Job summary
The Urgent Care Hub is part of the Home Treatment Service and its role is to support admissions, discharges and bed flow for the mental health beds in Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
The hub accepts all requests for admission to hospital, discusses the role and expectations of the admission before identifying the most appropriate bed for the patient. The team is in daily liaison with all wards, home treatment teams and other agencies to ensure that potential barriers or delays to discharge are kept to a minimum. Our aim is to ensure that patients will have a reduced length of stay leading to lower bed occupancy levels and ensuring that patients receive ongoing care within the community setting.
The Housing Lead will provide active housing case management for people with mental health needs who use inpatient, rehab and step up/down services to secure a housing and/or support option that will facilitate discharge.
Main duties of the job
To work closely with the local authority housing team to ensure all options are considered with a view to homelessness prevention.
To provide an information, advice, advocacy, and support service to people with mental health needs and their families and carers, who are currently in inpatient facilities and require support in establishing options. To prevent homelessness whenever possible.
To provide support to resolve complex housing/tenancy issues or that sustain current tenancies that prevent the discharge of a service user from an inpatient or step up/down facility provided, managed or commissioned by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
To work proactively with mental health professionals who will refer cases to the post holder. To aim to avoid hospital admission wherever possible.
Work will be delivered in partnership with Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and local district councils within Somerset with their housing options during a hospital admission and for any crisis to sustain or secure suitable housing.
Working as an integral part of the Urgent Care Hub, at times this will involve supporting with core functions of bed management.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression, and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan - there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for full details.
To be an expert point of contact for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, who are dealing with service users, who are looking to explore housing options after a hospital admission or where their current housing is exacerbating an ongoing mental health condition.
Managing expectations in terms of rehousing, ensuring investigations commence at the earliest opportunity to establish any potential rights to accommodation. Attending ward rounds to find this information out and visiting Step Down facilities. To provide individual people with mental health needs with the necessary information and advice to enable them to make an informed choice about their housing options.
To support individuals who need this with the requisite practical help to implement their chosen housing option. This will include finding suitable alternative accommodation and co-ordination of practical aspects of moving home.
Co-ordinate services to support people with mental health needs to prevent homelessness, working closely with landlords, social care services and voluntary organisations.
Mental health promotion, challenging stigma and non inclusive culture.
Job description
Job responsibilities
See Job Description for full details.
To be an expert point of contact for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, who are dealing with service users, who are looking to explore housing options after a hospital admission or where their current housing is exacerbating an ongoing mental health condition.
Managing expectations in terms of rehousing, ensuring investigations commence at the earliest opportunity to establish any potential rights to accommodation. Attending ward rounds to find this information out and visiting Step Down facilities. To provide individual people with mental health needs with the necessary information and advice to enable them to make an informed choice about their housing options.
To support individuals who need this with the requisite practical help to implement their chosen housing option. This will include finding suitable alternative accommodation and co-ordination of practical aspects of moving home.
Co-ordinate services to support people with mental health needs to prevent homelessness, working closely with landlords, social care services and voluntary organisations.
Mental health promotion, challenging stigma and non inclusive culture.
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- CIH Level 3 or equivalent
- GCSE qualification in English and Maths
Knowledge
Essential
- Understand the needs of and the issues facing people with mental health needs
- Knowledge of housing options for people with mental health needs
Experience
Essential
- 3 years' experience working in a homelessness service.
- Experience of information / advice work
- Experience of working with the public, face to face and on the telephone.
Physical Skills
Essential
- Hold a full UK driving license and have access to a car to travel
Person Specification
Qualification
Essential
- CIH Level 3 or equivalent
- GCSE qualification in English and Maths
Knowledge
Essential
- Understand the needs of and the issues facing people with mental health needs
- Knowledge of housing options for people with mental health needs
Experience
Essential
- 3 years' experience working in a homelessness service.
- Experience of information / advice work
- Experience of working with the public, face to face and on the telephone.
Physical Skills
Essential
- Hold a full UK driving license and have access to a car to travel
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
