Mental Health Specialist Support Officer
Bedford - Permanent, Full Time
34,500 per annum plus car allowance
The Mental Health Specialist Support Officer plays a key role in delivering specialist mental health support across housing services. The postholder works directly with customers experiencing mental health challenges, supporting them to sustain their tenancies, improve their wellbeing, and access appropriate services.
Acting as a bridge between customers, internal housing teams, and external agencies, the role ensures a coordinated, trauma-informed, and person-centred approach. The postholder will also provide expert guidance to colleagues, helping to improve outcomes in complex cases and embed good practice in mental health support across services.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Support & Tenancy Sustainment
- Deliver person-centred, trauma-informed support to customers with mental health needs
- Complete holistic assessments of need and risk, including mitigation planning
- Co-produce and regularly review support plans focused on tenancy sustainment and wellbeing
- Support customers to engage with mental health services and attend appointments
- Respond appropriately to crisis situations and escalating risk
Specialist Advice & Support to Housing Teams
- Provide expert mental health advice to colleagues on complex cases
- Support joint visits, case reviews, and risk planning
- Deliver coaching, informal training, and briefings
- Promote trauma-informed and psychologically informed approaches
Partnership & Multi-Agency Working
- Build and maintain effective relationships with mental health services and partners
- Act as a key liaison to improve communication between agencies
- Advocate on behalf of customers
- Attend and contribute to multi-agency meetings
- Identify and escalate gaps in service provision
Safeguarding & Risk Management
- Identify and respond to safeguarding concerns in line with policy
- Contribute to risk assessments and safety planning
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records
- Ensure compliance with organisational and regulatory requirements
Service Development & Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to the development of policies and good practice frameworks
- Identify trends and themes relating to mental health needs
- Support the embedding of trauma-informed approaches across services
Person Specification
Skills & Attributes
- Ability to build trust and rapport with customers who may be reluctant to engage
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to influence and advise colleagues and stakeholders
- Skilled in managing complex, sensitive situations calmly and effectively
- Empathetic, non-judgemental, and trauma-informed approach
- Resilient with the ability to manage emotionally demanding situations
- Strong professional boundaries
- Solution-focused, proactive, and practical approach
- Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
Knowledge & Experience
- Experience of working with individuals with a range of mental health needs
- Strong understanding of mental health systems, including statutory and voluntary services
- Experience of safeguarding and risk management
- Experience of multi-agency working and partnership building
- Understanding of trauma-informed or psychologically informed environments
Qualifications
- Relevant qualification in mental health, social work, psychology or a related field, or equivalent experience
- Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and best practice
Additional Requirements
- Ability to travel across operational areas
- Flexibility to respond to urgent or crisis situations
- Enhanced DBS check required
Disclaimer
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. Early application is encouraged to avoid disappointment.
