Recovery Support Worker

LSCft; Kendal; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) is seeking a compassionate Recovery Support Worker for Kentmere Ward in Kendal. You will deliver a structured programme of leisure and therapeutic activities, supporting service users in a recovery-focused environment.

You will collaborate with occupational therapy and nursing staff, engage carers and families, and contribute to a holistic care plan while working across seven days and evenings as required.

Qualifications

• NVQ3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent completed within 12 months.
• Willing to complete Violence Reduction training.

Responsibilities

• Support patients in engaging with activities on the ward, grounds, or community.
• Plan and deliver a varied leisure, creative and therapeutic programme.
• Build supportive relationships with service users, carers and families.
• Work across 7 days including evenings to meet service needs.

Skills

Work without supervision

Motivate with activities

Team player

Education

NVQ Level 3 Health & SocialCare

Care certificate (or equivalent)

Job description

Site Westmorland General Hospital - Kentmere Ward Town Kendal Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annuum, pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 09/10/2026 23:59

Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism, community, and physical health services for the populations we serve.

As an integrated Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCFT) delivers a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults, including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, and forensic services with low and medium secure care.
• Specialist mental health inpatient care for individuals with learning disabilities, alongside specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
• Extensive community physical health and well-being services for children and adults, covering prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term condition management.

The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,500 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health, general nurses, children’s nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers, as well as those specialising in learning disabilities and community physical health services.

Kentmere Ward is looking for a compassionate and creative Recovery Support Worker to join our multidisciplinary team on our female mental health inpatient unit.

You’ll play a key role in delivering meaningful, therapeutic activities that promote the Five Ways to Wellbeing: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, Give. Working alongside occupational therapists, nursing staff, and other professionals, you’ll help create a structured, engaging, and recovery-focused environment for our service users.

Main duties of the job

This role is not eligible for sponsorship.

As a Recovery Support Worker, you will support patients in engaging with individual and group activities on the ward, in the grounds, or in the community. You will help plan and deliver a varied programme of leisure, creative, and therapeutic activities. You will build positive, supportive relationships with service users, carers, and families, promoting a welcoming, inclusive, and recovery-focused environment. You will maintain strong links with community resources to support continuity of care post-discharge. Flexibility is key, as you will work across 7 days, including evenings, to meet service needs.

We are looking for someone with experience or interest in mental health, social care, or therapeutic activities. You should have a creative and person-centred approach to supporting recovery, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. Enthusiasm for promoting wellbeing and meaningful engagement is essential and you will be part of a supportive and passionate team. There will be access to training and development opportunities within this position.

Working for our organisation

LSCFT values diversity and inclusion, recognising that talent from varied backgrounds creates a flexible, creative, and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from all, regardless of age, disability (including those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.

Our aim is to reflect the communities we serve, so we particularly encourage applications from under-represented groups.

We also welcome individuals with lived experience relevant to the role or service area, as your insight brings authenticity to our services.

LSCFT support flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as term time, part time, compressed hours and flexi-time.

The wellbeing of our people is at the heart of everything we do. We offer a wide range of resources, tools and support to help you thrive both in and out of work.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role.

Person specification

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or care certificate completed (or willingness to complete in first 12 months from appointment) or equivalent knowledge skills and experience
• Ability to undertake Violence Reduction physical intervention training.

Experience

• Supporting people with mental illness e.g. nursing home, hospital ward, as a carer

Skills

• Able to work without direct supervision to deliver a programme of distraction activities.
• Able to motivate service users using activity.
• Ability to work as a team and network with other agencies.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.