Sanctuary Support Worker

Mind in West Essex; Harlow; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health charity in Harlow is seeking a Sanctuary Support Worker to enhance mental health support for individuals in crisis. The role involves working closely with Crisis teams to provide community-based assistance, supporting individuals during emotional crises, and liaising with various services to improve access to help. The ideal candidate will have relevant training and experience in mental health services, as well as a creative and flexible approach to support.

Qualifications

• Awareness of issues relating to mental health service provision.
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies such as the Data Protection Act.
• Ability to manage workload effectively.

Responsibilities

• Improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing emotional crisis.
• Liaise closely with relevant health services.
• Develop links with external agencies for support.

Skills

Understanding of mental health conditions

Ability to deal with stressful situations

Good IT skills including Word, GSuite, Excel and CRM systems

Creative and flexible approach

Ability to travel across West Essex

Education

Relevant training in counselling, social work, occupational therapy or mental health nursing

Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services, in a supervisory capacity

Job description

Overview

Purpose of the Job: To enhance the offer of mental health support from the Voluntary and Community Sector to individuals presenting to Crisis and Liaison teams via Sanctuary, Daylight and Night Owls. Working closely with Crisis staff and Mental Health Liaison teams the Sanctuary Support Worker will be community based to meet the needs of people referred by Crisis and Liaison & Home First.

Main duties and responsibilities

Improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing emotional crisis.

Liaise closely with PAH A&E, EPUT Crisis and Liaison Team & Home First.

Increase early access to help for people experiencing mental health crisis by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided.

Contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.

Remain a source of independent support for all clients.

Reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services for people experiencing crisis.

Contribute to the effective delivery of Crisis Support in partnership with Essex Partnership University NHS Trust.

Support a small number of people requiring practical and emotional support in a supportive safe environment.

Welcome people and address immediate presenting issues.

Work with Crisis and Liaison Staff and Home First to identify safe and effective onward referral routes for people.

Continue work with people from Sanctuary & Night Owls who need next day follow up, assistance with accessing daytime services, support or reassurance.

Develop links with a range of external agencies, including accommodation providers, health services, police, housing, debt advice, drug and alcohol services etc.

Ensure the safety of service users, and their carers.

Work effectively with other members of the team and to work supportively with other co-workers when on shift.

Record accurate, factual and contemporaneous notes on the CRM system designated for the role.

About us

Mind in West Essex is a mental health charity. We are an independent organisation affiliated to Mind (the National Association for Mental Health) an organisation with which we share common values and principles.

Our vision is for West Essex to be a place where people talk openly and positively about mental health, and where everyone gets the support and respect needed to live well.

Mind in West Essex welcomes applications from people with their own lived experience of mental ill health.

Job responsibilities

Purpose of the Job:

To enhance the offer of mental health support from the Voluntary and Community Sector to individuals presenting to Crisis and Liaison teams via Sanctuary, Daylight and Night Owls. Working closely with Crisis staff and Mental Health Liaison teams the Sanctuary Support Worker will be community based to meet the needs of people referred by Crisis24 and Liaison & Home First.

Key Task Areas and Responsibilities:

Main Duties

To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing emotional crisis.

To liaison closely with PAH A&E, EPUT Crisis and Liaison Team & Home First.

To increase early access to help for people experiencing mental health crisis by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided.

To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.

To remain a source of independent support for all clients.

To reduce the use of police, ambulance and statutory mental health services for people experiencing crisis.

To contribute to the effective delivery of Crisis Support in partnership with Essex Partnership University NHS Trust.

Role

To support a small number of people requiring practical and emotional support in a supportive safe environment.

To welcome people and address immediate presenting issues.

To work with Crisis and Liaison Staff and Home First to identify safe and effective onward referral routes for people.

To continue work with people from Sanctuary & Night Owls who need next day follow up, assistance with accessing daytime services, support or reassurance.

To develop links with a range of external agencies, including accommodation providers, health services, police, housing, debt advice, drug and alcohol services etc.

To ensure the safety of service users, and their carers.

To work effectively with other members of the team and to work supportively with other co-workers when on shift.

Record accurate, factual and contemporaneous notes on the CRM system designated for the role.

General

Understand, uphold and work with the values, ethos, aims and objectives of Mind in West Essex.

At all times adhere to relevant legislation, and good practice.

Represent the service, raise its profile and promote its cause.

Promote and uphold service users rights.

Maintain professional boundaries at all times.

To share any and all concerns with Sanctuary Management and Senior Leadership Team.

To share good practice and relationships with everyone you come into contact within your role. Act as a positive role model showing professional and caring attitudes and behaviour towards other team members, service users and carers.

Work in a way that acknowledges the personal, social, cultural and spiritual strengths and needs of the individual.

To ensure compliance with legal, ethical, regulatory and social requirements.

To manage personal resources and own professional development.

To ensure all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes equity and diversity.

To promote a health and safety culture within the workplace, observe all health and safety rules and procedures as required and where appropriate conduct risk assessments.

Ensure that sensitive or personal information is not disclosed to or discussed with inappropriate persons.

All information must be maintained within the Data Protection Act and GDPR guidelines.

Person Specification

Experience

• Awareness of issues relating to mental health service provision
• An understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with adults with care and support needs
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals

Qualifications

• Minimum of 1 year working in mental health services, in a supervisory capacity.
• Relevant training in counselling, social work, occupational therapy or mental health nursing.
• Evidence of continual professional development

Knowledge, skills and practical

• Understanding of the relationship between mental health and social issues and how these may impact on physical, mental and emotional wellbeing
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies such as the Data Protection Act, Safeguarding and Protection of Vulnerable Adults, Mental Capacity Act, and Mental Health Act.
• Understanding of working within safeguarding, data protection, confidentiality and equality frameworks
• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload
• Ability to involve service users and carers in all aspects of their care and support.
• Good IT skills including Word, GSuite, Excel and CRM systems
• Ability to travel to work across West Essex.
• Ability to work unsocial hours and on a shift rota covering 7 days per week.
• Understanding of the recovery model in mental health services
• Understanding of the principles of trauma informed care and a person-centred approach to care.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£12.56 an hour Plus time and a half if shifts are worked on Public Holidays.