Entry level jobs for the Mental Health sector in greater london

Sound Minds is a charity, led by mental health service users, channelling the power of creativity and peer support to improve the lives of people living with long term mental ill health. Canerows offers peer support to those who are in hospital and those living in the community.

Main purposes of the job:

Sound Minds and Canerows are delivering an exciting project which is about offering peer support across Wandsworth to people who are experiencing mental health difficulties and living in the community. We are working in an alliance with Mushkil Aasaan and Wandsworth Carers Centre.

Mental Health Peer Support gives emotional support and promotes access to information and practical advice to people experiencing mental health difficulties. A key component is that these staff use their own direct lived experience of mental health difficulties to support other people. They work collaboratively with people within their service, focusing on the person’s strengths and personal resources to offer educational, emotional and practical support towards goals that are defined by the person.

The Peer Support Worker will be supported through peer support training and regular supervision.

Salary: £25,875 per annum FTE & 3% contribution to pension

Hours: 17.5 hours per week

This fixed term contract ends on 31/3/26 and is likely to be renewed depending on funding

Personal lived experience of mental ill health is essential for this role. You will be required to have a DBS (criminal records check) and satisfactory written references before starting.

The full job description and application pack are available from Sound Minds.

CLOSING DATE: 6pm Wednesday 28th May 2025

INTERVIEWS: 11th June 2025

Play a vital role to ensure that the voices of lived experiences contribute effectively to the development of policy, research, and services in eating disorders.

We are recruiting maternity cover for a Co-production Officer role at Beat, the UK’s eating disorder charity. You will work passionately to ensure that the voices of people with eating disorders and their carers (referred to in the team as experts by experience) contribute effectively to the development of research, policy, and services. This will include projects led by researchers, clinicians, or policymakers that we are supporting with co-production, and projects within Beat.

The role is based remotely and will require evening work for the facilitation of co-production groups and sessions.

Beat offers flexible working across four days/week, more details on the role and how to apply are available in the candidate pack.

Job Purpose

This role sits within our crisis alternative service, Safe Space, which is a core and out of hours service providing a safe and welcoming space for people who are feeling distressed and experiencing crisis. Our aim of the service is to keep individuals well in the community and prevent readmission into hospital. The service operates 365 days a year from 14:00-22:00pm across all of our boroughs.

Staff within the service will provide person-centred, practical and emotional support, face to face or via telephone or virtual on a one-to-one basis to individuals experiencing mental health crisis or preventing crisis.

The objectives of the service include:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health and social crisis in HFEH.
• To proactively work with keeping people well in the community to reduce re-admitters into hospitals by working with WL NHS teams (e.g. discharge, LPS, CATT, MINT and SPA)
• To provide a true alternative to A&E via a non-clinical drop-in service to support clients
• To provide support to clients accessing the service- for instance: signposting, de-escalation and crisis recovery planning.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To treat service users with respect, dignity and personalised support
• To raise awareness of mental health services available with the goal to improve long term mental health and reduce social isolation
• To increase self-management skills of those accessing the service
• To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services whilst experiencing crisis via a drop-in service.
• To reduce the use of statutory crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.

The Role

The role of the support workers will be to support the rest of the team in delivering interventions on a one-to-one. The role will also involve triaging and assessing all clients accessing the service, signposting and delivering collaborative self-management plans with clients to improve mental wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.
• Promoting people’ rights and responsibilities
• Considering each person as an individual
• Working collaboratively with clients to understand their needs and developing flexible and realistic crisis support packages/person centred plans
• Understanding of safety planning
• Experience with de-escalation, recognising and mitigating risks.
• Experience of working with challenging behaviour
• Listening to clients and encouraging positive steps towards self-management of crisis and recovery
• Good time keeping skills – Essential
• To attend all mandatory training including safeguarding and GDPR
• To work autonomously in a fast-paced environment and under pressure
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to clients
• Proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies e.g. CATT, Emergency Duty Teams, CMHTS, etc
• Engaging with clients to show empathy, inspire hope and promote recovery
• Establishing supportive, empowering and respectful relationships with clients and carers/ family
• Maintaining accurate records, detailing interventions
• Ensuring that outcomes, outputs and impact are recorded
• Providing administrative support to the team
• Attend reflective practice, clinical supervision, peer supervision and line management supervision
• Create and maintain good working relationships with partner agencies
• Follow workplans and actively participate in training and development
• Provide and manage resources for clients and staff

Person Specification

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services and with clients experiencing mental health distress and crisis
• Experience of managing challenging behaviour and dealing with clients with complex needs
• Experience of managing safeguarding risks and understanding legal requirements for safeguarding adults and children
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Understanding of the Recovery Model in mental health
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care
• Understanding of suicide prevention and safety planning
• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these issues may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Awareness of issues in mental health service provision
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner and de-escalate challenging situations
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve clients and carers in all aspects of work
• Empathy and non-judgemental approach
• Good communication skills
• Capacity to work within an agreed shift pattern
• Experience of delivering information and advice (housing, benefits, debt etc)
• Experience of non-clinical, therapeutic interventions like psychoeducation
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle and willingness to travel to locations would be desirable.
• Ability to work out of hours and on weekends

Job Overview

We are seeking a proactive and enthusiastic Operations Assistant to support our team and ensure the smooth operation of our office. This is an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated professional to join our warm and friendly mental health charity. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys providing hospitality, supporting mental health initiatives in nature, and ensuring efficient office and field management. The successful candidate will be responsible for, assisting with nature-based mental health activities, and supporting the team and office needs.

The nature of the role may require flexible hours such as occasional evenings to cover monthly volunteer training evenings and other annual events as necessitated by the needs of the charity.

Dose of Nature

Dose of Nature is a mental health charity whose objective is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals through increased engagement with the natural world. Our work is rooted in a wealth of scientific evidence that demonstrates the physiological and psychological benefits of spending time in nature.  We deliver ‘nature prescriptions’ to people referred by their GP with a wide range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction. Our Dose of Nature Prescription Programme is overseen by psychologists and is a genuine alternative to both medication and more traditional psychological interventions. Through a combination of education, first-hand experience, and practical and motivational support, we aim to encourage a greater connection with nature and inspire lifestyle changes that will have a significant and lasting impact on mental wellbeing.  Dose of Nature is a fun, supportive and lively organisation that encourages creativity and independence, as well as a strong sense of working together as a team.  

Key Responsibilities

Hospitality & Wellbeing Support:

• Greet all guests, acting as the first point of contact between the team and external stakeholders visiting 1 Wharf Cottage, namely our clients, volunteers and partners.
• Prepare and serve teas, coffees, and refreshments to clients, volunteers and visitors, fostering a welcoming atmosphere.
•  Assist the operations and psychology team with daily administrative tasks, including managing scheduling meetings and client assessments / reviews.
• Assist in the set-up and facilitation of nature-based mental health group activities, providing support to the group leaders and facilitators (where required).
•  Support the team in ensuring a comfortable and supportive workspace.

Event Coordination: 

• Assist in coordinating and executing group sessions, meetings, events and wellness workshops as required.Support logistics, venue setup, and participant coordination for monthly, quarterly and annual events.
• Provide on-the-ground assistance during events, activities and group sessions.
• Oversee the purchase of supplies, including food and drinks, for our monthly volunteer evening events.
• Provide evening and / or weekend support at our bi-annual social events for our client base, volunteers, and donors (dates are always arranged well in advance). 

Operational & Administrative Support:

• Provide general support for the day-to-day operations of the office, ensuring a productive, efficient and well-functioning working environment. Assist the Operations team in scheduling and coordinating client assessment and review appointments, workshops, and mental health activities in nature.
• Act as a point of contact for staff and volunteers, addressing logistical and office needs.
• Manage office supplies, ensuring restocking and organisation.
• Liaise with vendors and maintenance services as needed.
• Provide other general administrative support to the psychology and operations team, including making online orders, liaising with printers, and preparing resources for training events.

The attached Job Description sets out further requirements of the post but is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and the postholder may be required to undertake such other duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected of an employee of this grade.

Mental Health Case Worker

We are looking for a Mental Health Case Worker to manage a caseload of clients and provide support to those experiencing both financial and mental wellbeing issues and develop resilience and manage their mental health more effectively. 

This will be in collaboration with Citizens Advice as they provide the client with financial advice and guidance.

Position: Mental Health Case Worker – Financial & Wellbeing Support Service

Location: Epsom, Ewell and Banstead

Hours: 37 hours per week

Salary: £27,316

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2026 (with possibility of extension)

Benefits: MFT offer an extensive benefits package including; 5% Pension Employer Contribution, Paid Sick Leave, Blue Light Card Scheme, Vivup Discounts, Staff Social Events, Staff Social & Wellbeing Committee, Celebration Day (in addition to annual leave entitlement)

Closing Date: 21st May 2025

Interview date: Interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. Please note, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

Project

The free Financial and Wellbeing Support Service in Epsom and Ewell combines the specialist mental health support with expert benefits and money advice from Citizens Advice Epsom & Ewell (CAEE) to support clients during a difficult time. This three-year project is funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

The Role

• Increase financial resilience and independence.

• Improve overall mental and/or emotional wellbeing.

• Reduce stress and anxiety.

• Increase engagement with local community and local services

• Reduce social isolation.

• Help clients to feel more informed about how to manage finances and wellbeing in future.

Key responsibilities include:

• Work in partnership with the Citizens Advice to support people with their mental health who are experiencing financial difficulties.

• Manage a caseload of clients.

• Work with individuals and their carers around their mental health and social circumstances.

• Create a non-clinical person centred support plan around the individual, guided by the individual’s needs.

• Cultivate relationships with, and work with, other services around social wellbeing support for clients.

• Work with clients as the lead professional involved in their care, bridging to other services and opportunities and working closely with other organisations already involved.

• Aim to remove practical and physical barriers that arise from lack of resource at the community level.

• Assistance with accessing services (such as Community Connections).

• Advice, information, and signposting, including clear information about what support is available locally.

• Collecting reporting and monitoring data, providing case studies.

About You

You will have a minimum of 2 years community experience of mental health and wellbeing, and/or a qualification in appropriate subject i.e., counselling, psychology, social work, mental health, Health and Social Care (level 3)

Knowledge & Skills:

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team (statutory and voluntary)

• An understanding of confidentiality, consent, information sharing, including GDPR.

• An understanding of Safeguarding policy and practice.

• Good communication and written skills and a commitment to ensure accurate and confidential record keeping.

• Ability to interact effectively with the clients, colleagues and other professionals whilst retaining clear boundaries.

• Ability to work to all the policies, procedures, and standards of the service and joint working arrangements with statutory and voluntary sector partners.

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of mental health issues.

• Knowledge and understanding of community working, lone working and ability to maintain safety whilst working in the community.

• Ability to use supervision effectively.

• A good understanding of personal limitations, ability to identify when to seek advice and support and deal with issues in a professional manner.

• Ability to manage challenging behaviour from clients who may present in distress.

• Information and Technology

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, and basic excel skills.

About the Organisation

The charity is a mental health and emotional wellbeing charity, supporting Surrey residents since 1994 in Banstead, Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell and Mole Valley.

Offering a variety of face-to-face and online services, available to adults (aged 16+) living in Surrey who would like to restore and/or maintain their mental and emotional wellbeing (no diagnosis needed). The services are free of charge, with no waiting list and no time limit.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and the successful completion of a probationary period.

This post is Exempt from the Protection of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).

You may also have experience in areas such as Mental Health, Wellbeing, Counselling, Psychology, Social Worker, Health and Social Care, Mental Health Support Worker, Wellbeing Support Worker, Counselling and Support Worker, Health and Social Care Support Worker, Mental Health Care Worker. #INDNFP

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

Service User Network (SUN) Group Facilitator with Lived Experience

We’re looking for a SUN Group Facilitator with Lived Experience to join the team. 

Position: Service User Network (SUN) Group Facilitator with Lived Experience

Location: Various locations in Surrey

Hours: 35 per week

Salary: £28,698 per annum

Contract: 12-month fixed term

Benefits: Pension, Employee Assistance Programme

Closing Date: 12 May 2025

Interview date: 2 June 2025 in Leatherhead

Project

SUN was launched in 2021 and is a service delivered by MFT and SABP for people with difficulties associated with the diagnosis of personality disorder. The innovative SUN service is based on therapeutic community principles and members are expected to both give and receive support as part of their membership. 

