Community Link Worker

Change Mental Health; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

37 days leave

Mental wellbeing days

Enhanced sick pay

Professional development

EAP access

Cycle to Work

Blue Light Card

Flexible working

Job summary

Change Mental Health is a leading charity providing support to adults with mental ill health. The Community Link Worker will work with GP referrals to deliver emotional, practical or vocational support, aiming to improve health outcomes for service users facing social stressors.

You will coordinate with primary care, design development plans with service users, and employ intervention strategies while maintaining professional boundaries and safety practices.

Qualifications

• Educated to SVQ level 2 or have relevant experience working in health and social care.
• Able to plan and prioritise workload.
• Professional self-awareness and able to seek support and advice from line manager and participate in supervision positively.
• Able to liaise confidently with statutory and non-statutory agencies.
• My personal and professional value base is consistent with the aims and objectives of Change Mental Health.
• Demonstrate genuine regard for service users and their families.
• Have good IT skills and can produce accurate case notes.
• Enthusiastic to develop knowledge and skills.
• Full, clean driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Work as part of a team building positive working relationships.
• Work closely with colleagues in Primary Care.
• Coordinate and refer service users to resources in the local community and to statutory and non-statutory services as appropriate.
• In partnership with service users, design, implement, and review outcome focussed development plans to enable service users to achieve their identified goals.
• Employ a number of appropriate intervention strategies including positive communication skills.
• Ensure ongoing risk assessment is integral to my practice to ensure the wellbeing of service users.
• Utilise group work skills which bring people together in a safe environment.
• Awareness of appropriate professional boundaries including confidentiality.
• Understanding of the requirements of Health and Safety in the workplace and follow Change Mental Health policies.
• Ensure that careful and ongoing review systems are in place and maintained.

Skills

Empathetic

Teamwork

Organised

IT skills

Education

SVQ Level 2 or health/social care experience

Job description

Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing unique support to people with severe and enduring mental ill health.The Community Link Worker service collaborates with selected GP surgeries, supporting adults over the age of 18 through social prescribing. Referrals are received from the GP to our Community Link Workers when there might be a concern caused by social factors, rather than a medical problem. The service focuses on improving health outcomes for people experiencing stressors in their lives due to social problems, which could lead to poor mental health. As a Community Link Worker, you will work directly with people referred to the Community Link Worker Service from their GP Practice who require immediate or on-going emotional, practical or vocational support in order to deliver the best possible health outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Work as part of a team building positive working relationships
• Work closely with colleagues in Primary Care
• Coordinate and refer service users to resources in the local community and to statutory and non-statutory services as appropriate
• In partnership with service users, design, implement, and review outcome focussed development plans to enable service users to achieve their identified goals
• Employ a number of appropriate intervention strategies including positive communication skills
• Ensure ongoing risk assessment is integral to my practice to ensure the wellbeing of service users
• Utilise group work skills which bring people together in a safe environment
• Awareness of appropriate professional boundaries including confidentiality
• Understanding of the requirements of Health and Safety in the workplace and follow Change Mental Health policies
• Ensure that careful and ongoing review systems are in place and maintained

Essential Criteria

• Educated to SVQ level 2 or have relevant experience working in health and social care
• Able to plan and prioritise workload
• Professional self-awareness and able to seek support and advice from my line manager appropriately and participate in supervision and support meetings positively
• Able to liaise confidently with statutory and non-statutory agencies
• Empathetic
• My personal and professional value base is consistent with the aims and objectives of Change Mental Health
• Demonstrate genuine regard for service users and their families
• Have good I.T. skills and can produce accurate case notes
• I am enthusiastic to develop my knowledge and skills
• Full, clean, driving licence and access to a vehicle

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working with people affected by mental or physical health issues
• Experience of community-development work
• Experience of working in a SSSC Registered Service
• A learning and development portfolio which evidences my skills and knowledge

What we offer

• 37 days’ annual leave (pro rata)
• Two paid Mental Wellbeing Days
• Enhanced sick pay and leave entitlements
• Professional development, including funded opportunities
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Blue Light Card eligibility
• Support for flexible working and work-life balance