Mental Health Support Worker
Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
The closing date is 10 November 2025
An opportunity has arisen for a part‑time position for a Support Worker role in the Single Point of Access team (Barnsley). The successful applicant will work in a 7 day a week service, which assesses new referrals to Adult Mental Health service and also offers brief interventions with clients for up to 6 weeks.
You will be working in a multi‑disciplinary team, but also be expected to undertake lone working in community settings with clients with a wide range of mental health issues. You will also be expected to liaise with other parts of statutory services as well as partner organisations such as Bernslai Homes and BMBC; and also voluntary organisations in the borough.
If you would like any further information, or to visit the team, please contact 01226645000 option 1 to speak to Auldwin Gidden (auldwin.gidden@swyt.nhs.uk).
Visa sponsorship under the Health and Care Worker visa route can only be considered if the prorated salary meets the minimum threshold of £25,000, as required by the UK Visas and Immigration. For Band 3 roles, only full‑time positions at the top of the pay scale meet this threshold. Therefore, sponsorship may not be possible depending on salary increment placement and working hours.
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will deliver interventions across a variety of community and clinical settings for service users referred into secondary care mental health services. Referrals for interventions are accepted internally.
This role requires excellent risk assessment skills and confidence in decision‑making when working with individuals presenting with complex mental health conditions.
You will be an integral member of a supportive multi‑disciplinary team, while also being expected to work independently and undertake lone working in community environments. The post will involve regular liaison with statutory services and third sector organisations to ensure coordinated care and support.
In addition, you will provide advice, signposting, and guidance to service users and their families, enabling access to appropriate services and promoting recovery and wellbeing.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect 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 NHS Jobs 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 are 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 expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close 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 experience 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 Trusts 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 theneed 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.
Undertakes 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 further information, please refer to supporting documents.
Person Specification
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
Personal Attributes
* Responsive attitude and approach
* Dress appropriately for the environment
* Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to role
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)
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
Special Knowledge and 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 services user, environmental risks etc. and act appropriately
* Able to fulfil the requirements of the value‑based induction
* Language skills other than English
* Experience of supervising/inducting others
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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