Community mental health worker jobs

No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.

We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.

In order to support our strategy by raising awareness of why we exist and what we do, we are seeking a dynamic and driven creative professional to join the Marketing and Communications team. You will design engaging visual content for fundraising, marketing and brand awareness campaigns and events across print and digital platforms, and assets for our healthcare services and products.

Working closely with colleagues and external providers, you will deliver distinct and compelling content across all Starlight touchpoints including events, owned, earned and paid for channels. You are experienced in understanding different audience requirements and are able to advise colleagues and adjust design output accordingly. Reporting to the Creative Lead, you’ll also support them in ensuring streamlined processes are implemented and project goals are achieved to the highest standard.

Based at our Head Office in Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 0BX

Status:       Permanent

Salary:       Band 6, £38,164 - £46,104, per annum, dependent on experience, plus 5% Outer London Fringe Allowance

Hours:       Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday, 09:00 - 16:30, hybrid, 2 days in office, 3 days at home. 

________________________________________________________________________________

About Us:

Combat Stress is the UK’s leading mental health charity for veterans. For over a century we’ve been helping former service personnel deal with issues like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression. Today we provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict, focusing on those with complex mental health issues related to their military service. We provide a range of community, outpatient and residential mental health services to veterans with complex mental health problems. We provide services in-person, and via phone and online.

About the role:

The Creative Content Manager works with senior colleagues including Directors and the CEO across the organisation to manage the development and delivery of engaging content to raise awareness about the work of Combat Stress and the impact of our treatment on the lives of veterans for external and internal audiences.

This post holder will write and shape content for all formats, contributing ideas on innovative ways of presenting the charity’s key messages across all communications channels. The Creative Content Manager will ensure a clear tone of voice and house style is used across all content channels.
The Creative Content Manager works closely with other members of the Communications Team to ensure an integrated approach and consistent messaging to communications activity including online and offline, internally and externally.

The post holder deputises for the Senior Head of Communications when required, attending meeting on their behalf and acting as the departments representative as required.

This role is subject to a DBS check.

What we offer:

You will work within a reputable charity that is constantly evolving to meet the needs of our veterans, that has a fantastic cause and a committed follower base.

Benefits:

•          27 days annual leave, with an increase to 30 days annual leave upon 5 years of continuous service, plus bank holidays and an additional increase to 33 days annual leave upon 10 years continuous service, plus bank holidays. 

•       Competitive stakeholder pension scheme - contributions matched up to 11% of salary

•       Discount shopping vouchers

•       Access to the Employee Assistance Programme

•          Flexible working

•          Access to Blue Light Card scheme

•          Death in Service Scheme

About The Connection at St Martin’s

We believe that no one should have to sleep rough on London’s streets, and that everyone should get the support they need to find a place to call home. We get to know every person we work with, understanding what they need to recover, helping them build on their strengths, and supporting them to find their own way home. Help us make London a city where no one sleeps rough on our streets.

London’s diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from candidates with lived experience of homelessness who we believe are an essential asset in our sector.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and welcome the opportunity to consider flexible working arrangements.

About the Role

At The Connection Community, just off Trafalgar Square, we provide a safe and welcoming space where people can find respite from street homelessness, build social connections, and access vital support. Our multi-disciplinary team is dedicated to reducing the harms associated with rough sleeping, fostering inclusion, and empowering individuals to move towards stability and independent living.

As part of our creative and committed team, you’ll play a key role in:

• Building trusting relationships with people facing multiple exclusion.

• Understanding peoples’ needs and providing harm minimisation support.

• Helping individuals take steps towards securing a place to call home.

• Contributing to a pioneering new approach to homelessness support in Westminster.

We see relationships as the key tool for change. As a Community Practitioner you will build relationships of trust and solidarity that will help people to access our comprehensive professional support network, including NHS health services, DWP benefits advisors, migration specialists, and drug and alcohol support teams – all offering their services inside the Community.

Together we are piloting a psychologically-informed, trauma-responsive model with an embedded specialist NHS psychology team. This means you’ll receive high-quality training, 1:1 consultations, and reflective practice to enhance your skills, and to support you and your team to pioneer best practice in homelessness services.

Salary: £36,380
Closing Date: 9th December 2025
Interview Date: 15th December 2025

Fixed term contract until 31/12/2026

Our Benefits

· 30 days holiday plus bank holidays

· Generous training budget, plus an annual personal training budget

· Enhanced Sick Pay Policy

· Enhanced family friendly policies

· Day off for moving house

· Hybrid working (depending on role requirements)

· Pension – 5% Employer, 3% Employee

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Season Ticket Loan

· Employee Assistance Programme

· Reward Gateway (access to discount vouchers and cashback at the UK’s favourite retailers)

We are a London Living Wage employer

Youth Project Worker

Transform the lives of  young people with learning disabilities and autism who are avoiding school . Use creativity, advocacy and relationship-building to help them articulate their needs, re-enter education and rebuild social connections.

You'll work with 35 young people with learning disabilities and autism in Coventry each year , helping them to:

• Articulate their needs and wishes through creative one-to-one advocacy and support
• Re-enter education in a way that works for them as complex individuals
• Re-build social skills and connections to protect their wellbeing and enrich their lives

These young people may be learning-disabled or autistic, in special or mainstream education, or not in education, employment or training (NEET). They include school avoiders, those on reduced timetables, and young people with unmet mental health needs. Without support, their outcomes are often bleak - but you can change that.

What You'll Do

You'll meet young people where they feel most comfortable - at times that suit them, using WhatsApp, Zoom, or face-to-face. Together, you'll:

• Create multimedia person-centred 'back to learning and community' plans using video, voice recording, photographs, artwork or graphics
• Build their confidence through weekly one-to-one sessions, with gradual group engagement on their terms
• Advocate for their views and support them to develop self-advocacy skills
• Connect them with meaningful opportunities across the city
• Work collaboratively with parents, schools, and other professionals
• Complete risk assessments, travel plans and project monitoring

A fun and creative touch is essential - you'll co-design all activities with young people, focusing on what matters to them.

About You

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience in youth work, particularly one-to-one or small group personal and social development
• Has worked with teenagers experiencing mental health difficulties, special educational needs and disabilities
• Is creative and confident with multiple media platforms and social media
• Can help young people think broadly and creatively about their choices
• Works collaboratively with families, colleagues, and external professionals
• Has a deep listening ability - picking up on young people's signals, cues and feelings
• Is nurturing, non-judgmental and sees past first impressions
• Has tenacity and resilience with the ability to walk in young people's shoes
• Believes disabled young people should lead fulfilling lives as equal citizens

You'll need to be brilliant with young people, adaptable, and bring a flair for doing things differently. You'll have responsibility and autonomy, with the support of a strong team behind you.

Desirable: Qualifications in youth work, psychology or child and youth care; knowledge of person-centred and trauma-informed approaches.

About Grapevine

Grapevine is an award-winning charity bringing people who are marginalised into the centre of their communities. We're nationally acclaimed for our person-centred, strengths-based approach built on 30 years of curiosity and innovation.

Why work for us?

• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 8% non-contributory pension (we pay the full amount!)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Supportive culture focused on uncovering your potential
• Real impact - your work directly changes lives
• Continuous learning through reflective practice and peer learning
• Freedom with support - shape your projects but never feel alone

We're committed to diversity and inclusion, welcoming people from all backgrounds. We actively work to create a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and able to be themselves.

The Impact

Since 2021, Next Steps has been achieving outstanding outcomes:

• 74% of young people felt more confident about school and the future
• 100% were able to do things that matter to them in a way they like
• 62% showed improved scores across every baseline area
• 34% increased school attendance within 4 months

Now it's your turn to be part of this success story.

BACKGROUND

Ashiana is a ‘by and for’ women led BME VAWG service with 30 years’ experience in delivering a holistic range of specialist services to South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern women affected by Violence Against Women & Girls (VAWG).

OUR SERVICES

Ashiana runs three refuges with a total of 29 bedspaces; specifically for women aged 16-35 fleeing forced marriage. This multi award winning project is the only service of its kind in the UK and is highly innovative in terms of addressing an area of significant need not met in other refuge provision. Within these refuges we designate a number of bedspaces for women with no recourse to public funds. We offer an advice and support service to women and girls who are experiencing VAWG, enabling them to make informed decisions and exit violent relationships. We provide a legal service supporting women with no recourse to public funds to help resolve their immigration status.

Counselling is offered for women and girls affected by VAWG. The counselling service works from an integrative stance, with the focus of providing a holistic service whereby we also work alongside other services and provide specialist domestic violence group work. The emphasis of therapeutic work with our clients is from a trauma informed model.

We also deliver an education programme for young people in secondary schools in East London aimed at preventing domestic violence and enabling young people experiencing domestic violence to access appropriate services. The prevention service includes delivering a whole school approach in schools to young people as well as group work to women and girls across North East London boroughs as well as community engagement activities and delivery. We deliver a range of awareness raising workshops for young people in the community and training on domestic violence for professionals in the voluntary and statutory sector.

PRIMARY TASK:

The post is instrumental in overseeing the delivery of a comprehensive package of services and care for women in our refuges. To provide a safe environment and a service that is appropriate to the needs of young BME women particularly those from South Asian, Turkish and Middle Eastern communities and to support ex-clients following resettlement.

The post holder will have a caseload of clients and be responsible for providing advice, advocacy, casework and support to women and girls, advocating on behalf of these women and making others aware of their particular needs. The post-holder is required to demonstrate sensitivity and an awareness of the culture and needs of minoritised communities in all aspects of their duties and responsibilities.

Please see the attached the full job description

To act as a first point of contact for people experiencing mental health and wellbeing problems responding to phone, online, email and/or face to face contacts alongside the reception and administration team providing regular support and cover when needed such as annual leave and sickness.

To work with people to identify the most significant problem or problems facing them and to work out how it, or they, can be resolved, who is best placed to assist with the resolution, what steps they need to take to resolve it and actively supporting clients to take the necessary steps.

To provide person centred single session support to respond to a person’s most significant problem within a single meeting or call working with the person to develop a clear plan of action.

To support people work through problems on a one at time basis, if a single session is insufficient, to respond to one problem in each session developing a clear plan of action.

To act as a link worker for support groups supporting the groups to be self-facilitating and self-supporting, offering expertise, insight, encouragement to group members as well as supporting people to successfully join the support groups.

To work with a range of statutory and third sector individuals and organisations to maximise the support, resources and opportunities available for clients to take action to respond to the problems they face.

Interviews to be held on Thursday 18th December

Who are you

You are qualified chef or catering professional who is excited by the prospect of developing training, business partnerships and product development in conjunction with the staff and volunteers at our community garden, kitchen and nursery in Richmond.

About your values and strengths 

You will be someone who:

• Grasps new ideas and opportunities and runs with them
• Has the energy and skills to share their knowledge with others
• Is a powerful advocate for learning and development, particularly for people with learning disabilities
• Will be able to mobilise the skills and resources of staff, volunteers and users of the service to deliver work and the work of the kitchen and its development
• Will see the value of, and maximise the opportunities available to through the work of the community garden, its produce and the resources to be developed from it.
• Is confident in approaching other organisations and individuals to drive business and operational development

What we want you to do

Out "Kitchen at the Stud" project is a new initiative funded in partnership with the Royal Borough of Richmond. The Kitchen is a fully refurbished resource at the heart of our Horticultural Service based in grounds of Hampton Court Palace.

The Community Garden is an extensive horticultural resource and the kitchen project is an integrated part of our developing programme of learning and skills development. The Kitchen Lead will work with the garden team in building the kitchen into both a publicly accessible amenity, a training resource, seasonal cafe available on open days and for targeted group dining in addition to exploring the potential for product lines for public sale.

What you can expect from us

Balance is a specialist provider of community based support and services across SW London to people with learning disabilities and enduring mental health support needs. We are:

• A charity that works hard to put its people, those who it supports and those who provide its services at the heart of what we do.
• A charity that takes its mission and values seriously in developing its services, operational approach and commercial relationships
• An organisation supports and encourages its staff to participate as partners in our development as a business, our outcomes and the delivery of our values.

• Entrepreneurial, outward facing, collaborative and embrace the testing of new ideas and initiative.

Additional Benefits of working for us

• A commitment to training and professional development to support internal progression in and beyond the charity.
• Inclusion in and a 3% employers contribution to the charity's pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days a year plus bank holidays and an additional day off for your birthday.
• Access to a range of discount schemes including Blue Light Card
• Access to the charity's employee assistance programme.
• Access to travel card loan, and bike to work scheme.

We are recruiting an Area Manager who will be forward-thinking and values-driven and will lead the strategic development and delivery of PAPYRUS’ Community Services across England South and East. 

What you will do:

• Effective leadership of PAPYRUS strategy in your Area 
• Ensure that PAPYRUS is represented in your Area at appropriate local and regional Suicide Prevention groups and bodies
• Manage Service Delivery in your area
• Ensure data is collected and recorded properly to enable impact demonstration and business development 
• Develop and deliver a strategic plan for Community Services in your Area
• Build and sustain good relationships with commissioning bodies in respect of your Area
• Drive the effective performance of the Area by providing leadership which sets high expectations for staff, addresses development needs and tackles any poor performance effectively.

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Bachelor’s degree level or equivalent professional qualification in Leadership, Management, Health, Social Care, Social Sciences, Education, Business Development, Community Work, or Public Health
• Proven experience of building, managing and enabling a successful team, supporting their development, and managing their performance.
• Experience of identifying new approaches to underpin strategy and progressing new opportunities and translating these into sustainable, funded projects in the community
• Previous experience of preparing a budget, securing funding for projects/ programmes and having financial accountability for successful implementation
• Foster and cultivate opportunities for funded work on a sustainable footing
• Awareness of the issues around safeguarding and how these can affect young people and adults at risk.
• Ability to consider equality, diversity and inclusivity in all your decisions and actions

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £48,226 per annum (SCP 37) progressing by increments to £52,413 per annum (SCP 41)

Hours: 36 hours per week  

Location: Home based in South and East England

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: 7th December 2025

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis?

Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Refugee Community Outreach Worker
Reference: 302
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £26,000 - £27,000 per annum
Based: Flexible across our 7 Hertfordshire wellbeing centres

We have a vacancy for a Community Outreach Worker to join our team, supporting refugees and asylum seekers in the community with multiple needs who have mental health as a primary need, through providing advice, information and holistic support.

About the Service

This is an exciting and reasonably new project, ‘Flourish’ – Mental Health for Refugees in Hertfordshire, which is a highly flexible and responsive outreach service developed to meet the needs of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine & other refugees in Hertfordshire. The aim of the service will be to support refugees in the community with multiple needs who have mental health support as a primary need.

The countywide holistic service also provides emotional wellbeing support for families who are hosting refugees.

‘Complex needs’ are defined by the National Complex Needs Alliance as a combination of health needs and social needs.

Purpose of Post

• The purpose of the Hertfordshire Mind Network Refugee Community Outreach Worker role is to:
• To provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients with mental ill health.
• Support to build social networks and reduce isolation whilst settling into the Hertfordshire community this includes building a sustainable and empowering peer support network and building confidence and self-esteem.
• To ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the client is monitored and reviewed regularly.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• Embed a person centred and solution focused approach in all aspects of the role.
• To work in a trauma informed way including awareness of the 6 principles of trauma informed practice, putting the clients emotional and practical needs at the forefront of this work.

The successful candidate will have experience of caseload management, a good understanding of Mental Health conditions and experience of working with vulnerable individuals who are affected by housing difficulties and/or displacement. Understanding and knowledge of the concerns and challenges for refugees and asylum seekers and lived experience would be desirable.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Eligibility for blue light card.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.

Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle is essential for this role.

Closing date: Ongoing. Applications are being reviewed on an ongoing basis.
Interview date: Held on a rolling basis. Shortlisted applicants will be notified of interviews dates.
Please note: we reserve the right to close the post once we have reached maximum applications or filled the role.

Interested? 

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position. 

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.

No agencies please.

Young People Support Worker (Warrington)

We are seeking someone passionate about supporting young people to build confidence, stability and independence.

Position: Young People Support Worker

Salary: £24,136 per year plus pension and benefits

Location: Warrington

Hours: 37.5 per week on a rota including evenings and weekends

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: Sunday 14th December 2025

About the role

As Young People Support Worker you will work under the direction, guidance and support of a manager/senior worker you will be responsible for a caseload of clients as well as share responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of all clients, volunteers and staff in the service. You will participate in our programme of meaningful activity by running group sessions and activities within the accommodation to support young people’s individual development and social engagement.

In accommodation based services you will ensure that the accommodation is properly maintained and support the client to sustain their tenancy and participate in positive and successful move on.

You will work a rolling rota of daytimes, evenings and weekends (some shifts will be lone working) including bank holidays to ensure that young people have full staff support during their most difficult times.

Key responsibilities include:

· Completing risk and needs assessments and creating SMART support plans

· Providing one to one and group support within the accommodation

· Encouraging participation in education, training, employment and volunteering

· Supporting young people to settle in and maintain their accommodation

· Maintaining accurate case records and handling petty cash and rent collection

· Ensuring the accommodation environment is safe, welcoming and well maintained

· Working a rota including evenings, weekends and some lone working

· Working collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and local partner agencies

About you

You will bring a calm, patient and supportive approach, with the ability to build trust and encourage young people to reach their goals. Experience working with young people, or those who have faced homelessness, mental health difficulties, substance misuse or time in care, will be important.

We are looking for:

· Experience of working with young people or those who have experienced homelessness

· An understanding of the needs of people who have experienced homelessness, poor mental health, substance misuse or the care system

· A knowledge and understanding of Risk Assessments and Support Planning

· Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills

· High level understanding of professional boundaries and ability to maintain these

· Effective collaborative working

· Ability to effectively reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development

· Respect for the values and ethos of Depaul and its founding partners

About the organisation

The organisation provides vital services that support young people and adults at risk of homelessness. Their work focuses on prevention, resilience building and helping people access opportunities in education, employment, training and the community. Services operate across England, delivering high quality support shaped by strong values and a belief in the potential of every person.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Support Worker, Housing Support Worker, Youth Support Worker, Young Persons Support Worker, Outreach Worker, Key Worker, Project Worker, #INDSCP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

Young People Support Worker

We are seeking someone motivated to support young people (who are in care of the local authority/after care) to build safety, stability and independence.

Position: Young People Support Worker

Salary: £17,367.24 per year pro rata (FTE £27,136) plus pension and benefits

Location: Stockport

Hours: 24 per week, weekend rota Saturday and Sunday

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: Sunday 14th December 2025

About the role

As a Young People Support Worker for young people in Local Authority Care (YPLAC), you’ll work in a supported accommodation service to help vulnerable young people develop the skills and confidence to achieve independence. As Young People Support Worker you will work as a member of a services team delivering an assessment, support and move on service to vulnerable clients in supported accommodation. Working within supported accommodation, you will deliver assessments, support plans and move on work that enables young people to build confidence, resilience and core life skills.

Under the guidance of a Service Manager you will manage a caseload of young people, support their emotional, social and practical needs and ensure safeguarding and wellbeing procedures are followed. You will also help run meaningful activities within the accommodation and support the upkeep of a safe and supportive environment.

Key responsibilities include:

· Completing risk and needs assessments and developing SMART support plans

· Providing one to one and group support within the accommodation

· Encouraging participation in education, employment, training and volunteering

· Supporting young people to maintain their accommodation and settle in

· Maintaining case records and handling petty cash and rent collection

· Ensuring the environment is safe, welcoming and well maintained

· Working collaboratively with colleagues, volunteers and partner agencies

· Supporting weekend operations including some lone working

About you

You will be compassionate, resilient and able to build meaningful rapport with young people. Experience working with young people or vulnerable groups is important, along with an understanding of the challenges faced by those who have experienced homelessness, mental health issues, substance misuse or time in care.

We are looking for:

· Experience of working with young people or those who have experienced homelessness

· An understanding of the needs of people who have experienced homelessness, poor mental health, substance misuse or the care system

· A knowledge and understanding of Risk Assessments and Support Planning

· Able to demonstrate clear understanding of Safeguarding requirements and procedures

· Personal and professional integrity

· High level understanding of professional boundaries and ability to maintain these

· Effective collaborative working

· Ability to effectively reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development

· Respect for the values and ethos of Depaul and its founding partners

About the organisation

The organisation provides accommodation and support services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. Their work focuses on prevention, resilience building and helping people access education, employment, training and community opportunities. Services operate across England and are grounded in strong values and a belief in the potential of every person.

Other roles you may have experience of could include; Weekend Support Worker, Youth Support Worker, Young Persons Support Worker, Care Leaver Support Worker, Key Worker, Project Worker, Residential Support Worker, #INDSCP

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organization.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Mental Health Social Care service in Hammersmith & Fulham.

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

For a full job description, please visit our website.

This role is a 12-month FTC maternity cover.

