Community Wellbeing Connectors (Mental Health) 3 roles

Northpoint Wellbeing Ltd

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

The Community Connectors will support people to achieve better mental health and wellbeing, increasing independence and supporting recovery. They will work as part of a Multi-Disciplinary team with a case load of clients across the Local Care Partnership area, and use a personalised approach to support people, using coaching and motivational interviewing. Through this they will help clients identify support and services in the local community, that support their recovery, and motivate and enable them to engage with these services. Community Connectors will be experienced in working with, and building relationships with, people with a variety of mental health needs. They will be adept at managing risks and safeguarding concerns.

Main duties of the job

The Community Mental Health Transformation programme is a new way of supporting adults and older adults with ongoing and complex mental health needs. This new approach will allow more people to get the support they need when they need it. It will provide mental health support at a local level, and there will also be help and advice for other issues such as housing, benefits, employment, and physical health; all in the same place. The programme focuses on supporting individuals who have ongoing and complex mental health needs, sometimes referred to as people with Severe Mental Illness (SMI). In this context, this covers a range of needs and diagnoses, including but not limited to, people with; bipolar disorder, ‘personality disorder’ diagnosis, eating disorders, severe depression and mental health rehabilitation needs – some of which may co-exist with frailty, cognitive impairments, neurodiversity, or substance use.

About us

Two roles will be funded by the Leeds Student Medical Practice and The Light Surgery Primary Care and hosted by Northpoint Wellbeing. These roles will cover the city centre with culturally diverse population and student areas of Leeds. Applicants for these roles would benefit from having experience of working with young people and with higher and further education settings, as it is anticipated that these roles will include close working with the University Wellbeing Teams to support students. If you have any questions around the roles, please contact shaema.saleh@northpoint.org.uk One role will be hosted by Touchstone, and will cover areas of Chapeltown and Burmantofts, Harehills and Richmond Hill. These roles will specialise in working with culturally diverse communities. If you have any questions around the roles, please contact Dave Pickard Operations Director on davep@touchstonesupport.org.uk

Please note interviews will be held in person on 28th and 29th June.

Date posted

17 May 2022

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,419 to £27,514 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0173-22-3407

Job locations

Touchstone Leeds

Cromwell Mount

Leeds

LS9 7ST


Northpoint Wellbeing Ltd

Hunslet Road

Leeds

LS10 1JN


Job description

Job responsibilities

The role includes the following duties. These may change as the post evolves, however will be within the level of responsibility for this role:

Person-centred Support

You will:

  • Offer focused support to individuals and groups with the aim of building knowledge, skills, confidence, and resilience in people, as well as encouraging people to access local activities and services.

  • Use health coaching and motivational interviewing techniques, identifying barriers to people accessing services, and work with them to overcome these.

  • Take a holistic approach to support people to identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, employment circumstances and unemployment, loneliness, isolation and caring responsibilities, signposting to services where appropriate.

  • Work alongside people experiencing emotional or mental health issues and inspire them to develop the skills to help restore and maintain emotional wellbeing.

  • Support the involvement of people with lived experience of mental health in the design, delivery and monitoring of services.

  • Challenge stigma attached to mental health, particularly within certain communities, and raise awareness of the importance for everyone to look after their mental wellbeing.

  • Receive requests for support from a range of primary and secondary care partners including third sector colleagues.  

  • Build relationships and work proactively with health care professionals in primary and secondary care to facilitate a ‘joined up’ approach, stimulate requests for support and provide timely feedback on the support provided to individuals, including mental health provision.

  • Give people time to tell their stories and focus on ‘what matters to me’, build trust, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices.

  • Work with individuals to co-produce a personalised support plan to address their health and wellbeing needs as required – based on the person’s priorities, interests, values, and motivations – helping them to navigate access to local resources and services.

  • Ensure ongoing assessment and management of risks within an attitude of ‘positive risk taking’.

  • Manage and prioritise a caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and urgent support required by individuals.

  • Work closely with a range of multi-disciplinary professionals, both statutory and voluntary sector, who are involved in a person’s care, ensuring a smooth and coordinated approach, especially where multiple agencies are involved.

  • Identify when a person’s needs are beyond the scope of the Community Connector role and introduce them to the relevant health professional and/or service.

  • Remain the point of contact throughout the individual’s support plan, including follow ups to ensure outcomes are being achieved and individuals are provided with ongoing support as required.

