Community Support Worker

Devon Partnership NHS Trust; Highweek; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Devon Partnership NHS Trust in Teignbridge is seeking a Community Support Worker to join the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team. You will provide responsive, person-centred support in the community, delivering crisis interventions as part of an integrated MDT.

You will work with clinicians, social workers and peer supporters, helping service users access housing, benefits and local services while maintaining records and upholding safeguarding.

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health settings and crisis interventions.
• Experience working with MDTs and safeguarding principles.
• Willingness to travel across Devon and work flexible hours.

Responsibilities

• Provide responsive, person-centred support to individuals experiencing mental health crisis in the community.
• Work collaboratively with clinicians, social workers, and peer support workers.
• Deliver practical and emotional support to promote recovery, safety and wellbeing.
• Assist in crisis de-escalation and safety planning.
• Support service users to access housing, benefits and community resources.
• Maintain accurate and timely records in line with Trust policies.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision and training.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all care aspects.
• Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of the crisis pathway.

Skills

Care planning

Crisis intervention

MDT teamwork

Boundary maintenance

Travel flexibility

Education

NVQ/ QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care

Basic Education

Care Certificate

Phlebotomy qualification

Job description

The Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team is a pivotal service whose main focus is to offer an alternative to an inpatient admission and provide intensive treatment as required within the community. The service will also ensure effective gatekeeping of all service users referred to the service for admission to Hospital. The service will operate on an outreach basis with the majority of assessments taking place in non-Hospital environments.

We are currently recruiting a Community Support worker for the Teignbridge CRHTT.

The post holder will be an active member of the integrated multi-disciplinary team (MDT), providing a 24-hour community-based Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Service as an alternative to hospital admission.

As part of a MDT, the Community Support Worker is a pivotal role in shaping, implementing and facilitating interventions for individuals with a diverse mental health needs within the community.

Under the direction and leadership of a qualified Mental Health Professional, the team are responsible for:

• Deliver a collaborative care plan with specific home interventions and goals.
• Offer crisis resolution as an alternative to hospital admission, available 24 hours per day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year.
• Serve as the gatekeeper for inpatient hospital beds.

Main duties of the job

• Provide responsive, person-centred support to individuals experiencing mental health crisis in the community.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians, social workers, and peer support workers.
• Deliver practical and emotional support to service users, promoting recovery, safety, and wellbeing.
• Assist in crisis de-escalation and safety planning, both face-to-face and via telephone support.
• Support service users to access appropriate services, including housing, benefits, and community resources.
• Maintain accurate and timely records in line with Trust policies and procedures.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and training to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of care and support.
• Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to meet the needs of the crisis pathway.

About us

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 responsibilities

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification which will provide further information on this role.

Candidate Note: If you choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in completing your application, please ensure that all responses accurately represent your own experience, skills, and suitability for the role. It is essential that your application remains authentic and truthful. We also encourage you to review the guidance attached before submission.

If you require a certificate of sponsorship to work in the UK you are advised to review the "Coming to work in the UK Visa Information" link in the supporting links section to ensure this role and your current circumstances meet the requirements for sponsorship

If you would like to discuss the certificate of sponsorship and whether your current circumstances meet the requirement for sponsorship email [e-mail] for further advice

Person Specification

Experience

• Previous employment / experience of working with people in a caring situation or previous experience working in a different role within mental health services
• Extensive experience of working within Mental Health settings. Experience of delivering crisis interventions
• Awareness of safeguarding principles.
• Experience of working within a MDT.
• Experience of working autonomously.
• Experience of monitoring Physical Health
• Experience of working within psychiatric inpatient environments. Experience of working within Crisis Services

Mobility

• This role involves frequent travel across Devon, including to locations not well served by public transport. Applicants must be able to meet these travel requirements reliably. Access to suitable transport will be necessary and candidates will need to independently use appropriate arrangements (e.g. access to a vehicle).

Knowledge & Skills

• Able to plan work, time management, completing records and recording observations etc.
• To take leadership and direction from qualified staff.
• To participate in unsupervised tasks and provide accurate feedback to relevant parties.
• Ability and awareness to maintain personal boundaries
• Problem Solving Skills
• Ability to travel to multiple locations (as required) throughout the trust.

Qualifications

• 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.
• Basic Education
• NVQ level 3, QCF Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent qualification.
• Qualified in Phlebotomy
• Other evidence of training or development relevant to working within a mental health setting.

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.