Look Ahead's Hammersmith & Fulham Mental Health Service is a Mental Health supported accommodation which is a pathway service for people to work towards their independence.

As a Support Worker, you will play a key role in supporting our residents to help them to enhance life skills and increase independence and manage their health. This also includes tenancy management and other life skills.

Support Workers in the service work across all 3 projects in Hammersmith and Fulham; working with customers with varying levels of support needs. Many of the customers have complex needs including dual diagnosis and Support Workers are expected to liaise with other agencies within the borough to best support customers. Support Workers are expected to support customers on their journey to independence in a person-centred, non-judgemental way, whilst adhering to the Look Ahead core values.

The work schedule for this position follows a 5-week rotating pattern. It involves working on weekends and bank holidays. In this 5-week cycle, there are two weekends off and one full weekend of work.

About you:

Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
Approachable and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
Flexible
Open to feedback and self development
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is essentially customer-focused
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours

Essential:

NVQ Level 2/3 or transferable skills in customer centred roles

Desirable:

Experience working in mental health sector
Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

THE CHARITY

Suicide is the leading cause of death of men under 35 and three quarters of those who die by suicide are men. James’ Place exists to save the lives of men in suicidal crisis through delivering clinical services. We are a charity currently offering free, life-saving therapy to suicidal men at our centres in Liverpool, London and Newcastle.

James’ Place was set up by Clare Milford Haven and Nick Wentworth-Stanley in 2008 after their twenty-one-year-old son, James, died by suicide ten days after a minor operation. James had no history of mental illness or depression and had sought urgent help for anxiety and suicidal thoughts but didn’t find it.   

James' Place was set up to make the experience of finding help as easy as possible. We offer men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis a brief, intensive, therapeutic intervention in a safe environment. Men who walk through the door at James’ Place will be in a space where they feel valued and respected.  We provide a calm and peaceful environment both inside the centres and in our outside spaces, accessible to men who visit us as well as their friends and families. We have so far treated over 4,300 men who might otherwise have been unable to access the support they desperately need.

In early 2026 we will be opening our fourth centre in Birmingham. Our new centre in Birmingham will be there to support suicidal men living in the West Midlands.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are expanding our team of clinicians to deliver our clinically proven intervention at our James’ Place centre in London. As a Suicide Prevention Therapist, you will be an experienced mental health professional or therapist with demonstrable interest in suicide prevention. You will support men who are experiencing a suicidal crisis and their supporter(s), delivering our unique intervention and co-producing effective safety plans to maintain their safety. Training and support will be provided by the Head of Centre in London and the wider James’ Place team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

• Conduct initial Welcome Assessments with men in a suicidal crisis, assessing risk and the suitability of the James’ Place intervention and co-producing effective safety plans
• Deliver our therapeutic intervention over 6-8 face-to-face sessions, building trust and exploring the reasons for crisis
• Use the Lay Your Cards on the Table intervention to encourage men to talk about and explore their feelings, attitudes and behaviours and develop positive coping strategies
• Take full clinical responsibility of the men under James’ Place care, as a member of the clinical team and in consultation with Senior Suicide Prevention Therapist and Head of Centre when needed
• Escalate care to appropriate services when necessary, including emergency services and secondary mental health teams
• Deliver one-off guidance sessions to supporters of men under the James’ Place care
• Work collaboratively with other professionals to coordinate comprehensive care
• Demonstrate self-awareness and regularly dedicate time and space, inside and outside of work, to keeping yourself well
• Undergo clinical supervision with a qualified supervisor to reflect on clinical work and raise any issues or concerns arising from work
• Remain up to date with developments in law, theories and research
• Engage in peer support sessions, caseload discussions and Reflective Practice with the team
• Contribute to an environment in which confidentiality, privacy and dignity are respected and be clear with clients about limits of confidentiality
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards
• Complete session notes in a timely and effective manner
• Participate in continuous professional development and engage in training provided both internally and externally
• Support the Clinical Administration team as and when necessary

Outreach and Engagement

• Support the local management team to increase contact with local community organisations able to refer to us or offer move on support for men completing our intervention
• Support the fundraising team to bring potential supporters into our building and showcase our work, including the facilitation of events

Values

• Demonstrate commitment to the James’ Place values of Focus, Bravery, Respect, Compassion, Professionalism, Collaboration and Hope through all aspects of work

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The role requires someone with a relevant qualification who can confidently support men experiencing a suicidal crisis. You will need to be able to effectively conduct risk assessments and deliver our clinically proven therapeutic intervention to ensure client safety. Strong therapeutic communication, the ability to work autonomously and teamwork skills are also essential to this role, as well as the ability to build trust and hope.

