Support workers

The post holder will carry out mental health care and support to older people with mental health problems in the community in accordance with a laid down programme of care as designed by the multi-disciplinary team. The support worker provides this care under the direction of qualified nurses and social workers and encourages independence within the service user's social network. The post holder will regularly work alone without direct supervision for part of the span of duty. Support workers will have close working links and work in a co-ordinated manner with the members of the multi-disciplinary team, as well as Day Centre staff, Home Care staff and any other voluntary or statutory agencies involved with service users in their care.Main duties of the job We are seeking a motivated and self directed individual to join our community team working with older people. Mental Health Services for Older People in East Hertfordshire work with older people to assess, diagnose, treat and support mental health conditions and/or dementia. The post holder will support the qualified staff by working to care plans that aim to enhance and optimise the potential and recovery of people who are open to our service. The post holder will also support qualified staff with other tasks to ensure the smooth running of the care that we provide. Mental Health Services for Older People has two departments - Community and Crisis Function. The post holder will primarily work with the community team, but may also be required to work across the other teams. We primarily see people in their own homes. Car driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving) Working hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, To appraise senior staff of service users' progress and observations of changes in their mental health condition and ensure that these changes are documented in service users' notes. Assist in the implementation of care ensuring service users' rights to privacy, dignity, choice, independence and fulfilment are adhered to at all times. Participation in multi-professional assessments and reporting back to other care agencies. Providing support to service user and/or carer in accordance with a care plan, (maintaining social networks, maintaining a safe environment, communication/ liaison with other service providers, reassurance and emotional support persuading service user to accept support). Participation in multi-professional reviews and Care Programme Approach / Care Management meetings. Report any changes in circumstances in respect of the service user's care to the agencies who are or may need to be involved in the service user's or carer's support network improving the quality of life, rehabilitation and independence of service users and their carers. To ensure that all care services provided are offered without prejudice regardless of age, creed, gender, and ethnicity within their sphere of responsibility. To develop awareness of service user's cultural and ethnic needs to facilitate appropriate support and care.

• Good standard of education (to include Maths and English GCSE grade c or above - or equivalent).
• Computer literate (able to use Word, Excel, Powerpoint).
• Knowledge of legislation related to mental health and social care (e.g. Mental Health Act, Mental Capacity Act, National Service Framework, National Dementia Strategy, Care Programme Approach etc)
• Ability to manage distressing and challenging situations.
Desirable criteria
• NVQ in Health and Social Care
• Experience of working with people with mental health conditions
• Experience of working with people with dementia
Communication SkillsEssential criteria
• Excellent communication skills, verbally and in writing
• Ability to feedback and discuss cases within the multi disciplinary team.
• Excellent documentation of duties performed.
• Confidence to work autonomously in the community., Good range of problem solving skills
• Good range of information gathering skills.
• Positive approach to older people
• Fine attention to detail, Good team player
• Committed to high quality care and service provision for older people.
• Good time management.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the service needs.
• Able to drive and have access to a vehicle for work purposes
Desirable criteria
• Ability to network, and form working relationships with other agencies, charities and providers.
  
  Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care 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, Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is rated by the Care Quality Commission as an Outstanding provider of mental health and learning disability services. In 2021, we won the prestigious Health Service Journal award for Mental Health Trust of the Year, with the judges saying they were "blown away" by our people's achievements and that everything they saw "sings and hums". This year, our staff rated us the 4^th best mental health and learning disability trust to work for out of all 52 trusts in the country. Our staff tell us that they are proud to be part of the HPFT team, proud of the standard of care we provide and proud that service users are our top priority. Our people tell us they feel supported though a great development, wellbeing and work-life balance offer and a highly compassionate, values-driven culture. We are equally proud of our staff, who live our values of being welcoming, kind, positive, respectful and professional