Mental Health Support Worker
The mental-health equivalent of a healthcare assistant — providing hands-on care, observation and therapeutic support on wards and in the community.
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Strong on salary growth and AI resistance; held back by work–life balance.
Can reach ~£80,000 via Clinical Director / Consultant-level Lead.
Large workforce (~335,088); trend not tracked.
Highly resistant to automation — hands-on clinical work.
Reasonable work–life balance; heavy shift work.
Easy entry — low study load, moderate competition.
4 onward routes; limited flexible-working scope.
Career Score™ is CareRoute's own indicative rating from public NHS-style data — not an official NHS ranking. A composite of six factors; same inputs always give the same score.
What you'd do
- Support daily living and therapeutic activities
- Observe and record mental state and risk
- Support people in distress and de-escalate
- Work alongside nurses and the MDT
Is this you?
Typical progression routes
Indicative routes from the career graph — not usage data.
Your salary roadmap
Indicative pay on the highest-reaching route, by year.
Skills & requirements
- BPS-accredited psychology degree (GBC)
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Honest, practical answers grounded in real NHS-style data — not a recruiter.
Guides & updates
We're writing in-depth mental health guides — pay, entry routes and progression. In the meantime, explore the roles and career map above.
Questions, answered straight
Where to look next
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