  • Encourage people to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact of the Community Connector support on their lives.

Community-based Support

You will:

  • Explore ways to innovate to get the best out of the role, and to identify possible new opportunities that could contribute to system change and strengthen the offer to people with mental health issues within the local community.

  • Act as the ‘glue’, linking people in with the experts and local assets, and undertaking support work in partnership with external stakeholders to complement their interventions.

  • Have a detailed understanding of local services to facilitate signposting and support/connections.

  • Where appropriate, connect and signpost people to community groups, activities, and statutory services to meet their needs and ensure individuals are engaged with their local community.

  • Be proactive in reducing barriers to people engaging in activities i.e., where appropriate, arranging appointments and transport and accompanying them to activities or helping with orientation.

  • Assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain an up-to-date database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision and work with other voluntary sector organisations to develop resources where most needed.

  • Develop productive relationships with local partner organisations to improve service outcomes, and identify opportunities to expand provision, particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified.

  • Broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector organisations to enhance service delivery and access to services.

  • Work in partnership and collaboratively with the Primary Care Networks and existing services delivered within primary care and the community such as social prescribing, health and well-being services etc.

  • Work alongside community connectors in other LCP areas, collaborating with them and sharing ideas and best practice to help develop the service.

Monitoring and Reporting

You will:

  • Monitor and record outcomes for all those accessing the service through the use of agreed assessment tools and quality outcome measures.

  • Maintain systems to keep accurate records relating to the delivery and outcomes of the service.

  • Gather and collate statistical and other information and data as required, reporting on activity and outcomes in accordance with agreed timescales, ensuring effective qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation of the service.

General

You will:

  • Develop an awareness of local and national developments and best practice in this area of work and attend relevant conferences, meetings and training events as required.

  • Ensure that best practice is reflected on, shared and implemented.

  • Work in accordance with the organisations’ policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, home working, lone working, data protection, information governance, equality and diversity, and security, health and safety.

  • Seek to improve personal performance, outcomes, contribution, knowledge and skills.

  • Participate in team meetings, appraisal, workforce development and supervision processes.

  • Represent the organisation at external agencies and support the values, workings and ethics of the organisations approach to working with and supporting individuals.

  • Be inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with the organisation’s performance management policies and procedures.

  • Be responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate and undertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skills and awareness.

  • Undertake any other duties as directed by your line manager, in line with the responsibilities of this post.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The role includes the following duties. These may change as the post evolves, however will be within the level of responsibility for this role:

Person-centred Support

You will:

  • Offer focused support to individuals and groups with the aim of building knowledge, skills, confidence, and resilience in people, as well as encouraging people to access local activities and services.

  • Use health coaching and motivational interviewing techniques, identifying barriers to people accessing services, and work with them to overcome these.

  • Take a holistic approach to support people to identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, employment circumstances and unemployment, loneliness, isolation and caring responsibilities, signposting to services where appropriate.

  • Work alongside people experiencing emotional or mental health issues and inspire them to develop the skills to help restore and maintain emotional wellbeing.

  • Support the involvement of people with lived experience of mental health in the design, delivery and monitoring of services.

  • Challenge stigma attached to mental health, particularly within certain communities, and raise awareness of the importance for everyone to look after their mental wellbeing.

  • Receive requests for support from a range of primary and secondary care partners including third sector colleagues.  

  • Build relationships and work proactively with health care professionals in primary and secondary care to facilitate a ‘joined up’ approach, stimulate requests for support and provide timely feedback on the support provided to individuals, including mental health provision.

  • Give people time to tell their stories and focus on ‘what matters to me’, build trust, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices.

  • Work with individuals to co-produce a personalised support plan to address their health and wellbeing needs as required – based on the person’s priorities, interests, values, and motivations – helping them to navigate access to local resources and services.

  • Ensure ongoing assessment and management of risks within an attitude of ‘positive risk taking’.

  • Manage and prioritise a caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and urgent support required by individuals.

  • Work closely with a range of multi-disciplinary professionals, both statutory and voluntary sector, who are involved in a person’s care, ensuring a smooth and coordinated approach, especially where multiple agencies are involved.

  • Identify when a person’s needs are beyond the scope of the Community Connector role and introduce them to the relevant health professional and/or service.

