Support Worker

Together for Mental Wellbeing; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

Together for Mental Wellbeing invites applications for a role within our Supported Accommodation Service at Jankyns Place, Bury St Edmunds. You will work with people with complex needs, supporting them toward greater wellbeing and independence with a person-centred approach.

Although experience is not essential, we offer comprehensive training, competitive pay (£24,968.26 per annum), and opportunities for career development in a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in supporting vulnerable individuals required or gained through life experience.
• GCSE or Level II English qualification or equivalent.
• Basic competence in using email and word processing software.
• Ability to build trust and maintain professional boundaries with service users.
• Willingness to travel and work a 24/7 rota with notice.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships of trust with service users, to build engagement.
• Help service users set goals, manage tenancies and move-ons.
• Work flexibly with service users in homes and in the community.
• Carry out assessments and determine urgency of needs.
• Liaise with other agencies and make onward referrals.

Skills

Experience with vulnerable people

Empathy

Communication skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Email/word processing

Willing to travel

Flexible shifts

Education

GCSE English Level II

NVQ Level II Health & Social Care

Job description

Together is a fantastic place to work - and not just because we’re one of the UK’s oldest and most respected mental health charities. It’s because we place the people who use our services at the heart of everything we do, supporting and empowering them to take control of their lives and make a positive contribution to their communities. We have an exciting opportunity to join our Supported Accommodation Service at Jankyns Place in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. In this role, you will work alongside people with complex needs, supporting them on their journey towards greater wellbeing and independence. We are looking for an inspiring and compassionate individual who can take a creative and person-centred approach when working with people experiencing mental health challenges. Using your passion for empowering individuals with complex mental health and social care needs, you will support people to improve their quality of life and sustain their tenancies. While experience is not essential, we offer excellent training opportunities and the chance to work in a dynamic and friendly environment, with competitive pay, career development opportunities, and a range of benefits. Above all, we are seeking someone with a genuine passion for helping people take control of their own lives and a strong belief in recovery.

Salary: £24,968.26 per annum

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships of trust with service users, to build engagement
• Help service users to set, prioritise and achieve goals, managing their tenancies and move‑ons
• Work flexibly with service users in their homes and in the community
• Carry out assessments and determine urgency of service user needs
• Work with professionals from other agencies, and make onward referrals, linking service users into community opportunities
• Carry out risk assessments, in order to keep service users safe and improve the quality of our support
• Attend placement reviews
• Work with service users on a 1:1 basis and in groups
• Assist service users to; deal with financial issues and navigate the benefits and education systems; manage friendships and family relationships; manage their medication, in accordance with Together procedures
• Accompany service users to appointments
• Assist service users to undertake domestic tasks such as cooking and cleaning, ensuring adherence to infection control (training provided)
• Assist service users with personal care as and when required
• Adhere to the Together policy on lone working
• Make timely records which are concise, accurate, written for the service user to understand, using Together computer-based systems
• Write clear word processed and handwritten reports (training provided) and records in English
• Participate in mandatory and job-related courses and learning activities
• Maintain professional boundaries in all aspects of work with service users

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Experience in supporting vulnerable individuals gained from paid work and/or voluntary and/or life experience
• Minimum of GCSE or Level II qualification in English, or equivalent
• Basic competence in the use of email and word processing software
• Demonstrate a non‑judgemental attitude and able to be empathetic towards service users and create a trusting environment
• Able to work in partnership with services users and establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with service users
• Able to establish and maintain a safe environment
• Willing and able to undertake domestic tasks with, and for, service users as necessary
• Demonstrate problem‑solving skills relating to welfare benefits, education and relationships
• Open to - and willing to participate in - formal and informal job‑related learning
• Willing and able to collaborate with colleagues and other organisations
• Able to use email and computerised systems for service user records and reports
• Able to travel; have access to car/public transport
• Able to work a varying pattern of shifts on a 24 hour 7-day week rota, with notice

Desirable

• Lived experience of mental distress
• NVQ Level II in Health and Social Care, or equivalent

Our Benefits