About this role
Job summary
We are excited to offer an opportunity for a motivated Band 4 Youth Support Worker to join our innovative Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Community Crisis Care Service. In this vital role, you will provide practical and emotional support to young people experiencing acute mental health crises, helping them navigate challenges and build resilience. Our service runs 365 days of the year 8am-8pm.
This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and their families. You will be part of a forward-thinking, compassionate, and ever-expanding team dedicated to improving outcomes for young people through person-centered care and tailored interventions.
As a valued member of our team, you will play a crucial role in supporting young people in crisis, helping them develop coping strategies, regain independence, and work towards recovery. You will also collaborate with other professionals to ensure holistic, needs-led support.
As part of our CAMHS Crisis Care service, you'll gain invaluable experience, enhance your skills, and contribute to the development of innovative approaches to youth mental health care.
Main duties of the job
Provide emotional and practical support to young people experiencing crisis, ensuring they feel safe, heard, and empowered during distressing times.
Assist in assessments under professional guidance, identifying the young person's strengths, challenges, and support needs to inform tailored interventions.
Facilitate therapeutic activities across home, community, and clinical settings, promoting engagement in self-care, education, social interactions, and meaningful activities that support recovery.
Offer hands-on support to young people and families, helping them navigate daily challenges, reduce isolation, and prevent crisis escalation.
Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, including nurses, social workers, assistant psychologists, and other professionals, ensuring a joined-up, holistic approach to care.
Maintain accurate records, monitor progress, and provide feedback to inform ongoing care planning and intervention strategies.
Support young people through transitions and discharge planning, assisting their reintegration into school, home, and community life post-crisis.
As part of the CAMHS Crisis Care service, provide intensive short-term support, focusing on recovery-oriented care plans that promote resilience and reduce the likelihood of future crises.
This role involves direct engagement in emergency, community, and home settings, ensuring flexible, responsive support tailored to each young person's needs.
About us
Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe - a great place to shape your career.With a workforce of over 30,000 colleagues, we work together to deliver exceptional care to more than 1 million people every year.Behind every patient cared for are people like you - keeping services running smoothly, supporting clinical teams, and helping create safe, welcoming environments for patients and our people alike.At MFT, we believe in the power of teamwork, respect, and inclusion. Our People Plan reflects our commitment to making MFT a place where everyone feels they belong, where your ideas are heard, and your contribution is truly valued. Join us and work smarter with our digital technology and thrive in a collaborative culture that empowers you to deliver your best to ensure that your work behind the scenes creates seamless, high-quality care and exceptional patient outcomes.Whether you're just starting out or looking to grow, we offer clear pathways for development and a culture that supports your wellbeing, ambition, and success. Everything you do makes a real difference to the lives of others.At MFT, your role matters, your impact is real, and you're part of something bigger from day one.
Job description Job responsibilities
To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience youll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Documents to download heading.
Explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place
To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT Your Candidate Place. This welcoming onestop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others. Youll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.
To access Inside MFT Your Candidate Place, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the Documents to download heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.
Closing vacancy listings early
We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.
Diversity MattersMFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application
Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, were proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.
Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.
What is a DBS Check?
A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:
Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police thats considered relevant to the role.
Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the childrens and/or adults barred lists.
Who Needs a DBS Check
Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.
The Costs for a DBS
At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.
For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december
DBS Update Service
Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices. For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service.
Person Specification
Education / Qualifications Essential
National Youth Agency accredited Youth Work qualification/Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Practice, or equivalent experience
Desirable
BA in Youth work or Youth and community work
Experience Essential
Experience of working with children, young people (CYP) and/or families in varied contexts Experience of offering advice and support to CYP and families. Experience of family work/ group work Experience of working with other agencies Experience of working autonomously and managing own workload Experience of supporting and working as part of a team Experience of working with IT systems
Desirable
Experience of multidisciplinary working in mental health care with complex cases. Presentation/ teaching and training skills in mental health Experience of working in a child and adolescent mental health setting
Knowledge Essential
Awareness and understanding of mental health and emotional problems including self-harm and suicide. Ability to communicate with children, young people and families around sensitive issues Knowledge of child development. Ability to support CYP and families with emotional and behavioural issues Ability to engage children and young people in recovery focused, resilience building activities Thorough knowledge of safeguarding legislation and responsibilities.
Desirable
Knowledge of evidence based interventions for common mental health and emotional problems Working knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act
Skills and Abilities Essential
Skills in supporting CYP and families with emotional and behavioural issues Skills in engaging children and young people in recovery focused, resilience building activities Skill in understanding and managing complex presentations within complex systems. Skills in communicating empathically and effectively even when people are highly dysregulated and potentially abusive. High level of emotional resilience to be able to keep thinking and performing skilfully under pressure. Well -developed organisational skills Ability to work as part of a team and use initiative. Ability to work across agencies and within a multidisciplinary context Computer literate Belief in the child centred, needs led, recovery focused values base of the service. Able to prioritise work delegated by a mental health professional Ability to create innovative solutions alongside CYP to help them meet identified goals Able to collect, record and organise information and data systematically Ability to develop cooperative networks with external agencies Evidence of commitment to user and carer involvement A willingness to be flexible to the demands of the role An ability to uphold good practice in a non - judgemental way in difficult situations An ability to act calmly in emergencies and to respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging behaviour Display a positive attitude to role of supervision and to supporting colleagues Highly motivated and professional approach
Work Related Circumstances Essential
Willingness to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service which will include travelling, supporting CYP in their own homes or within varied settings. Willingness to work nights and unsocial hours Use of a car or access to a means of mobility to travel across the footprint in line with service needs Willing to carry out all duties and responsibilities of the post in accordance with the Trust's Equal Opportunities and Equality and Diversity policies Appointments to regulated and controlled activities require an enhanced DBS disclosure.
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 details Employer name Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Address Carol Kendrick Centre
South Moor Road
Manchester
M23 9XD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://mft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)