Children and Young People’s Refugee Mental Health Support Worker at West Sussex Mind

Hours: Part Time - 32.5 hours per week.

Salary: £25,992.30 per annum (FTE £29,991.00)

Contract: Fixed Term Contract to end of March 2028

Location: Offering support across West Sussex - initial focus on Crawley and Bognor with a view to provide support across other areas such as Worthing, Horsham and Chichester as required.

Holiday Entitlement: 25 days per year rising to 27 days after 2 years plus an additional allowance for bank holidays (pro rata)

West Sussex Mind Values:  Excellence, Equitable, Open, Together, Curious, Unstoppable 

National Mind Excellence Awards 2025: Winner for Equality & Diversity; Highly Commended for Effective Services

Overview:

At West Sussex Mind, we are committed to raising awareness, increasing understanding, and reducing stigma around mental health across our communities. We focus our resources where they are needed most, reaching individuals and groups who face barriers to accessing support.

We are now looking for someone new to continue developing our new service supporting children and young people who have been resettled in West Sussex, mainly from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Syria. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity to help shape and deliver meaningful mental health support to young refugees as they rebuild their lives.

You will play a key role in ensuring young people and their families can access the right support at the right time.

About the Role

You will provide compassionate, recovery-focused support to children and young people aged 8–17, helping them to:

Build resilience and confidence
Develop healthy coping strategies
Problem-solve challenges
Improve emotional wellbeing
Work towards meaningful personal goals
You will deliver one-to-one support to young people using collaborative support planning to ensure their voices remain central to the process.

This role requires a flexible, holistic approach — addressing both emotional wellbeing and wider social challenges — while confidently assessing and managing risk when necessary.

You will also:

Develop strong partnerships with agencies supporting refugee communities
Deliver sessions in community venues and local schools
Contribute to the successful development of this new service

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking someone who:

Has experience supporting mental health and wellbeing
Is passionate about working with children and young people
Understands the complex challenges refugees may face and the impact of trauma, displacement, and resettlement
Can build trust with young people from diverse cultural backgrounds
Works confidently both independently and as part of a wider team
You may come from a background in counselling, teaching, social work, nursing, youth work, psychological wellbeing practice (PWP), family support, housing, or advice work. A relevant qualification is desirable but not essential if you have strong experience.

Practical Information

A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle is essential as the role involves travel across West Sussex
Team meetings are held in locations including Durrington and Littlehampton
Mileage is paid for travel beyond your agreed base

How to apply:

Please find an application form, guidance notes, job description and person specification on our website.

Closing date: 9:00am on Friday 4th December 2026

Interview date: Wednesday 16th December 2026 at The Gateway, 8 -10 Durrington Lane, Worthing BN13 2QG

If you are unable to make the interview date for any reason, please indicate this on your application form.    

Please email completed applications to people_team@westsussexmind.org  

If you would like to have an informal discussion prior to applying or have any questions after reading the documents, please contact Kim Anthony on kim.anthony@westsussexmind.org

Please note we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post, you must therefore be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.   

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time once we receive sufficient applications and encourage all interested applicants to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid disappointment.   

No agencies or CVs

West Sussex Mind is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff, and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships. Here is a link to our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion statement - https://www.westsussexmind.org/about-us/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-statement