Intermediate Recovery Support Worker

Site Balham Health Centre Town London Salary £34,186 - £37,389 per annum inclusive of inner London HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 08/10/2026 23:59

South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust has a rich history, well-established community links and an international reputation. We provide a full range of local mental health services to the Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth London boroughs, as well as specialist forensic mental health services, including specialised services such as national deaf adults and CAMHS inpatients and OCD.

We are committed to providing high quality integrated health and social care for local people with mental health problems in South West London and more specialist mental health services for people throughout the UK. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ however we aim to be ‘outstanding’.

Our Values

We take pride in providing specialist care to our service users where our Trust values; being consistent, compassionate, collaborative, respectful and open is at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is "making life better together".

When you join us, you’ll be part of something special – an innovative and rapidly growing organisation that is helping to redefine the Mental Health, education and social care landscape in the UK.

As a Trust, we are happy to talk flexible working.

Job overview

This role is for a Band 4 Recovery Support Worker, working closely care coordinators and a full MDT in the community team of nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists etc.

This role is an exciting opportunity to which allows you to use initiative, working aspartof a close-knit team. If you haven’t worked in the community before, this may be your chance to take a new direction in your career, if you have worked in the community before, you will know the flexibility, and variety that community work offers.

In this role you will be expected to facilitate Recovery through activities and be creative in the way you work with service users. Even more so we want our staff to engage with service users and understand their interests and passions and adapt working styles to suit them. RSWs also do 1:1 work with clients, in community settings, care homes, supported living environment and in client’s own homes. This includes focusing on work surrounding self-care, productivity, activities geared at social inclusion (getting into employment or college) and leisure (participating in interests or group activities).

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role include working with service users in the community andfacilitating activities that foster inclusion, self esteem, daily living skills and general wellbeing. We are always looking for new and creative ways to engage service users in the community and are open to RSW’s input in this area.

The other main duties include 1:1 work which could be anything from trying to motivate a service user to engage in social activities, such as taking them out to a coffee shop on a weekly basis, supporting service users to health care appointments, benefits, getting them involved in fitness, the gym, or sports, looking at people’s interests and supporting them to engage in these.Social inclusion would be a main part of the role, making connections and links in the community in order to integrate and support our service users to engage in meaningful activity.

Working with service users in the community, some of who may have forensic history, means risk assessment is one of the key areas to keep in mind. We are looking for someone thorough in their skills to risk assess, as well as use themselves therapeutically through rapport with service users.

Working for our organisation

We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust.

We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as ‘good’ - we aspire to be ‘outstanding’.

This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services.

We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.

We offer flexible working, career development and a varietybenefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.

Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.

Unless expressly stated in the job advert the role is not subject to sponsorship, please be advised that all offers of employment are subject to evidence of right to work in the UK.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Following an assessment, to provide practical and recovery focused support to service users and carers as described in their care plan.
• Working with care coordinators or lead clinicians to provide clearly defined recovery focused interventions, in line with care packages.
• To attend and actively participate in team meetings/care plan review meeting and team training as appropriate.
• To positively promote and support independent living for service users in the community by maintaining extensive knowledge and links with the community resources and actively supporting service users to access them.
• To develop a rapport with service users based upon professional support and collaboration but within appropriate boundaries.
• To provide regular and practical support to service users and carers to maintain dignity and independence.
• To enable service users to acquire daily living skills: “living ordinary lives” (e.g. shopping and cooking).
• To help service users to gain access to resources to include benefits and welfare rights.
• To help service users to access information on health promotion.
• To help service users with gaining skills in accessing physical health services and monitoring their health needs in the community.
• To help identify early signs of relapse by monitoring the client’s progress, level of functioning and mental state and updating the care coordinator or other staff involved in the care of the client.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in job applications

If you have used AI to support the preparation of your application, please briefly indicate how it was used within your supporting statement or application form.

Please remember, your application is your opportunity to tell us about your skills, experience and motivation for the role. We encourage applicants to complete their application and supporting statement in their own words wherever possible. We recognise that AI tools can be helpful in supporting accessibility, and for improving spelling, grammar and structure.

Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content can become generic and fail to accurately reflect an applicant's individual experience. Applications that clearly demonstrate your own voice, reflections and experiences are often the most effective and help us better understand your suitability for the role.

Please be aware that information provided in your application and supporting statement may be explored further during the selection process. It is important that all applications accurately represent your own knowledge, skills and experience.

Person specification

Training & Qualification

• Education to GCSE level or equivalent (with minimum of 5 A-E qualifications which must include Maths and English)
• Achieved NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care or equivalent plus post qualifications or further study/training to diploma level or NVQ level 4 in Mental Health and/or WLMHT Assistant Practitioner Course OR Equivalent level of experience
• Evidence of consistent pattern of learning from Education, training and experience.
• Care Certificate ( to be completed within 6 months of starting the role) .
• Ability to demonstrate competency in specific clinical skills relating to role.
• Computer qualifications or experience/skills.
• Degree, higher diploma or equivalent in Nursing, Psychology, counselling or Health and Social Care

Experience

• Experience of mental health and/or learning disability services or demonstrable interest in mental health and/or learning disability either paid or voluntary.
• To be knowledgeable, have understanding about the factors that cause/impact on mental health in learning disability clientele and interventions.
• Experience of developing relationships with a wide variety of people and organisations
• Proven ability to recognise and manage risk.
• Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision, understanding where clinical input is needed .
• Personal experience of mental health problems and use of Mental Health Services
• Experience of working as a Recovery Support Worker
• Previous experience of working in Health or Social Care settings in paid or voluntary position.
• Demonstrate knowledge/understanding of: a) Awareness of the Mental Health Act and its use in practice or relevant legislation that pertains to Learning disabilities b) equivalent Health or Social Care legislation appropriate to service area

Knowledge & Skills

• Able to demonstrate an acceptable level of oral & written, literacy and numeracy.
• Evidence of interpersonal skills and an ability to form therapeutic relationships with service users and carers.
• Ability to listen effectively and communicate at all levels in a non- judgemental way.
• An ability to act calmly in emergencies and to respond in a professional manner to distress, disturbance and unpredictability.
• Knowledge of benefits/employment systems
• Understanding of NHS Recovery Approach

At South West London St Georges Mental Health Trust we are committed to providing services which embrace diversity and that promote equality of opportunity. We are a Disability Committed Employer, and welcome applications from all sections of the community and people of all protected characteristics. We are Members of Stonewall Diversity Champions and Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion.

As part of the Trust's commitment to Equalities and Diversity, the Trust supports the establishment of Staff Networks groups to promote diversity in the workplace:

• BME (Evolve) Staff Network
• DiverseAbility
• Mental Health Staff Forum
• Women's Staff Network
• LGBTQIA+

We are committed to supporting the Armed Forces Community and has signed the Armed Forces Covenant.

We provide reasonable adjustments to the interview process for any candidates with a disability.

Please note:

• That the closing date listed is a guide only and that the vacancy may close earlier should sufficient number of applicants have been received
• That once you have submitted your application you agree to your application being transferred to a 3 rd party e-recruitment system
• That should you not have heard from us within three weeks from the closing date your application has not successful
• That priority consideration for applications may be given to at-risk NHS employees
• That should you be successful and appointed, you authorise South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust to confirm your previous NHS service via an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process
• That your employment is offered subject to successful completion of a Probationary Period depending on your Band (except medical roles)
• That we are a smoke-free Trust

South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including job applications, sponsorship arrangements, or employment offers. The contact details published on our official website are the Trust’s authorised contact channels and should be used for all recruitment communications, job applications, and verification of employment offers.

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.

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