Community Mental Health Support Worker – Sponsorship Available

Employer: East London NHS Foundation Trust
Location: London, United Kingdom
Salary: £25,147 – £27,596 per year
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Closing Date: 23 March 2025

Job Summary

East London NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Community Mental Health Support Worker to join a forward-thinking and dynamic team. The role involves working with secondary mental health services, primary care providers, and voluntary and private sector organisations to deliver a recovery-focused model of care.

The Trust is committed to staff wellbeing, training, and career development and encourages applications from individuals motivated to support the health and wellbeing of service users. Due to the nature of this role, applicants must be a car driver and own a car.

Main Responsibilities

• Work as an integral member of the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) under the supervision of community mental health practitioners.
• Support service users and carers with assessed social care needs to promote recovery and prevent deterioration.
• Provide holistic, person-centred care to empower service users in achieving their recovery goals.
• Assist service users in identifying, accessing, and engaging with local support networks.
• Encourage the development of independent life skills and social inclusion opportunities.
• Conduct physical health checks and promote proactive support to manage the interaction between physical and mental health needs.
• Detect and respond to safeguarding concerns, ensuring appropriate protection planning.
• Work autonomously while adhering to Trust policies and procedures.

Person Specification

Education, Training & Qualifications

Essential:

• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience in mental health support.
  Desirable:
• Foundation Degree in Mental Health or Social Care.

Skills & Abilities

Essential:

• Ability to work with patients individually or in groups, focusing on recovery pathways.
• Capacity to empower service users, enhance self-esteem, and support positive self-development.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including documentation relevant to client care.
• Ability to assist in assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of mental and physical health care.
• Awareness of stress management and ability to seek support when needed.
• Capable of working both independently and as part of a team.
• Understanding of how personal communication style impacts service users, carers, and team members.
• Ability to engage in reflective practice to improve service delivery.

Desirable:

• Experience in designing and facilitating groups and activities.

Personal Attributes

Essential:

• Motivation to expand knowledge and skills.
• Commitment to the Trust’s values: Caring, Respectful, and Inclusive.
• Ability to maintain motivation and high standards of care in a constantly evolving service.
• Compassionate and empathetic attitude towards service users.

Desirable:

• Interest in the interaction between physical and mental health.

Knowledge

Essential:

• Understanding of mental health issues affecting adults with acute and chronic conditions, including those with forensic histories.
• Awareness of how mental health challenges impact social inclusion, relationships, and financial stability.

Experience

Essential:

• Experience working with adults with acute and chronic mental health conditions.
  Desirable:
• Experience working within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT).
• Previous roles involving home visits to service users and carers.
• Experience in physical health observations, venepuncture, and ECGs.

Additional Information

• Disclosure & Barring Service Check: Required for this role.
• Certificate of Sponsorship: Available for Skilled Worker visa applicants.
• Criminal Record Checks: Required for applicants who have lived in other countries for 12+ months in the past 10 years.