Important Job Application Information
Thank you for your interest in NHS Tayside vacancies
Please find attached the full job pack:
Vacancy Advertisement
Application Form/Equal Opportunity Form
Job Description
General Conditions of Service
Personal Specification
Your Application Form must be completed in full. Please note copies of Curriculum Vitae, Qualifications and Course Certificates will not be accepted at this stage.
Please return your completed Application Form to (quoting the vacancy reference number in the subject box) or to the postal address given on the General Conditions of Service.
All completed applications are held in Workforce Services until the closing date. After the closing date a panel will meet to prepare an interview shortlist. Once this decision has been made, all shortlisted applicants will be emailed to invite them to attend for interview. It is important that you check your emails regularly.
This process takes approximately 6 weeks. Therefore, if you have not been contacted regarding interview within 6 weeks of the closing date, your application has been unsuccessful and you will receive no further correspondence from Workforce Services
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:-
Current vacancies may be viewed on-line at www.jobs.scot.nhs.uk
Find out more about living and working in Tayside at:
www.dundeecity.gov.uk
www.angus.gov.uk
www.pkc.gov.uk
NHS TAYSIDE - AGENDA FOR CHANGE
JOB DESCRIPTION
1. JOB IDENTIFICATION / Job Title / Peer Support WorkerDepartment(s)/ Base / Veterans First Point / Tayforth Veterans Project & satellite sites
Number of job holders / 2.0WTE (fixed term until March 2017)
2. SERVICE DESCRIPTION OF VETERANS’ FIRST POINT (V1P)
The purpose of the service is to:
· To develop a sustainable package of help, and, when appropriate, healthcare which focuses on Veterans and their families.
· To provide a single point of access in each of the three locales across Tayside, thus facilitating the support of Veterans and their families in establishing and/or maintaining their own wellbeing by providing assistance with welfare issues (predominantly relating to accommodation, finance and employment).
· To facilitate access to NHS care and treatment, in particular to existing mental health services, both generic and specialist. This will include simplifying the routes to appropriate services.
· Where appropriate a brokerage model following assessment will be used to facilitate the appropriate pharmacological and psychological treatment of Veterans who have been unable to access it through routine processes, for example, the provision of CMHT input.
· To provide welfare and social support to those in receipt of treatment, to promote their recovery and to assist them in maintaining their own well-being.
The service will build on existing services and partnerships and be provided in locations and in a manner that is accessible and acceptable to Veterans and their families.
V1P Tayside will be developed as part of the national V1P Scotland rollout. The service has links with V1P Scotland and V1P Lothian and will establish links with similar services across Scotland to promote learning and the development of skills.
There will be explicit links between the service & NHS Tayside’s mental health service with clear pathways into treatment. Specifically the Team Leader and Clinical Lead for the Multidisciplinary Adult Psychotherapy Service (MAPS) will extend their roles to cover this service and the clinicians within the Veterans Service will come under their leadership and governance structures clinically and managerially.
3. JOB PURPOSE
· The peer support worker(s) (hereafter referred to as PSW) will be based at the Tayforth Veterans Project in Dundee initially providing the first point of contact for practical support, advice and guidance to First Point service users across the full range of social, educational, welfare and health services.
· The purpose of contact with service users is to facilitate an assessment of needs, and assist engagement in whatever service they require, particularly during transition from military service to civilian life.
· The post-holders personal (peer) experience of having served in the Armed Forces or experience of the Veteran Community is crucial in terms of engaging this client group.
· The post-holder will provide peer support to service users individually or as part of a group
· The post-holder will enable & assist service users in regaining control over their own lives & personal recovery process.
4. ORGANISATIONAL POSITION
5. SCOPE AND RANGE
The post holder will:
§ be based in the Tayforth Veterans’ Project (TVP), but will also be required to travel to other centres within Tayside as they develop, engage in outreach when needed, and to accompany service users to other locations and agencies. V1P acts as a one-stop-shop for veterans, providing practical support, advice and access to services
§ act as the first point of contact for veterans attending the service. Their peer experience in the veteran community is crucial in terms of forming meaningful relationships with clients and engaging this often hard to reach client group.
§ provide peer support to service users on a individual & group basis especially during transition from military service to civilian life
§ assess for peer support input and liaise with clinical staff within V1P and volunteers at TVP when necessary
§ through lived experience of having served in the Armed forces, enable & assist service users across a range of social, educational, welfare and health issues
§ liaise with a variety of other agencies regarding a wide range of issues (i.e. benefit claims, housing agencies, social work department etc) as appropriate
§ actively participate in regular supervision, on a group & individual basis (e.g., peer group supervision & independently facilitated case work supervision)
6. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Induction Standards & Code of Conduct
Your performance must comply with the national “Mandatory Induction Standards for Healthcare Support Workers 2009” and with the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers
Case work
The Peer Support worker will:
· support service users experiencing mental health challenges
· participate in outreach work with groups and individual service users (usually on a daily basis)
· assess veterans for peer support
· assist veterans to identify & articulate their personal goals
· assist veterans to achieve optimal level of social functioning & promote social inclusion including encouragement to expand their social & leisure activities
· assist & support veterans with application forms / documentation as appropriate (i.e. housing & benefit forms etc), liaising and referring as necessary to appropriate agencies, and assist the veteran to build independence & promote recovery. This includes assisting veterans to overcome concerns about engaging with other welfare or health providers
· contribute to overall recovery/ treatment plan for service users, for example, developing problem solving skills or supporting veterans in the application of psychological approaches in managing any challenging behaviour
· alert the line manager &/ or clinical staff regarding any concerns/ changes in service users mental health
The Peer Support Worker will:
· work within the limits of their experience and expertise and to seek appropriate advice and guidance when needed
· develop & maintain a sound knowledge of local resources including statutory & non-statutory agencies, to enable referral or opportunities for self-help service users
· participate in regular peer support team meetings in partnership with line manager as appropriate (i.e. allocation meetings, business meetings, service development meetings)
· participate in multidisciplinary team meetings discussing the assistance and treatment of veterans, providing verbal and written reports/ feedback as necessary (i.e. housing forms, CMHT reviews etc)
· collaborate & liaise as necessary with relevant others involved in the service user’s care
· participate in training activities
· contribute to V1P training, development and promotional activities
· adhere to NHS Tayside policies and procedures.
