Mental Health Support Worker - Clacton

Mid-and-North-East-Essex-Mind-2; Tendring; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday plus bank holidays (pp

Pension scheme

Training and development

Flexible working options

Wellbeing day

Onsite parking

Job summary

North East Essex Sanctuary seeks compassionate Sanctuary Support Workers to assist people experiencing mental health crises across North East Essex. Roles include 10:00–18:00 and/or 18:00–23:00 shifts, across full and part-time hours, on-site at Clacton and Colchester locations.

You will provide emotional support through active listening and de‑escalation, helping service users access appropriate help while reducing demand on emergency services.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 or demonstrable experience at that level.
• Experience supporting people in emotional distress or mental health crisis situations.
• Good IT skills and the ability to maintain accurate records.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and inclusive, person-centred approach.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively to a team.

Responsibilities

• Providing personalised support, information and guidance to people accessing the service.
• Assessing, monitoring and supporting individuals on a one-to-one basis and through group activities.
• Communicating effectively with referrers, partner agencies and colleagues to ensure timely support.
• Encouraging service users to develop self-management strategies and make best use of local resources.
• Signposting and referring individuals to appropriate internal and external services.
• Maintaining accurate records and case notes in line with service procedures and GDPR requirements.
• Participating in supervision, team meetings, training and ongoing professional development.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations to support positive outcomes for service user.

Skills

Active listening

Communication

Calm under pressure

IT skills

Independent work

Team collaboration

Literacy & numeracy

Education

NVQ level 3

Job description

Employment Type

Full Time, Part Time, Permanent, Full & Part Time

Application Start Date

14-09-2026

Application End Date

05-10-2026

Location

Clacton

State/County

East of England

CO15 1NZ

Country

United Kingdom

Work Style

On-site

Position

Mental health

Education

NVQ level 3 or demonstrable experience at that level

Description

We are seeking compassionate and resilient Sanctuary Support Workers to provide vital support to people experiencing mental health crises across North East Essex.

Hours: Full time and Part time roles available working shifts 10:00 - 18:00 and/or 18:00 - 23:00, Monday to Sunday including bank holidays

Conract: Permanent

About the Role

North East Essex Sanctuary provides a safe and supportive environment for people who may be at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis. Working as part of an experienced and dedicated team, you will provide emotional support through active listening, de-escalation and distraction techniques, helping individuals access the right support while reducing the need for urgent or emergency care services.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing personalised support, information and guidance to people accessing the service.
• Assessing, monitoring and supporting individuals on a one-to-one basis and through group activities.
• Communicating effectively with referrers, partner agencies and colleagues to ensure timely support.
• Encouraging service users to develop self-management strategies and make best use of local resources.
• Signposting and referring individuals to appropriate internal and external services.
• Maintaining accurate records and case notes in line with service procedures and GDPR requirements.
• Participating in supervision, team meetings, training and ongoing professional development.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations to support positive outcomes for service user

About You

We are looking for someone with excellent interpersonal skills who is passionate about supporting people during challenging times.

• Experience supporting people in emotional distress, mental health crisis situations or other demanding environments.
• Strong active listening and communication skills.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure and manage challenging situations sensitively.
• Good IT skills and the ability to maintain accurate records.
• The ability to work independently while contributing positively to a team.
• A good standard of literacy and numeracy.
• A commitment to providing inclusive, person-centred support.

Experience within mental health services, group facilitation, safeguarding, risk assessment or de‑escalation techniques would be advantageous.

About the Organisation

North East Essex Sanctuary operates from locations in Clacton and Colchester, with outreach provision in Harwich. Working in partnership with Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), the service supports local communities by providing timely mental health crisis support. The organisation is committed to the values of Listening, Co-producing, Trusted, Inclusive, Innovative and Supportive, ensuring high-quality services that place people at the heart of everything they do.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Mental Health Support Worker, Recovery Worker, Crisis Support Worker, Community Support Worker, Wellbeing Practitioner, Mental Health Recovery Practitioner, Outreach Worker, Support Practitioner, Care Coordinator, Healthcare Support Worker, Emotional Wellbeing Worker, Residential Support Worker or Peer Support Worker.

Occasional work at our Colchester site may be required.

We offer our staff a range of health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial benefits to ensure that we fully support our employees. This includes:

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
• holiday purchase scheme
• competitive pension
• recruitment referral bonus, training and development, opportunity for flexible working
• annual wellbeing day
• expert support, an extended lunch break each week
• onsite parking at most locations
• company sick pay based on length of service and a charity worker discount scheme

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, collaborating with our communities and partners to drive innovation and better decision-making. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds to try to ensure we better represent our communities.

Join us in creating an environment where everyone feels supported, respected, and valued. Let’s build a community that thrives on inclusivity and mutual respect.