Older Persons Community Support Worker

The Methodist Church in Britain; West Boldon; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced DBS funded by Trust

Employability & interview skillsand 1

Car allowance/Travel support

Job summary

Dorset HealthCare is seeking a dedicated Support Worker to assist older adults with mental health conditions in community settings. You will travel to service users’ homes and work with a multidisciplinary team to deliver recovery-focused care.

Role involves visiting in the community, supporting care plans, and coordinating with GPs and local services. DBS enhanced and right to work in the UK are required; driving licence and access to a car are essential.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Compassionate, person-centred approach to care.
• Building positive therapeutic relationships with service users, carers and families.
• Good organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Support older adults with functional and organic mental health conditions in the community.
• Assist clinicians in carrying out care plans and recovery-focused interventions.
• Visit service users at home, in community settings and on inpatient units.
• Monitor mental health and wellbeing, reporting concerns or changes to the clinical team.
• Promote independence, social inclusion and recovery.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver person-centred care and coordinate care.
• Liaise with GPs, community services, voluntary groups, social care and other agencies.
• Take part in risk assessment, safeguarding and risk management.
• Keep accurate, timely records in line with Trust policy.
• Work independently in the community, seeking guidance from the wider team when needed.
• Work flexibly across Wimborne, Purbeck and, when needed, Ferndown and West Moors localities.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Compassionate care

Organisation

Time management

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Confidentiality & safeguarding

Education

Health & social care qualification (Level 2/3)

Dementia awareness qualification

Job description

This Support Worker post sits in the Community Mental Health Team for Older People at Dorset HealthCare. The work centres on helping older adults with dementia, depression, anxiety, psychosis and other mental health conditions to stay independent and reach their own recovery goals, alongside nurses, social workers and psychiatrists. Much of it is out in the community, with visits to people's homes, care settings and inpatient units, and some travel across several localities. Visa sponsorship is not available, and an enhanced DBS check is required.

What the job involves

• Support older adults with functional and organic mental health conditions in the community
• Assist clinicians in carrying out care plans and recovery-focused interventions
• Visit service users at home, in community settings and on inpatient units
• Monitor mental health and wellbeing, reporting concerns or changes to the clinical team
• Build therapeutic relationships with service users, carers and families
• Promote independence, social inclusion and recovery
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver person-centred care and coordinate care
• Liaise with GPs, community services, voluntary groups, social care and other agencies
• Take part in risk assessment, safeguarding and risk management
• Keep accurate, timely records in line with Trust policy
• Work independently in the community, seeking guidance from the wider team when needed
• Work flexibly across Wimborne, Purbeck and, when needed, Ferndown and West Moors localities

What’s required

Qualifications

• Level 2 or 3 qualification in health and social care
• Health or social care qualifications such as dementia awareness

Experience

• Experience of working with older people or within mental health services
• Experience of working with multiple professionals

Skills & knowledge

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Compassionate, person-centred approach to care
• Building positive therapeutic relationships
• Good organisational and time-management skills
• Working independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and professional boundaries

Checks & eligibility

• Enhanced DBS check
• Right to work in the UK without sponsorship
• Full UK driving licence
• Access to a car with work use insurance

Other

• Good written language skills and evidence of using IT
• Commitment to supporting older adults experiencing mental illness

Nice to have

• Experience of working in an NHS setting

What’s offered

• Trust covers the cost of the enhanced DBS check
• Employability service offering application writing, interview skills and other employment support