Job overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen for skilled and enthusiastic 16 to 25 Community Mental Health Link Worker within the Acton MINT team in Ealing.
We are seeking to recruit a passionate and experienced individual with a good understanding of mental illness and young people (16 to 25), as well as excellent communication, personal, and customer service skills, who have a desire to empower and support young individuals with their connections to their local community and their overall recovery journey. We are looking for highly motivated, enthusiastic, and caring individuals who can provide the best possible care with patience and compassion to our clients.
The Link Worker role is aimed at actively supporting an individual to choose and engage with opportunities of meaningful activity, as part of improving their mental health and wellbeing.
Link Workers do this through developing collaborative, short-term goals, and offering practical skills and support to connect an individual to services and facilities in their local community.
Please note we may close the advert early once the appropriate number of applications is received so it is advised to apply as soon as possible
Main duties of the job
As a 16 to 25 link Worker, you will play a vital role in offering bespoke one to one support for young people who are experiencing challenges with their mental health, to connect with identified community supports and resources, while fostering autonomy and promoting independence. You will also support the individual to build on their strengths, and support them to gain skills and confidence in collaboratively identified goals, as well as escalating concerns/support needs should they arise.
You will be comfortable working both on your own and with others from a range of different backgrounds, roles, and services. This is an active and engaging role and the successful candidate will be required to move around the borough often.
The role is based in Central Hammersmith and Fulham; however, you will be required to work at various sites within the borough such as the Local Authority and other partnership organisations. We also have offices and events that will take place in other boroughs within West London Trust, namely Ealing and Hounslow. The successful candidate needs to be resilient, motivated, and committed to adapt to working in an ever-changing environment.
You will also spend a portion of your time working closely with CAMHS to support young individuals to access vital services in their community and ensure a smooth transition into adult services where required.
Working for our organisation
West London NHS Trust is one of the most diverse healthcare providers in the UK, delivering a range of mental health and physical healthcare and community services. The Trust runs Broadmoor Hospital, one of three high secure hospitals in the country, with an international reputation.
Our high secure services care for patients from South of England and we provide low and medium secure services across eight London boroughs. The Trust also provides mental and physical healthcare in three London boroughs (Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham). We employ over 5,000 staff, of whom 59% are BME. Our turnover for 2024-25 is over £500m.
The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ overall by the Care Quality Commission. Forensic services are rated as ‘Outstanding’.
The Trust is an established partner and contributor in the development of the evolving North West London Integrated Care System and the Integrated Care Board. The Trust leads the NW London Children and Adolescent Mental Health provider collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Candidate Pack provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience and knowledge required. Please view as attached
The person specification below is not the full person specification, but outlines the criteria against which your application form will be assessed.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development appropriate to the role in order to ensure competency and the execution of best clinical practice.
Desirable criteria
2. NVQ level 3 or working towards an equivalent qualification in a relevant subject area or demonstrable equivalent experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
3. A good broad understanding of mental health challenges
4. A good understanding of primary, secondary care and third sector mental health services
5. Thorough understanding of co-production and recovery principles
6. Thorough understanding of equal opportunities with particular emphasis on how it applies to users of mental health services
7. Knowledge of the local community
Experience
Essential criteria
8. Experience of 1:1 client work
9. One year or more experience of working or volunteering in mental health services
10. Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across organisations
Desirable criteria
11. Experience of working alongside or supervising volunteers
12. Experience of working in a community development context or similar
13. Experience and desire to work with young individuals within the 16 to 25 age group.