Job Description

Mental Health Support Worker

Purpose of Job

: To provide an independent support service for service users/beneficiaries in Nottingham, in particular for people with mental health issues

Hours

: As stated on the advert: Must be available Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays.

Contract:

12 months

Salary

: 14,247 - 14,905 for 22.5 hours a week - dependent on experience and responsibilities

Closing Date:

10th October 2025

Interviews

: Wednesday 22nd October 2025

Improving Lives is a local charity supporting adults experiencing multiple disadvantage. We offer an individualised service to enable people to manage the challenges they face more effectively.

Main Purposes of the Job

To assess people's strengths, needs and risks and ensure an appropriate and timely response from referral onwards

Provide a bespoke support service to beneficiaries to meet their identified needs or enable them to access other appropriate services that will meet those needs

Work in partnership with other agencies to ensure beneficiaries' needs are met

Enable people to become more confident in expressing their views, improve their living skills, decrease their social isolation and increase their sense of being part of the community

Key tasks

Communicate effectively with people who use the service and with other agencies

Undertake holistic assessments of risk and need and using an outcome star produce an action plan in partnership with the beneficiary

Work through an action plan with the beneficiary on areas they identify including, but not exclusively: housing, debt, mental health, social isolation

Empower beneficiaries to address difficulties that arise in their lives rather than ignore them

Provide ongoing support and empower service users to solve problems they encounter, including technology problems (i.e. relating to video calls, online applications or email)

Ensure there is a thorough understanding of and adherence to Improving Lives policies and procedures including Risk, Lone Working and Adult and Child Safeguarding

Attend meetings and appointments as appropriate

Refer to appropriate services and ensure that this is followed through.

Ensure professional boundaries at all times.

Represent Improving Lives in an appropriate, professional and sensitive manner at all times

Attend and make effective use of supervision

Attend, and after training, facilitate semi-structured social groups

Administration

Ensure that all meetings and appointments are recorded accurately and in a timely manner.

Beneficiaries' files are to be maintained to a high standard and contain all relevant information and documentation.

Ensure that Data Protection and GDPR is adhered to.

Work as part of a team and attend staff meetings.

Attend and make effective use of supervision.

Be responsible for your own time keeping, management and adhere to working deadlines.

Ensure Action Plans are up dated and completed.

Ensure Risk Assessments are up dated and correct.

Ensure Outcome measures are completed and repeated at regular intervals.

Prepare case studies, with consent, outlining the support offered and difference made to people's lives.

Make effective use of Improving Lives' systems (including Lamplight, Sharepoint and Breathe).

Follow sickness and annual leave policies and procedures.

Equality and Diversity

To promote and work in accordance to the Improving Lives Equality and Diversity Policy.

To have an understanding and sensitivity in relation to mental health issues

Training and Development

:

To undertake training and development activities as appropriate.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications/ Experience

NVQ level 2 or equivalent in literacy and numeracy (English GCSE level A-C or equivalent)

Direct experience of offering support to people affected by mental health issues

Knowledge of the possible impact on people of facing issues including homelessness, housing, substance misuse, domestic violence, unemployment, social exclusion, poverty

Experience of running groups

Experience of teaching new skills, including digital skills

Desirable: Full UK driving licence and access to vehicle

Communication

Communicates with people face to face, over the phone and on video call effectively.

Can give clear and concise instructions over the phone and on video call.

Able to keep accurate, timely electronic records of contact with service users and professionals.

Competence in Microsoft Office Suite (incl. Excel), Using Online Systems, Using Video Calling Software (i.e. Zoom) and Internet Browsing (incl. setting up Online Accounts and using Price Comparison Sites).

Able to liaise effectively with other agencies with and on behalf of service users.

Model good communication to enable service users to develop ways to communicate more effectively for themselves.

Team Work

Ability to work as part of a team: covering for colleagues' annual leave and training.

Attendance and contribution at team meetings to enhance team development.

Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly and share own knowledge openly with team.

Responsibility and Autonomy

Able to use supervision effectively

Able to identify and act on issues of risk: knowledge of adult and child safeguarding (making safeguarding personal)

Understands and demonstrates professional boundaries in working effectively with service users

Able to form one to one professional relationships with beneficiaries (service users) to co-produce support plans to achieve the person's identified goals

Ability to complete outcome measures with service users at regular intervals (eg Outcome Star and WHO5)

Take responsibility for identifying own learning needs and professional development

Equality and diversity

Demonstrate knowledge of relevant issues and have a positive and respectful attitude towards people from diverse backgrounds

Job Types: Fixed term contract, Part-time
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 14,247.00-14,905.00 per year

Expected hours: 22.5 per week

Benefits:

Casual dress Employee discount Work from home
Application question(s):

Do you have any convictions or cautions that would not currently be filtered by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)? You do not need to disclose reprimands, final warnings or youth cautions, or anything that would be filtered by the DBS. Please write below how you are suitable for this role, responding to the Person Specification. You can find this below the on Indeed, and is available to download on our website: www.improvinglivesnotts.org.uk/vacancies. Please write at least 250 words.
Please be aware, applicants MUST complete this section to be considered for the role. Applications will NOT be considered if they do not complete the required covering letter.

Licence/Certification:

Driving Licence and Access to a Vehicle (preferred)
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 10/10/2025