Health Support Worker

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; Leeds; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in mental health in Leeds is seeking a Health Support Worker to deliver high-quality community assessment and inpatient care. The role requires effective communication and teamwork, alongside a qualification in mental health. Responsibilities include supporting service users and participating in clinical risk management as part of a 24/7 service. Benefits include flexible working arrangements and comprehensive employee support.

Benefits

27 - 33 days annual leave

NHS Pension Scheme

Career development opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• NVQ level 2/3 or certificate in mental health.
• Effective communication and team working.
• Experience of working in mental health services.
• Knowledge of common mental health problems.

Responsibilities

• Support service users with appointments.
• Involve in effective risk management.
• Make onward referrals as necessary.
• Support service users in community safety planning.
• Facilitate delegated tasks with service users.

Skills

Effective communication

Team working

Experience in mental health services

Understanding of common mental health problems

Education

NVQ level 2/3 or certificate in mental health

Job description

Go back Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

Health Support Worker

The closing date is 13 November 2025

The role of the Health Support Worker is to deliver high quality community assessment and inpatient care under supervision from qualified colleagues. The post holder will provide therapeutic support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to actively engage in their unique recovery process. The post requires effective liaison with service users, carers, and other professionals and agencies as required. It will involve the provision of direct physical and psychological care, offering therapeutic time to a defined client group working at all times within the principles of recovery. Our Health Support Workers are at the centre of engaging our service users, not just in ward based activity and therapy but also within the local community.

The purpose of this post is to provide and support the highest standards of evidence based clinical practice, in all areas of the work of the Crisis Assessment Unit and Police Pathway. This will be achieved directly through clinical practice and participating in clinical support and supervision.

The CAU/Police Pathway provide a 24 hour, 7 day service and the post holder will be expected to work shifts that support the provision of patient care. The post-holder will be expected to rotate between the Crisis Assessment Unit and the S136 Suite (incorporating Street Triage) on a shift-by-shift basis. When working within the police pathway, there may be an expectation to be available for timely response to Street Triage calls.

Main duties of the job

• To contribute to the evaluation of care plans by reporting observations accurately and regularly.
• To at all times promote a positive image and the good reputation of the Trust.
• To establish a supportive and respectful relationship with service users.
• Model personal responsibility, self-awareness, self-belief, self-advocacy and hopefulness via appropriate and timely relating of own recovery story to inspire and instil confidence in peers.
• Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other multidisciplinary team members, service users and carers.
• To raise awareness of recovery language with Trust staff by modelling, non-discriminatory, non- jargon, non-medicalised language in all areas of work.
• To maintain accurate records of client care, informing senior clinicians of any changes in the client\'s health or social care. To contribute to the evaluation of care plans by reporting observations and interventions accurately and regularly in case notes. Also to make clear written records in relation to any task or clinical practice that relates to individualised care e.g. liaison with family members.
• The post holder will have daily access to information of a confidential nature and will be expected to comply with NHS guidelines on confidentiality and information sharing.

About us

The Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LYPFT) is the main provider of Mental Health and Learning Disability services in Leeds. We also provide specialist inpatient services in York and some highly specialised services across the country. As a teaching trust with strong links to local universities, we are a centre of excellence for teaching, research and development.

There are many benefits of working for LYPFT including fantastic employee wellbeing support, 27 - 33 days annual leave, flexible working and remote working arrangements, the NHS Pension Scheme, coaching, support and opportunities for career development and training and education support alongside a range of exclusive discounts and payment schemes including for cars, extra leave days and more NHS Discount Offers.

We also have a bank department, offering variety of roles in nursing, allied health professions, healthcare support worker and administration clerical. Permanent employees are automatically added to bank.

Applicants should be aware that individuals requiring a visa to work in the UK, the Trust only provides sponsorship for registered healthcare practitioner roles(this does not include Healthcare Support Workers). This is an essential requirement, and the Trust is unable to offer you a role if you do not meet Trust requirements for sponsorship and Home Office requirements for a visa.

Job responsibilities

To support service users, as required, by providing an escort to appointments, as directed by qualified staff. This can involve working without immediate supervision of senior staff, for extended periods, while escorting people away from the ward.

Involvement in the process of effective risk management including assessment, planning, intervention and on-going monitoring of risk factors.

To make onward referrals, both internal and external of the trust including to the AMHPs to notify them of 136 detentions.

To carry out tasks relating to an individuals care package under the direction of senior team members such as shift coordinators.

To support service users within the community to complete collaborative safety-planning.

To work on a 1:1 or in groups with service users facilitating delegated tasks.

To independently manage delegated tasks and seek support and supervision when complex situations arise.

We recruit people based on their values and qualifications (where required) and believe that their lived experience is an advantage, this means that together we are as diverse as the communities we care for. Simply put, when we employ caring people who act with integrity and have the right skills, we can give those with mental health challenges, learning disabilities and neurodiversity high-quality care and support to live fulfilling lives, and make our staff feel purposeful, happy and valued.

All our information is available in accessible formats. Please contact the Recruitment team [e-mail]

Attached to this advert is our candidates guide to values-based recruitment and supporting guidance on how to make a successful application.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Recruitment Team or see the attached candidate guide to reasonable adjustments.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• NVQ level 2/3 or certificate in mental health
• Effective communication and team working
• Experience of working in mental health services
• Knowledge of common mental health problems

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 name

Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust