South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Community Support Worker
The closing date is 12 June 2026
Have you got what it takes to help rehabilitate people with longer term Mental Health conditions back into the community? If so, we want you to apply for the role of support worker in the Community Enhancing Recovery Team. You would be joining an OT & practitioner associate; your work will be directed by the MDT & influenced by the OT in CERT.
This service is an integrated function of the Enhanced pathway & was established to assist people who were in longer term hospital back into the community. The team has now expanded to include people who are being considered for locked rehabilitation, to actively increase their support in the community & to avoid admission. Working with the care coordinators, the right candidate will provide intensive support for the person.
The Enhanced pathway offers care for a service user population from a diverse group, some of whom have longer term & more complex needs.
Please feel free to come and meet the team if you are considering applying for the post.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
Main duties of the job
Your role in the team would be to facilitate the care plans developed by the MDT; you would be working closely with the Occupational therapist & the associate practitioner already established in the team. You will also work directly with the care coordinators in the enhanced pathway.
The most important skills necessary are that you are caring & compassionate & have the patience & ability to listen to the person goals & aspirations. You have to want to make a difference to someone’s life who has complex emotional needs & to work with them in a trauma‑informed way. The role will require you to create links with local community groups & to work as a collaborative part of the MDT around the person.
You will need to follow care plans created by the care coordinator & OT. You will also be required to input into these at review points. You may also be required to reach out to local inpatient units.
If you would like more information, please contact Shani Robinson Team manager.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up‑to‑date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHSJobs application form.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the West Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities; we do this by providing high‑quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non‑clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups; we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means we are accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder will:
Under the supervision/direction of registered health care professionals/associate practitioner, within a delegated framework for agreed tasks, seek support as and when necessary, in the delivery of psychological and physical care to a defined group of people.
As part of a healthcare team, provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care to people that maximises their recovery and rehabilitation potential.
Develop and maintain meaningful therapeutic relationships with people. Adopt a polite, positive and empathetic approach, communicating effectively and informatively.
Demonstrate an understanding of the care and treatment programmes of a designated group of service users to enable you to instruct, advise and guide service users, family and carers. To make the appropriate adjustments within own level of competence and be able to communicate any changes to service users and registered healthcare professionals.
Be required to concentrate for periods of time, depending upon the care intervention/care plan e.g. following the observation policy, taking, recording of physical observations etc., and responding to issues of concern appropriately. This may include areas of work requiring physical effort, with regard to risk, health & safety.
Exercise a degree of independence, initiative and judgement and consider different approaches when delivering tasks. Assess situations, for e.g. following the observation policy, identify and resolve potential problems within own levels of competence.
Ensure the care experienced is positive and service user safety is maintained. Treat everyone e.g. service users, their relatives, visitors, colleagues etc, with respect, dignity, courtesy and in accordance with the Trust’s Values.
Feedback their observations to the registered professional / clinical team to contribute to the care planning process. Understand the principles underlying care planning e.g. enabling the service user to reach an optimum level of functioning/independence/recovery.
Implement care within well‑established policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines and established clinical care plans. Organise a range of activities e.g. facilitate meaningful activities.
Apply basic knowledge of longer‑term health conditions, within the remit of care planning, providing advice, support and feedback to a registered professional.
Undertake the physical aspects of care e.g. moving and handling of service users. Use items of equipment in delivering care e.g. hoists, wheelchairs etc. (as appropriate to the role), ensuring appropriate instruction on their use has been received.
Assist in dealing with verbal/physical aggression using de‑escalation techniques, this may include the need for restraint and/or seclusion (as appropriate to the role).
Support service users with personal care duties (bathing, toileting, dressing, support with meals, assist patients with their appearance), as part of a healthcare team, provide the highest standards of safe and compassionate planned care to people that maximises their recovery and rehabilitation potential.
Undertake a limited range of delegated clinical care duties relevant to the service provided/work area and records patient observations: e.g. taking blood pressure, blood glucose monitoring, pregnancy testing, observing patients for signs of agitation or distress, removal of peripheral cannula urinalysis, removal of catheter.
Participate in a flexible rostering arrangement providing 24‑hour/7‑day care (as appropriate to the role).
For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.
Person Specification
Special Knowledge/Skills
- As appropriate to the role:
- Demonstrates excellent customer care skills.
- Enthusiastic, able to work flexibly on a 24hr shift pattern to meet the needs of service users.
- Demonstrates safe decision‑making skills commensurate with role.
- Knows responsibilities regarding confidentiality and trust.
- Resilience to pressure and exposure to emotional, distressing or hazardous situations e.g. verbal aggression, body fluids, etc.
- Non‑judgemental, empathetic manner.
- Demonstrates Trust Values.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Good administration and organisational skills.
- Able to use observation skills to identify potential service user, environmental risks etc. and act appropriately.
- Able to fulfil the requirements of the value‑based induction.
- Languages other than English.
- Experience of supervising/inducting others.
Physical Attributes
- A satisfactory sickness record over previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
- Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).
Personal Attributes
- Responsive attitude and approach.
- Dress appropriately for the environment.
- A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
Qualifications
- GCSE A‑D or grade 3‑9 in English and Maths or equivalent.
- Level 2 qualification or working through, with the ability to demonstrate competencies at level 3.
- Care Certificate or required to achieve within 12 weeks of commencement.
- Apprenticeship level 3 or equivalent e.g. RQF (Regulated Qualification Framework) NVQ level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent.
- Experience of the speciality area.
- Willingness to undertake further study.
Experience
- In providing personal care and related procedures for those with health/social needs.
- In working in a caring environment at a band 2 or equivalent level of competence.
- In dealing with the public.
- In working as an effective team member.
- Of demonstrating own duties.
- Ability to work effectively, professionally and under own initiative or as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- In demonstrating initiative, decision‑making and prioritisation skills.
- Evidence of a commitment to user/carer involvement.
Training
- Must be willing/able to undertake all appropriate Trust mandatory training requirements, and subsequent refresher training relevant to the area.
- Must be willing/able to undergo job development and training.
- Demonstrate excellent knowledge of service user safety, e.g. Prevention & management of violence & aggression, moving and handling, etc.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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