Specialist Support Worker

Confidential; Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave up to 30 days

Pension contribution up to 8%

Life assurance up to 3x Pensionable

Discounts via Reward Gateway

Blue Light Card access

Job summary

Look Ahead in Kingston is seeking two Specialist Support Workers to deliver structured, formulation-informed keywork for customers stepping down from secure care. You will contribute to risk assessment, safety planning and relational approaches within a multidisciplinary team.

The role is based in Kingston, offering a salary of £32,000 per annum for 40 hours per week, with annual leave up to 30 days and a pension contribution.

Qualifications

• Held a small keyworking caseload and co-produced support, risk and progression plans.
• Engaged with customers who may be distressed or hard to engage while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Monitored mental state and dynamic risk, escalating changes promptly.
• Contributed to MDT or multi-agency discussions with clear records.

Responsibilities

• Held a small keyworking caseload and co-produce support, risk, crisis, relapse-prevention and progression plans.
• Develop reliable, boundaried relationships with customers who may be distressed or difficult to engage.
• Monitor mental state, behaviour, dynamic risk and communicate significant changes promptly.

Skills

Trust & boundaries

Risk assessment & safeguarding

Record writing & documentation

Reflective curiosity

Coaching & learning

Job description

We're looking for two curious, compassionate and resilient Specialist Support Worker's to join our Forensic Mental Health service located in Kingston.

£32,000.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

In this service, the Specialist Support Workers will deliver structured, formulation-informed keywork for customers stepping down from secure care, while modelling strong practice across the team and developing a specialist portfolio in response to customer needs and service priorities.

What you'll do:

• Hold a small keyworking caseload and co-produce support, risk, crisis, relapse-prevention and progression plans.
• Develop reliable, professionally boundaried relationships with customers who may be distressed, guarded, ambivalent or difficult to engage.
• Monitor mental state, behaviour, dynamic risk and protective factors and communicate significant changes promptly.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

What you'll bring:

• Ability to build trust without losing professional boundaries, and to stay engaged when progress is uneven.
• Confidence contributing to risk assessment, safeguarding and safety planning and escalating concerns appropriately.
• Ability to write clear, useful plans and records and communicate well in MDT or multi-agency settings.
• A reflective, curious approach: able to ask what may be driving behaviour rather than responding only to what is visible.
• Willingness to share learning, coach colleagues and take ownership of a specialist area of practice.

Desirable:

• Forensic mental health legislation, restricted-patient pathways and public-protection arrangements.
• Relational security, formulation-informed practice and structured approaches to dynamic risk.

The service is anticipated to open on 4 January 2027, subject to contract finalisation, successful mobilisation and confirmation of operational readiness.