Oxford Health NHS Trust

Mental Health Social Work Support Worker - North and West

The closing date is 12 February 2026

Job summary

Are you looking a career in mental health?

Do you have a passion for helping people?

We are looking for a full time Mental Health Support Worker to work in partnership with people who use mental health services. You will work alongside the Mental Health Support Worker and the wider Adult Mental Health Team to provide targeted support to people who live with severe mental health conditions.

Whether it is supporting someone to regain their skills after a hospital admission or developing a social support group, you will use your empathy, interpersonal and relationship building skills to help people with mental health conditions live successful lives in the community.

You will be non-judgemental and have a desire to promote independent living wherever possible. Sometimes people might experience a mental health crisis and you may be called upon to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to help the person get through. Sometimes the work is stressful, and you may be working with situations that have high levels of complexity, risk, or vulnerability. You will be well supported by your colleagues and you will have monthly supervision. You will be a very important part of the mental health social work group and you will be invited to attend the monthly social work forum where our energetic collective meet to share ideas and talk about the messy stuff.

Main duties of the job

To provide support and give time to an allocated group of service users in order to promote their recovery and maintain them in a community environment helping them to build their own support network
To provide regular and practical support to service users in developing and managing independence and maintaining dignity and self-respect.
To support people to identify their needs and to assist the mental health social worker to assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual care and support plans.
To have the individual service user's needs front and centre at all times and use agreed values and skills to underpin your day to day work.

Please note, the responsibilities of the role may change as this role is subject to job evaluation.

About us

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people's homes, delivering care as close to home as possible

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive:"Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team"

Our values are:"Caring, safe and excellent"

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

Excellent opportunities for career progression
Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
Competitive pension scheme
Lease car scheme
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Mental Health First Aiders
Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

Date posted

30 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Per Annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

267-OA7758040

Job locations

The Nuffield Centre

Welch Way

Witney

OX28 6JQ

Job description

Job responsibilities

We hope that the advert has given you a clear understanding of the skills we are seeking and the opportunity at hand. You will need to use the supporting statement element of your application form to demonstrate your suitability for this role and you should refer to the job description, person specification and the guidance notes attached to this role to help you tailor your application.

The essential and desirable criteria will be used to shortlist for interview, and you should ensure that you refer to these within your application to increase your chances of being selected for interview.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

An understanding of mental health and how that can lead to stigma and discrimination

Desirable

Experience of working with vulnerable people

Skills

Essential

Ability to form relationships and to work independently with support and as part of a team
Ability to communicate with others and write clear documentation that evidences the work that you have done
Examples of supporting service users to identify their needs and to assist the mental health social worker to assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual care and support plans
To understand the importance of advocacy

Experience

Essential

Experience or understanding mental health conditions
Understanding the importance of confidentiality

Person Specification

Knowledge

Essential

An understanding of mental health and how that can lead to stigma and discrimination

Desirable

Experience of working with vulnerable people

Skills

Essential

Ability to form relationships and to work independently with support and as part of a team
Ability to communicate with others and write clear documentation that evidences the work that you have done
Examples of supporting service users to identify their needs and to assist the mental health social worker to assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual care and support plans
To understand the importance of advocacy

Experience

Essential

Experience or understanding mental health conditions
Understanding the importance of confidentiality

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.