Mental Health Hospital Link Worker; Part time

Part Time, Fixed Term, Contract

05-10-2026

17-10-2026

Colchester

CO4 5JL

UK

On-site

Non-profit charitable organisations

Mental health

2 years experience working in the field of mental health or other comparable field

Level 3 in Health & Social Care

We are seeking a resilient and compassionate Mental Health Hospital Link Worker to provide vital support to people experiencing emotional distress in a busy hospital setting.
Role: Mental Health Hospital Link Worker Hours: 22.5hours per week, 1.30pm – 9.30pm, including weekends and bank holidays on a four-week rolling rota Contract:Fixed-term until 31 March 2027, with the potential for extension

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Mental Health Hospital Link Service at Colchester General Hospital. Based within the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and Emergency Department (ED), you will provide a non-clinical, person-centred service for individuals experiencing emotional distress and mental health difficulties. Working closely with hospital clinical teams, you will offer immediate support, help de-escalate challenging situations, and ensure people are connected with the most appropriate services and community resources.

This is a rewarding role where you can make a genuine difference during some of the most difficult moments in people's lives.

• Providing empathic, person-centred support to individuals in distress.
• Building rapport and helping to de-escalate crisis situations.
• Working collaboratively with hospital triage and clinical teams.
• Referring and signposting people to appropriate mental health and community services.
• Developing positive relationships with volunteers, partners and stakeholders.
• Maintaining accurate case records and documentation.
• Contributing to safeguarding, risk management and effective service delivery.
• Supporting individuals to develop self-management strategies and access local resources.

You will have at least two years' experience working within mental health or a related field and be confident supporting individuals experiencing emotional distress. You will be a skilled communicator with the resilience to work in a fast-paced environment and the ability to build effective relationships with a wide range of people and professionals. Ideally, you will hold a Level 3 qualification in Health and Social Care or a related subject and have excellent IT skills, alongside a strong understanding of safeguarding and professional boundaries.

Above all, you will be empathetic, proactive and committed to delivering high-quality support.

Mid and North East Essex Mind is committed to supporting people to achieve better mental health and wellbeing. We are dedicated to ensuring that no one feels alone by delivering vital mental health services across our communities. We are guided by our values of listening, co-producing, trusted, inclusive, innovation and supportive in all we do.

We offer a supportive and inclusive workplace, with benefits including:

• 36 days holiday including 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part time); competitive pension;
• recruitment referrals, training and development, annual wellbeing day;
• expert supervision and peer support, an extended lunch break each week;
• company sick pay based on length of service and a charity worker discount scheme.
• discounted parking at the hospital for this role

Other roles you may have experience of could include:
Mental Health Support Worker, Crisis Support Worker, Wellbeing Practitioner, Recovery Worker, Community Support Worker, Mental Health Practitioner, Care Coordinator, Hospital Liaison Worker, Outreach Worker, Social Prescribing Link Worker, Support Time and Recovery Worker (STR Worker), or Emotional Wellbeing Worker.

We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce, collaborating with our communities and partners to drive innovation and better decision-making. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds to try to ensure we better represent our communities.

Join us in creating an environment where everyone feels supported, respected, and valued. Let’s build a community that thrives on inclusivity and mutual respect.