Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Senior Mental Health Support Worker

The closing date is 22 February 2026

Job summary

We are seeking a skilled and compassionate Senior Mental Health Support Worker to join our Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team in Portsmouth. This role is vital in supporting individuals experiencing acute mental health crises, enabling them to remain safely in their own homes as an alternative to hospital admission.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide high-quality, recovery focused support, undertake comprehensive assessments, delivering planned interventions and contributing to crisis and risk management plans. You will take a senior role in supporting and guiding any junior or new staff, promoting best practice, and ensuring care is delivered in line with local and national standards.

The successful candidate will have significant experience in mental health support work, strong communication and decision making skills, and the ability to work effectively in fast paced, high pressure environments. You will be confident working autonomously, responding to changing clinical needs, and building therapeutic relationships with service users, carers, and partner agencies.

Based at The Orchards, St James' Hospital, the team work across Portsmouth city, therefore there is a requirement for the post holder to have a full UK driving licence and have access to a suitable vehicle, in order to undertake home visits and respond to urgent situations in a timely manner.

Main duties of the job

To work as a member of the team providing home treatment to patients in the acute phase of a mental illness and crisis.

To be available to work shifts covering a 24-hour seven day a week service.

To assist in the delivery of high standards of care to individual clients under the direction of a qualified nurse, occupational therapist or social worker.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.

Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.

We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.

Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence

Details

Date posted

09 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Please note for part time hours the salary will be pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

348-PSE-10446

Job locations

The Orchards, St James' Hospital

Locksway Road

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO4 8FE


Job description

Job responsibilities

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Further information about the Trust and this role can be found on the Job Description and Person Specification document attached. It is important to us that we ensure our recruitment processes are accessible and inclusive to everyone - if as a potential candidate you are concerned a person specification may prevent or restrict your application for employment as a result of unintentional barriers on the grounds of your sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/belief or disability please initially contact the Trust's Recruitment team - detailed in the advert. The Trust will seek to resolve this issue wherever possible.

We are happy to talk Flexible Working - all requests for flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • *NVQ 3 or Health Related Qualification or equivalent experience
  • *Holds a valid full driving licence which enables them to drive in the UK
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • *NVQ 3 or Health Related Qualification or equivalent experience
  • *Holds a valid full driving licence which enables them to drive in the UK

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Orchards, St James' Hospital

Locksway Road

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO4 8FE


Employer's website

https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

The Orchards, St James' Hospital

Locksway Road

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO4 8FE


Employer's website

https://hiowhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Hollie Tiernan

hollie.tiernan2@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

09 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£24,937 to £26,598 a year Please note for part time hours the salary will be pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

348-PSE-10446

Job locations

The Orchards, St James' Hospital

Locksway Road

Portsmouth

Hampshire

PO4 8FE


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)