Support, Time & Recovery Worker – Assertive Outreach
Oxford
Other
£28,392 - £31,157 Per Annum
Expires: 18/06/2026
Band 4
Permanent
About the Role
Job overview
Do you want to build your clinical experience in mental health and become part of a brand new service?
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to invite applications for a Support, Time & Recovery Worker role within our newly established Assertive Outreach Team (AOT).
This innovative service will provide high-quality, person-centred care to individuals with complex mental health needs who may struggle to engage with traditional services. Operating across the City of Oxford, the team will deliver proactive, flexible support, responding to need in a timely and coordinated manner.
Assertive Outreach is founded on active engagement rather than office-based care. Staff will work flexibly across the city, supporting individuals in community settings, their homes or Trust premises. Interventions will be tailored, relationship-focused and recovery-oriented, promoting continuity, trust and consistent engagement. Shared caseload responsibility, alongside a key worker model and regular MDT reviews, will enable rapid responses to relapse, risk and disengagement.
We are seeking motivated and compassionate professionals who are committed to supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Successful applicants will be confident in managing complexity and dynamic risk, while working within a recovery-focused, trauma-informed framework. This is an opportunity to help shape a new service and make a meaningful difference across Oxford.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of a Support Time Recovery Worker within assertive outreach is to directly engage, under the supervision of registered practitioners, with patients who have complex mental health conditions who have difficulty in engaging with services for several reasons including at times substance misuse, homelessness, rough sleeping.
You will provide support to patients within assertive outreach, using the principles of inclusion and recovery to promote patients’ recovery and maintain patients within their community environment. The post holder will assist the key workers in the implementation of all care and treatment.
You will:
- Support the multidisciplinary team to manage patient care, including practical interventions and supporting patients when there is a crisis, under supervision of a registered clinician.
- Under the supervision and direction of registered professionals, develop therapeutic relationships with patients and carers within appropriate and transparent boundaries.
- Engage service users effectively with the agreed care plan and to ensure access appropriate services are obtained on a need led basis.
- Be the second clinician accompanying clinical staff to assess or review patients off base where needed.
Working for our organisation
Oxford Health is a great place to work and to be able to showcase the best of yourself when making an application you are encouraged to read the “candidate guide to making an application” which is attached to all roles.
Please include details around qualifications (including years these were gained particularly if we need to assess for clinical roles that these are still valid) and ensure that the supporting statement is tailored to the role you are applying for and addresses the essential criteria found in the JD.
As a Trust we provide 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
- Individual and Trust wide learning and development
- 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
- NHS Discount
- Pension scheme
- Lease car scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Mental Health First Aiders
- Staff accommodation (waiting lists may apply)
- Staff networking and support groups
Detailed job description and main 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.
We welcome prospective candidates to contact us to discuss the role and potentially arrange a site visit prior to interview.
Person specification
Skills
Essential criteria
- Ability to form positive working relationships with service users.
- Ability to make a positive contribution to improving the quality of life for people with mental health problems.
- Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing at all levels.
- Empathy and sensitivity to the needs of people with mental health needs.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Experience of mental health services as a worker or service user / carer.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of dealing with people in emotional distress.
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- The post holder will be expected to attend and fully complete a nationally agreed induction programme.
Desirable criteria
- NVQ level 2 or 3 or other relevant qualifications.
Other
Essential criteria
- Able to travel within the geographical work area in an effective manner.
- Ability to access a range of settings including visiting people at home.
- Be committed to continuous development of job related knowledge and skills, including essential IT skills.
Desirable criteria
- Word processing and other IT skills.
Documents to Download
Guidance Notes for Candidates Applying for a job at OHFT (PDF, 424.6KB)
Recruiter Contact Details
Name: Aidan Harker
Title: Service Manager
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 07786913876