Job overview
OP COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides specialist mental health support for reservists, armed forces veterans, and their families across the Southwest of England.
The service operates across a large geographical area covering the Southwest region, providing support through community-based clinics, digital appointments, and outreach work. We are committed to improving access to care, reducing health inequalities, and helping veterans achieve meaningful recovery, wellbeing, and social inclusion.
As a Community Support Worker (Recovery) within OP COURAGE, covering Dorset & Somerset, you will support the Armed Forces community in their recovery journey to inspire hope, build trusting relationships, and support veterans to navigate services, strengthen their resilience and confidence, and achieve their personal goals. You will play a vital role within a compassionate and dedicated multidisciplinary team that values the unique contribution of support workers in promoting recovery and wellbeing.
If you believe your skills, experience and personal attributes can help make a positive difference to the lives of others and you want to be part of a dedicated and supportive team, we would love to hear from you.’
Right to Work in the UK This position is not eligible for Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. Applicants must already hold the legal right to work in the UK at the time of application, as the organisation is unable to support sponsorship for this post.
Main duties of the job
Forming compassionate, recovery-focused, therapeutic relationships with service users and their carers, supporting them to manage their mental health needs in a community setting.
Engaging in the full range of ongoing needs assessment processes required by the team, including mental state, dynamic clinical risk, spiritual and cultural needs, and emotional, psychological and physical wellbeing.
Supporting service users to manage their finances and / or housing needs.
Empowering service users to self-manage aspects of their ongoing treatment, such as medication, diet and lifestyle, physical health and general wellbeing.
Depending on the team, key activities may also include undertaking the role of Care Coordinator for service users who have been assessed as presenting relatively low to moderate levels of clinical complexity and risk, under the guidance and supervision of registered clinicians.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Promote and champion the rights, values, responsibilities and diversity of people, and act in an open and compassionate way within clear professional boundaries.
Promote and maintain effective communication with people in order to build and sustain positive working relationships with individuals, families and carers, team members and other agencies. This may include accessing translation and interpreting services.
Contribute to the planning, implementation and review of care packages, including implementing specific parts of an individual care plan.
Working autonomously within relevant practice boundaries, under indirect, but not ‘direct’, supervision of registered clinicians.
Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, contributing to a range of written documents as appropriate, including reports, referrals and letters. This includes collaboratively working with individuals to complete the Outcome Star and attend training in this tool if required.
Enable people to understand and manage their mental health needs in line with their care plan and relapse prevention strategies. This may include enabling people to manage their own domestic and personal resources, housing needs, and enabling people to access learning / training, or work opportunities.
Support individuals in developing and maintaining their identity and personal relationships, including potentially difficult relationships.
Support people with mental health needs to engage with their own health care, in accordance with their care plan.
Act to protect individuals from abuse and harm in line with local and National policies and procedures (e.g. Safeguarding, Risk Management and Suicide Prevention).
Work proactively with carers and families, identifying carers’ needs and signposting to appropriate services or agencies.
Proactively develop your knowledge and practice, making use of both clinical and management supervision and available learning opportunities.
Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace
Please see full job Descriptions for all responsibilities
Applicant requirements
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.
Person specification
Other Requirements
Essential
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems
- Ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times
- Mobile with the facility to move easily across a geographically dispersed, and often rural area with limited access to public transport. This will include attending face-to-face appointments, Trust training and team meetings as required.
- Ability to promote Op Courage at external events as required and on occasional weekends.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to form and sustain a trusting relationship with service users/carers
- Well-developed listening skills and effective verbal communication skills and ability to communicate both face to face, via email and by telephone
- Written communication skills, with the ability to contribute to written reports, maintain accurate records and interpret relevant clinical information effectively
- IT skills: ability to use email, Microsoft word and basic clinical records databases
- Ability to manage own workload in an effective and timely manner
- Ability to use initiative appropriately, making decisions within the context of the role and service.
- Team-working skills, and ability to function effectively and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary setting
- Ability to articulate and demonstrate compassionate, recovery-focused care that values diversity and equality
- Enthusiasm for continual professional development and service improvement
- Flexible and adaptable to change
Experience and Knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience of working in a mental health setting.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of mental health issues, taking a positive, non-judgmental approach towards service users, carers, colleagues and members of the public.
- Experience of mental health services, as a user, carer, volunteer or worker
Desirable
- Sound understanding of the Care Programme Approach and its application.
- Direct military experience or experience of working with veterans and their families/carers etc
- Experience of teaching / training individuals or groups
- Experience of working in a customer care environment, (e.g. an Advice Centre, Telephone Helpline or Advocacy Service)
Education and Qualification
Essential
- Possession of, or the ability and willingness to work towards, an appropriate Level 5 vocational qualification (Foundation Degree in Mental Health or Health and Social Care
Desirable
- Training in an allied field such as counselling, mediation or advocacy.
- Training in psychosocial interventions (e.g. CBT, DBT and Motivational Interviewing).
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This advert is for Band 4 Community Support Worker (Recovery) - Weston-Super-Mare with Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Trust Partnership NHS Trust in Coast Resource Centre. The advertised salary is £28392.00 to £31157.00. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 08 Sep 2026.
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