Senior Mental Health Support Worker

The post holder will be expected to support their team, and We Care Living Limited values in their day to day work. As a Support Worker, the post holder will follow the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and

1. Be accountable by making sure you can answer for your actions or omissions.

2. Promote and uphold the privacy, dignity, rights, health and wellbeing of people who use health and care services and their carers at all times.

3. Work in collaboration with your colleagues to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare, care and support.

4. Communicate in an open, and effective way to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of people who use health and care services and their carers.

5. Respect a person's right to confidentiality.

6. Strive to improve the quality of healthcare, care and support through continuing professional development.

7. Uphold and promote equality, diversity and inclusion

Overall responsibilities

• Responsible for own work and that of others within a broad framework.



• Carrying out and monitoring treatment/support/care programmes as directed.



• Forming part of an interdependent multi-disciplinary team helping to ensure that their input is integrated in to the patients' overall care & treatment plans.



• Promoting the recovery of service users and maintain their independence.


Leadership


• Be responsible for a delegated service user group following initial assessment by the registered manager carrying out interventions, including goal setting, outcomes, risk assessment and discharge.



• Undertake duties identified in each client's individual care plan which the post holder is trained, competent and confident to perform.



• Monitor service user's progress, taking account of their environment and adjust own clinical interventions accordingly.



• Follow the treatment/care or support plan and feedback on the patient's progress and highlight need for reassessment when needed.



• Implement, evaluate and modify nursing interventions as directed.


Clinical Skills


• Modify intervention as needed depending on risk assessment, the situation and own skills and knowledge. Refer back to the registered manager or senior support worker for support and advice, ensuring that they are aware of any modifications made.



• Support service users by identifying early signs of relapse and alert appropriate staff involved in the patient's care.



• Provide support with regards to daily living, including self-care.



• Inform service users of facts using empathy, understanding and reassurance, adjusting communication style to the needs of the patient. This includes promoting and upholding the rights and diversity of individuals.



• Demonstrate an understanding of nursing and apply this using specific knowledge and skills.



• Develop knowledge of nursing techniques and clinical skills, using competency frameworks as appropriate to the setting, and to service users with a wide range of conditions.



• Work collaboratively with other services, which may include children's services.



• Reflect on and evaluate your own values, priorities, interests and effectiveness.



• Promote health, safety and security in the work setting.



• Understand how to enable, move and position individuals in accordance with their plan of care.



• Demonstrate, and instruct, on the use of equipment to ensure safety.



• Report any incident/untoward incidents/near misses to self, service users or carers to the manager.



• Minimise the risk of spreading infection by cleaning, disinfecting and maintaining environments. Perform hand hygiene and use personal protective equipment to prevent the spread of infection.



• Exercise good personal time management, punctuality and consistent reliable attendance.



• Manage frequent interruptions to respond to requests from other staff.



• Analyse basic patient information to make informed decisions.



• Maintain accurate and complete patient records.



• Participate in the planning, reviewing and development of services.



• Contribute to research and development being carried out, collect information and evidence as requested. This includes maintenance and dissemination of information (written and electronic).



• Undertake and assess risk assessments providing feedback to the team as necessary e.g. in relation to lone working. Manage risk effectively within various settings.



• Maintain stocks of equipment and ensure safe, competent and efficient use of equipment which is well maintained.



• Supporting service users to identify early signs of mental health relapse and alert appropriate staff involved in the person's care.



• Supporting Service Users to gain access to resources to include benefits, welfare rights and health promotion.


Communication


• Form professional relationships with service users and carers and communicate with them in a way that respects their views, autonomy and culture.



• Communicate with other staff and agencies as appropriate in written and oral format to report on patient performance and progress.



• Assist in obtaining valid patient consent and work within a legal framework with service users who lack capacity to consent to treatment.



• Report effectively on patients' performance and progress.



• Attend meetings and feedback relevant information.


Training


• Participate in the own personal CPD (continuous personal development) by identifying own areas of professional development and undertaking relevant activities to meet objectives.



• Keep a record of own training and development.



• Share knowledge and experiences both formally and informally.



• Take a flexible approach in supporting colleagues during times of workload pressures.



• Participate in the training, induction and teaching of related skills and techniques to other support staff.



• Actively participate in clinical and management supervision.



• Working in isolated situations with Service Users who may be vulnerable or at risk.



• Establishing supportive and empowering relationships with the Service User and their carers.
  
  NVQ level 3 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy


• NVQ level 4, Care Certificate or Equivalent


Experience

• Understand care planning processes


• Experience of working with service users with various mental health needs.


• Relevant experience in a healthcare setting and base level of theoretic knowledge



• Leadership experience


Skills/Abilities

• Good organisational skills


• Good communication skills both written and verbal


• Ability to work under pressure


• Basic awareness of IT and IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel


• Competent listening and observation skills


• Good level of communication skills (written and verbal)


• IT literate


Personal Qualities

• Ability to be flexible with regard to working hours


• Builds effective and credible relationships both internally and externally


• Works collaboratively with others sharing ideas and information at all times


• Effectively builds trust with a consistent approach between actions and words


• Has the ability to raise standards through innovation and new ideas


• Able to cope in difficult situations with tact and diplomacy


• Ability to build rapport and positively influence others
  
  £11 - £15 an hour - Part-time, Full-time, Zero hours contract