Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Recovery Support Worker (RSW) to join our Early Intervention Service . If you are passionate about impacting positively on the lives of people with severe and enduring mental illness in a community setting, then this could be the perfect job for you.
The Early Intervention Service is a community based service for people aged 17 to 65 years, who have experienced symptoms of psychosis for the first time. The Early Intervention Service works collaboratively with the person, their family and friends with the aim of minimising the impact this has on their lives. The earlier someone gets help, the quicker support can be put in place to help their recovery. We try to develop a shared understanding of the causes, meaning and prevention of mental health difficulties and aim to promote positive images of young people who have experienced psychosis. The team comprises psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, employment specialists and psychologists. Clinical/ professional judgement will determine priority for treatment and support, but in line with policy implementation guidance. We work in close partnership with GPs and other key partners, including voluntary organisations.
Main duties of the job
To assist the care coordinator / key worker in the following areas:
To provide support and give time to an allocated group of service users and thus promote their rights, responsibilities and recovery
To work as part of a team that provides mental health services that promotes Recovery.
To focus on providing support, directly and flexibly to meet the specific needs of service users in accordance with their care plan.
To work in partnership with the individual across boundaries of care, organisation and role, coordinated through the Care Programme Approach.
To work in a way that:
- Promotes hope, helps people to take control access the opportunities that they value
- Engenders empowerment and wellbeing
- Acknowledges diversity
- Promotes anti-discriminatory practices
- Maintains confidentiality
- Promotes equal opportunities; and
- Ensures service users are treated with dignity and respect as part of ethical practice.
About us
We are Proud to Belong at South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.
We have expert services, a rich history and a clear commitment to providing the best quality care for those with mental ill-health. The Care Quality Commission already rates our services as 'good' - we aspire to be 'outstanding'.
This is a great time to join us. We are transforming the way we care for our communities to support our mission of Making Life Better Together. We have built two brand new mental health facilities at Springfield University Hospital, which are amongst the best in the world. More developments are planned across our sites and services as we invest a further £120m to upgrade and modernise our estate by 2027.
We are inclusive and diverse and strive to be actively anti racist. We want to attract people from all backgrounds and experiences to enrich the work we do together. We are proud to co-produce and involve our local communities in all that we do.
We offer flexible working, career development and a variety of benefits to enable a positive, welcoming environment in which our people and their careers can thrive.
Come and join our inclusive teams and help our patients on their recovery journey.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading on implementing the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.
2. Leading on and undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.
3. Supporting the patients management of care needs through:
a. Initial data collection
b. Monitoring of individual service user / patient progress
c. Feedback and discussion
d. Producing reports and in-care reviews
e. Devising a plan of care and interventions supervised by a Registered Nurse.
4. In a junior leadership role leading on and directing junior to staff in providing hands-on care to service users including:
a. Undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non-judgmental way.
b. Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of always maintaining the service users respect and dignity and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
c. Contributing to the development of care plans that reflect service user needs and relevant patient care documentation working in partnership with service users, wider MDT and friends/relatives/significant others.
d. Escalating any concerns to relevant Health Care Professional.
e. Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations, such as physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that do not fulfil the personal parameters to the relevant professional (Registered Nurse or Doctors). Promote healthy lifestyles and give health promotion advice and support.
f. Implementing the principles of recovery: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, facilitating psychosocial activities and other activities of their interest. Where appropriate contributing to psychological interventions under the guidance of a registered professional.
5. Escorting service users, as required, in line with Trust policies.
6. Advocating for service users needs and rights within Trust policy. Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care.
7. Supporting the registered nurse to coordinate and prioritise activities within the clinical area.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Working autonomously within the parameters of the role leading on implementing the delivery of quality nursing care, contributing to the physical, psychological, social, recreational and spiritual care in a recovery-focused way through therapeutic engagement and activities, and taking steps to address any issues that arise.
2. Leading on and undertaking activities to ensure that the fundamentals of care are met - nutrition, hydration, hygiene, comfort, emotional and social support.
