.
• Diversity/Cultural understanding.
• Knows responsibilities regarding confidentiality and trust.
• Resilience to pressure and exposure to emotional, distressing or hazardous situations eg, verbal aggression, body fluids, etc.
• Non-judgemental, empathetic manner.
• Demonstrates Trust Values.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Good administration and organisational skills.
• Able to use observation skills to identify potential services user, environmental etc. risks and act appropriately.
• Able to fulfil the requirements of the value based induction.

Desirable

• Language skills other than English.
• Experience of supervising/inducting others.

Experience
Essential

• In providing care and/ or health based interventions for those with health/social needs(where appropriate to the role).
• In working in a caring environment at a band 2 or equivalent level of competence.
• In dealing with the public.
• In working as an effective team member.
• Of demonstrating own duties.
• Ability to work effectively, professionally and independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• In demonstrating initiative, decision-making and prioritisation skills.
• Evidence of a commitment to user/carer involvement.

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Responsive attitude and approach.
• Dress appropriately for the environment.
• A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).

Qualifications
Essential

• GCSE A-D or grade 3-9 in Maths and English or equivalent.
• Level 3 Apprenticeship/Diploma in Health & Social Care or equivalent relevant to the post.
• Or, Level 2 Apprenticeship/Diploma in health and social care with the ability to demonstrate competencies at level 3 and a willingness to work towards achieving Level 3 qualification.
• Care Certificate or required to achieve within 12 weeks of commencement (where appropriate to the post).

Desirable

• Experience of the speciality area.

Physical Attributes
Essential

• A satisfactory sickness record over previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

Employer details
Employer name South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Address OPMHT, Summer Lane Clinic, Summer Lane, Wombwell, Barnsley, S Yorkshire, S73 8QH, United Kingdom
Employer's website Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Tracy Winnard, tracy.winnard@swyt.nhs.uk, 01226644770

Details
Date posted 22 September 2026
Pay scheme Agenda for change
Band Band 3
Salary £25,760 to £27,476 a year
Contract Permanent
Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working
Reference number C9378-B2361B
Job locations OPMHT, Summer Lane Clinic, Summer Lane, Wombwell, Barnsley, S Yorkshire, S73 8QH, United Kingdom

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