Community Support Worker (Primary Care Network) in St Albans

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis? Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress? If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.

We are looking for a Community Support Worker to join our team. The Primary Care Network (PCN) Service works in partnership with GP surgeries in Hertfordshire to provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to individuals who are experiencing mental ill health or need support with their mental wellbeing.

Community Support (PCN) Service Objectives

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental ill health.
• To increase early access to help for people experiencing mental ill health, by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided by Herts Mind Network and other third sector and statutory providers.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To reduce the use of crisis services by people experiencing mental ill health without positive outcomes for the individual.
• To contribute to an improvement in the proportion of people with mental ill health who are accessing support.
• To provide an assertive outreach approach for clients who are in crisis and/or those that may have complex or multiple needs.

The Successful Candidate will

• Provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients who are experiencing mental ill health or need support with their mental wellbeing.
• Maintain and enhance service delivery standards and effectiveness.
• Promote the service, increasing visibility and being responsive to changing needs.
• Provide practical and emotional support to encourage service users to develop their independence within their local community.
• Ensure that the safety and wellbeing of service users using the service is monitored and reviewed regularly.
• Remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• Embed a person centred and recovery orientated approach in all aspects of the roles and responsibilities.

Key Accountabilities

• To receive referrals from a wide range of referral pathways.
• To undertake initial contact with clients and complete a holistic needs assessment, making use of assertive outreach work to achieve the initial client contact, if required.
• To provide holistic support both outreach and in our centres and advocacy services to clients experiencing mental ill health.
• Ensure all person-centered risk assessments and support plans are completed as appropriate.
• To accompany clients to initial visits and appointments as necessary in order to ensure the sustained use of existing support services.
• To liaise with other agencies to ensure that clients receive appropriate support and continue to remain engaged with the service.
• To assist clients to access appropriate mental health services, drug and alcohol services, housing/tenancy services and other services according to assessed needs.
• To establish effective pathways across a variety of agencies to maximise and provide effective partnership working.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays).
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.
• Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.

Closing date for receipt of applications is on 1st May 2026 5pm. Interviews to be held on a rolling basis at our Watford Wellbeing centre. Please note: this role may close sooner due to demand in applications.

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs. Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. Our inclusive approach recognises the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that lived experience brings to our team.

No agencies please.