The Role

The SUN facilitator with lived experience will be working closely with a SUN specialist clinician to deliver regular Service User Network (SUN) support groups in different community-based locations across Surrey and North East Hampshire.

SUN provides community-based, open access facilitated peer support groups and aims to help people develop effective ways of coping and improve their relationship with themselves and others.

We are looking for individuals who are highly resilient and are confident in sustaining an emotionally demanding paid role.

Key responsibilities include:

• Co-deliver regular SUN support groups in the community, both face to face and online, with a clinical facilitator.

• Work in collaboration with the co-facilitator and the SUN members.

• Use own lived experience of mental health problems associated with a diagnosis of personality disorder to support the development and knowledge of the service and wider services.

• Contribute to ensuring that any potential risk is being constantly assessed within a culture of positive risk taking and shared responsibility.

• Co-lead on different areas of the service on a rota basis, i.e., reporting, outreach, and member involvement.

• Undertake all the required training in line with the development of the post and as agreed with both your line manager within MFT and the service manager of SUN.

• Attend and contribute to additional service development meetings as required.

• Assist in the promotion of the service through active liaison, meetings, and presentations with people who access services, staff and other organisations.

About You

You will be committed to undertake training on SUN protocols and methods and obtain knowledge regarding mental health with specific focus on personality disorder and the recovery approach.

You will have:

• Personal lived experience of mental health issues associated with personality disorder.

• Previous experience of working within a professional environment.

• Knowledge of personality disorder, mental health issues and recovery approach.

• Ability to reflect on and appropriately share your own life experiences and personal experiences of mental ill health as part of the facilitating role of the groups.

• Ability to guide others in taking charge of their own recovery.

• Ability to understand and create healthy boundaries.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Excellent communication and listening skills.

• Ability to be non-judgmental, demonstrate empathy, compassion and patience.

• Practical experience in facilitating / co-facilitating groups or of being a member of a support or therapy group.

• Ability to remain calm and respond in a professional manner to distress, disturbance and unpredictability.

• Sensitive understanding of diversity issues and ability to promote anti-discriminatory practice and equal-opportunities.

• Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, and basic excel skills.

Here’s a quote from a fellow colleague that explains why they love their role:

“Working in a co-produced service is allowing me to use my experiences to support others, to grow my own confidence and to help build and deliver a service that benefits the members. Seeing the value of my experiences in the work we do as a team has taught me to stop seeing myself as less capable because of my mental health and instead allows me to put my experience to use”.

About the Organisation

The charity is a mental health and emotional wellbeing charity, supporting Surrey residents since 1994 in Banstead, Elmbridge, Epsom & Ewell and Mole Valley.

Offering a variety of face-to-face and online services, available to adults (aged 16+) living in Surrey who would like to restore and/or maintain their mental and emotional wellbeing (no diagnosis needed). The services are free of charge, with no waiting list and no time limit.

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and the successful completion of a probationary period.

This post is Exempt from the Protection of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).

You may also have experience in areas such as Mental Health, Mental Health Support Worker, Mental Health Carer, Mental Health Case Worker, Mental Health Outreach Worker, Care Worker, Social Care. #INDNFP

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

Band 7 Counselling / Clinical Psychologist

Reports to: Clinical Lead, Dose of Nature

Job Overview:

This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and innovative psychologist to join our warm and friendly team at our Dose of Nature hub in Surrey. Dose of Nature is in an exciting phase as we continue to receive funding to expand our reach, particularly increasing accessibility to our service for clients living in the Waverley area.

We are seeking a psychologist with passion for the natural world and there is great potential for the psychologist to lead on areas in which we seek to develop and expand. The post-holder would be closely supported by the psychology team, as well as the wider team, to do so.

Dose of Nature is a mental health charity whose objective is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals through increased engagement with the natural world. Our work is rooted in a wealth of scientific evidence that demonstrates the physiological and psychological benefits of spending time in nature.  We deliver ‘Nature Prescriptions’ to adults (aged 18+) referred by their GP with a wide range of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and addiction.

