Mental health link workers jobs in Birmingham
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About the role
The Side-by-Side project supports children in care and care leavers to have the same opportunities as those who have not experienced care.
For many young people, navigating the care system and especially the transition to leaving care can be complex, isolating, and overwhelming. Too often, care-experienced young people are expected to face adulthood before they are ready, without the safety nets of family, friends, and community networks that many of us take for granted.
The project provides a mentoring and befriending service, offering consistent, trusted relationships that help young people feel less alone, build confidence and life skills, and navigate key life changes as they move towards independence.
Side-by-Side supports young people with a range of needs, including those who may be at risk of exploitation, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people living with identified mental health challenges. The project is guided by strong safeguarding practice, built on trust, and delivered through trauma-informed, person-centred approaches.
Working 18 hours per week, you will work directly with young people through engagement sessions, group activities and co-designed initiatives. You will also work alongside volunteers, supporting them to safely and effectively engage with young people. This role does not involve acting as a young person’s key worker or holding a caseload. Instead your focus is on enabling connections, strengthening community networks and creating opportunities for young people to thrive across Solihull.
Please note this is a fixed term contract position for 12 months.
About you
We are looking for a compassionate and motivated individual with strong local knowledge and a commitment to community-based support. You will be confident working directly with care-experienced young people, including those who may be at risk of exploitation, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people living with identified mental health challenges.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Build community links: develop relationships with local venues, services, and partners to support young people and Side-by-Side activities.
- Support volunteers: recruit, train, and guide volunteers, helping them signpost young people to relevant services.
- Engage young people: deliver activities, gather feedback, and support co-designed initiatives to ensure young people shape the services they receive.
- Live our values: all work is guided by trust, reducing loneliness, providing practical and emotional support, and delivering person-centred approaches.
Employee benefits
We offer the following employee benefits:
- 26 days, increasing to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
- Occupational sick pay (subject to completion of qualifying period)
- Enhanced pay for family friendly leave
- Free parking at some of our offices
- Employee assistance programme
- Group stakeholder pension scheme
- Access to BHSF health cash plan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Support and supervision from your line manager
- Learning and Development opportunities
How to apply
Please visit our website for the job description and to apply.
In your application, you will need to evidence, using specific examples, how your skills and experience meet the criteria laid out in the person specification, within the job description attached.
The interview date will be confirmed and are expected to take place in person in Solihull
Safeguarding and Compliance
NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.
In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.
We reserve the right to close the advert early should the right candidate be found before the closing date.
About NYAS
As an established leading rights-based charity, NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is well positioned to ensure that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are fully respected, represented, and supported in expressing their views and having their rights upheld.
We work with care-experienced children, young people, and adults who are often reliant on statutory services suffering the negative impact of the cuts in public expenditure. Our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure that they receive the services they need and that their voices are heard.
We are an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment which means NYAS welcomes applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.
NYAS is proud to share that we are a Disability Confident Employer and we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for our vacancies.
Work with us to help change young lives.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
At NYAS, we listen to what children, young people and vulnerable adults want. We empower them to have their voices heard.
Thank you!
Role: Dads’/Partners’ Peer Support Worker
Location: Birmingham wide / Hybrid working
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday (with some occasional evening and weekend work)
Salary: £25,363 – £26,419 per annum, subject to experience
Contract: Fixed-term for 12 months
Benefits: Flexible working, 36 days leave (including bank/public holidays), 5% matched pension contribution, ongoing support and supervision sessions
Reports to: Operations Director
Please note: To allow Acacia to provide specialist, relatable peer support, there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for this role to be filled by a male, who is a dad or partner and has relevant lived experience of perinatal mental health and/or other mental health difficulties.
What will the role involve?
The Dads’/Partners’ Peer Support Worker will play an important role in helping us reach and support more fathers and partners across Birmingham. The role will be community-based and will involve regular travel across the city, working closely with Family Hubs, community organisations and other local partners.
A key part of the role will be establishing and facilitating dads’ stay-and-play groups across Birmingham’s Family Hub areas. These groups will provide opportunities for dads to spend quality time with their children, meet other fathers, build supportive relationships and access support in a welcoming and informal environment.
The postholder will also provide one-to-one peer support, drawing appropriately on their own lived experience to build trust, offer encouragement and help fathers and partners feel less alone. They will support individuals to access relevant mental health, wellbeing, family and community services where needed.
The role will also help to raise awareness of fathers’ and partners’ perinatal mental health through community events, online resources and social media. Working alongside Family Hubs and other local services, the postholder will help dads and partners develop coping strategies, strengthen their support networks and feel more confident about moving forward.
Travel expenses incurred as part of the role will be reimbursed in line with Acacia’s Expenses Policy.Due to the post requiring regular travel across Birmingham, the applicant should ideally have access to a car for work purposes.
Please note the role will be subject to criminal record, right to work and reference checks.
Interested in applying?
If you are interested in being considered for the role, please read the attached job pack and complete the attached application form, explaining how you meet the points in the person specification. Your application should outline your relevant skills and experience, along with the qualities you feel you would bring to the role.
Please return completed application forms by Sunday 06 September 2026.
If you have any specific questions or would like to talk through any aspect of the role, please contact the recruiting manager for further information.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Remote (Surrey and surrounding areas) | 18 – 24 hours
£27,500 pro rata | Flexible working | Real impact
Are you kind, caring and professional – the sort of person who listens deeply, holds space for others, and wants to make a real difference?
At Jigsaw South East, we support children and young people who are facing or coping with the death of a loved one. We’re looking for a compassionate and confident Grief Support Worker to join our small, dedicated team.
In this role, you’ll:
- Support families one-to-one and in groups, both pre- and post-bereavement
- Hold meaningful (and sometimes tough) conversations with warmth and sensitivity
- Help children feel less alone in their grief, and families feel more connected
- Contribute to our PIECES group programme, helpline, and referral process
This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to walk alongside people at one of the hardest points in their lives and offer light, steadiness and support.
We’re looking for someone who brings:
- A warm, person-centred approach
- Experience working with children and families
- Emotional resilience and a strong sense of purpose
- The ability to travel across Surrey and attend some evening/weekend sessions
We offer:
- Flexible working
- TOIL and supervision
- Ongoing training and personal growth
- A supportive, values-led team who genuinely care
If you believe in the power of kindness and want to help children feel seen, safe and supported, we’d love to hear from you.
View our recruitment pack for more information including a full job description and person specification:
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.