Application Pack – Mental Health & Wellbeing Caseworker – North Wales

Application Pack

Mental Health & Wellbeing Caseworker

North Wales Victim Help Centre

Closing date: 27th March 2015

Background

Victim Support – Who are we?

Our services for victims are free and confidential. We give information, practical help and emotional support to anyone who has experienced crime, and to their families and friends.

We provide this service to well over a million people every year, whether or not the crime has been reported, working in partnership with criminal justice and other voluntary agencies.

We have a network of local offices across England and Wales that run and co-ordinate our local services. Both employees and trained volunteers are involved in giving support – with volunteers outnumbering staff by over four to one, operating within 4 ‘localities’.

Our national telephone service, the Victim Supportline, gives support and information, as well as referring callers to our local teams and to other agencies. It deals with around 12,000 calls a year.

Our purpose is to help people find the strength to move on after crime. We give emotional and practical support that is a source of strength and comfort. We make people feel better and use the local understanding of our volunteers and staff to help victim and witnesses take control, so we can all live in a safer more caring society.

Everything Victim Support does will always be based on empathy and an understanding of victim’s and witnesses’ needs, so people are mentally and physically better off after we have helped them. We want to be a force for good in society.

Our vision is to be the world’s best charity for victims and witnesses, with volunteering at the heart of what we do.

It’s a big task; millions of people are affected by crime each year and we need to make sure we meet their needs, whilst supporting positive changes in the criminal justice system. It’s not something we can do alone, so we will work with others where this helps victims and witnesses.

As well as providing services, we are a national voice for victims and witnesses. We campaign for greater awareness of the effects of crime and to increase their rights.

We have also pioneered services for victims and witnesses across the country, for example enhanced and more responsive front-line services, new specifications for helping young victims of crime, and enhanced guidelines for domestic violence. In 2010 we set up the world’s first dedicated support service for people bereaved through homicide.

Our Chief Executive is Mark Castle, who joined the organisation in 2014. He reports to a 12-strong, independent Board of Trustees. Our President is HRH the Princess Royal.

Find out more about us and our work on our website at

Working with the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner

The provision of services for victims in North Wales spans across a variety of agencies and contracts, including police provision of some, nationally provided services and a variety of organisations in the voluntary and community sector locally.

The move from the national grant arrangement with Victim Support to local funding through Police and Crime Commissioners has enabled the implementation of the new Victim Service to begin in July 2015. The proposed model ensures robust service delivery, through a single point of contact, enabling assessment of risk incorporating a co-ordinated referral mechanism with pathways to partner agencies and evaluation to inform continuous improvement and a multiagency platform to champion the needs of victims.

This new model for support services to victims is the first of its kind in the North Wales area, and will challenge all policing and justice agencies to change their approach towards providing a better service to victims.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING CASE WORKER

POST:Mental health and wellbeing case worker

HOURS: 30 hours per week– covering Monday to Saturday. Current opening times will be set at 8am to 8pm

TENURE:Permanent

BASE:North Wales Police Divisional Headquarters – St. Asaph Business Park

SALARY:FTE £21,132 per annum+ 3 % pay award on successful completion of 6 month probationary period

Victim Support, in partnership with the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales is seeking a mental health and wellbeing case worker to work in the newly created Victims Help Centre based at North Wales Police Divisional headquarters, St. Asaph.

You will ensure the provision of support and advocacy services to victims of crime who are experiencing, or have a history of, mental health problems. You will provide dedicated one to one support including emotional and practical support. To undertake community outreach work, raise awareness and facilitate referrals. To be a local point of mental health expertise within the criminal justice arena, providing advice and guidance when required.

The newly formed service is fully funded by the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and may be extended beyond March 2016.

In this role you will be required to provide specialist outreach support for victims and witnesses who have existing mental illness or who are experiencing a mental health crisis as a result of being a victim of crime. You will provide emotional and practical support on a 1:1 basis including: safety planning; support to engage with the criminal justice system and other agencies; knowledge about victim rights; and accessing specialist support.

You will also be responsible for undertaking community outreach work and facilitating referrals directly into the local Health Board. You will be a local point of mental health expertise within Victim Support and other PCC commissioned victim services in North Wales, providing advice and guidance when required.

The successful applicant will provide care and specialist advice to victims, and act as the single point of contact throughout the progress of the support package.

