Mental Health Recovery Worker (Penrith)

## Review: Mental Health Recovery Worker Opportunity in Penrith This Mental Health Recovery Worker position in Penrith offers a compelling opportunity for individuals passionate about making a tangible difference in the lives of others. Waythrough, a prominent mental health charity, is seeking compassionate and dedicated individuals to join their team at Abbots Bank, a supported housing service focused on empowering adults aged 18+ towards recovery and independence. ### Advantages for Potential Candidates: * **Meaningful Impact:** The core of this role is about fostering recovery, independence, and well-being. You'll directly contribute to individuals rebuilding their lives, developing essential skills, and achieving personal goals. This is a chance to witness significant positive change and celebrate personal milestones. * **Comprehensive Training:** A significant advantage is that **previous experience is not required**. Waythrough provides full training, making this role accessible to individuals who possess the right attitude and desire to help, regardless of their prior professional background in mental health. * **Career Development & Support:** While not explicitly stated as a training programme, the emphasis on personalized support plans and collaborative working suggests a learning environment. The opportunity to work with a leading mental health charity, which has recently undergone a significant merger to become one of England's largest, indicates a stable and growing organisation with potential for future career progression. * **Supportive Environment:** The description highlights working "independently and as part of a supportive team." This suggests a balanced work environment where you will have autonomy while also receiving encouragement and collaboration from colleagues. * **Excellent Benefits Package:** Waythrough offers a strong benefits package, including: * Generous annual leave, increasing with service. * A competitive pension scheme with employer contributions. * Life assurance. * Enhanced sick and family-friendly pay. * A range of wellbeing initiatives and employee support services, including 24/7 online GP access and an Employee Assistance Programme. * Additional perks like Birthday leave, the option to buy extra leave, and discounts through various schemes. * **Inclusive Culture:** Waythrough is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and actively welcomes applications from individuals with lived experience, recognizing the invaluable perspective this brings to the role. ### Key Considerations for Candidates: * **Rotational Working Hours:** The role requires working 37 hours per week on a rota that **includes weekends and evenings**. Candidates must be flexible and comfortable with this shift pattern to ensure consistent support for residents. * **Driving Requirement:** A **full UK driving licence and access to a car** are essential. This is necessary for providing outreach support and engaging with community-based services. * **Emotional Resilience:** Working in mental health recovery requires a degree of emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure. While training is provided, candidates should reflect on their own capacity to handle challenging situations with empathy and professionalism. * **Understanding of Lived Experience:** While not mandatory, candidates with an understanding of mental health issues or personal lived experience are particularly encouraged to apply. This suggests that such insight will be highly valued in this role. * **Organizational Evolution:** Waythrough is a newly formed entity (October 2024) through the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. While integration is ongoing, candidates should be aware that some systems and branding may still reflect legacy organisations. This is a temporary phase, and the overarching vision and purpose of Waythrough remain unified. **In conclusion,** this Mental Health Recovery Worker position presents a significant opportunity for individuals seeking a fulfilling career dedicated to positive social impact. The combination of comprehensive support, excellent benefits, and the chance to truly make a difference makes this a role worth serious consideration for those looking to advance their career in a supportive and impactful environment.