Our Dose of Nature Prescription is overseen by psychologists and is a genuine alternative to both medication and more traditional psychological interventions. Through a combination of education, first-hand experience, and practical and motivational support, we aim to encourage a greater connection with nature and inspire lifestyle changes that will have a significant and lasting impact on mental wellbeing.  Dose of Nature is a fun, supportive and lively organisation that encourages creativity and independence, as well as a strong sense of working together as a team.

The nature of the role requires occasional evenings and weekends to cover monthly volunteer training evenings and social events as necessitated by the needs of the charity.

Key Responsibilities 

Clinical 

• To carry out psychological assessments of clients referred to the service, to reach a psychological formulation of the client’s difficulties and understand their wider contextual needs, and to support those clients throughout their journey with Dose of Nature, offering ad-hoc support where needed.
• To subsequently pair clients with an appropriate volunteer Nature Guide who then delivers the Dose of Nature Prescription.
• To review clients at the end of their Dose of Nature Prescription and ensure that those clients who would like to and / or need to, maintain connection with Dose of Nature by attending groups, social events, and through ad-hoc support.
• To maintain relationships with GP practices and other referrers, and to inform them of client progress.
• To support the Clinical Lead to offer workshops and presentations to other agencies, professional colleagues and in the wider community.
• To provide specialist psychological advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals, staff members and volunteers contributing to a client’s recovery.
• To undertake risk assessment, formulation, and management of clients and to provide advice to the Dose of Nature team on psychological aspects of risk assessment, formulation, and management.
• To actively promote client involvement in their recovery and service development.

Teaching, Training, and Supervision

• To receive and provide regular clinical supervision.
• To gain additional experience and skills relevant to the Dose of Nature model.
• To provide clinical placements for trainee counsellors and / or trainee psychologists where needed and if appropriate, ensuring that trainees acquire the necessary skills and experience to contribute effectively to client recovery, utilising the Dose of Nature model.
• To provide advice, consultation and training to staff and volunteers.

Management, Leadership, Recruitment, Policy and Service Development

• To participate in identifying and implementing the development of a high quality, responsible and accessible service.
• To contribute to the development, evaluation and monitoring of the team’s operational policies and services, through the deployment of professional skills in research, service evaluation and audit
• To participate in the management of psychological resources available to the team.
• To manage the workloads of assistant and trainee applied psychologists.
• To be involved, as appropriate, in the short listing and interviewing of assistant psychologists
  and other staff.
• To provide effective leadership and management to staff which promotes high performance
  standards both individually and as a team. 

Research and Service Evaluation

• To utilise theory, evidence-based literature, and research to support practice.
• To undertake appropriate research and provide research advice to other staff undertaking research
• To undertake project management, including service evaluation, with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision.

This job description sets out the main responsibilities and duties of the post, but is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and the postholder may be required to undertake such other duties and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected of an employee of this grade.

Our Recovery Worker will be an integral part of the 121 floating support service which is an integrated, coordinated and holistic service aiming to support individuals with mental health needs within the community.

You will have a case load of clients to manage their health and wellbeing, maintain independence and identify strengths, goals and aspirations.

Your focus will be reducing social isolation and building social networks of support and signposting clients to local community resources. You will help the team in promoting an environment where service users are experts by their experience.

SMART is hiring! We are looking for full time Employment Advisers to provide support to people who face barriers to obtaining and/or retaining employment, due to mental ill-health. This includes people looking for work, as well as those who are currently employed but struggling. 
 
We offer a friendly, collaborative, hybrid and integrated work environment in partnership with CNWL’s Talking Therapies service, as well as a pension program, 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays), employee led HR processes and a competitive salary.
 
Ideally you will: have experience of working with people who have mental health needs/emotional difficulties in an employment setting; proven experience of meeting (or exceeding) outcomes and targets; be knowledgeable about relevant laws and policies relating to employment, disabilities and equal opportunities; have experience of working within multi-disciplinary teams and; be able to liaise with other services and professionals on service users’ behalf.