Carer Support Worker

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 26 November 2024

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for a Carer Support Worker to join our Adult Community Mental Health Services Team in North Hertfordshire / Stevenage.

The area is well served with transport links to historic Hertfordshire and its glorious countryside as well as into London and beyond. We are looking for a Carer Support Worker who is passionate about delivering care to Carers of Adults with mental health issues.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

We can offer you a competitive salary, staff benefits package, excellent career development and training that comes from working for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT. We are on a "Good to Great" journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

Please refer to the "Main Duties Of The Job", "Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities" sections and the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached elsewhere for full details.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of a team which provides mental health services.

To focus directly the on the needs of Carers requiring support (inc assessment of their needs) using the Support Time and Recovery Model.

To work quadrant wide across both the North Hertfordshire and Stevenage Adult Community Mental Health Services Teams.

To work closely in association with the Service Manager and Team Leaders; as well as other senior staff and other agencies, to help maximise the quality and quantity of Carer services within available resources.

To work within approaches outlined through the Care Act 2014 and local policy re: providing Carers support.

To provide support, give time and thus promote recovery.

All Staff should comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity

About us

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trustare one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:

Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.

About us - Hertfordshire NHS Partnership Trust

Heard. Respected. Included. Together, we help people with mental ill-health, learning disabilities and autism to live life to the fullest. We work throughout Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Norfolk...

Date posted

12 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-ACMS-8908

Job locations

Saffron Ground Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide support, give time to an allocated group of carers and thus promote carer support and recovery and promote their place in the broader community.

Responsible for providing support to the care co-ordinator, through providing support to the carer and linking any shared objectives into ongoing care planning.

To positively promote wellbeing and support for self-management for carers within the community.

To enable the capacity of the teams to develop a rapport with carers, based upon attentiveness, sensitivity, understanding, compassion and honesty.

To develop plans that will enable the provision of practical support to carers in developing and managing their lives.

To ensure the right information is available to enable staff and carers to gain access to resources, including benefits and welfare rights.

To help to identify early signs of carer breakdown by monitoring the wellbeing of carers.

To report regularly to care co-ordinators and appropriate key workers.

To maintain accurate records as required by existing procedures, entering appropriate details on the carer record as necessary.

To ensure the carer understands and has a clear pathway of support across community services; to include, on occasion, liaison work with acute services.

To undertake direct carer work where this is deemed appropriate, and to proactively engage carers in working to achieve their own desired outcomes in line with recovery principles, and recorded in their care plans.

To respond to urgent situations emergencies or crises using local protocols. E.g. implementation of carer contingency plans, carer breakdown.

To lead on the development of structured and semi-structured group work with carers within the community settings, and to contribute to the research of local need and the development of such groups to meet it.

To use information systems including information technology and be willing to undertake appropriate training.

To attend and actively participate in training sessions, team / care plan review meetings and supervision as appropriate.

To undertake such other duties as may be determined from time to time within the general scope of the post.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To provide support, give time to an allocated group of carers and thus promote carer support and recovery and promote their place in the broader community.

Responsible for providing support to the care co-ordinator, through providing support to the carer and linking any shared objectives into ongoing care planning.

To positively promote wellbeing and support for self-management for carers within the community.

To enable the capacity of the teams to develop a rapport with carers, based upon attentiveness, sensitivity, understanding, compassion and honesty.

To develop plans that will enable the provision of practical support to carers in developing and managing their lives.

To ensure the right information is available to enable staff and carers to gain access to resources, including benefits and welfare rights.

To help to identify early signs of carer breakdown by monitoring the wellbeing of carers.

To report regularly to care co-ordinators and appropriate key workers.

To maintain accurate records as required by existing procedures, entering appropriate details on the carer record as necessary.

To ensure the carer understands and has a clear pathway of support across community services; to include, on occasion, liaison work with acute services.

To undertake direct carer work where this is deemed appropriate, and to proactively engage carers in working to achieve their own desired outcomes in line with recovery principles, and recorded in their care plans.

To respond to urgent situations emergencies or crises using local protocols. E.g. implementation of carer contingency plans, carer breakdown.

To lead on the development of structured and semi-structured group work with carers within the community settings, and to contribute to the research of local need and the development of such groups to meet it.

To use information systems including information technology and be willing to undertake appropriate training.

To attend and actively participate in training sessions, team / care plan review meetings and supervision as appropriate.

To undertake such other duties as may be determined from time to time within the general scope of the post.

Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 Qualification or Mental Health Certificate Level 3 or agreement to undertake such training as soon as resources permit
  • Commitment to continuing personal development

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE / KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Direct work with Carers
  • Carrying out assessments
  • Care Act 2014
  • Triangle of care
  • An understanding of mental illnesses and the mental health system
  • Understanding of the issues and concerns of Carers
  • Keenness to make a positive contribution to improving the life of people with mental health problems
  • Ability to provide practical support to enable Carers to achieve their wellbeing aims
  • Ability to plan and manage own workload and to work unsupervised in a range of settings

Desirable

  • Care Planning
  • Group Work
  • Knowledge of local resources including welfare benefits and employment support

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

  • Good written communications skills including ability to write reports and letters
  • Good verbal communications skills including the ability to observe and listen effectively
  • Ability to use IT programmes effectively, including E-Mail, Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Essential

  • Ability to analyse information and create innovative personalised solutions
  • Ability to research information and resources
Person Specification

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • NVQ Level 3 Qualification or Mental Health Certificate Level 3 or agreement to undertake such training as soon as resources permit
  • Commitment to continuing personal development

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE / KNOWLEDGE

Essential

  • Direct work with Carers
  • Carrying out assessments
  • Care Act 2014
  • Triangle of care
  • An understanding of mental illnesses and the mental health system
  • Understanding of the issues and concerns of Carers
  • Keenness to make a positive contribution to improving the life of people with mental health problems
  • Ability to provide practical support to enable Carers to achieve their wellbeing aims
  • Ability to plan and manage own workload and to work unsupervised in a range of settings

Desirable

  • Care Planning
  • Group Work
  • Knowledge of local resources including welfare benefits and employment support

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

  • Good written communications skills including ability to write reports and letters
  • Good verbal communications skills including the ability to observe and listen effectively
  • Ability to use IT programmes effectively, including E-Mail, Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Essential

  • Ability to analyse information and create innovative personalised solutions
  • Ability to research information and resources

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Saffron Ground Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Saffron Ground Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Employer's website

https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Head Of Service North & East/South East ACMHS

Karen Howard

karen.howard1@nhs.net

01462417790

Date posted

12 November 2024

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum pro-rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

367-ACMS-8908

Job locations

Saffron Ground Stevenage, SG1 3LJ

Ditchmore Lane

Stevenage

SG1 3LJ


Supporting documents

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