Recovery Worker in Leeds

Touchstone is a multi-award-winning mental health and wellbeing charity operating in communities across Yorkshire. Touchstone understands that we can only deliver excellence to the people we serve if the people we recruit are happy, empowered, supported to reach their potential and trusted to lead.

We are pleased announce two posts available in the above role. As a Recovery Worker you will deliver specific components of prescribed care packages under the direct supervision of Care Coordinators and Clinical Leads within the Community Rehabilitation Team. The post holders will provide structured support and practical assistance to service users in order for them to take control over their own lives and engage actively in their own recovery process. We welcome applications from people with lived experience of mental health difficulties, and the service encourages the use of the wisdom gained through personal ‘lived’ experience - all candidates must have strong values around recovery, social inclusion and diversity. The posts require you to work with service users of all ages (over 18) and to provide a flexible service over 7 days between the hours of 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on weekends.

The Complex Psychosis Pathway provides a whole system approach to Mental Health Rehabilitation and Assertive Community Treatment in Leeds, which includes Newsam Ward 5 (Level 2 Rehab & relocating to Parkside Lodge), Asket Croft and Asket House inpatient settings, (Level 1 Rehab), the Community Rehabilitation Team and Assertive Outreach Team. The pathway also includes Rehabilitation practitioners embedded within the Community Hubs providing early rehabilitative and reablement interventions and enabling transitions for service users between Community Services and more intensive Assertive Outreach and Community Rehabilitation Support. These are clinical delivery services.

The pathway includes an out of area /Trust case management role and mental health placement reviewer for people with complex psychosis who are placed in Level 2 rehabilitation Independent Hospitals outside of the Trust or in funded residential placements.

In addition, Leeds Recovery College, Arts and Minds and the Volunteers Service are included within the pathway, providing innovative networks supporting social inclusion and a recovery ethos, while continuing to serve the citywide populations of Leeds, LYPFT and care services directorates.

The pathway provides treatment, intervention and vocational opportunities for people and their families living with complex needs, associated with psychosis and with significant reductions in quality of life, described within NICE guidance as "severe and treatment resistant symptoms". Many people also experience other serious and co‑occurring conditions that severely affect activities of daily living, social functioning, physical health, welfare, and limit vocational opportunities.

The pathway provides a strong recovery ethos, with flexibility for differing levels of need and longer‑term support where necessary, and in the least restrictive environment possible. The pathway aims to provide a whole person approach working together with individuals and their families on agreed goals that improve mental and physical health, welfare, social inclusion and psychological wellbeing that maximises independence and quality of life.

Purpose of the role

The role of the Recovery Worker is to deliver specific components of prescribed care packages under the direct supervision of Senior Rehabilitation Practitioners and Clinical Leads. The post holder will provide formalised support and assistance to service users in order for them to take control over their own lives and engage actively in their unique recovery process.

Tasks

• Support the Community Rehabilitation Team and wider Complex Psychosis Pathway workforce in co‑facilitating community-based groups accessed by service users across the whole service. Consult with the lead occupational therapists and/or healthy living advisors in the planning, implementation and evaluation of groups.
• Promote social inclusion for clients by facilitating and supporting access to a variety of community-based opportunities including work, social groups, education, spiritual pursuits, leisure activities to ensure holistic wellbeing.
• Participate in the delivery of care plans including attendance and contribution within the meeting and the subsequent care plan.
• Participate in Personalised Care Framework meetings as required.
• Carry out the collection, delivery and monitoring of service user’s medication under the Trust policy guidelines. Liaise with the team to report any concerns with client’s medication and wellbeing as well as relevant providers (i.e. pharmacies).
• Promote the physical health and wellbeing for clients by facilitating and supporting access to relevant screenings and information around medication, diet, nutrition, exercise, sensible drinking and smoking cessation.
• Participate as requested, in multidisciplinary reviews and other clinical meetings to ensure effective communication and a comprehensive approach to service users’ care.
• Ensure that the recovery goals of the service user you support are integrated into the Trust’s Personalised Care Framework process and are reviewed on a regular basis, liaising closely with rehabilitation practitioners as necessary.
• Assist the rehabilitation practitioners and ward-based staff in the delivery of planned care, under their supervision.
• Raise awareness of recovery language with Trust staff by modelling positive strengths‑based, non‑discriminatory, non‑jargon, non‑medicalised language in all areas of work.
• Maintain communication and links with parent organisation if not directly employed through LYPFT.
• Contribute to the maintenance of a therapeutic environment and be proactive in developing positive links within the community that will enhance the service user experience.
• Participate in team meetings as required to ensure effective communication and running of the team/service.
• Provide support for the team as required and under the direction of the senior team members.
• Carry out tasks relating to an individual’s care package under the direction of senior team members such as rehabilitation practitioners.
• Work on a 1:1 or in groups with service users facilitating delegated tasks.
• Independently manage delegated tasks and seek support and supervision when complex situations arise.
• Maintain standards set by senior clinicians.

