Link Team Engagement Worker
Second Step
The closing date is 02 April 2025
Job summary
The Link Team is funded by NHS England and is a multi-agency partnership including Second Step, St Mungos, BDP, AWP Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust and Bristol City Council. The team has adopted a multi-disciplinary model, including engagement workers, a peer worker, a mental health practitioner (band 6), a social worker, and a team manager. This service is designed to complement rather than replace or supersede existing local provision. The service works with a group of 30 individuals who are both street homeless, or at imminent risk of homelessness; and experiencing severe emotional distress associated with a mental health problem (which may or may not have been given a formal diagnosis). The Link Team aims to improve engagement for service users, creating a bridge between individuals and the wide range of expertise across the system, whilst providing person-centred, trauma-informed care at every stage of the pathway.
Main duties of the job
The Link Team works with individuals experiencing multiple disadvantages, including complex mental health difficulties and homelessness, and who face significant barriers to accessing and engaging with support. We are seeking a motivated practitioner who can demonstrate the relational skills required to reach and assertively engage with those furthest from services. The successful candidates will be working within the Link Team and alongside a range of agencies to find creative solutions for individuals, which includes assisting and challenging existing practices, sharing learning and helping to influence the way services are designed and delivered.
About us
Second Step is a leading mental health charity in the South West offering housing, support and hope to thousands of people with mental health and other support needs. Our goal is to inspire hope and deliver change for everybody and every community we work with.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Reach and identify clients for referral to the service.
Working with a caseload, undertake proactive work to build trusting relationships with clients, and develop a full understanding of their backgrounds, current situation, their priorities, needs, hopes and ambitions.
Engage with clients wherever they may be, including day centres, the streets, community centres, GP practices, and temporary accommodation settings. To be flexible to work when needed across multiple sites and within specific localities and communities, including evenings, early mornings and weekends.
Provide a single consistent point of contact for the client and agencies working with them.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Reach and identify clients for referral to the service.
Working with a caseload, undertake proactive work to build trusting relationships with clients, and develop a full understanding of their backgrounds, current situation, their priorities, needs, hopes and ambitions.
Engage with clients wherever they may be, including day centres, the streets, community centres, GP practices, and temporary accommodation settings. To be flexible to work when needed across multiple sites and within specific localities and communities, including evenings, early mornings and weekends.
Provide a single consistent point of contact for the client and agencies working with them.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- At least 3 years proven experience of engaging clients with mental health issues and multiple disadvantage needs (including past traumas, homelessness, addiction, long term conditions, offending behaviour)
- Experience of conducting thorough assessments of peoples needs, entitlements and aspirations that is asset/strengths based and co-produced with clients
- Experience of recording actions and care plans to enable good client support and evidence.
- An understanding of and an ability to work in a psychologically and trauma informed way
- Proven experience of outreach or floating support work
- Proven ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with a range of agencies, across sectors
- Proven ability to promote and apply good practice in equality and diversity
- Proven ability to operate risk management and safe working practices in working with clients who may be vulnerable, and those who may have challenging behaviours
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- At least 3 years proven experience of engaging clients with mental health issues and multiple disadvantage needs (including past traumas, homelessness, addiction, long term conditions, offending behaviour)
- Experience of conducting thorough assessments of peoples needs, entitlements and aspirations that is asset/strengths based and co-produced with clients
- Experience of recording actions and care plans to enable good client support and evidence.
- An understanding of and an ability to work in a psychologically and trauma informed way
- Proven experience of outreach or floating support work
- Proven ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with a range of agencies, across sectors
- Proven ability to promote and apply good practice in equality and diversity
- Proven ability to operate risk management and safe working practices in working with clients who may be vulnerable, and those who may have challenging behaviours
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.