Are you an experienced Senior Support Worker, Deputy Team Leader, or existing Team Leader in mental health, learning disability, or complex care services looking for your next step with a values-led provider that will genuinely back your development?
Unicare is recruiting a Team Leader to support the day-to-day delivery of our community-based mental health services across Sussex. You'll lead a team of support workers supporting adults with serious mental illness, dual diagnoses, and co-occurring complex needs helping them live safely, independently, and well in their own homes and communities.
This is a hands-on, field-based leadership role for someone who can balance the operational rhythm of a community service with the human work of supporting people through difficult periods of their recovery.
About Unicare
Unicare Complex Care Specialist Ltd is a CQC-registered specialist care provider delivering high-quality supported living and complex care services to adults with autism, learning disabilities, mental health needs, and complex behaviours. We operate across Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, and South London. Our mental health services are commissioner-funded, person-centred, and built around enabling independence not managing dependency.
What you'll be doing
Leadership & team supervision
Supervise, mentor, and develop a team of support workers in the community
Conduct supervisions, spot checks, and appraisals
Support rotas, allocations, and continuity of care for each person we support
Champion learning, reflection, and continuous improvement within the team
Participate in the on-call rota to support staff out of hours
Person-centred mental health support
Be the day-to-day point of accountability for the wellbeing of a small caseload of people we support
Ensure care is delivered in line with each person's support plan, crisis and contingency plans, and risk assessments
Build trusted, respectful relationships with the people we support recognising recovery as a non-linear journey
Support team members to use trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches in their daily work
Safeguarding & risk
Act as a senior point of escalation for safeguarding concerns
Understand and respond to risks around self-harm, suicidal ideation, substance misuse, hoarding, financial exploitation, and disengagement
Liaise effectively with community mental health teams, crisis teams, GPs, social workers, and other professionals
Recognise deterioration early and act to support the person, the team, and the wider service
Medication & clinical safety
Oversee safe medication support in line with NICE guidance and Unicare policy
Support the team to manage psychotropic medications, depot injections (where applicable), and medication concordance
Records, audit & quality
Ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality records across the service
Carry out and review support plans, risk assessments, and behaviour support plans
Contribute to internal audits and quality improvement work
Support commissioner reporting and contract compliance
What we're looking for
Essential
Demonstrable experience supporting adults with serious mental illness (psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, severe depression and anxiety, dual diagnosis)
Previous supervisory, senior, or team leader experience in health and social care
Strong understanding of safeguarding adults and Mental Capacity Act 2005 principles
Knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based, and recovery-focused approaches
Confident producing and reviewing support plans, risk assessments, and crisis plans
Excellent communication and de-escalation skills
Comfortable working lone working in community settings with appropriate safeguards in place
Full UK driving licence and own vehicle (non-negotiable for a community role)
Willingness to participate in on-call rota covering evenings and weekends
Eligibility for Enhanced DBS check (Adult Workforce)
Right to work in the UK on a permanent basis without sponsorship
Desirable
NVQ/QCF Level 3 or above in Health & Social Care; or working toward Level 5
Training or experience in PBS, Team Teach, ASIST, Mental Health First Aid, or de-escalation
Knowledge of the Care Programme Approach (CPA) or the new Community Mental Health Framework
Experience working with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, community mental health teams, or local authority commissioners
Experience supporting people with dual diagnosis (mental health + substance misuse)
Understanding of the Mental Health Act 1983 and Community Treatment Orders
What you'll get in return
£15 an hour salary with possibility of increase with career progression
Funded training and development, including Level 5 support for the right candidate
28 days annual leave including bank holidays
Workplace pension scheme
Clear progression path within a growing organisation
Direct working relationship with the Registered Manager and senior leadership
Supportive, values-led culture your judgement is trusted and your development is invested in
The genuine satisfaction of helping people rebuild lives that mental illness has disrupted
Who this role IS for
A Senior Support Worker or Deputy Team Leader in mental health, LD, or complex care ready to step up
An existing Team Leader seeking a more supportive provider that genuinely invests in its people
Someone who finds the work of mental health support genuinely meaningful not just clinically interesting
Someone who lives within sensible reach of Sussex and is comfortable covering the patch
Who this role is NOT for
Someone seeking a 9-to-5 office role with no flexibility
Someone uncomfortable with the unpredictability inherent to mental health support
Someone without a driving licence and own vehicle
We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role
Safeguarding statement
Unicare Complex Care Specialist Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults, and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, full reference checks, and satisfactory completion of our safer recruitment process. The successful candidate's appointment will be conditional on these checks.
How to apply
Click Apply Now and submit your CV along with a short covering note (a paragraph is fine) telling us:
Your experience supporting adults with serious mental illness
Your supervisory or team leader experience
Why this role appeals to you
Shortlisted candidates will complete a short pre-screening questionnaire followed by an interview at our local Sussex office, which may include a scenario-based exercise reflecting the realities of the role.
We review applications on a rolling basis and reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive strong interest so please apply promptly.
Unicare Complex Care Specialist Ltd is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive workforce.
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