General

• Make effective use of all available resources under the guidance of the Service Lead and Matron.
• Always promote a positive image of the Trust, Touchstone and its partners.
• Follow policies and procedures relating to the management of Service User finances.
• Contribute to the maintenance of the physical resources and environment within the trust through effective resource management and reporting through defined channels.
• Be involved in the process of personal development and supervision.
• Participate in regular individual and peer supervision.
• Provide information and advice about Touchstone’s services to managers, teams, and other people/agencies with an interest in the organisation’s work.
• Undertake out of hours work as required by the service.
• Be inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with the organisation’s performance management policies and procedures.
• Be responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate and undertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skills and awareness.
• Be aware of and implement the general practices of Touchstone’s Health, Safety and Security policies and keep Managers informed about any serious and untoward incidents, safeguarding issues, health & safety concerns, financial issues, staff welfare.
• Operate within the aims, policies and practices of Touchstone at all times and be committed to and promote the organisation’s equal opportunities and anti‑discriminatory policies.
• Ensure information is dealt with in accordance with Touchstone’s policies around Confidentiality, Communications, Internet, Email and Telecommunications and steps are taken to ensure that confidential information is secure e.g. service user data.
• Undertake any other duties as directed by the Manager, in line with the responsibilities of this post.

Requirements

Skills

• Good verbal communication skills and excellent rapport building with service users, carers and others.
• Effective teamwork within a multidisciplinary team and understanding of individual roles.
• Work on a one-to-one basis with clients in their own homes and/or community settings without constant, direct live supervision.
• Respond well in a crisis situation and understand the need to record/report accurately to senior staff.
• Service-user focused/client centred approach.
• Organised, adaptable, creative and resourceful across diverse areas.
• Time management skills.
• Initiative to refer appropriate issues in a timely manner to senior team members or clinical lead.
• Participate in decision making and carry out agreed plans of care.
• Independently manage delegated tasks and seek supervision when needed.
• IT literacy and knowledge of electronic care records.

Experience

• Experience working with a range of service users with complex mental health needs.
• Experience with diverse populations and value promotion of diversity and social inclusion.
• Where personal experience allows, drawing on mutual resources as peers and utilising recovery tools, techniques and experience.
• Involvement in effective risk management including assessment, planning, intervention and ongoing monitoring of risks.
• Work independently with users and carers in their homes towards a collaborative package of care within the Personalised Care Framework and under direction of care coordinator or senior team members.
• Help individuals identify achievable and meaningful recovery goals and collaboratively set recovery objectives in line with service care pathway and supervision.
• Maintain accurate records of client care in accordance with set timescales, informing senior clinicians of any changes.

Knowledge

• Understanding of barriers in building professional empathetic relationships with service users and strategies to improve communication.
• Importance of effective communication and liaison with other agencies and professionals.
• Knowledge of community resources and how to help service users access them.
• Understanding of the recovery model and its application to care packages.
• Understanding of medication and side effects; support people to explore options.
• Importance of holistic and therapeutic care and its role in personal recovery.
• Experience contributing to the evaluation of care plans by accurate observation and reporting in case notes; clear written records in relation to any task or clinical practice related to individual’s care.

Attitudes and Behaviours

• Commitment to Touchstone’s aims and values.
• Solution‑focused approach at work.
• Motivated and confident.
• Open to change and willing to work flexibly in line with service needs.
• Commitment to positive team leading and team working.
• Commitment to maintain confidentiality at Touchstone.
• Commitment to respecting diversity and anti‑discriminatory/anti‑oppressive practices.
• Commitment to personal responsibility, development, learning and reflective practice.
• Willingness to be managed and supervised.
• Reliability and resilience.
• Model personal responsibility, self‑awareness, self‑belief, self‑advocacy and hopefulness via sharing own recovery story.
• Positive professional and caring attitudes towards multidisciplinary team members, service users and carers.
• Positive communication with individuals and organisations.
• Assertive promotion of positive change within the team.
• Courtesy towards service users, relatives and visitors; refer as appropriate.
• Active support for service users in line with care plans promoting hope and optimism.

Equal Opportunities

• Recognise discrimination in its many forms and apply Touchstone’s Equality Policies.
• Commitment to providing high quality services to diverse communities.
• Effective communication with a broad range of diverse service users, managers and staff.
• Consider and support diverse needs of service users and those offered services.
• Work acknowledging individual personal, social, cultural, and spiritual strengths and needs.
• Commitment to establishing a supportive and respectful relationship with service users.

Qualifications / Training

• NVQ Level 3 in Care/recognisable equivalent or equivalent experience; willingness to undertake such training or experience of working with a range of service users with complex mental health needs and/or personal lived experience.

Benefits

• Working for a diverse and inclusive organisation e.g. 36% BME staff, 25% LGBTQ+ staff, 16% staff with a disability; staff and peer support networks.
• 28 days annual leave (rising to 31 after 2 years) + 8 bank holidays (pro‑rated).
• Flexible working opportunities.
• Access to HealthHero – Employee Assistance Scheme and Virtual GP service for staff.
• Personal wellbeing and training budget.
• Access to 24/7 confidential staff helpline.
• Health and wellbeing activities and fun staff team away days.
• Inclusive maternity and parental policies and pay.
• Additional day of leave as a celebration day or health and wellbeing.
• Learning and personal development opportunities.

Please see the Touchstone website for more information on how to apply.

Closing date

Wednesday 15th July 2026

Interview date

Tuesday 4th August 2026