  • Remain the point of contact throughout the individual’s support plan, including follow ups to ensure outcomes are being achieved and individuals are provided with ongoing support as required.

  • Encourage people to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact of the Community Connector support on their lives.

Community-based Support

You will:

  • Explore ways to innovate to get the best out of the role, and to identify possible new opportunities that could contribute to system change and strengthen the offer to people with mental health issues within the local community.

  • Act as the ‘glue’, linking people in with the experts and local assets, and undertaking support work in partnership with external stakeholders to complement their interventions.

  • Have a detailed understanding of local services to facilitate signposting and support/connections.

  • Where appropriate, connect and signpost people to community groups, activities, and statutory services to meet their needs and ensure individuals are engaged with their local community.

  • Be proactive in reducing barriers to people engaging in activities i.e., where appropriate, arranging appointments and transport and accompanying them to activities or helping with orientation.

  • Assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain an up-to-date database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision and work with other voluntary sector organisations to develop resources where most needed.

  • Develop productive relationships with local partner organisations to improve service outcomes, and identify opportunities to expand provision, particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified.

  • Broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector organisations to enhance service delivery and access to services.

  • Work in partnership and collaboratively with the Primary Care Networks and existing services delivered within primary care and the community such as social prescribing, health and well-being services etc.

  • Work alongside community connectors in other LCP areas, collaborating with them and sharing ideas and best practice to help develop the service.

Monitoring and Reporting

You will:

  • Monitor and record outcomes for all those accessing the service through the use of agreed assessment tools and quality outcome measures.

  • Maintain systems to keep accurate records relating to the delivery and outcomes of the service.

  • Gather and collate statistical and other information and data as required, reporting on activity and outcomes in accordance with agreed timescales, ensuring effective qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation of the service.

General

You will:

  • Develop an awareness of local and national developments and best practice in this area of work and attend relevant conferences, meetings and training events as required.

  • Ensure that best practice is reflected on, shared and implemented.

  • Work in accordance with the organisations’ policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, home working, lone working, data protection, information governance, equality and diversity, and security, health and safety.

  • Seek to improve personal performance, outcomes, contribution, knowledge and skills.

  • Participate in team meetings, appraisal, workforce development and supervision processes.

  • Represent the organisation at external agencies and support the values, workings and ethics of the organisations approach to working with and supporting individuals.

  • Be inducted, supervised, performance managed and appraised in line with the organisation’s performance management policies and procedures.

  • Be responsible for personal learning and development where appropriate and undertake training, both mandatory and optional, to increase knowledge, skills and awareness.

  • Undertake any other duties as directed by your line manager, in line with the responsibilities of this post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Desirable

  • A relevant qualification at NVQ Level 3 (e.g., NVQ Level 3 in Mental Health and Social Care) or equivalent, and/or significant experience in mental health support work
  • Mental Health First Aid or willingness to work towards this qualification
  • Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

  • Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities
  • Working with mental health, the voluntary sector, primary care, population health, public health or health promotion
  • Supporting people with their mental health or complex lives, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
  • Personalised approach to supporting people, coaching and motivational interviewing
  • Partnership and collaborative working and building relationships across a variety of organisations and individuals whilst maintaining professional boundaries
  • Maintaining client confidentiality
  • Working in a multi-cultural environment
  • Promoting, and raising awareness of a service

Desirable

  • Experience of case management systems (e.g., SystmOne/EMIS) for outcome and case management recording

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Actively listen, empathise with people, and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental way.
  • Support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
  • To work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets
  • Actively influence senior leaders and system change, to build confidence in a service. Including building and maintaining relationships with others whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
  • Excellent listening and interpersonal skills at all levels, including the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
  • Effectively to draw on principles of co-production to build reciprocal relationships
  • Actively identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
  • Effectively get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles, cultural norms and diversity
  • Responsibility to actively promote anti-discriminatory practice and equality of opportunities in dealing with colleagues, service users, carers, and others being mindful of protected characteristics including race, faith, age, gender, sexual orientation, and physical disability.
  • Successfully break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group
  • Effectively cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
  • Efficiently plan and manage varying workloads and prioritise tasks ensuring clients urgent needs are met
  • Effectively manage safeguarding issues safely and appropriately, seeking support and guidance when required.
  • Adaptable, flexible and forward-looking
  • Enthusiastic, with energy and drive and a can do attitude
  • Proficient in the use of MS Office, Outlook, Word, Dropbox, Excel
  • Effectively use IT based case management systems and databases
  • To work independently and as part of a team
  • Committed to own professional and personal development
  • Awareness of own mental wellbeing and willingness to seek support when required, including the ability to recognise own limitations in a crisis situation.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic, and environmental factors and their impact on communities
  • Understanding of the experiences of people who live with significant mental distress and the impact of trauma on mental health
  • Motivational coaching and interview skills
  • Knowledge of voluntary, community and statutory services in Leeds
  • Understanding of community working, lone working and ability to maintain safety whilst working in the community
  • Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality, data protection, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies

Desirable

  • Understanding of physical health inequalities that impact on life expectancy e.g., weight management, smoking, substance misuse
  • Understanding of community development approaches e.g., ABCD
Person Specification

Qualifications

Desirable

  • A relevant qualification at NVQ Level 3 (e.g., NVQ Level 3 in Mental Health and Social Care) or equivalent, and/or significant experience in mental health support work
  • Mental Health First Aid or willingness to work towards this qualification
  • Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Experience

Essential

  • Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities
  • Working with mental health, the voluntary sector, primary care, population health, public health or health promotion
  • Supporting people with their mental health or complex lives, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity
  • Personalised approach to supporting people, coaching and motivational interviewing
  • Partnership and collaborative working and building relationships across a variety of organisations and individuals whilst maintaining professional boundaries
  • Maintaining client confidentiality
  • Working in a multi-cultural environment
  • Promoting, and raising awareness of a service

Desirable

  • Experience of case management systems (e.g., SystmOne/EMIS) for outcome and case management recording

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Actively listen, empathise with people, and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental way.
  • Support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
  • To work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets
  • Actively influence senior leaders and system change, to build confidence in a service. Including building and maintaining relationships with others whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
  • Excellent listening and interpersonal skills at all levels, including the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
  • Effectively to draw on principles of co-production to build reciprocal relationships
  • Actively identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
  • Effectively get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles, cultural norms and diversity
  • Responsibility to actively promote anti-discriminatory practice and equality of opportunities in dealing with colleagues, service users, carers, and others being mindful of protected characteristics including race, faith, age, gender, sexual orientation, and physical disability.
  • Successfully break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group
  • Effectively cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
  • Efficiently plan and manage varying workloads and prioritise tasks ensuring clients urgent needs are met
  • Effectively manage safeguarding issues safely and appropriately, seeking support and guidance when required.
  • Adaptable, flexible and forward-looking
  • Enthusiastic, with energy and drive and a can do attitude
  • Proficient in the use of MS Office, Outlook, Word, Dropbox, Excel
  • Effectively use IT based case management systems and databases
  • To work independently and as part of a team
  • Committed to own professional and personal development
  • Awareness of own mental wellbeing and willingness to seek support when required, including the ability to recognise own limitations in a crisis situation.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic, and environmental factors and their impact on communities
  • Understanding of the experiences of people who live with significant mental distress and the impact of trauma on mental health
  • Motivational coaching and interview skills
  • Knowledge of voluntary, community and statutory services in Leeds
  • Understanding of community working, lone working and ability to maintain safety whilst working in the community
  • Knowledge and understanding of confidentiality, data protection, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies

Desirable

  • Understanding of physical health inequalities that impact on life expectancy e.g., weight management, smoking, substance misuse
  • Understanding of community development approaches e.g., ABCD

Employer details

Employer name

Northpoint Wellbeing Ltd

Address

Touchstone Leeds

Cromwell Mount

Leeds

LS9 7ST


Employer's website

https://northpoint.org.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Northpoint Wellbeing Ltd

Address

Touchstone Leeds

Cromwell Mount

Leeds

LS9 7ST


Employer's website

https://northpoint.org.uk (Opens in a new tab)

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Team Manager

Shaema Saleh

shaema.saleh@northpoint.org.uk

07851256412

Date posted

17 May 2022

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£25,419 to £27,514 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0173-22-3407

Job locations

Touchstone Leeds

Cromwell Mount

Leeds

LS9 7ST


Northpoint Wellbeing Ltd

Hunslet Road

Leeds

LS10 1JN


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Northpoint Wellbeing Ltd's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)