Here at 42nd Street, Mental Health Practitioners work at the heart of our service, delivering our vision of inclusive, trauma-informed, accessible mental health and wellbeing support and opportunities for young people.
We offer a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights-based approaches, demonstrating local impact with national significance. We drive meaningful change that makes a positive difference to the lives of young people.
We celebrate our diverse team and inclusive workplace, with a people-centred focus on work-life balance, employee development, learning, wellbeing and mental health.
We are recruiting for one Mental Health Practitioner (Psycho-Social Support) post as part of the Greater Manchester Pathfinder Programme.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in supporting young people who are at risk of homelessness. Greater Manchester Better Outcomes Partnership has teamed up with DePaul UK, 42nd Street and other partners to support young people to build confidence and resilience, avoid longer-term homelessness, sustain existing tenancies and move into new accommodation.
You will work closely with DePaul UK's Progression Coaches, supporting referrals of young people experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing as part of a wider, personalised and holistic package of support.
You will primarily work with young people aged 18–25, while also supporting young people aged 16+ who are transitioning between services.
About the role
The core element of the post is the direct delivery of individual therapeutic and psycho-social support to young people experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties.
You will:
- Complete holistic mental health assessments and collaboratively assess risk.
- Develop crisis action plans and work closely with relevant services where required.
- Provide individual support from initial assessment through to review and onward referral.
- Offer a flexible range of short-, medium- and longer-term support based on assessed need.
- Work alongside DePaul UK Progression Coaches to provide coordinated and holistic support.
- Support young people who may have had significant previous contact with mental health services.
- Explore and develop creative approaches to support, including online groups and short-term de-escalation support.
- Contribute to groups, drop-ins and other projects alongside colleagues across 42nd Street.
- Work with young people experiencing isolation, stress and complex circumstances.
- Develop accessible and inclusive approaches that respond to the needs of young people from diverse backgrounds.
- Liaise with statutory and voluntary sector organisations, including GPs, CAMHS/AMHS, schools, youth services and community organisations.
- Contribute to the evaluation and development of the Pathfinder Programme and share learning and good practice.
This is an opportunity to help shape the programme and influence future approaches to supporting young people at risk of homelessness across Greater Manchester.
This role could be for you if you are:
- Passionate about supporting young people experiencing mental health difficulties, emotional distress or complex life circumstances.
- Experienced in providing person-centred and empowering support to young people.
- Comfortable working collaboratively with young people to identify and manage risk.
- Creative and flexible in your approach to therapeutic and psycho-social support.
- Passionate about supporting young people who may be experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
- Committed to equality, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.
- Able to work collaboratively across different organisations and professional networks.
- Confident working both independently and as part of a wider team.
Apply if you can offer:
- A relevant professional qualification in Social Work or Youth & Community Work at graduate level, or equivalent.
- A minimum of 2 years' experience working with young people aged 18–25.
- Experience providing effective and empowering individual support to young people experiencing stress or mental health difficulties.
- Experience providing psycho-social support to young people with learning disabilities and/or neurodivergent young people.
- Experience providing both short-term and longer-term support.
- Experience assessing the mental health needs of young people from diverse backgrounds.
- Experience working with young people in group settings and managing challenging group dynamics.
- Experience assessing and supporting young people who self-harm and/or experience suicidal feelings.
- Experience delivering individual therapeutic support online.
- Experience supporting young people who are at risk of homelessness.
- Knowledge of young people's mental health needs and the social context in which young people live.
- Excellent communication, organisation and time-management skills.
- The ability to work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector partners.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusive practice.
- A willingness to work across Greater Manchester, including up to two evenings per week and occasional weekends.
We offer:
- People-focused leaders, developmental line managers and an excellent team to work alongside, with a strong 42nd Street culture focusing on equal opportunities and continual learning.
- An annual personal training budget to support your continued professional development, following successful completion of your probationary period.
- 42nd Street is a Real Living Wage Foundation accredited employer.
- Varied role locations, offering a combination of community-based and office-based work.
- A hybrid working approach where appropriate, balancing the needs of the service and young people.
- 27 days' annual leave plus 8 bank holidays per year (pro rata), rising to 30 days after 5 years' service.
- Pension scheme with 3% employer contributions.
- Cycle to Work scheme.
- Internal training calendar with modules identified by staff.
- 4 paid team wellbeing afternoons per year to use as you wish.
How to Apply
We look forward to receiving your application. To ensure we offer an equal recruitment experience for all, we do not accept C.V. applications. Please read the job description here and send your applications to: [email protected].
To apply for this role, please complete the following forms at https://www.42ndstreet.org.uk/about-us/work-with-us/
To ensure we offer an equal recruitment experience for all, we do not accept CV applications. Please send your completed application to [email protected].
If you have access needs that require additional support to make an application, please let us know and we can discuss how best to support you during the application process.
Work location: Central Manchester office base and community locations across Greater Manchester
Schedule: Full-time, Monday to Friday, with flexibility for evening and occasional weekend work
Work location: Hybrid/community-based, with regular work across Greater Manchester
Applications open: 21st August 2026
Applications close: 7th September 2026 @ 5pm
Interview dates: Week commencing 14th September 2026
For more information or to discuss these opportunities in more detail, please contact [email protected].
Job Types: Full-time & Fixed term contract
Pay: £31,537.00-£39,152.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bereavement leave
- Casual dress
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Enhanced paternity leave
- Flexitime
- Free flu jabs
- Free or subsidised travel
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: In person
