Support Worker – NHS Band 4 – UK Visa Sponsorship in Wells

Job Details

Job Title: Dual Diagnosis Support Worker (also referred to as Dual Diagnosis Recovery Worker).

Employer: Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Location: The Bridge, Glastonbury Road, Wells, Somerset, BA5 1TJ, United Kingdom. The role operates across community settings, including service users' homes.

Job Sector: NHS, community mental health and substance misuse services.

Main Purpose: Support adults experiencing both mental health difficulties and substance use problems, helping them engage with services, manage risks and work towards recovery and independent living.

Work Environment: Community-based and multidisciplinary, involving collaboration with mental health professionals, substance misuse services and external partner agencies.

Visa Sponsorship: Applications from candidates who require Skilled Worker visa sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside other applications.

Responsibilities

• Provide regular practical and emotional support to adults experiencing co-existing mental health and substance use difficulties.
• Build and maintain trusting, therapeutic relationships with service users, particularly those at risk of disengaging from care.
• Manage an assigned caseload and maintain consistent contact through outreach and other engagement activities.
• Deliver structured, recovery-focused interventions, including motivational support and relapse-prevention planning.
• Help service users develop daily living skills, improve social inclusion and access appropriate community resources.
• Support coordination between mental health teams, drug and alcohol services and other partner organisations.
• Contribute to assessments, individualised care planning, implementation and reviews.
• Monitor changes in service users’ mental health and risk levels, identify early warning signs and escalate concerns appropriately.
• Follow safeguarding procedures, Trust policies and clinical governance requirements.
• Work alongside the Dual Diagnosis Clinical Lead, care coordinators and wider multidisciplinary teams.
• Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to audits, service evaluations and reporting.
• Identify unmet needs and contribute to service development and improved care delivery.
• Undertake community visits, including visits to service users' homes, sometimes working independently in challenging environments.

Requirements

Essential requirements

• Qualifications: A care-related HNC/HND or equivalent, such as NVQ Level 3, or Level 2 while working towards Level 3.
• Experience: At least 12 months’ experience working with people in the mental health or addictions sector.
• Specialist knowledge: Understanding of mental health issues and the policies underpinning clinical assessment and risk management.
• Communication: Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Organisation: Ability to prioritise tasks, plan workloads and manage time effectively.
• Driving: A valid driving licence and access to a car.
• DBS check: Willingness to undergo the required Disclosure and Barring Service criminal-record check.
• Professional approach: Ability to work collaboratively, manage competing demands and support people with complex needs.
• Additional care-related qualifications.
• Extensive experience supporting people with dual diagnosis or complex needs.
• Patience, resilience and an empathetic understanding of people experiencing mental health and substance use difficulties.
• Conflict-resolution skills and resilience when dealing with potentially verbally aggressive behaviour.
• Ability to work safely in challenging environments during home visits.

Desirable requirements

• Assistant Practitioner Level 5 qualification.

Benefits

• NHS pension scheme: Supports long-term retirement planning.
• Generous annual leave: Paid time off to support work-life balance.
• Flexible working options: Potential flexibility to accommodate personal commitments.
• Career development: Opportunities for professional learning and career progression.
• Blue Light Card: Access to discounts on shopping, dining, leisure and other eligible services.
• NHS-specific perks: Additional benefits for eligible NHS employees.
• Supportive, inclusive workplace: Opportunity to work within a multidisciplinary NHS team.
• Meaningful work: Help improve recovery, well-being and access to services for adults with complex needs.
• Potential Skilled Worker visa sponsorship: The advert explicitly welcomes applications from people who require sponsorship, although this does not guarantee that every applicant will qualify.

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