Support Worker (Mental Health)

Job summary

JOB PURPOSE

The post holder will work under the supervision of the Manager to provide support to service users with mental health needs, and to maintain the service user in their environment. This support enables service users to achieve and maintain an optimum level of independence, whilst ensuring their health, safety and wellbeing.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Be responsible for monitoring the service users’ conditions and ensuring that any changes to the service users’ mental, or physical health are communicated to the Manager.

2. To have responsibility as key worker for an allocated number of individual service users. This will include attending and actively participating in team meetings, planning and review meetings, and supervision as appropriate.

3. To keep clear legible records of the service users’ progress within designated timescales.

4. To be able to produce regular reports on the service user’s progress which can shared with secondary mental health services.

5. Have an awareness of how illness, medication and personality can affect an individual’s behaviour and an understanding of significant indicators to report to the Manager.

6. Help to identify early signs of relapse by monitoring the service users’ progress, level of functioning and mental state and alert the appropriate staff involved in the user’s care.

7. Ensure that service users engage effectively with the agreed Support Plan and access appropriate services provided on a regular and consistent basis.

8. Undertake an enabling role with service users in daily tasks such as, personal care, personal hygiene, shopping, budgeting and household tasks, to promote independent living.

9. The post holder will discuss and agree their workload with the manager at an appropriate frequency.

10. Promote social inclusion by introducing service users to leisure activities, new interests including education and employment opportunities, if appropriate, and signpost service users to other relevant statutory and non-statutory agencies.

11. Develop a rapport based upon companionship and befriending but within appropriate and transparent professional boundaries.

12. Provide regular and practical support to service users in developing and managing dignity and independence. Acknowledge diversity and promote anti-discriminatory practice/equal opportunities.

13. Provide support and care with daily living; “living ordinary lives.”

14. Help service users gain access to resources to include benefits and welfare rights.

15. Provide information on health promotion.

16. Liaise with service users’ families and carers, where appropriate, regarding sensitive issues relating to the service users’ needs and identified risks, as agreed in the Support Planning process.

17. Empower service users to speak for themselves, promoting their rights, responsibility and recovery.

18. Empower service users to speak for themselves, promoting their rights, responsibility and recovery.

PROFESSIONAL

1. Work with the Manager to improve areas for personal and professional development as identified through supervision.

2. Attend all mandatory training and appropriate educational and training activities as agreed with the Manager.

3. Undergo an annual personal development review with the Manager.

4. Demonstrate ability to value diversity and promote equality of opportunity ensuring that individuals are treated fairly and respected for their contribution in terms of experience, knowledge and skills.

5. Attend an Induction to their role.