B4 Senior Support Planner

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust; Lewisham; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS mental health service provider is looking for a B4 Senior Support Planner in Lewisham. In this role, you will support adults in the community mental health service, working towards their independence and recovery while participating in assessments and developing support plans. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience in a care role and excellent communication skills. The position offers a salary between £33,094 and £36,195 per annum.

Qualifications

• Substantial experience of working directly with mental health service-users in a care or support role.
• Experience of advocating for vulnerable people as necessary.
• Knowledge of mental health systems and services locally and nationally.

Responsibilities

• Participate in the assessment of service users' needs including risk assessment.
• Work in partnership with service-users and carers to develop support plans.
• Deliver interventions for a designated caseload as agreed.

Skills

Excellent communication skills both verbal and written

Ability to develop effective working partnerships

Flexibility to work a shift pattern

Education

Good basic level of education with at least 5 GCSE grades A to C including English and Mathematics

Job description

Overview

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) invites applications for a B4 Senior Support Planner as part of the Lewisham community mental health pilot. The closing date is 05 October 2025.

What We Offer

• A Unique Care Model: Join a programme focused on community, social inclusion, and holistic recovery.
• Supportive Environment: Collaborate with peers, contribute to a recovery‑oriented care system, and make a real difference.
• Development Opportunities: Be part of a pioneering team shaping the future of mental health care, with training and career growth built‑in.

Main duties of the job

To provide support to adults using Community Mental Health services within the Lewisham Pilot who require a period of re‑ablement, stabilisation or social inclusion. They will be working in a senior support planning role undertaking tasks as required as part of providing a high‑quality service.

Support Planners will be based within the neighbourhood‑based community mental health team which provide integrated health and social care. Their aim will be to provide direct support to services users to reach their full potential, to optimise and maintain their independence, and to exercise choice and control over the way that they live their lives.

About us

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) offer the widest range of NHS mental health services in the UK as well as substance misuse services for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. We work closely with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King’s College London and are part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre. There are very few organisations in the world that have such wide‑ranging capabilities working with mental illness. Our scope is unique because it is built on three major foundations: care and treatment, science and research, and training.

SLaM employ around 5000 staff and serve a local population of 1.1 million people. We have more than 230 services including inpatient wards, outpatient and community services. Currently, provide inpatient care for approximately 5,300 people each year and treat more than 45,000 patients in the community in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark; as well as substance misuse services for residents of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich.

By coming to work at SLaM, you will gain experience of being part of an organisation with a rich history and international reputation in mental health care. You will have access to professional development and learning opportunities and have the chance to work alongside people who are world leaders in their field

Job responsibilities

1. To participate in the assessment of service users' mental, social and physical health needs, including risk assessment and early signs of relapse, promptly reporting observations to those in the team with responsibility for care.
2. To work in partnership with service‑users, carers and more senior staff to identify goals and to develop self‑directed support plans.
3. To identify and overcome barriers to achieving goals by providing practical time‑limited support to service‑users in the community to assist them to develop skills and to access available resources.
4. To take responsibility for in the planning and delivery of support in a way which promotes independence, recovery and social inclusion, including delivery of group interventions.
5. To support care coordinators and occupational therapists to review for ongoing care packages following a period of re‑ablement and as part of the process of Self‑Directed Support for those who are eligible for care packages and Personal Budgets. This may include delivering graded interventions in a person’s home. To undertake assessment including Dialog and peoples level of function in the community and readiness to engage with community resources.
6. To deliver interventions for a designated caseload as agreed by the MDT within scope of practice
7. To contribute to regular reviews of progress against the service user's goals and to work with service users to revise goals as necessary.
8. Planning and Facilitation of groups/activities alongside the PSWs in the service including risk assessment
9. Proactive development of relationships with voluntary/non‑statutory providers in the borough. Leading on process of information sharing and updating on what is support is available in community.
10. Monitoring attendance at community groups and clinical outcomes and initiating new ways of working with community groups.
11. To provide cover for other support planning staff within the service during periods of absence, ensuring junior support planners duties are completed where required.
12. To provide leadership for the day programme particularly out of hours.
13. Order and monitor stock, ensuring materials meet safety specifications as required to ensure a safe environment.
14. Assist with the induction of new support staff planners to the team
15. Provide supervision to junior support planners on a regular basis (monthly) where delegated and as appropriate, identifying training and development needs. To maintain full and appropriate signed written records of all supervision sessions
16. To address issues of poor performance in conjunction with the Business Manager in accordance with Trust Policy and Procedure.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good basic level of education with at least 5 GCSE grades A to C (or equivalent) including English and Mathematics

Experience

• Substantial Experience of working directly with mental health service‑users in a care or support role or in the community sector. (I/A)
• Evidence of Ability to work in a person‑centred way when assisting service users to overcome barriers (A/I)
• Experience of advocating for vulnerable people as and when necessary (A/I)
• Ability to develop effective working partnerships with a variety of people including service users and team members (A/I)
• Experience of leadership in terms of team work and taking on projects, working as part of team in a care or support setting (A/I)
• Flexibility to work a shift pattern of 8am - 8pm across a 7‑day service
• Experience of working within an inner‑city environment and working with a diverse population (A)
• Knowledge of mental health systems and services locally and nationally (A/I)
• Lived Experience of advocating and supporting friends or family members facing mental health challenges.

Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written (A & T)
• Awareness and understanding of the importance of maintaining confidentiality and data protection procedures (A & I)
• Understanding of the needs of people with mental health problems including a graded approach to recovery (I/A)
• Good understanding of Equality and Diversity issues (I/A).
• Knowledge of Recovery model (A/I)
• Understanding of benefits system as it pertains to service users with mental health issues(A/I)
• Experience of Self‑Directed Support and/or personalised health or social care budgets (A/I)

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.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

£33,094 to £36,195 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS