Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
Assertive Outreach worker (Qualified)
The closing date is 17 June 2026
An exciting opportunity for an experienced Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) to join a developing Assertive Outreach pathway within the Westminster Community Mental Health Hub. The role focuses on engaging adults with severe mental illness (SMI) who are at risk of disengagement, with the aim of stabilising care, reducing risk, and preventing crisis.
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic, proactive, and highly organised mental health professional, capable of delivering high‑quality, evidence‑based nursing care. They will demonstrate strong skills in assessment, care planning, and treatment, with a commitment to supporting individuals with complex mental health needs within a community setting.
Main duties of the job
The Assertive Outreach Worker will deliver time‑limited and intensive support to adults with severe mental illness (SMI) who are at risk of disengaging from care. This role will involve delivering person‑centred care, including assessment, care planning, risk management, and therapeutic interventions to individuals with complex needs.
The service will be delivered in close collaboration with colleagues from partner agencies. Therefore, the ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team is essential.
- Provide assertive, flexible, and persistent outreach, including home visits, community‑based contacts, and phone/text engagement
- Act as a consistent keyworker, building therapeutic relationships with individuals who find it difficult to engage with services.
- Work within a stepped 6‑month model of intensive support, transition, and reintegration into routine CMHH care.
- Deliver holistic, person‑centred interventions addressing mental health, physical health, housing, substance use, and social needs.
- Work collaboratively with the CMHH MDT, crisis services, inpatient wards, and external agencies to ensure continuity of care and safe transitions.
This role requires strong clinical skills, excellent risk management, and the ability to work autonomously in the community.
About us
You will be in a friendly and supportive environment, where we encourage personal and professional development.
You will be based within the Community Mental Health Hub within a large multi‑disciplinary team.
There is access to in‑house and Trust‑wide training to support you in developing clinical and leadership skills.
We have community mental health hubs based in the North (Woodfield Road) and South (Nightingale Place) of the borough. The team will work across both sites depending on need.
Job responsibilities
Maintain accurate clinical records, care plans, and reports
Supervise Band 4 staff
Work both autonomously and collaboratively
Core function
You will act as a dedicated Assertive Outreach keyworker, holding a small caseload (10-15 patients) and delivering intensive, time‑limited support over a structured 6‑month model:
Next 3 months: step‑down and transition phase (2 attempts/week)
Focus on reintegrating patients into routine CMHH care
Outreach & engagement
Deliver assertive, flexible, and persistent outreach (home visits, community contacts, phone/text)
Build strong therapeutic relationships using empathy and trauma‑informed care
Clinical care
Assessment and formulation
Care planning and treatment
Evidence‑based interventions (e.g. CBT‑informed approaches)
Address holistic needs: mental and physical health, housing, substance use, and social factors
Conduct robust initial and ongoing risk assessments
Manage and escalate risk appropriately
Work within Mental Health Act (MHA), Mental Capacity Act (MCA), and safeguarding frameworks
Care coordination & MDT working
Collaborate closely with:
- CMHH multidisciplinary team (MDT)
- Crisis services and inpatient wards
- Statutory and voluntary agencies
Coordinate interagency care plans and safe transitions
Lead on step‑down and discharge planning
Documentation & leadership
Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) with post‑registration experience
Strong skills in:
- Assessment, care planning, and therapeutic engagement
- Risk assessment and management
- MDT and interagency working
- Knowledge of MHA, MCA, NICE guidelines, and safeguarding
- Ability to prioritise workload and work independently
- Excellent communication, empathy, and resilience
- Non‑medical prescribing
- Clinical skills (e.g. venepuncture, ECG)
- Experience working at Band 6 level
- Experience delivering evidence‑based intervention
- Use therapeutic engagement to support patients to engage.
- Supervision of Band 4 support staff
- Ability to hold caseload of 10‑15 patients
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Current professional qualification in either mental health nursing, social work, or occupational therapy.
- Registration must be live with the professional body.
- Evidence of post‑registration training and CPD.
- Training in psychosocial interventions and other relevant training, e.g. psychosocial interventions.
- Non‑medical prescriber.
- Counselling qualification.
Experience
- Experience of working in multidisciplinary mental health team with clients with acute/severe and enduring mental health problems.
- Work with clients who are homeless/rootless.
- Work with people experiencing mental health crisis.
- Supervision of students and junior staff.
- Audit and research, teaching, and working with people who use substances.
Skills and Knowledge
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing and presentations / IT skills.
- Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate comprehensive care plans for the identified client group, using a wide range of resources.
- Able to develop a comprehensive programme of intervention and support for the identified client group and their families.
- Skills in risk assessment and management.
- Can demonstrate understanding of psychosis and its impact on service users and carers.
- Knowledge of current legislation and guidance applicable to this client group.
- Can demonstrate understanding of the needs of diverse groups, e.g. residents of inner city; black and minority ethnic groups, and skills in engaging with them.
- Skills in psychosocial interventions.
- Skills in leadership: ability to motivate others, use initiative and manage change.
- Basic counselling and group work skills.
- Dual diagnosis or experience working in substance misuse services.
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.
Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
£47,951 to £56,863 a year (incl. HCAS; pro rata if part‑time).
#J-18808-Ljbffr…