Mental Health Support Worker

Community Links

This job is now closed

Job summary

We are seeking a highly motivated individual to join the team as a Mental Health Support Worker!

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual, who has a methodical yet creative approach to working with people with complex mental health needs, as well as the skills and qualities to act as a role model for other members of the team.

Main duties of the job

Oakwood Hall is a residential care home working with Service Users whose complex mental health support needs cannot be accommodated by other services; often leading to exclusion and difficulties in engagement.

The role is to provide a flexible, supportive and responsive service to people who have a significant history of mental ill health and distress, and who have complex needs, not easily met by existing services. The aim of our service is to support residents in achieving a level of stability, which allows them to access, and use other services, gaining increasing independence in the future. This will be achieved by providing a range of emotional, social and practical support in association with other agencies.

About us

Community Links aims to provide a high quality customer service adhering to the principles of best practice, promoting equal opportunities and working positively with diversity. Community Links is an ambitious, forward thinking organisation and you must be committed to developing and enhancing the services we provide.

The organisation expects all its employees to carry out their duties in a professional manner with a client focus, ensuring that respect and courtesy is shown to them, colleagues, other service providers and all those in contact with the organisation. You are expected to uphold the values and ethos of Community Links at all times.

Date posted

11 February 2022

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£20,330 to £21,777 a year Pro rata for part time roles

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

B0447-22-4218

Job locations

3 Limewood Road

Seacroft

Leeds

West Yorkshire

LS14 1AB

Oakwood Grange Lane

Leeds

LS8 2PF

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To develop positive, enabling and collaborative relationships with service users.

2. To act as keyworker and/or support team member for a small caseload of service users in accordance with the service standards.

3. To maintain a culture that meets residents needs by working in a manner that is tolerant and understanding of difference, difficulties and behaviour.

4. To maintain effective, timely communication with the shift co-ordinator.

5. To actively and openly take part in team meetings and attend external meetings as required.

6. To carry out general housekeeping tasks and duties including cleaning, cooking to support a therapeutic and hygienic environment in line with guidelines, policies and procedures.

7. Work closely with service users to maximise opportunities for involvement and participation in social and therapeutic activities.

8. Keep records of petty cash.

9. To ensure that client records and other information systems are completed accurately and within agreed timescales.

10. To ensure that support undertaken is meaningful, respectful, promotes self-determination and is in line with the individual support plan.

11. To adhere to organisational policies and procedures relating to risk and personal safety.

12. To contribute to the achievement of annually set individual and team targets.

13. To participate in regular supervision.

14. To represent Community Links in a knowledgeable and professional manner at all times.

15. To maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

16. To identify own training and development needs in conjunction with your line manager and participate in training opportunities as directed.

17. To partake in Community Links Personal Development Review system.

18. Any other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Please note this job description is intended to provide a guide to the general duties and responsibilities of the role the post holder is expected to adopt a flexible approach to the tasks. It should not be regarded as a contractual document. It will be reviewed regularly and may be varied at the discretion of Community Links.

Job description

Job responsibilities

1. To develop positive, enabling and collaborative relationships with service users.

2. To act as keyworker and/or support team member for a small caseload of service users in accordance with the service standards.

3. To maintain a culture that meets residents needs by working in a manner that is tolerant and understanding of difference, difficulties and behaviour.

4. To maintain effective, timely communication with the shift co-ordinator.

5. To actively and openly take part in team meetings and attend external meetings as required.

6. To carry out general housekeeping tasks and duties including cleaning, cooking to support a therapeutic and hygienic environment in line with guidelines, policies and procedures.

7. Work closely with service users to maximise opportunities for involvement and participation in social and therapeutic activities.

8. Keep records of petty cash.

9. To ensure that client records and other information systems are completed accurately and within agreed timescales.

10. To ensure that support undertaken is meaningful, respectful, promotes self-determination and is in line with the individual support plan.

11. To adhere to organisational policies and procedures relating to risk and personal safety.

12. To contribute to the achievement of annually set individual and team targets.

13. To participate in regular supervision.

14. To represent Community Links in a knowledgeable and professional manner at all times.

15. To maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

16. To identify own training and development needs in conjunction with your line manager and participate in training opportunities as directed.

17. To partake in Community Links Personal Development Review system.

18. Any other duties commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Person Specification

Approach

Essential

Demonstrate a commitment and enthusiasm for working with our client group
Demonstrate understanding and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
Demonstrate a commitment to enabling and empowering clients to become actively involved in Community Links
Able to build and maintain relationships whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
Demonstrate a willingness to participate in shaping the future of the organisation by taking on responsibilities and projects in addition to core workload

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Good verbal, written and numeracy skills sufficient to be able to make accurate written records
Good technical literacy of Microsoft Applications e.g. Word, Excel, and Access etc.
Good interpersonal skills including listening and display empathy
Creative, flexible and imaginative approach to working with people with mental health problems
Ability to work collaboratively and positively with clients, carers and other service providers

Desirable

Understanding of the CPA system and interagency working
Knowledge and understanding of the welfare benefits system
Knowledge and understanding of Mental Health issues and interventions
Have access to a car for work purposes and hold a full current UK driving licence
Language skills e.g. Urdu, Polish, BSL, etc.

Experience

Desirable

Experience of mental health either as service user, carer, worker or volunteer

Person Specification

Approach

Essential

Demonstrate a commitment and enthusiasm for working with our client group
Demonstrate understanding and commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
Demonstrate a commitment to enabling and empowering clients to become actively involved in Community Links
Able to build and maintain relationships whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
Demonstrate a willingness to participate in shaping the future of the organisation by taking on responsibilities and projects in addition to core workload

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

Good verbal, written and numeracy skills sufficient to be able to make accurate written records
Good technical literacy of Microsoft Applications e.g. Word, Excel, and Access etc.
Good interpersonal skills including listening and display empathy
Creative, flexible and imaginative approach to working with people with mental health problems
Ability to work collaboratively and positively with clients, carers and other service providers

Desirable

Understanding of the CPA system and interagency working
Knowledge and understanding of the welfare benefits system
Knowledge and understanding of Mental Health issues and interventions
Have access to a car for work purposes and hold a full current UK driving licence
Language skills e.g. Urdu, Polish, BSL, etc.

Experience

Desirable

Experience of mental health either as service user, carer, worker or volunteer

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.