Job overview
We are looking for a dedicated and compassionate Senior Mental Health Support Worker to join our T4 Day service pilot project at Wareham Hospital.
This role offers a fantastic opportunity to work within a specialist, multidisciplinary team providing evidence-based intervention to individuals experiencing eating disorders and other mental health difficulties. You will work in partnership with service users, families, and carers to support recovery and promote wellbeing within community settings.
Main duties of the job
You will have specific responsibilities to undertake a range of delegated clinical duties involving direct and indirect care to patients under minimal supervision and as directed by the qualified staff team.
Following personal development planning and targeted training you will be in a position to work more autonomously in supporting patients. You will be supported by a career development pathway and as a result, you will develop a broad underpinning knowledge base at intermediate level and have the ability to evaluate information and communicate with a range of professionals.
This service is commissioned by the South West Provider Collaborative.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.
We understand that AI can be a useful tool when completing your application. However, we are seeing an increasing over-reliance of AI tools, which can negatively affect your application as it reduces a candidate’s individuality, and makes it difficult for us to gain a clear and authentic understanding of your experience, skills, and in turn your suitability for the role.
All submissions must be truthful and if you do use AI, it should only be used to enhance your application and not create your supporting statement in its entirety. Your supporting statement should be in your own words and must accurately reflect your personal experience and achievements. Where we have concerns that AI has been used to generate content that misrepresents your experience and suitability for the role, we may withdraw your application.
As part of our vision to have a skilled, diverse and caring workforce, Dorset HealthCare offers support for people getting into work. We offer an employability service to support individuals with application writing, interview skills and other employment support. If you would like or know of anyone who would value this support, please do contact dhc.wideningparticipation@nhs.net
This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.
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
Essential
- Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business.
Skills
Essential
- Able to establish and maintain empathic, supportive relationships with people in significant distress or who are cognitively impaired, their families and carers
- Able to contribute to risk assessment drawing on complex and multiple sources of information, once trained and under clinical supervision
- Able to prioritise workload according to peoples' changing needs and the priorities of the team
Qualifications
Essential
- Educated to diploma or NVQ Level 3 in Care and equivalent Skills acquired through experience working in a healthcare Setting.
- Maths / English Level 2 or equivalent (GCSE C / 4 or above)
Desirable
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject (e.g. psychology, social policy, health sciences) at 2:2 or above
Knowledge / Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with young people with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
- Experience working in the community with Mental Health
Desirable
- Experience running groups/activities
- Experience working as part of a team
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Community Adolescent Senior Support Worker with Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust in Blandford Community Hospital. It is listed as a Band 4 role. The advertised salary is £17,035 - £18,694 p.a.. The contract type is 12 months (Fixed-term/secondment - End date 30/09/2027). The application deadline is 03 Sep 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (20 Aug 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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