· will be aware of responsibilities in relation to children and adults in need of support and/ or protection.
Health & Safety
The Peer Support Worker will:
· maintain & update knowledge re local NHS Tayside guidelines
· adhere to NHS Tayside line worker policies and guidance including assessment of risk.
Continuous Personal Development
The Peer Support Worker will:
· actively participate in supervision of their case work and line management supervision at an agreed frequency, on a group & individual basis (i.e.: peer group supervision & independently facilitated case work supervision)
· actively participate in regular management supervision with their line manager
· actively participate in Annual Appraisal of Performance using eKSF methodology with the line manager
· agree with line manager a Personal Learning Plan in line with the NHS Tayside Framework
· participate in & attend conferences, workshops etc relating to their peer support role
· recognise the emotional demands involved in the post & utilise available supports for self & colleagues
7. COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS
§ The PSW will communicate respectfully and confidentially in written & verbal format with veterans, their families and across a range of professional groups
8. KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB
1. The post holder will have:
· service within UK armed forces and / or lived experience which contributes to a unique understanding of the military and/or veteran community
· SVQ lll in health and social care, counselling OR equivalent level of experience, plus experience in caring role, e.g., as a support worker· completed peer support training or other specialist training (e.g., peer support volunteers course etc)
· experience of working in an enabling role (i.e. peer support outreach voluntary work, or other similar voluntary work)
· have knowledge & understanding of welfare, social, educational and mental health & wellbeing issues relevant to Veterans
· effective written and verbal communication skills
· a mature, responsible, empathic outlook on health care delivery which respects service user dignity & human rights
KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO DO THE JOB (continued)
2. The post-holder will demonstrable ability to:
· manage peer support working, utilising skills & experience engage users & carers in the development of services (i.e. service users meetings, individual discussion with clients etc)
· carry out assigned tasks effectively in a busy environment.
· be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances.
N.B., on the job training will be available as required
ESSENTIAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
9. SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENTThe post-holder will:
§ maintain accurate and confidential client records in compliance with departmental policy, including the use of electronic record systems:
§ complete mileage claims, annual leave requests, training requests and other clerical forms in a timely fashion as required by the service:
§ maintain a safe environment for patients, carers and staff:
§ be expected to utilise IT systems and equipment including:
· personal computer, email, power point, electronic record management system,
· Microsoft Word, Internet and Intranet
dictaphone, telephone, mobile phone, panic alarms and building security systems.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR RECORDS MANAGEMENT
All records created in the course of the business of NHS Tayside are corporate records and are public records under the terms of the Public Records (Scotland) Act 1937. This includes email messages and other electronic records. It is your responsibility to ensure that you keep appropriate records of your work in NHS Tayside and manage those records in keeping with the NHS Tayside Records Management Policy and with any guidance produced by NHS Tayside specific to your employment.
·
10. PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB
Physical effort
The post-holder:
§ may be required to assist veterans physically
§ may spend long periods sitting, standing or walking during work commitments
§ may have to carrying files/ cases of file notes, or other equipment etc on a daily basis (4-6 kg)
§ will be required to travel on a daily basis between sites, to other organisations and to veterans’
homes.
Physical skills
The post holder will need:
§ keyboard skills
§ to use general IT systems (i.e. MIDIS, TOPAS etc.).
§ to drive when and where appropriate, including with passengers (i.e., a veteran) or accompany veterans on public transport
§ skills in Manual handling
§ break away skills
Mental effort
The post:
· may be mentally and emotionally demanding and the PSW should utilise available supports for self & colleagues
· will require the PSW to work flexibly due to the possibility of interruptions
Working conditions
§ working as an lone practitioner (daily) as per NHS Tayside lone working policy
11. DECISIONS AND JUDGEMENT
The post-holder will:
§ contribute to the assessment/registration process, recording the needs of service users who have significant welfare, social, educational or health/ psychological difficulties.
§ plan their own workload on a day to day basis under supervision from line management.
§ be able to recognise change in the veteran’s condition and know when to draw the attention of a relevant professional within or out with the V1P team.
§ be accountable to the line manager (mental health practitioner) as indicated in organisational chart within this job description
12. MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB
· Balancing the workload demands imposed by a job
· Developing and maintaining relationships with veterans where engagement is difficult,
· Assisting, facilitating & supporting individuals to achieve maximum level of functioning, promoting social inclusion & recovery process
· The post holder will frequently and directly be exposed to highly emotive information
· Managing competing demands on time
12. JOB DESCRIPTION AGREEMENT
The job description will need to be signed off using the attached sheet by each post-holder to whom the job description applies.
JOB DESCRIPTION AND ESSENTIAL ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FORM – SIGNATURE OF AGREEMENT
Reference Number
The attached job description and essential additional information will be used as part of the Agenda for Change assimilation exercise and therefore the job-matching panel may wish to seek further clarification on any issues contained within the documents. Should this be necessary please identify an appropriate Manager and Staff representative who can be contacted.
Responsible ManagerContact No.
Staff Representative
Contact No.
I/we the undersigned agree the attached document is an accurate reflection of the requirements of the post. The essential additional information provides accurate information of additional job related factors.