The successful applicant must evidence the following essential experience, specialist skills and knowledge as per the role profile:

  • Working directly with clients or service users in a statutory, voluntary, social or community work setting
  • Working with people experiencing mental health issues
  • Ability to disseminate information and present recommendations utilising an evidence based approach
  • Thorough understanding of mental illness and the issues faced by a person experiencing mental health problems
  • Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and the journey faced by a victim of crime
  • To demonstrate empathy towards the needs of victims
  • To present confidently to a diverse range of audiences
  • Good IT skills includingdatabases, Microsoft Office applications, email and internet
  • Level 4 Welsh Language skills are essential for this post. The ability to communicate fluently through the medium of welsh would be desirable. Please refer to the NWP Welsh Language Skills Policy for details of your eligibility criteria and learning commitments throughout probation.

The successful post-holder will be confirmed in post following successful police vetting (NPPV Level 3) approval.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake role specific training starting in May 2015.

To apply for an application form, please contact Ayshea Watkins, Locality HR Dept, Victim Support, Winton House, Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2RW or via  or telephone 01782 843908 .

The closing date for applications is: March 27th 2015

Interviews for this post will be held on: 13th April 2015

Diversity Matters And We Value It

Job description

Job title:Mental Health and Wellbeing Caseworker

Department:North Wales Victim Help Centre

Reporting to:Centre Manager

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  1. Purpose of the job:

To ensure the provision of support and advocacy services to victims of crime who are experiencing, or have a history of, mental health problems. To provided dedicated one to one support including emotional and practical support. To undertake community outreach work, raise awareness and facilitate referrals. To be a local point of mental health expertise within the criminal justice arena, providing advice and guidance when required.

To provide specialist outreach support for victims and witnesses who have existing mental illness or who are experiencing a mental health crisis as a result of being a victim of crime. To provide emotional and practical support on a 1:1 basis including: safety planning; support to engage with the criminal justice system and other agencies; knowledge about victim rights; and accessing specialist support.

To undertake community outreach work and facilitate referrals directly into the local Health Board. To be a local point of mental health expertise within Victim Support and other PCC commissioned victim services in North Wales, providing advice and guidance when required.

2.Main duties:

Casework

  • To liaise with Victim Support, North Wales Constabulary, BetsiCadwalader University Health Board (BCUHB) and other mental health organisations to receive referrals of victims of crime who are, or have a history of, experiencing mental health problems
  • To carry out a needs assessment to decide on the most appropriate method of offering support to those referred,in accordance with Victim Support and BCUHB policies and procedures
  • To develop individual support plans that focuses on cope and recover outcomes
  • To provide dedicated one-to-one emotional and practical support
  • To provide safety planning
  • To support victim to engage with the criminal justice system and other involved agencies
  • To provide knowledge about victim rights

Awareness raising/education

  • To develop and maintain an excellent knowledge of the local area, local support organisations, statutory agencies and their services
  • To deliver educational workshops to partner agencies including North Wales Constabulary, to raise awareness of victim services and victimisation issues.
  • To delivery workshops for staff and volunteers in victim services organisations on how best to support victims of crime experiencing mental health issues and help them become more familiar with local mental health services
  • To attend multi agency meetings as appropriate
  • To promote the work of mental health advocate, Victim Support and NCNM with the local community and to local community organisations

Research and Evaluation

  • Complete Service User Surveys and the Recovery Star with clients to evaluate our service and measure outcomes
  • Identify evidence based good practice in supporting people with mental health problems who are victims of crime
  • Presentevaluation and recommendation papers for utilisation by commissioners to ensure that prevention and provision for people with mental health problems, who are victims of crime, are central in their planning and commissioning.

Project Administration

  • To ensure that all correspondence and telephone enquiries are dealt with promptly and appropriately
  • To assist with the management of recording of statistical information of referrals in accordance with policy and ensure accurate and regular returns are provided to the Divisional Manager on a monthly basis, within set timescales
  • To undertake administrative work as required to ensure the efficient organisation of the project

Partnership Working

  • To assist with the development of links and referral pathways with local support agencies, statutory organisations and first responders to incidents of crime e.g. GPs, health visitors, ambulance staff.
  • To work in conjunction with the Senior Service Delivery Manager for Victim Support and the relevant colleagues within other mental health organisations

Casework Management

  • To provide ongoing assessment of cases and continually risk-manage cases and seek specialist advice where necessary
  • To monitor standard and effectiveness of work with clients and deal appropriately with cases requiring further action or referral to other agencies

