Health Care Support Worker

Job summary
Do you believe that with the right support, people can recover, regain independence, and live fulfilling lives within their communities? As a Support Time and Recovery Worker, you'll play a vital role in helping people experiencing mental health difficulties achieve their personal recovery goals. Working as part of a supportive and compassionate Community Mental Health Service, you'll build meaningful therapeutic relationships, provide practical and emotional support, and help people develop the confidence and skills needed to live independently. This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. You'll support people in their own homes and community settings, as well as working with individuals during inpatient stays to help them prepare for a successful return home. You'll be part of an innovative service that works closely with primary care, specialist mental health teams, and voluntary and community organisations to provide truly integrated support. At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, you'll join a team that values kindness, respect and teamwork, where your contribution is recognised and where you'll receive ongoing supervision, training and support to develop your skills and career. If you're compassionate, resilient and passionate about supporting recovery, we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job
In this role, you will:

• Support people with mental health needs to work towards their recovery goals and engage with their care plans.
• Deliver evidence-based interventions under supervision, helping individuals develop coping strategies, build confidence, and improve wellbeing.
• Provide practical and emotional support to individuals and their carers, promoting independence and positive outcomes.
• Help identify changes in a person's mental health and work closely with the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure appropriate support is in place.
• Work collaboratively with health, social care, housing, voluntary sector and community partners to provide joined-up care.
• Contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives and the ongoing evaluation of the care provided.

About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Job responsibilities
You'll become part of the Taunton Community Mental Health Service, a team dedicated to supporting adults experiencing mental health difficulties across the community. Working alongside qualified professionals, fellow Support Time and Recovery Workers, primary care colleagues and voluntary sector partners, you'll help deliver person-centred care that focuses on strengths, recovery and hope.

You will spend much of your time working directly with people in their homes and local communities, helping them develop skills for daily living, improve social connections, access community resources, and work towards greater independence. You may also support individuals during periods of inpatient care, helping to maintain continuity of support and ease their transition back into community life.

We're looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with people in a caring, support, customer-facing or community-based role.
• Demonstrates excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with a compassionate and person-centred approach.
• Can remain calm, professional and supportive when working with people experiencing distress or challenging situations.
• Is organised, able to manage their own workload, and works effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Holds an NVQ in Health and Social Care (or equivalent), or is willing to undertake training to achieve this qualification.
• Is committed to supporting equality, diversity, recovery and inclusion for everyone who uses our services.
• Is comfortable using digital systems and technology to support high-quality care.

This post requires a full driving licence and permanent access to a vehicle with appropriate business insurance, as travel throughout the community is an essential part of the role and you must be able to work across a 24/7 shift pattern as required including weekends and nights

In return, you'll benefit from regular supervision, ongoing learning opportunities, support from experienced colleagues, and the chance to make a genuine difference to people's recovery journeys every day.

Qualifications
Essential

• NVQ Health and Social Care or equivalent, or willing to undertake full training to achieve this standard

Experience
Essential

• Experience of using Cognitive Stimulation Therapy or, if not currently held, willingness to work towards this qualification, with recent experience of working with older people experiencing mental health issues.

Desirable

• Experience working with carers and understanding their needs.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.