Dementia support worker jobs

The Counselling Coordinator role is key to SEL Mind's exciting new counselling service for Black residents of Southwark, delivered as part of the wider Southwark Wellbeing Hub. This role will shape the Wellbeing Hub's provision to Black communities, expanding equitable access to culturally-appropriate support. The main working site is a community centre in Southwark.

As Coordinator, you will provide initial clinical assessments to prospective service users and coordinate a small pool of Trainee Counsellors, expanding future access to Black-led counselling. You'll line manage an Administrator who is responsible for scheduling and other practical elements of the service. You'll also work closely in partnership with Black Psychotherapy to deliver relevant, de-colonial approaches.

We are seeking a qualified therapist who is passionate about improving Black people's access to early mental health support. Relationships and partnership working is vital, so you should be able to work independently but collaboratively, to be proactive and show initiative. 

The role will involve:

• Undertaking skilled assessments of client needs and risks, taking into account the nature and complexity of presenting needs and suitability for short-term therapeutic work
• Recruiting and training volunteer Counsellors, ensuring trauma-informed work integrating spirituality and cultural values, using creative therapeutic modalities, and maintaining therapeutic relationships that honour diverse healing approaches
• Contributing to the development and continuous improvement of the service, bringing recommendations to support the SWH's inclusivity and best practice

This role involves providing culturally specific support to Black clients. Applicants must be able to demonstrate lived experience as a part of, and deep cultural understanding within, Black communities, and the ability to build trust with Black service users.

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Closing date: Tuesday 30th June (11:59pm)

Likely interview date: Thursday 9th July

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About Us

SEL Mind supports people with mental health problems and dementia in the boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. We are proud of our diverse workforce and know that our organisation is made stronger by the variety of backgrounds, experience, and ideas within it. We promote a culture of inclusion and representation, and are working hard to build a workforce that even better reflects the communities we support.

SEL Mind is somewhere that you can be your authentic self without fear of discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, neurodivergence, gender, age, lived experience of mental health problems or anything else that’s part of who you are.

Read more about staff benefits and why staff love working here on our website.

Are you looking for a rewarding career where every day is different?

Do you have the passion and drive to make a positive difference in people’s lives who are affected by early onset dementia?

Do you live in the Cardiff or Vale of Glamorgan area? 

We are looking to recruit a part-time, 14 hours per week, Community Support Worker to join our established and dynamic team. This is a fixed term role until April 2027, with potential to become permanent.

This is a community-based role involving regular travel across the Cardiff or Vale of Glamorgan area including local meetings and direct support with the flexibility to work from home based on business and community needs.

What we are looking for:

We would like to welcome an approachable and knowledgeable Community Support Worker to work with people affected by early onset dementia. This is an amazingly rewarding and varied opportunity to provide 1-2-1 support to individuals, so they are able to build confidence and engage in activities they enjoy. This could be as simple as going for a coffee or visiting a local area of interest, to supporting them to successfully navigate public transport to access medical appointments or their preferred and loved activities (and maybe find some new experiences along the way!).

We promote a person-centred service so that our support is unique to each individual, based upon their own aspirations and needs. We provide information and support in people’s homes and at locations across the local area.

What you would need:

- An understanding of dementia and the needs of those living with dementia and their carers.
- Resilience to be able to listen and empathise with individuals during, what can be, and incredibly difficult period of adjustment and personal challenge.
- Strong communication and listening skills to deliver personalised support with a non-judgmental and compassionate approach.
- Strong organisational and time management skills to manage the support of individuals effectively.
- Great relationship building skills to make trusted and beneficial connections within the organisation and external networks.
- Ability to provide information and support in people’s homes and at locations across the local area.
- Experience of working in a care or community environment.
- Good IT skills to update computerised medical reports.
- Be able to travel independently across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Important Information:

There is no ‘direct care’ element to the Community Support Worker role.
The role is based within the community across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, and you will be required to travel across this area (this a prerequisite for the successful candidate).

About Alzheimer's Society

Dementia is the UK's biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer's Society, we're the UK's leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we're working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.