Other

  • Manage personal resources and own professional development
  • Ensure all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes Victim Support’s and NCNMs equality and diversity policies
  • Promote a health and safety culture within the workplace, observe all health and safety rules and procedures and all attend training courses as required
  • Ensure that essential information of a sensitive or personal nature is not disclosed to or discussed with inappropriate persons
  • Ensure all information is maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act
  • Provide relevant detailed reports for the Centre Manager
  • Undertake any other duties as required

Travel

  • This role will require regular travel, mainly within the greater Norwich area
  • Willingness to undertake appropriate training, local and National, including the occasional requirement to be residential with some unsocial hours (weekends and evenings)

This job description serves to illustrate the type and scope of the duties currently required for the above post and to provide an indication of the required level of responsibility. It is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be varied from time to time, they will not however change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility entailed.
Person Specification

Job title:Mental Health and Wellbeing Caseworker

Location:North Wales Victim Help Centre

______

Experience required:

Essential

  • Working directly with clients or service users in a statutory, voluntary, social or community work setting (S)
  • Working with people experiencing mental health issues (S)
  • Ability to disseminate information and present recommendations utilising an evidence based approach (S)

Desirable

  • Ability to develop networks and work in a consultative manner
  • Experience of implementation of new services or support mechanisms / standards

Knowledge required:

Essential

  • Thorough understanding of mental illness and the issues faced by a person experiencing mental health problems (S)
  • Knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and the journey faced by a victim of crime (S)

Desirable

  • Knowledge and understanding of the impact of crime
  • Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing the voluntary and community based organisations and the wider criminal justice system
  • Diversity issues and how these may effect working practices

Skills and Ability:

Essential

  • To demonstrate empathy towards the needs of victims (S)
  • To present confidently to a diverse range of audiences (S)
  • Good IT skills includingdatabases, Microsoft Office applications, email and internet (S)
  • Level 4 Welsh Language skills are essential for this post. The ability to communicate fluently through the medium of welsh would be desirable. Please refer to the NWP Welsh Language Skills Policy for details of your eligibility criteria and learning commitments throughout probation (S)

Desirable

  • To communicate effectively in writing and verbally with a wide range of people
  • To prioritise work and deal with competing demands demonstrating an organised an methodical approach to work
  • To work without direct supervision

(s) = Shortlisting Criteria (9)

Why work for Victim Support? Benefits and Rewards

Victim Support recognises that our people are our greatest assess and we are committed to recognising employees for the work that they do. In return you will receive:

  • 25 days annual leave (plus one additional days leave for each completed year of service up to a maximum of 30 days) plus bank holidays
  • Enhanced Sick pay scheme
  • Enhanced Maternity/ paternity/ adoption pay scheme
  • Death in service benefit
  • Pension scheme – Victim Support will contribute 5% into the Aegon pension scheme providing you meet the criteria and make the necessary employee contributions
  • Child Care Voucher Scheme
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Travel Season Ticket Loan Scheme
  • Access to BupaHealthline
  • Discounted gym and health club membership scheme
  • Study Assistance for professional development
  • Voluntary benefits platform ‘You Choose’ which gives employees access to retail discounts (including shopping, holiday, breakdown cover, insurance discounts) and many other great offers. Updated regularly.
  • Victim Support is an equal opportunities employer

How to apply

Please request and application pack and complete and return to:

Ayshea Watkins, Locality HR Administrator, Victim Support, Winton House, Stoke Road, Shelton, Stoke-on-Trent ST2 2RW

Or email:

The closing date to receive applications is 27th March 2015

Interviews for this position are scheduled to be held on 13th April 2015

Equal opportunities statement

Victim Support is an equal opportunities employer. Our policy is to ensure that no victim, witness, employee, volunteer, trustee, or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of ethnicity, religion/faith, age, gender/gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation or disability, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown as justifiable.

Selection criteria and procedures are regularly reviewed to make sure that individuals are selected and treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities. Employees will be given equal opportunity and, where appropriate, special training, to enable them to progress within the organisation.

Victim Support’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee are committed to a programme of action to make this policy effective and will bring it to the attention of all employees.

Diversity statement

Victim Support takes pride in being a diverse organisation, enriched by the participation of all individuals and communities. We recognise that prejudice and discrimination continue to result in unfair treatment for many people. We are committed to addressing this by:

ensuring the effectiveness of our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy

being clear and open about our values and promoting them

listening, learning and taking action to bring about change.

Our diversity statement is “Diversity matters and we value it”