Job summary We are looking for a Band 4 physical health support worker to join our Early Intervention in Psychosis Team. You will provide specialist support to service users based in the North, East & South East area of Hertfordshire. You will need experience of working with people who have mental health issues in the community. Your role as support worker will be part of the wider multi disciplinary team and support the community treatment of people as part of the First Episode of Psychosis Pathway. The work is varied and rewarding. It can at times be challenging and unpredictable. You will need to be a good communicator, able to support people in distress or who are very unwell, be practical, sensible, and able to work alone as well as part of a skilled team. There is good opportunity for training in-house and also developmental opportunities for STaR Workers.This is a great opportunity for you to be part of a developing and exciting service, at the forefront of implementation of the First Episode of Psychosis pathway. This pathway will make a major difference to the quality of care received by those with First Episode Psychosis and greatly improve their ability to recover and live a healthy lifestyle. You can play a valuable part in ensuring our service users receive the right treatment at the right time from an EIP service and can go on to lead full, hopeful and productive lives. Main duties of the job To work as part of a team which provides mental health services to those experiencing their first episode of psychosis. To focus directly on the physical health needs of service users requiring care, support and treatment using the Support Time and Recovery approach. To work across service and/or care group boundaries as necessary. To work closely in association with the Clinical Nurse Specialist, other senior staff and other agencies, to help maximise the quality and quantity of STR services within available resources. To work within the Care Programme Approach / Care Management process with a focus on Recovery To provide support, give time and thus promote recovery About us Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality CommissionOur family of over 3500 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout: Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional. Date posted 10 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 4 Salary £26,530 to £29,114 a year per annum pro rata Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time, Flexible working Reference number 367-ACMS-9163 Job locations Team base in Stevenage - with travel to different community sites Saffron Ground, Ditchmore Lane Stevenage SG1 3LJ Job description Job responsibilities To provide health care support to an allocated group of Service Users and thus promote their healthy engagement with the broader Community. Responsible for providing support to the Care Co-ordinators in the implementation of a recovery focused care plan for an allocated number of individual Service Users To support Nursing Staff in provision of Clinics and other related activities including performing blood tests. To ensure that Service Users engage beneficially with the agreed care plan and access appropriate Services provided on a regular and consistent basis To promote positively independent living of Service Users within the Community To promote Service User dignity and independence To help identify early signs of relapse by monitoring Service Users progress, level of functioning, physical health and mental state; and alert the appropriate Staff involved in the Service Users care To report regularly to Nurses, Care Co-ordinators and appropriate Key Workers To maintain accurate records as required by existing procedures; entering appropriate details on to Service Users Case Notes / Electronic Patient Records as necessary. To ensure Service Users understand and have a clear pathway of care across Sector / Agency boundaries, with key contact points / named individuals To participate in, and be responsible for, appropriate elements of Staff Development & Training To undertake direct Service User work where this is deemed appropriate, and to proactively engage with Service Users in working to achieve their own desired outcomes in accordance with Recovery Principles and as recorded in their Care Plans The Above is just a small example of the duties involved please read the attached documents before applying Job description Job responsibilities To provide health care support to an allocated group of Service Users and thus promote their healthy engagement with the broader Community. Responsible for providing support to the Care Co-ordinators in the implementation of a recovery focused care plan for an allocated number of individual Service Users To support Nursing Staff in provision of Clinics and other related activities including performing blood tests. To ensure that Service Users engage beneficially with the agreed care plan and access appropriate Services provided on a regular and consistent basis To promote positively independent living of Service Users within the Community To promote Service User dignity and independence To help identify early signs of relapse by monitoring Service Users progress, level of functioning, physical health and mental state; and alert the appropriate Staff involved in the Service Users care To report regularly to Nurses, Care Co-ordinators and appropriate Key Workers To maintain accurate records as required by existing procedures; entering appropriate details on to Service Users Case Notes / Electronic Patient Records as necessary. To ensure Service Users understand and have a clear pathway of care across Sector / Agency boundaries, with key contact points / named individuals To participate in, and be responsible for, appropriate elements of Staff Development & Training To undertake direct Service User work where this is deemed appropriate, and to proactively engage with Service Users in working to achieve their own desired outcomes in accordance with Recovery Principles and as recorded in their Care Plans The Above is just a small example of the duties involved please read the attached documents before applying Person Specification Qualifications Essential NVQ level 3 qualification or mental health certificate level 3 or agreement to undertake such training as soon as resources permit or equivalent level of experience NVQ/Mental Health Certificate Level 2 Commitment to Continuing Personal Development Skills and Knowledge Essential Basic written communication skills Good verbal communication skills and the ability to listen effectively Ability to create innovative solutions to help empower service users Ability to work unsupervised in a range of settings Ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers Ability to acknowledge diversity and promote antidiscriminatory practice/equal opportunities Ability to provide practical support with daily living activities Knowledge of benefits/employment systems An understanding of the mental health system Basic Interviewing Skills Desirable An ability to act calmly in emergencies and to respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging behaviour Basic health and safety awareness Experience Essential Experience of providing mental health services from within a team setting, which may be combined with personal lived experience of mental health difficulties Other Requirements Essential Access to own transportation Person Specification Qualifications Essential NVQ level 3 qualification or mental health certificate level 3 or agreement to undertake such training as soon as resources permit or equivalent level of experience NVQ/Mental Health Certificate Level 2 Commitment to Continuing Personal Development Skills and Knowledge Essential Basic written communication skills Good verbal communication skills and the ability to listen effectively Ability to create innovative solutions to help empower service users Ability to work unsupervised in a range of settings Ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers Ability to acknowledge diversity and promote antidiscriminatory practice/equal opportunities Ability to provide practical support with daily living activities Knowledge of benefits/employment systems An understanding of the mental health system Basic Interviewing Skills Desirable An ability to act calmly in emergencies and to respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging behaviour Basic health and safety awareness Experience Essential Experience of providing mental health services from within a team setting, which may be combined with personal lived experience of mental health difficulties Other Requirements Essential Access to own transportation 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. Employer details Employer name Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust Address Team base in Stevenage - with travel to different community sites Saffron Ground, Ditchmore Lane Stevenage SG1 3LJ Employer's website https://www.hpft.nhs.uk/careers/ (Opens in a new tab)