3. Supporting the patients management of care needs through:
a. Initial data collection
b. Monitoring of individual service user / patient progress
c. Feedback and discussion
d. Producing reports and in-care reviews
e. Devising a plan of care and interventions supervised by a Registered Nurse.
4. In a junior leadership role leading on and directing junior to staff in providing hands-on care to service users including:
a. Undertaking 1-1 engagement with service users in an honest, open and non-judgmental way.
b. Recognising and valuing service users as individuals, acknowledging the importance of always maintaining the service users respect and dignity and ensure that the care provided respects equality and diversity.
c. Contributing to the development of care plans that reflect service user needs and relevant patient care documentation working in partnership with service users, wider MDT and friends/relatives/significant others.
d. Escalating any concerns to relevant Health Care Professional.
e. Monitoring and recording service user clinical observations, such as physical observations and vital signs and escalating as appropriate any signs or symptoms of deterioration or that do not fulfil the personal parameters to the relevant professional (Registered Nurse or Doctors). Promote healthy lifestyles and give health promotion advice and support.
f. Implementing the principles of recovery: encouraging and supporting service users to engage with healthy lifestyles, facilitating psychosocial activities and other activities of their interest. Where appropriate contributing to psychological interventions under the guidance of a registered professional.
5. Escorting service users, as required, in line with Trust policies.
6. Advocating for service users needs and rights within Trust policy. Encouraging and empowering service users to have an optimum level of responsibility for their individual programme of care.
7. Supporting the registered nurse to coordinate and prioritise activities within the clinical area.
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Completion of Care Certificate and acquired competencies.
- English and Mathematics basic qualifications (eg GCSE at Grade C or above or evidence of Level 2 in Functional skills for numeracy and literacy)
Desirable
- Level 2/3 Health and Social care qualification / working towards qualification.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Clinical experience minimum 1 year and experience of engaging with service users / patients.
- Knowledge of treatment options.
Desirable
- Experience in different clinical care settings.
- Experience in supervision of staff.
- Lived experience of mental health
SKills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, with supervision available but not always present, and acting on own initiative, within protocols, policies and care plans.
- Communications skills - receiving and conveying sensitive information, with staff and with service users and able to keep accurate records. Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom credible in a multi-professional environment.
- Able to plan and co-ordinate and prioritise own and team work.
- Approachable and self-aware, including the ability to self-reflect. Understanding forms of effective working relationships with colleagues.
- Approachable and self-aware, including the ability to self-reflect. Understanding forms of effective working relationships with colleagues.
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
Desirable
- Training and experience in specialist skills such as ECG, Vital Signs, Phlebotomy.
- Experience in facilitating groups
Person Specification
Education & Qualifications
Essential
- Completion of Care Certificate and acquired competencies.
- English and Mathematics basic qualifications (eg GCSE at Grade C or above or evidence of Level 2 in Functional skills for numeracy and literacy)
Desirable
- Level 2/3 Health and Social care qualification / working towards qualification.
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Clinical experience minimum 1 year and experience of engaging with service users / patients.
- Knowledge of treatment options.
Desirable
- Experience in different clinical care settings.
- Experience in supervision of staff.
- Lived experience of mental health
SKills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to provide quality care that is responsive to service user's needs, with supervision available but not always present, and acting on own initiative, within protocols, policies and care plans.
- Communications skills - receiving and conveying sensitive information, with staff and with service users and able to keep accurate records. Knowing when to escalate concerns and to whom credible in a multi-professional environment.
- Able to plan and co-ordinate and prioritise own and team work.
- Approachable and self-aware, including the ability to self-reflect. Understanding forms of effective working relationships with colleagues.
- Approachable and self-aware, including the ability to self-reflect. Understanding forms of effective working relationships with colleagues.
- Empathy for individuals who have experienced mental health problems and ability to cope with behaviour which may be challenging at times.
Desirable
- Training and experience in specialist skills such as ECG, Vital Signs, Phlebotomy.
- Experience in facilitating groups
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).
