Recovery Specialist

Southdown Housing Association; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health cost cash-back scheme

Interest-free loans

Access to the Easit Network

Blue Light card

Free advice and counselling service

25 days paid holiday

Job summary

Southdown Housing Association is seeking a Recovery Specialist to support people with complex emotional needs in Eastbourne and surrounding wellbeing centres. You will run psychoeducational and community groups, co-facilitate sessions, and help clients develop safety plans as part of a recovery-focused, person-centred approach.

The role is permanent, 26 hours per week, with a salary of £28,640 per year and a DBS check paid by Southdown.

Qualifications

• Experience of mental health challenges.
• Good understanding of working in partnership to support people in a community setting.
• Knowledge of mental health services and a desire to support people in their mental health recovery work.
• A DBS check (Standard) which will be paid for by Southdown.

Responsibilities

• Co-facilitate psychoeducational groups and client forums.
• Run groups in-person at Wellbeing Centres or online as required.
• Use the co-production model to create safety management plans and explore services or resources with clients.

Job description

Recovery Specialist

Application Deadline: 23 September 2026

Department: Mental Health and Wellbeing Services

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: East Sussex - Eastbourne

Reporting To: Team Manager

Compensation: £28,640 / year

Description

Location: Eastbourne, Lewes and Bexhill Wellbeing Centres

Salary: £28,640 per year, pro rata

Hours: 26 hours per week

What you’ll be doing:

Southdown is one of the leading providers of mental health services in Sussex. Thinking Well is a specialist service in East Sussex which works with people with complex emotional needs/Personality Disorder. People with these difficulties can struggle with regulating emotions, managing relationships, impulsivity, and self-harm.

As a Recovery Specialist, you’ll provide mental health support and hope to clients in a social setting through psychoeducational and community groups. You will be expected to co-facilitate Structural Clinical Management-informed psychoeducational groups and activities as well as client forums. While most groups will be in-person at the Wellbeing Centres on a rotational basis, you may be required to run groups online. You will also use the co-production model to create safety management plans and explore mental health services or resources with clients.

This role would suit candidates who want to expand on a career in mental health or develop skills working within a community group setting to support people experiencing mental health challenges.

If you are passionate about providing recovery focused support to enable clients to reach their goals, we’d love to hear from you. We welcome applications from candidates with previous relevant experience such as Mental Health Support Worker, Support Worker, Social Prescriber, Case Manager, Social Worker, Care Coordinator, Mental Health Specialist or Service Coordinator.

Perks and benefits

• Health cost cash-back scheme: access to our health insurance scheme which covers dental, optical, physical therapies and other medical treatments with the option to add greater levels of cover.
• Interest-free loans: assistance with larger costs that arise such as tenancy deposits, season travel tickets or buying a car.
• Access to the Easit Network: discounts and incentives on train, bus and car journeys such as 15% off eligible daily and season rail tickets.
• Blue Light card: access to discount services for the social care sector with savings across thousands of online shops, restaurants, and high-street vendors.
• Free advice and counselling service: confidential emotional support and practical guidance from our independent telephone service.
• 25 days paid holiday plus bank holidays.

Skills, knowledge and experience

What you’ll need for the role:

• Experience of mental health challenges
• You’ll need a good understanding of working in partnership to support people in a community setting
• You have knowledge of mental health services and a desire to support people in their mental health recovery work
• A Standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which will be paid for by Southdown

Training:

You’ll receive a comprehensive induction followed up with regular training from our award winning in house team. We’ll help you to gain valuable experience, continually develop your skills and build a great career with the largest provider of housing, care and support in Sussex.