Job overview
Do you want to make a difference to people with mental health needs? Are you a caring and compassionate person with excellent communication skills? If so, we want YOU!
This is an exciting opportunity to work within the North Bucks Older Adult Mental Health Team (CMHT) based at the Whiteleaf Centre as a Support Time and Recovery (STR) Worker.
We are a supportive, dynamic and integrated team which, although busy, has many rewards. We care deeply about our patients and their families and carers. We believe in listening and responding as a team, piloting new models, supporting each other and developing and using new care approaches. We aim to improve patient care provided as well increase staff satisfaction and sense of achievement.
Main duties of the job
As a Support Worker you will be instrumental in our services and deliver recovery focused interventions (emotional and practical support) to service users in their own place of residence under the guidance and support of qualified mental health Clinicians and Team Leaders. You will need to be a dedicated, patient focused and highly motivated individual, who has some experience of mental health and support work working effectively as part of the wider multi-disciplinary team.
Regular supervision will be provided, and you will be encouraged and supported to undertake any training relevant to your interests and personal development.
Accessibility, responsiveness and excellence in customer service with the highest regard for service user experience will be at the heart of the service and Support Workers will use their skills and personal qualities to make this a reality.
As a Support Worker you must be able to demonstrate Trust values in delivering care to others. The successful candidate will be able to follow and initiate plans of care flexibly and dynamically in challenging and changing circumstances. Support Workers must have the skills and aptitude to work creatively and proactively with our third sector partners such as MIND and the Alzheimer's association.
Working for our organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.
Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible
Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”
Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”
At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:
1. Excellent opportunities for career progression
2. Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
3. 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
4. NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
5. Competitive pension scheme
6. Lease car scheme
7. Cycle to work scheme
8. Employee Assistance Programme
9. Mental Health First Aiders
10. Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
11. Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This role will require you to travel between community locations, you must therefore be comfortable with driving for work purposes and able to travel freely within the hours of the role. Applicants must have a full valid driving licence and have access to a vehicle for work. Adjustments can be considered in line with the Equality Act 2010 where required.
The CMHT teams provide an assessment and treatment function. The successful candidate will be expected to work 9-5 Monday to Friday with the main base at The Whiteleaf Centre, Aylesbury.
Please Note:
12. Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
13. Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
14. Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
15. We positively encourage applications from all areas of the community, regardless of gender, race, faith, disability, age or sexual orientation and we encourage applications from users of mental health services. This is part of our commitment to equality and reflecting the diversity of our population.
16. Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria
17. Experience of working with people in the community
18. Experience of working with vulnerable people.
19. Experience of working in a team
Desirable criteria
20. Experience of working in a health care setting
21. Experience of mental health services (as a worker or service user / carer
Qualifications
Essential criteria
22. The post holder will be expected to attend and fully complete a nationally agreed induction programme and undertake an on-going training to achieve a minimum of NVQ2 / VRQ
Desirable criteria
23. NVQ level 2 or 3 or other relevant qualifications
Skills
Essential criteria
24. Ability to form positive working relationships with service users,
25. Ability to make a positive contribution to improving the quality of life for people with mental health problems
26. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing at all levels
27. Empathy and sensitivity to the needs of people with mental health needs
Other
Essential criteria
28. Able to travel within the geographical work area in an effective manner
29. Ability to access a range of settings including visiting people at home Able to work weekends/evenings as appropriate
30. Be committed to continuous development of job related knowledge and skills, including essential IT skills
Desirable criteria
31. Word processing and other IT skills.
32. All new starters have a thorough induction process, both local and Trust wide, which aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale.
33. Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
34. Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
35. We are ambitious in our pursuit of excellence, driven by the belief that a fair, just and fully inclusive organisational culture enables our teams to deliver the best quality of care and services possible and we work hard to ensure that our diverse workforce reflects the communities that we serve.
36. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, are an Equal Opportunities employer with a number of internal networking groups to support our employees and where possible will always look to make reasonable adjustments in order that you can fulfil the role to recognise your full potential. All our employees are committed to demonstrating through their behaviour our core values – safe, caring and excellent.
37. Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
38. Oxford is a world-renowned centre of excellence for research. Oxford Health works closely with the University of Oxford department of Psychiatry and the Department of Primary care, has a Biomedical Research Centre dedicated to improving mental health and the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at the Warneford site. The Trust also hosts the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) which carries out applied research that directly impacts patient health and wellbeing