Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Community Support Worker- Older Peoples Service

The closing date is 26 January 2026

Job summary

We are seeking a compassionate and motivated Mental Health Support Worker to provide practical, emotional, and recovery-focused support to older adults with mental health needs, including both functional and organic conditions, living within the community.

The role focuses on promoting independence, wellbeing, and social inclusion by working collaboratively with service users, carers, families, and the multidisciplinary team (MDT). You will support individuals to achieve their recovery goals, maintain dignity and choice, and live as independently as possible

Main duties of the job

  • Provide person-centred support to older adults experiencing mental health difficulties.

  • Monitor mental health, emotional wellbeing, and presentation, reporting changes appropriately.

  • Support service users to maintain independence in daily living and decision-making.

  • Assist individuals in developing coping strategies, self-management skills, and recovery-focused goals.

  • Encourage engagement in meaningful activities, hobbies, and social opportunities to reduce isolation and promote inclusion.

  • Support service users with physical health monitoring in line with care plans.

  • Work collaboratively with service users and carers to support agreed care and recovery plans.

  • Contribute to the development, review, and evaluation of care plans.

  • Monitor progress towards recovery goals and provide timely feedback to the MDT.

  • Support positive risk-taking in line with organisational policies and individual care plans.

  • Promote physical health awareness, healthy lifestyles, and wellbeing.

  • Encourage and support attendance at medical and health-related appointments.

  • Recognise early warning signs of relapse, deterioration, or safeguarding concerns and escalate promptly to clinical staff

About us

Here at NSFT we pride ourselves on being a welcoming, talented, friendly and supportive team who like nothing better than sharing experiences and learning from each other. In addition to ongoing training and development opportunities, we are committed to providing an environment in which you can thrive.

Why work for us? We have challenges as a Trust, but we have ambitious aspirations, are pushing ahead with exciting transformation work and we need dedicated individuals to support us on our journey. We have strong, established professional networks coupled with an exceptional leadership team who will ensure you are truly cared for and cared about.

Why Norfolk and Suffolk? The people here are warm and welcoming, you'll never be far from the beautiful coastline or Broads National Park. We're an hour and a half away from London and have an international airport in Norwich too. Our villages, towns and cities are packed full of history, independent cafes, shops and theatres. We have excellent shopping, eating out, top ranking schooling and affordable house prices too.

Details

Date posted

19 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

246-ESU7683789

Job locations

Haymills house

81 Station Road East

Stowmarket

IP14 1RF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please find attached our Job Description and Person Specification for more detail on your Key Accountabilities, then if you feel you have what it takes to make a difference in your local communities, click APPLY!

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NQV Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalant qualification or experience

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience within the care sector

Desirable

  • Previous experience working within a mental health setting Lived experience

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work without direct supervision, liaising appropriately with other practitioners in the team
  • Ability to work without direct supervision, liaising appropriately with other practitioners in the team members

Other

Essential

  • Fitness to undergo personal safety training.
  • Able to travel independently.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • NQV Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalant qualification or experience

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience within the care sector

Desirable

  • Previous experience working within a mental health setting Lived experience

Skills

Essential

  • Ability to work without direct supervision, liaising appropriately with other practitioners in the team
  • Ability to work without direct supervision, liaising appropriately with other practitioners in the team members

Other

Essential

  • Fitness to undergo personal safety training.
  • Able to travel independently.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Haymills house

81 Station Road East

Stowmarket

IP14 1RF


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Norfolk & Suffolk Foundation NHS Trust

Address

Haymills house

81 Station Road East

Stowmarket

IP14 1RF


Employer's website

https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/Pages/Home.aspx (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical team leader

Jo-Louise Stanley

jo-louise.stanley@nsft.nhs.uk

01449745200

Details

Date posted

19 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

246-ESU7683789

Job locations

Haymills house

81 Station Road East

Stowmarket

IP14 1RF


Supporting documents

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