Community support worker jobs

As Community Support Worker you will play a vital role in supporting the Project Manager as well as mentors and mentees in the community to encourage a young man make positive connections to enable him to desist from re-offending and give him a sense of hope for the future.

This will involve:

· Visiting the prison to meet mentees and mentors before release and assisting in development of initial three-month plan.

· Assess what support the mentee has in the community (include family, partners) and what additional support is needed.

· Research what services and agencies are available in the area. Identify relevant services (including probation services) to establish and build working relationships with, especially those who can offer Education, Training and Employment opportunities for the mentees.

· Ensure mentee and mentor needs are being met in the community and supportive measures are in place.

· Facilitating and supporting the mentoring relationship within the community when the mentee is released (through the gate) attending housing, probation, job centre appointments when required; being their advocate for making a claim for benefits; attending DWP appointments; accessing drug and alcohol services etc.

· Support mentors in helping mentees improve social skills, daily living skills, such as shopping, cleaning, self-care – find services that can offer additional support to the mentee/mentor.

· Attend and participate in meetings regarding the successful rehabilitation of prisoners

· Provide support to mentors in the community.

· Support the Project Manager with recruitment and training of new volunteers when required.

Person Specification

Essential experience and Knowledge required:

· The ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.

· A proven self-starter with a high level of self-motivation.

· Ability to work in a challenging environment.

· Good IT skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

· Personable in approach.

· Excellent administration and note writing skills.

· Good organisational skills.

· Committed and passionate about the role.

· Experience of work with challenging, hard to engage or disaffected groups of people.

· An understanding of the key issues facing young offenders and the challenges they face in desisting from crime.

· Ability to work independently, make informed decisions but understanding when to access support when needed.

· Driving license required with access to a vehicle.

· Applicants should be based within the Buckinghamshire and Oxford area, with an exceptional knowledge of local services across the specified region.

Preferred experience required:

·       Previous Criminal Justice experience is highly desirable, as well as working with young men or youth.

· Experience of the voluntary sector and ethos of volunteering.

· Experience of working within employment sector.

· Knowledge of the local area and services that are available for mentees and willingness to extend relationships for Trailblazers and other stakeholders.

Applicants should send their CV and covering letter for the attention of John Edu-Amuah

Closing date for applications is 5.30pm on Friday 8th May 2026

Trailblazers Mentoring is committed to equality and diversity and strongly encourages applications from BAME groups and those with personal experience of the criminal justice system.

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: Community Support Worker (Primary Care Network)
Reference Number: 342
Salary: £26,000 - £27,000 per annum
Reports to: Team Leader (Complex Needs & Community)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Full time)
Work Pattern: Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm
Working base: St Albans

We are looking for a Community Support Worker to join our team. The Primary Care Network (PCN) Service works in partnership with GP surgeries in Hertfordshire to provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to individuals who are experiencing mental ill health or need support with their mental wellbeing.

Community Support (PCN) Service Objectives

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental ill health.
• To increase early access to help for people experiencing mental ill health, by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided by Herts Mind Network and other third sector and statutory providers.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To reduce the use of crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.
• To contribute to an improvement in the proportion of people with mental ill health who are accessing support.
• To provide an assertive outreach approach for clients who are in crisis and/ or those that may have complex or multiple needs.

The Successful Candidate will

• Provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients who are experiencing mental ill health or need support with their mental wellbeing.
• Maintain and enhance service delivery standards and effectiveness.
• Promoting the service, increasing visibility and being responsive to changing needs.
• Provide practical and emotional support to encourage service users to develop their independence within their local community.
• Ensure that the safety and wellbeing of service users using the service is monitored and reviewed regularly.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• Embed a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.

