Specialist Women’s DVAMental Health Worker

Job Description

MAIN PURPOSE OF JOB:

This role will be responsible for the delivery of high quality services offered by theHomeless Women’s Programmefocusing on the engagement of homeless women with a history of domestic abuse that are referred into the service. This will include female rough sleepers, working with them in a small hostel setting and linking them into a range of primary and secondary healthcare services, including substance misuse services whilst they are accommodated at the service. This post is required to undertake good quality case work and assessments of individuals with complex needs including behavior which challenges others, as well as mental and physical health needs.

The role will be responsible for processing referrals into the service from a range of sources across the borough and act as an entry point into the service. To work closely and proactively with local authority, statutory and non-statutory health and housing services to improve pathways for homeless women accessing physical and mental health services. The role will be responsible for the delivery of 1-2-1 counselling, facilitating group work, delivering Trauma Informed Care Approach and facilitating CBT sessions

You will be responsible for the promotion of the services across the borough, engaging with a range of providers to source referrals into the services. The role will also be responsible for the liaison and communication of case management across any providers engaged with the service. This service is for single homeless womenwho have slept rough or are at risk of sleeping roughin the London borough of Richmond.

REPORTING TO:

Richmond Operational Manager

SALARY:

£29,000 - £31,500 per annum

WORKING HOURS:

37.5 hours per week

CONTRACT TYPE:

Fixed term for one year

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Service Delivery

To be responsible for the effective delivery ofthe Homeless Women’s servicesin the borough stated. Working Monday to Friday, during normal working hours with flexibility to support clients out of hours as and when necessary.

2.Resource Management

To be responsible for the effective referral, assessment, engagement and support of clients into a range of health services including GP and primary care services and specialist substance misuse and mental health services.

3.Casework Management

To work with clients ensuring provision of advice, support, motivation, crisis intervention and future planning, is appropriate to the expressed needs of service users

4.Organisational Responsibilities

To be responsible for contributing to the running of SPEAR’s integrated services for homeless people

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

  1. Service Delivery
  • Be the lead mental health practitioner for the service, developing relationships and links with the mental health trusts and services across the specified boroughs.
  • Tocarry out comprehensive assessment of people referred into the service, developing engagement plans for those clients with complex mental health needs. This duty will include: conducting client risk assessments at point of entry into the service and ensuring risk plans are regularly reviewed.
  • Deliver effectiveassessment and support services bysourcing a range of specialist health services across the partnership and developing relationships with those providers.
  • To build and maintain positive relationships with local homelessness and supported housing services as well as local authority providers.
  • To provide as appropriate, client advocacy for those service users experiencing difficulties. Engaging with service providers and local authorities as appropriate.

2. Resource Management

  • To provide specialist mental health practitioner leadership within the service
  • Create, manage and lead on the development of effective professional relationships with a focus on the mental health trust as well aslocal authority staff, housing providers, physical and mental health providersand any other external agencies.
  • Maintain a working knowledge of available resources for clients, signposting and referring as necessary
  • To contribute to the effective use of temporary staging post accommodation to support rough sleepers into longer term supported accommodation.

3.Casework Management

  • Provide specialist practitioner support to staff, with particular focus on case reviews for all clients with mental health across the service– working with partner agencies and other SPEAR services to effectively communicate updates on clients and any progress or issues.
  • