University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our award winning Vulnerable Adult Support Team. We are looking for highly motivated individuals who will work alongside our physical and mental health teams to support patients and parents who attend the Emergency Department, Acute Medical Unit, Major Trauma Unit and Critical Care Unit in crisis, due to issues such as domestic abuse, sexual violence, substance use and homelessness.
ABOUT THE TEAM
We are a dedicated team whose members are passionate about helping patients with complex psychosocial issues. The service is ‘one of a kind’, offering a unique opportunity to work alongside expert clinicians to provide person‑centred interventions in the acute hospital setting. The team has been described as ‘outstanding’ in two CQC inspections of the Trust (in 2015 and 2019) and won the ‘Emergency and Critical Care’ category in the 2018 national Nursing Times Awards.
Your responsibilities
* Receive referrals from clinical staff and spend time talking with each patient to understand the issues they are experiencing from their perspective.
* Identify relevant psychosocial problems, conduct risk assessment, give information, signpost and refer to specialist and community services.
* Make safeguarding referrals for adults and their children.
* Liaise with clinicians, safeguarding teams and multi‑agency partners to formulate safe management plans.
* Act as the patient’s advocate, helping them to achieve the outcomes they desire and promote their health, safety and wellbeing.
* Support patients in times of crisis and help them access the services they need, gaining immense satisfaction from helping them access the services they need.
* Provide supervision, mentoring and training to less experienced team members.
* Contribute to service development, including audit, and support the process of developing anticipatory care plans for patients with high intensity service use.
What we’re looking for
* Experience of working with patients with psychosocial needs in a client‑focused health or social care setting.
* Experience of supporting the identification and reporting of adult and child safeguarding concerns.
* A good understanding of mental capacity, confidentiality and consent when applied to working with vulnerable adults.
* A professional appearance, as well as good organisational, interpersonal and communication skills.
* The ability to manage your own time and work independently, but also work collaboratively within teams.
* Minimum education to GCSE (or equivalent) standard, with a pass in English, and possess an NVQ3 or equivalent level of experience.
* Must be able to work a mix of weekdays, weekends and bank holidays.
* Must be able to work both early (0800‑1600) and late (1400‑2200) shifts.
At UHS we are committed to providing a flexible working environment where possible. Whether you are balancing family, study, or your wellbeing with your career, we want to support you so you can help our patients.
We proudly champion individuality, recognising that outstanding care is only possible with a diverse, inclusive team. We’re committed to creating an anti‑racist, anti‑discriminatory environment where everyone feels valued, safe and empowered to make a meaningful impact in our communities. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities and experiences to join us in building a healthcare community where everyone can belong, thrive and contribute.
This advert closes on Wednesday 25 Mar 2026.
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