Key Accountabilities

• To receive referrals a wide range of referral pathways.
• To undertake initial contact with clients and complete a holistic needs assessment, making use of assertive outreach work to achieve the initial client contact, if required.
• To provide holistic support both outreach and in our centres and advocacy services to clients experiencing mental ill health.
• Ensure all person-centered risk assessments and support plans are completed as appropriate.
• To accompany clients to initial visits and appointments as necessary in order to ensure the sustained use of existing support services.
• To liaise with other agencies to ensure that clients receive appropriate support and continue to remain engaged with the service.
• To assist clients to access appropriate mental health services, drug and alcohol services, housing/tenancy services and other services according to assessed needs.
• To establish effective pathways across a variety of agencies to maximise and provide effective partnership working.

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.
• 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 (or equivalent) is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of applications is on 1st May 2026 5pm
Interviews to be held on a rolling basis at our Watford Wellbeing centre.
Please note: this role may close sooner due to demand in applications.
N.B. Please quote reference number 330 when completing your application for this 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.

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. Our inclusive approach recognises the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that lived experience brings to our team.

No agencies please.

Barnet Mencap is a charity based in Finchley that provides support and runs a multitude of projects for people with learning disabilities and/or Autism. We are dynamic, enthusiastic, diverse, and committed to equal opportunities and the safeguarding of children and adults at risk.  

There is currently a vacancy within our Equality Housing Team for a focused individual to join our caring, passionate, and diverse team in supporting adults with moderate learning disabilities and autistic adults to live independently in housing situations of their choice. Please view the Job Description and Person Specification for a better idea of what the role entails and what we’re looking for. 

The successful candidate will have: 

• Experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults in a community setting 

• Understanding of the issues faced by people with learning disabilities and autistic people living independently and the skills to meet their practical, social and emotional needs 

• A ‘Person Centred Planning’ ethos 

• Providing support with personal care as required

• Excellent communication and record keeping skills 

We know job satisfaction, flexibility, work/life balance, and a great team are incredibly important. So, at Barnet Mencap, in addition to offering 30 days of annual leave per year (including Bank Holidays), we have a TOIL system to allow flexible working, and our team can benefit from other perks including the Blue Light Card. 

Please note that unfortunately we are unable to support with sponsorship.

To apply, please send your CV alongside a covering letter explaining how you meet the criteria on the person specification or fill in an application form which you can find on our website.   

The successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service application in line with Section 115 of The Police Act 1997.   

Closing Date:  Thursday 14th May

Interview Date:   We will review applications as they come in and offer interviews to those who meet the criteria. 

Harris Hill is supporting a leading national charity seeking a Kinship Navigator to deliver intensive, one-to-one support to family and friend carers raising children in challenging circumstances.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, research-led programme designed to improve outcomes for vulnerable families. You’ll work directly in the Oxfordshire community and in family homes, supporting kinship carers to navigate complex systems including social care, education and health.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide tailored 1:1 support to a caseload of families over a structured 6-month programme  
• Complete needs assessments, support plans and regular reviews
• Facilitate local peer support groups
• Work closely with local authorities and partner agencies
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to programme evaluation

About you (essential):

• Experience supporting vulnerable families or carers in a community or statutory setting (Knowledge of policy, guidance and support available for Kinship carers highly desirable)
• Strong case management and organisational skills
• Ability to maintain high-quality case records and accurate data collection is critical
• Confident working with multi-agency professionals
• Knowledge of safeguarding and trauma-informed approaches
• Able to build trust and manage a varied caseload
• Professional, empathetic and resilient when supporting families.

What’s on offer:

• Based in Oxfordshire (community-based with some remote working)

Co-located within local authority hubs and spaces with some remote working and frequent community and home visits, and occasional travel to head office in London.

• 14 month Fixed Term contract (until to August 2027)
• 28 hours per week (4 days a week) (0.8FTE)
• £29,000 FTE (£23,200 pro-rata)
• Generous annual leave + bank holidays (pro rata)
• Strong training and development support
• Opportunity to contribute to a high-impact, evidence-based programme

APPLY ASAP: Please apply today, the charity is keen to interview and hire quickly, due to the programme timelines. A short notice period (up to 1 month) is highly desirable.

Apply today for the full job pack and more information!

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.