Community Engagement Practitioner in London

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Community Engagement Practitioner to play a pivotal role in our Barnet Voluntary Community Sector service.

You will work as part of a multidisciplinary NHS team alongside clinicians, social workers, and community partners to support adults with moderate to severe mental illness. Holding a caseload of service users, you will act as their key contact, contributing to care planning, monitoring progress, and supporting safe discharge using the RiO clinical records system. Together with service users, you will develop person-centred recovery plans focused on social goals and community integration, building strong therapeutic relationships through trauma-informed and strength-based approaches. You will help individuals access local resources, attend appointments, and engage in wellbeing activities, peer support, and psychoeducational groups.

Collaboration is central to the role, as you will liaise with statutory and voluntary organisations, attend clinical meetings and community events, and advocate for recovery-focused, jargon-free communication. You will ensure accurate documentation, uphold safeguarding and health & safety standards, and actively participate in supervision, training, and professional development.

What do I need to bring with me?

You will need to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don’t have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you’re willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

Here’s what the team will be looking for:

• NVQ Level 4 in Care (or equivalent) or at least two years’ experience in a mental health setting.
• A strong understanding of mental health issues, recovery, and co-production principles.
• Experience of working collaboratively with professionals, services, and communities.
• Knowledge of care planning, risk assessment, recovery tools, and the Mental Health Act.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and group facilitation skills.
• Confidence using IT systems, resilience, and adaptability.
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
• Commitment to person-centred, trauma-informed practice.

Interview Steps:

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: A team of dedicated recruitment specialists will speak to you about your experience, motivations, and values.
• Face to face interview: You will have a face-to-face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don’t be alarmed if there are other stages in the process; it’s all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion:

Our service users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent, and experiences different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer:

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement:

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children, and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates:

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed. We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.