Community Mental Health Link Worker

Community Mental Health Link Worker

Responsible To: Community Mental Health Wellbeing Service Manager

Contract Term: Permanent contract

Hours of Work: This role offers flexible working opportunities, with up to 53 hours per week available across the service. We welcome applications from candidates seeking a range of working hours, which can be discussed at interview.

Salary: The salary for this role is £25,500–£28,000 FTE per annum. You will be paid a pro rata amount dependent on the amount of hours you are contracted per week. Please state in your application form how many hours of work you would prefer.

Closing Date: Closing date for this role is Friday 9th October 2026.

About ONSIDE:

ONSIDE is a charity working across Worcestershire and Herefordshire to ensure people are heard, supported and empowered to make choices about their lives. Through advocacy and a range of support services, we work alongside people who may be vulnerable, disadvantaged or facing difficult circumstances, helping them understand their rights, have their voices heard and access the support they need. Whatever your role at ONSIDE, you’ll be part of an organisation that is passionate about making a positive difference in people’s lives.

About the role:

We’re looking for compassionate and resilient Community Mental Health Link Workers to join our Community Mental Health Service and support individuals experiencing severe and enduring mental ill health. This is a key role working closely with Mental Health Neighbourhood Teams and partner organisations to ensure people receive the support they need throughout their recovery journey. You’ll help individuals navigate primary and secondary mental health services, access local community support and develop the confidence and coping strategies needed to improve their wellbeing and quality of life. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to use their skills and experience in a values-led organisation where their work has a genuine and lasting impact on people’s lives.

Key responsibilities:

As a Community Mental Health Link Worker you'll provide practical and emotional support to individuals experiencing severe and enduring mental ill health, including:

• Acting as a key point of access for community support, information and signposting.
• Building trusting and positive relationships with individuals while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Providing personalised one-to-one support using evidence-based approaches to improve mental health and wellbeing.
• Supporting individuals to access community activities, services, advice and peer support opportunities.
• Helping people navigate and coordinate primary and secondary mental health services and wider community provision.
• Working closely with Mental Health Neighbourhood Teams, healthcare professionals and partner organisations to provide integrated support.
• Identifying wider issues affecting health and wellbeing, including loneliness, debt, housing, physical health and social isolation.
• Facilitating self-help interventions and following appropriate escalation procedures where additional support or crisis intervention is required.
• Managing and prioritising a caseload, ensuring support is responsive to individual needs and circumstances.
• Maintaining accurate records and using approved systems for case management, reporting and monitoring.
• Supporting service development through feedback, continuous improvement and partnership working.
• Providing guidance and support to Community Mental Health volunteers.

In addition, all ONSIDE employees are expected to:

• Work within the organisation’s stated principles and values, adhering at all times to the organisational policies, procedures and guidelines
• Take responsibility for safeguarding appropriate to your role and raise any potential concerns with the Onside Safeguarding and Professional Guidance Manager
• Contribute to the growth and ongoing sustainability of the organisation
• Demonstrate a commitment to equal opportunities, social inclusion and individual empowerment
• Show a commitment to personal, professional and organisational development
• Take responsibility for your wellbeing, accessing the support and resources in place to support you and your wellbeing
• Contribute to organisational promotional and networking activities
• Work flexibly and co‑operatively with colleagues to support the needs of the organisation.

While this job description provides the main duties and responsibilities for the position, it is not definitive and employees are expected to carry out any additional duties compatible with their skills and abilities. The above may be subject to change and alteration from time to time with the prior agreement of the job holder.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Relevant qualification or professional training in mental health, health and social care, counselling, wellbeing, community support or a related field, or significant relevant experience.
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to mental health, wellbeing or support work.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health, wellbeing and the challenges faced by people experiencing severe and enduring mental ill health.
• Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and appropriate professional boundaries.

Desirable:

• Qualification or specialist training in mental health, counselling, wellbeing, social care or a related area.
• Training in evidence-based mental health or wellbeing interventions.
• Mental Health First Aid or equivalent training.

Experience

Essential:

• Significant experience of working directly with people experiencing mental health difficulties, vulnerability or complex circumstances.
• Providing person-centred one-to-one support.
• Building and maintaining trusting relationships while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Supporting people to identify goals, develop coping strategies and improve their wellbeing.
• Managing and prioritising a caseload effectively.
• Supporting people to access appropriate health, social care and community services.
• Working collaboratively with health professionals, statutory services and voluntary and community organisations.
• Identifying and responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns and situations where someone may be at risk of crisis.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential case records and using appropriate case management or recording systems.
• Supporting people experiencing social isolation, financial difficulties, housing issues or other factors affecting their mental health and wellbeing.
• Gathering feedback and contributing to service monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Supporting or working alongside volunteers, peers or community-based services.

Desirable experience:

• Working within a community mental health or primary/secondary mental health setting.
• Working with Mental Health Neighbourhood Teams or other NHS mental health services.
• Supporting people experiencing severe and enduring mental ill health.
• Experience of facilitating self-help interventions or wellbeing-focused support.
• Experience of partnership working across health, social care and voluntary sector organisations.
• Experience of supporting people during periods of crisis or increased risk.
• Experience of working within a recovery-focused or strengths-based approach.
• Experience of supporting service development, co-production or user involvement.
• Experience of working within the voluntary and community sector.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential:

• Strong understanding of person-centred, strengths-based and recovery-focused approaches to mental health support.
• Ability to build positive, trusting and professional relationships with people experiencing mental health difficulties.
• Ability to assess individual needs, identify appropriate support and develop personalised goals and action plans.
• Good understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of local mental health and community support services.
• Understanding of the challenges experienced by people living with severe and enduring mental ill health.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and recovery-focused approaches.
• Experience of partnership working across health, social care and voluntary sector organisations.
• Facilitation, coaching or mentoring skills.
• Understanding of community development and social inclusion.

Other Requirements:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate professional discretion.
• Commitment to promoting recovery, independence and individual empowerment.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Willingness to work flexibly and travel across Worcestershire when required.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, partners and service users.

This role offers flexible working opportunities, with up to 53 hours per week available across the service. We welcome applications from candidates seeking a range of working hours, which can be discussed at interview.

The salary for this role is £25,500–£28,000 FTE per annum. You will be paid a pro rata amount dependent on the amount of hours you are contracted per week. Please state in your application form how many hours of work you would prefer.

Benefits include:

• 26 days annual holiday (pro rata), plus Bank Holidays
• Your Birthday Off
• Supportive working environment and good work/life balance culture
• Support with continuous professional development
• Contributory Pension Scheme
• Company Sick Pay Scheme (after qualifying service)
• Additional Maternity & Paternity Pay (after qualifying service)
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to premium Calm App
• Time off to volunteer
• Employee Engagement Forum to ensure our employees’ voices are heard

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