Mental Health Support Worker

JOB DESCRIPTION: Mental Health Support Worker
Job Title: Mental Health Support Worker

Location  54 Victoria Street, Kirkwall

Hours 28 hrs per week which can be worked flexibly over 4 or 5 days.
This post is initially for one year but may be extended subject to funding
  
Responsible to Service Director

Purpose To provide individualised community based mental health support to Blide Trust members

Salary £29,000 pa (pro rata based on a 35hr working week)

General Duties

1. To work in partnership with other professionals involved with Blide Trust members including setting up and attending multidisciplinary meetings.
2. To have an identified caseload of members for whom you will be a ‘key worker’ and to provide one to one individualized mental health support to them.
3. To provide support and encouragement for members to engage in therapeutic activities and self-care.
4. To help enable members to access opportunities, build confidence and to develop their skills and interests in order to support their mental health recovery. 
5. To work alongside members to identify activities that they would like to take part in and help to organise group activities in conjunction with other Blide Trust staff.
6. To signpost and support referrals to other agencies where appropriate.

Work in conjunction with other Orkney Blide Trust staff

7. To promote and maintain the culture and values of Orkney Blide Trust.
8. To help promote and publicise the work of Orkney Blide Trust.
9. To work alongside colleagues and Blide members on practical and administrative tasks to contribute towards the overall running of the organisation.
10. To train in Distress Brief Intervention (DBI) and support colleagues in the delivery of this project.

Personal

11. To ensure effective communication is maintained by verbal and written reports.
12. To attend individual support and supervision sessions.
13. To participate in induction programmes and in service training as necessary.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

Skills
1. Professional or lived experience in mental health field.
2. Qualifications or significant experience in a relevant setting.
3. Experience in working with both individuals and with groups.
4. An understanding and sympathetic approach to working with people including an awareness of Trauma Informed Practice.
5. The ability to listen and communicate with people, good interpersonal skills.
6. The ability to use own initiative within an agreed level of authority.
7. To work as part of a team.

Knowledge
8. To understand the importance of confidentiality at all times.
9. To understand and accept the importance of reporting and liaising with the Service Director and the rest of the staff team.

Attitude
10. To be non-judgmental and non-discriminatory in approach to people with
mental illness and their carers. .
11. To have a genuine liking and respect for people.
12. To have an understanding and awareness of mental health needs within an island community.
13. To be a positive and supportive team member and to respect the ethos and values of the organisation.

MEASUREMENT OF PERFORMANCE

Job performance will be regularly assessed and reviewed by the Service Director, and training needs recognized.  The Job Description will be renewed annually.