Mental Health and Wellbeing Adviser

Job description

Job responsibilities

Based at Bishop Otter Campus, Chichester and the Universitys coastal campus at Bognor Regis, but required to work at any centre where University business is conducted that is within reasonable distance of the campus base.

Function of the Post:

The Directorate of Students, Support and Information Services (SSIS) provides a comprehensive and confidential welfare and support service for all students at the University of Chichester, ranging from practical advice to financial assistance. Support for students with disabilities and/or learning difficulties is provided by the Disability and Dyslexia service, with international support being offered by the International Student Advisory service. SSIS also offers a wider range of support services such as Student Health, Mental Health, Counselling, Careers and Employability and Student Advice.

The Mental Health Adviser will be required to work across the full spectrum of mental health difficulties; ensuring students obtain appropriate treatment, support & adjustments to enable them to successfully complete their studies. The post holder will also need significant experience of managing complex caseloads, working to a standard mental health assessment, evidence of continuous professional development / clinical supervision to at least professional body minimum requirements and the ability to establish relationships with people from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds and communicate effectively, showing good understanding of diversity and inclusion issues relating to mental health.

Principal Accountabilities:

1. To offer a standardised mental health assessment to all people referred to the service to determine the most appropriate intervention, including whether an urgent response is required and where further support would best be offered. To offer daily emergency appointments to offer immediate support and to risk assess, in terms of the risk the student poses to themselves and others.
2. To act as the primary professional point of contact with related external agencies for students with mental health concerns, including referring students to such agencies.
3. To co-ordinate with timely communication and advice, a University Mental Health Risk Management response for those students who are in crisis, that will minimise the risk to the student and others.
4. To work collaboratively with Student Support and Wellbeing service colleagues, including but not limited to the Nurse Health Advisors, Student Advisors, Counselling and Disability and Dyslexia Service and academic colleagues, to assess, agree and provide the best course of action for each case and proactively monitor progress.
5. Manage a caseload, where the nature of the work can be rapid and unpredictable, utilising time- limited evidenced based interventions for a wide range of mental health difficulties. This will include but will not be limited to individual and group therapy sessions, supporting Fitness to Study and Fitness to Practise processes including those relating to Return to Study.
6. To act in an advisory and support capacity to staff on issues relating to mental health. To develop and deliver appropriate training and support for academic and professional services staff across the University and to raise awareness of mental health issues.
7. To advise students on how their mental health difficulties may affect their learning, both explaining/signposting to other appropriate internal and external services e.g. local mental health services, support for reasonable adjustments to study arrangements, access to disability support services and Disabled Students Allowance, where appropriate.
8. To maintain accurate contemporaneous electronic and limited hand-written records regarding clinical activity on all service users in accordance with University policies and guidance from professional bodies, including clinical assessment with clear identification of problems and plan of care.
9. To liaise with students, health professionals and those involved in their care as appropriate. To be responsible for providing an informed opinion and/or verifying students mitigating circumstances to relevant Departments, taking part in case conferences where mental health difficulties are prominent. To work with students to determine when there might be a need to prioritise treatment over current continuation of studies, in accordance with University policies.
10. To liaise with NHS services in conjunction with the Director of Student Support and Information Services and the Student Wellbeing and Disability and Dyslexia Services Manager, coordinating a network of support services and external agencies. When appropriate, sharing issues of concern with GPs and statutory services involved in a students treatment, particularly when supporting the student in accessing services.
11. To actively participate in monthly clinical supervision in order to ensure competence, fitness to practice and to comply with professional standards. To actively participate in team meetings, 1.1 meetings and live supervision/observed practice with line manager to review workload demands and service provision.
12. To help develop a range of resources, including literature and on-line media which students and others can draw upon for information and direction.
13. To participate in the Universitys and professional bodies Continuing Personal Development opportunities to ensure increased knowledge base, self-awareness and enhanced clinical skills.
14. The post holder is expected to demonstrate flexibility and commitment to the Universitys mission statements, policies and development plans.
15. Staff may be required, from time to time and on an ad hoc basis, to work additional hours and/or hours outside of their normal working pattern to meet the needs of the business e.g. supporting security staff with emergency evening cases.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent) with a relevant professional qualification in the field of mental health, for example:
• RMHN nursing degree or equivalent
• Diploma Mental Health Social Work (AMPH)
• Registered Occupational Health Worker (AMPH)
• Must also be approved and registered in their field e.g. valid NMC PIN Number that is current.
• Registration is expected to be current and live. Knowledge of current mental health legislation/policy/best practice including the stepped care model and experience of applying legislation to policy, procedure and report writing within a job role. Understanding of data protection and confidentiality regulations.

Desirable

• Additional qualification in teaching / supervision (e.g. ENB 998, NST 307) or additional clinical training or qualification in offering short term interventions (e.g. cognitive behavioural therapy, solution focused therapy, mindfulness) or additional training / qualification appropriate in offering supervision.

Experience

Essential

• Significant post qualification experience working with individuals experiencing mental health difficulties including assessment of clients with complex needs, risk assessment and high risk/crisis management.
• Evidence of continuous professional development / clinical supervision to at least professional body minimum requirements.

Desirable

• Experience working in Higher Education.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, demonstrating appropriate communication and advanced interpersonal skills, including communication of assessment outcomes verbally and using IT skills.
• Strong computer skills to manage caseload on a centralised data-base.
• Excellent time management and caseload management skills and experience of prioritising competing demands with minimum support.
• Ability to establish relationships with people from both clinical and non-clinical backgrounds and communicate effectively showing good understanding of diversity and inclusion issues relating to mental health.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of clients from a wide range of demographic groups.
• Plan and deliver training opportunities for staff relating to students with complex mental health concerns.

Personal attributes

Essential

• Willing to demonstrate commitment and support for the Universitys People Strategy.
• Flexibility in the provision of occasional out of hours work to support students in crisis.
• Emotional resilience to work calmly under pressure, containing anxiety in self and others. Must have the ability to recognise own limitations and seek additional support where necessary.

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

University of Chichester

Address

University Of Chichester

College Lane

Chichester

West Sussex

PO19 6PE

Employer's website

https://www.chi.ac.uk/about-us/working-for-us (Opens in a new tab)