Essential

Qualification(s)

• A Core Profession such as Mental Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Social Worker, counselling or practitioner psychologist registered with NMC, HCPC, or Social Work England

or

• Accreditation as a psychological therapist, psychotherapist, or counsellor registered with BACP, UKCP, BABCP or equivalent, or have completed training and awaiting accreditation

You must hold a relevant qualification to be considered for this role.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Demonstrable experience working with adults experiencing acute psychological distress
• Demonstrable knowledge of social and other factors which could lead to suicidal thinking and actions
• Demonstrable knowledge of the factors contributing to male suicide
• Evidence of being able to deliver a therapeutic session and work in a therapeutic environment  
• Effective communication skills (both written and verbal)
• Good interpersonal skills with the ability to manage difficult situations
• Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic interventions
• An ability to collaborate with clients in the development of a person centred, individual intervention plan
• An ability to engage clients in the intervention plan, overcoming barriers to communication
• Ability to conduct effective risk assessments and collaborative safety plans with men who are presenting with high risk of suicide, or be willing and able to learn how to do so
• Ability to identify if the James’ Place service is not adequate to maintain the person’s safety and facilitate rapid transfer to the most appropriate service
• Ability to maintain boundaries within a time-limited intervention
• Ability to work as an effective team member
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload, using own initiative and confidence in decision making
• Strong time management
• Ability to maintain up to date client records in line with James’ Place standards
• Ability to maintain own personal safety and the safety of others within the centre
• Knowledge and understanding of Safeguarding Procedures

Values

• Commitment to clinical supervision
• Ability to engage with James’ Place values
• Ability to promote people’s equality, diversity and rights
• Ability to work collaboratively and demonstrate commitment to co-production
• Ability to be transparent, honest and show discretion when needed
• Commitment to suicide prevention and working with men in a suicidal crisis

WE OFFER

• A 7% employer contributory pension scheme
• Family friendly policies
• Death in service insurance scheme
• 25 days plus bank holidays leave entitlement (FTE), including enhanced holiday allowance with incremental rises after qualifying period

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please follow the application instructions on the full job advert. 

Closing date: 9am on Thursday 11th December.

Our aim is to recruit clinicians who are representative of the communities of men who will access treatment at James' Place London. We particularly encourage applications from underrepresented groups and those who have experience in delivering therapy within culturally diverse communities, particularly in widely spoken languages within those communities.

James’ Place is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. Our aim is that no job applicant, temporary worker or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender and transgender status, race and ethnicity, religion and belief (including no belief), marriage or civil partnership status or sexual orientation.

If you have a disability or health conditions which means you'd benefit from any adjustments to the interview process to help you perform at your best, please do let us know in advance.

Any job offers made are subject to the receipt of two relevant satisfactory employment references. We expect this to include one from your most recent or current employer. Any job offers made are also subject to a satisfactory DBS check and a Right to Work in the UK check.

The purpose of this post, as part of Mind in Gwent’s new National Mind funded Trauma-informed support project, is to provide trauma-informed mental health support to young women, girls and non-binary young people aged 11-24 and their families in Newport.

This role has the following aims:

· To respond to the increasing mental health difficulties that young women, girls and non-binary young people with experience of trauma face;

· To improve the overall mental health and wellbeing of young women, girls and non-binary young people;

· To increase knowledge of mental health and wellbeing and improve mental and emotional literacy and resilience, for young women, girls and non-binary young people and their families and wider communities;

· To increase the number of young women, girls and non-binary young people managing their mental health without being referred to specialist higher tier services;

· To increase choice, control and trust in the trauma-informed support that young women, girls and non-binary young people access;

· To improve public knowledge of where to find trauma-informed support in the community.

The project will offer trauma-informed, restorative and resilience-based focused interventions to address trauma and reduce the impact of poor mental health. The work will be targeted, albeit not exclusively, towards racialised communities and young people experiencing poverty.

Interviews to be held 16th December