Community Connector for Westminster Talking Therapies

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days annual leave

NHS discount

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust's Westminster Talking Therapies Service is seeking a Community Connector to raise awareness, build partnerships with community groups, and improve access to psychological therapies in Westminster.

You will run workshops, engage with local GPs, and work flexibly across community settings, libraries and hubs while delivering inclusive, person-centred support.

Qualifications

• Essential Level 2 literacy / ESOL equivalent.
• Desirable university degree in mental health or related field.
• Experience or knowledge of engaging with diverse Westminster communities.
• Ability to present information to various audiences.

Responsibilities

• Promote mental health awareness and improve access to psychological therapies in Westminster.
• Deliver psycho-educational activities and workshops in community settings.
• Engage with local GPs and voluntary sector partners to facilitate referrals.
• Build and maintain partnerships with community groups and local organisations.
• Support flexible, face-to-face engagement across hubs and community venues.

Skills

Community liaison

Public speaking

Written communication

Interpersonal skills

IT literacy

Client advocacy

Education

Level 2 NVQ or equivalent

University degree in mental health

Tools

Electronic patient records

GP systems

Job description

Westminster Talking Therapies Service is located in the diverse London borough of Westminster. This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Community Connector. We are looking for individuals who have experience of working with their local communities, to help our team build relationships and raise awareness of Westminster Talking Therapies. You will be working to promote wellbeing and support for our local community groups, particularly those who experience barriers to accessing talking therapies services in partnership with community and voluntary sector organisations.

You will play a key role in raising awareness and the profile of the service, through promoting the service in a proactive manner, and building good partnerships with community and third sector partners. You will work alongside our clinical staff in delivering workshops within the community, and also engaging with our local GPs to explore barriers to making referrals and accessing our service.

You will be offered supervision and supported with further development within the area of mental health and psychological therapies, and provided with relevant training.

We are looking for candidates who enjoy working with diverse communities, who have strong connections to the Borough of Westminster and who are experienced at community liaison and promoting mental health to different groups.

Candidates who speak local languages and/or live in Westminster will also be at an advantage.

Main duties of the job

You will enable increased access to a range of psychological interventions for the local community of Westminster. Westminster has a highly diverse community and there are significant barriers to accessing talking therapies services either via self-referral or through other professionals.

This role will provide an alternative route into psychological support, engaging with local community groups and the voluntary sector to promote mental health and facilitate access to the Westminster Talking Therapies Service in a way that is responsive and sensitive to the needs of local groups.

The post holder will make a vital contribution to the overall delivery of psychological therapy by the service and work to ensure that the people who use our services have a good experience by listening, respecting, empowering and working in partnership to achieve desired outcomes.

We support flexible working and candidates are required to be out in the community engaging with different groups face to face for a large part of their working week.

While typical working hours are Monday - Friday, there is an expectation to work some evenings to offer flexibility to community organisations and faith groups as required. Additionally, it is anticipated that the work will include occasional weekend work which will be agreed in advance.

Working for our organisation

The catchment area of the post is the London borough of Westminster. The main hub for the service is based at our south hub on 190 Vauxhall Bridge Road and at our north hub at 11 Praed Street. You will be required to work across both hubs and in other parts of the borough, e.g. community settings, including libraries and community centres.

We operate an agile working policy where staff combine remote working and being on-site to deliver face‑to‑face appointments and other service commitments that require a hub‑based presence. The post-holder will work full‑time hours and may be required to work at any times between 8am and 8pm on weekdays including an evening clinic as required by the service. Occasional weekend work may also be required and this will be agreed in advance with the Community Development and Engagement Lead.

Benefits of working for Westminster include:

• Westminster Talking Therapies Service has close links with the CNWL Talking Therapies teams and there are opportunities for further development.
• 27 days of annual leave, plus bank holidays, with an increase to 33 days with continuous service.
• NHS discount.
• Opportunities for career progression.
• If you would like to see what it's like to work for CNWL please have a look at https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/work.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

You will deliver psycho-educational workshops within various community settings and focus on building community relationships through promotional and outreach work, and work in partnership with projects already ongoing within the borough around health inequalities and outreach into local communities.

Please note: This vacancy does not meet the criteria for Skilled Worker sponsorship, unless you meet the criteria by temporary exemption from current changes to immigration rules put in force on 22/07/2025. Separate provisions are applied to workers who have been sponsored and held continuously Skilled Worker visa since prior to 04/04/2024.

As such, if you don’t meet the Transitional Provision above we are unable to consider your application unless you can provide documentary evidence of your right to work in the United Kingdom. If you believe you are eligible for sponsorship or already hold a valid right to work in the UK, please ensure you provide full details of your immigration status in the Pre-Screening Immigration section of your application form.

Please note role eligibility also depends on whether the role meets the salary threshold for the relevant occupational code (SOC CODE).

For further info please visit Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK.

Person specification

Qualification

Essential criteria

• Relevant Level 2 NVQ or Equivalent. National Certificate in Literacy / ESOL Level 2 or equivalent experience or the ability to work towards one.

Desirable criteria

• University degree level or a equivalent qualification in mental health.

Experience

Essential criteria

• Experience or knowledge of community liaison and working within diverse communities and groups within the Westminster Borough including with people from Black and Ethnic minority backgrounds and with various stakeholders.
• Practical experience or a good understanding of the population of the Westminster Borough.
• Experience of delivering presentations, using interactive ways to engage the audiences.
• Experience or knowledge of working with vulnerable people and/or communities and those experiencing loss, bereavement and mental health difficulties.
• Demonstrates high standards in written communication.

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of working in and connections to the local community in Westminster.
• Experience of working in Primary Care Services.
• Experience of maintaining an active awareness of service level targets.

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Able to provide & receive sensitive information.
• Able to work both independently and effectively within a team.
• Excellent communication skills including telephone skills, writing skills and listening skill.
• Ability to present information to various audiences.
• Aware of and sensitive to the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health and barriers to accessing services.
• Ability to work in collaboration with other people and/or agencies.
• Competent in IT and ability to use patient electronic systems and digital packages.
• Able to be flexible and adapt approach according to need.
• Ability to adapt to a new role which is continually developing.
• Ability to feedback relevant information obtained from community with team effectively.

Desirable criteria

• Graduate level knowledge of research design and methodology.

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Able to communicate with a wide range of people from different backgrounds and disciplines.
• Demonstrates an understanding and knowledge of certain barriers the community face in accessing NHS services and the health inequalities present in Westminster.
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental health.
• Demonstrates an understanding of common mental health problems.

Desirable criteria

• Demonstrate knowledge of marketing principles.

Other

Essential criteria

• Able to work independently and manage complex sets of relationships with various agencies and GP practices.
• Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation.
• Connections to the local community in Westminster and a knowledge of local networks and local communities.
• Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
• Able to work to professional guidelines.
• Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality.
• Must be capable of accountability for own work, and of working towards defined results.
• Able to manage effectively exposure to emotional circumstances.
• Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals.

Desirable criteria

• Fluent in languages other than English, in particular Arabic, Bengali, Farsi or Mandarin.
• Lived experience of mental health issues.
• Ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation.