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Community Connector – Mental Health Professional, Surrey Wide

Catalystsupport

Greater London

On-site

GBP 25,000 - 35,000

Part time

Yesterday

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Job summary

A leading charity organization is seeking a Community Connector to support mental health services in Surrey. The role involves working collaboratively with various professionals to provide primary care mental health services, ensuring patients access necessary community resources. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience in community mental health work, with strong communication skills and the ability to manage challenging situations.

Qualifications

Minimum 2 years community experience in drug, alcohol, or mental health work.
Professional registration with BACP, HCP, or BPS is desirable.
Ability to work flexibly across operational hours.

Responsibilities

Conduct assessments and support patients in identifying needs.
Provide psycho-social interventions and promote independence.
Coordinate access to community services and resources.

Skills

Good communication

Ability to work with clients

Understanding of community working

Ability to manage challenging behavior

Education

Diploma or degree in counselling, psychology, social work

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Service General Practice Integrated Mental Health Service (GPIMHS) and Mental Health Integrated Community Services (MHICS)

Job Title Community Connector – Mental Health Professional

Reports to Service Manager

Base Surrey Wide

Hours Part Time Hours – 21 hours per week

Charity Catalyst is a non-profit organisation working with people who are dealing with issues associated with their mental health and wellbeing, and/or drug and alcohol use. We believe in peoples’ ability to change and are proud of our non-judgmental ethos.

Project NHS England recently announced a new transformation fund to be allocated to pilot sites within 12 Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships/ Integrated Care Systems across the country to test new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care. Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership is one of these successful pilot sites.

Extended appointments with mental health experts from the NHS, social care and specialist third sector organisations, plus access to therapies, physical health checks and pharmacists, are just some of the wider expertise patients will be able to access in their local GP practice and in the community under new ways of working.

Patients will be able to explore the situation affecting their wellbeing – whether that is an ongoing mental or physical health problem, loneliness, debt, or other issues. They can then be guided to appropriate resources that may help, including talking therapies, benefits advice, or an introduction to a local community group.

The role of the Community Connector is fundamental to the development of these innovative new teams and mental health services based within networks of GP Practices (Primary Care Networks – PCNs). The role will support the ongoing development and mobilisation of integrated primary care mental health services.

Purpose of Job Providing a primary care mental health service within this context refers to:

First level of intervention
Ease of access
A multidisciplinary approach working with a range of professionals across PCN’s inclusive of GP’s, Practice nurses, Mental Health Practitioners, Pharmacists and Clinical Psychologists
Coordinating and supporting patients to access a wide range of community services and resources including social care, housing, family, debt and employment counselling that support maintaining good health and wellbeing

Overall, the primary care mental health service will:

Be the first port of call for GPs in seeking support for managing their patients with mental health presentations
Provide and promote early triage, assessment and formulation of need and care plans, to inform treatment and/or onward bridging to community resources
Support and improve access to evidence based interventions for people with serious mental illness
Helping people to focus on achievable goals and access local community resources
Provide brief therapeutic interventions
Support completion and delivery of actions identified in physical health checks for people with serious mental illness

This post is subject to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an enhanced level. Please note past drug and/or alcohol or criminality history will not necessarily discount you from undertaking this role.

Key Activities

To work jointly with the Mental Health Practitioner in conducting assessments, including risk assessment, and to work with patients to support them in identifying their socially determined needs and goals, provide self-management tools and facilitate the development of personal support plans
To provide a range of motivational and structured psycho-social interventions
To promote independence through an enabling asset based approach that draws on individuals’ strengths, preferences and ‘natural’ support networks
To establish effective working relationships with a range of agencies to facilitate a ‘joined up’ approach to support plans
To liaise with, develop and maintain good relations with GPs, practice managers and other health practitioners across mental health and physical health pathways and wider support networks
To provide continuity throughout recovery; engaging the patient with key services such as Safe Havens, accessing CMHRS, and providing support for those engaged with and leaving CMHRS, and linking into local wellbeing services and activities
To co-ordinate and support patients to access a range of community services such as wellbeing services, housing providers, family and carer support services, debt and employer advisors where appropriate
To assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain a database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision across the PCN and wider geography and work with other VCS organisations to develop resources where most needed
To promote and support (where necessary) advised follow up actions from physical health checks for people with serious mental illness
To support patients to engage with local peer support workers and volunteering services
To support and supervise any peer support workers linked to PCN
To work with the service to identify opportunities to expand provision particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified
To broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector agencies to enhance service delivery and access to services
To develop and sustain professional relationships with service users, partner agencies and appropriate external agencies
To complete locally agreed quality outcome measures, with patients and to undertake regular reviews

General terms of reference

In carrying out the above duties the post holder will:

Work flexibly across operational sites as required which may include evening and weekend work
Work within the policies and procedures of the GP practices/PCN the worker will be based in
To accept responsibility for their own personal safety and to encourage the patients to adopt safe practices both for themselves and others with whom they associate
Work to Surrey Safeguarding policy and practice
Ensure all records are maintained in line with all Governance arrangements and GDPR
Work within the organisations policies and procedures at all times, paying particular attention to Information Governance, confidentiality and health and safety
Seek to improve personal performance, outcomes, contribution, knowledge and skills
Participate in team meetings, appraisal, workforce development and supervision processes
Keep abreast of developments in services, legislation and practice where appropriate
Represent the organisation at external agencies and support the values, workings and ethics of the organisation approach to client work
Have the ability to travel to and from a number of different locations on a daily basis

Person Specification

Qualifications and experience

A diploma or degree in appropriate subject i.e. counselling, psychology, social work, probation, mental health, Health and Social Care (level 3)

and/or a minimum of 2 years community experience of drug, alcohol, mental health work

Registration

If holding a professional qualification to maintain up-to-date professional registration i.e. BACP, HCP, BPS (or recognised equivalent)

Knowledge and skills

An understanding and ability to work to the confidentiality, consent, information sharing and safeguarding policies of the integrated service

Good communication and written skills and a commitment to accurate and confidential record keeping

Ability to interact effectively with the client group, colleagues and other professionals whilst retaining clear boundaries

Ability to break down stigma and barriers associated with working with the client group

Demonstrate an understanding of the issues and needs of the client group

Knowledge and understanding of community working, lone working, and ability to maintain safety whilst working in the community

Ability to work to all the policies, procedures and standards of the Service and joint working arrangements with key partners

A good understanding of personal limitations, ability to identify when to seek advice and support, and deal with issues which may provoke strong emotions in an objective and professional manner i.e. child protection

Ability to manage any challenging behaviour, anger and verbal aggression from patients

Information Technology

Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, and basic excel skills

Ability to enter data onto a database as required by the Service

General

Ability to travel to and from a number of different locations on a daily basis

Ability to work flexibly across operational hours and evenings and weekends, where required

Ability to work co-operatively as part of a multidisciplinary team (statutory and voluntary) from a service hub

We acknowledge the unique contribution that all Catalyst employees and clients can bring to our organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief and any physical disability or history of mental health or additional problems.

All appointments and promotions are based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All staff have equal access to staff development.

Any member of staff who breaches this policy may be subject of grievance and/or disciplinary procedures.

Please note: