About this role
Job summary
Playing a vital role within the Core Community Mental Health Team, Community Support Workers support adults experiencing a range of mental health difficulties to live safely, independently, and meaningfully within their community. This position focuses on practical, person centred support that empowers individuals to build confidence, develop daily living skills, and work toward their recovery goals.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists the Community Support Worker helps bridge the gap between clinical care and everyday life. The role involves providing outreach support, promoting social inclusion, and helping people access community resources. It also includes monitoring wellbeing, encouraging engagement with treatment plans, and escalating concerns to clinical colleagues when needed.
This is a hands on, relationship focused role that requires empathy, resilience, and a commitment to recovery oriented practice. Community Support Workers contribute to creating a supportive environment where service users feel heard, respected, and empowered to take positive steps toward improved mental health and quality of life.
Main duties of the job
- Provide practical, person centred support to help individuals manage daily living tasks, including graded exposure to build independence, and work toward recovery goals.
- Carry out regular outreach visits in the community or at home to help people stay engaged with their care plans, monitor progress, identify changes in need, and promote safety.
- Support patients towards positive health, including help run a weekly physical health clinic and promoting positive lifestyle changes, through signposting and supporting people to engage in wider community resources.
- Work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team, sharing observations, escalating concerns, and contributing to care planning.
- Maintain accurate records of support provided, observations made, and any risks or safeguarding concerns.
- Promote recovery focused practice, respecting each persons choices, strengths, and goals.
About us
About Devon Partnership Trust
We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.
We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.
We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.
Job description
Job responsibilities
A Community Support Worker within a Community Mental Health Team plays a vital role in supporting adults experiencing a range of mental health difficulties to live safely, independently, and meaningfully within their community.
Working as part of a multidisciplinary team including nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists the Community Support Worker helps bridge the gap between clinical care and everyday life. The role involves providing outreach support, promoting social inclusion, and helping people access community resources, benefits, housing, education, and employment opportunities. It also includes monitoring wellbeing, encouraging engagement with treatment plans, and escalating concerns to clinical colleagues when needed.
Person Specification
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Demonstrate an ability and awareness to maintain personal boundaries
- Good communication and listening skills
- To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties
- Able to work in a team effectively
- Mobility throughout the area covered by the trust
Knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of safeguarding principles
- IT skills
Desirable
- Knowledge of mental health and a basic understanding of physical health presentations
Qualifications
Essential
- Basic Education
- To complete the Care Certificate within the first 6 months of employment unless already obtained or evidence of equivalent agreed and signed off by the appointing manager at interview.
Desirable
- NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification.
- Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within mental health settings
Experience
Essential
- Previous employment / experience of working with people in a caring situation or previous experience working in a different role within mental health services
Desirable
- Previous care experience with people who have Mental Health difficulties
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
Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address
Tiverton & District Hospital
Kennedy Way
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 6NT
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)