We are currently looking for a full-time Social Prescriber / Link Worker
£31,713 pa (for 37.5 hours per week)

Fixed-term until March 2027-Possible extension
 

About Age UK Lambeth

We support older people in Lambeth to live enriched, productive and purposeful lives: challenging the stigma of ageing, reducing social isolation and ensuring they get the right support at the right time. We are kind, person-centred and outcome-focused - finding solutions that work by listening, being flexible and including older people in delivering services. 

What you’ll be doing? 

You will be part of the MYcommunity Linkworkers team. You’ll be responsible for:

• Provide personalised brief intervention and social prescribing support to individuals, their families and carers.

• Meet clients on a one-to-one basis, making home visits where appropriate and allowing clients the time and space to discuss ‘what matters to me’.

• Provide person-centred support to enable clients to identify their health and wellbeing needs and goals. Co-produce support plans with clients to discuss what’s important, where they would like to be in the future and how we can support them to achieve this. 

• Manage and prioritise a caseload to ensure clients' needs, priorities and urgent support are met.

• MYcommunity Lambeth works in partnership with a large number of statutory and community services and organisations across the borough. You will link clients with appropriate services to meet their needs. It is vital to have a strong understanding of when it is necessary to refer someone back to health care professionals/ agencies when the client’s needs are beyond the scope of the MYcommunity team.

What you need to bring

Essential criteria:

• Previous social prescribing experience.

• Able to write compelling communications to advocate for your clients. 

• Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Able to analyse data and create engaging reports.

Desirable criteria:

• Previous experience working in/or in partnership with the NHS.

What you’ll benefit from

• Generous pension provision - 7% employer contribution

• 26 days holiday a year rising to 31 days after 5 years

• A great staff culture with kindness at its heart

Age UK Bromley & Greenwich is an independent local charity supporting older people across both boroughs. We work to enable, support and connect older people, promote independence and wellbeing and ensure their voices are heard.

We are looking for an Information & Advice Triage Worker to be the first point of contact for older people, carers and their families seeking support.

About the role

This role is central to our Information & Advice service. You will provide high-quality initial information and guidance, assess urgency and risk, and ensure people are directed quickly and appropriately to advice services, support services or partner organisations.

You will often be the first person someone speaks to, so a calm, empathetic and professional approach is essential.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for enquiries, mainly by telephone, with some face-to-face and email contact

• Provide accurate information on issues affecting older people including benefits, housing, care, health and local services

• Carry out structured triage to identify needs, priorities and risks

• Manage expectations clearly and sensitively

• Identify safeguarding concerns and follow organisational procedures

• Make timely referrals to internal services and external partners

• Maintain clear professional boundaries while offering a warm, person-centred response

• Record all contacts accurately and promptly on the organisation’s CRM system

• Maintain clear, concise and professional case notes

• Ensure confidentiality, consent and data protection requirements are met

• Work closely with advisers, service coordinators and partner agencies

• Take part in team meetings, supervision and training

• Keep knowledge up to date on welfare benefits, services and local provision

• Promote Age UK Bromley & Greenwich services positively and professionally

About you

Essential

• Experience in frontline information, advice, triage or high-volume customer contact work

• Confidence handling calls from people who may be distressed, anxious or frustrated

• Strong listening and questioning skills

• Ability to assess urgency and risk and take appropriate action

• Clear verbal and written communication skills

• Experience using a CRM or case management system

• Good general IT skills including email and Microsoft applications

• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries

• Awareness of issues affecting older people and carers

• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

• Empathy, patience and a non-judgemental approach

Desirable

• Experience in the voluntary sector or health and social care

• Knowledge of welfare benefits, housing or adult social care

• Experience of face-to-face advice or reception-based work

• Knowledge of local services in Bromley or Greenwich

What we offer

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata), including two days over Christmas

• Pension scheme with 5% employee and 3% employer contributions

• Employee Assistance Programme offering 24/7 support

• Supportive team environment with training and development opportunities

If you want to play a vital role in helping older people feel heard, supported and confident accessing the right help, we would love to hear from you.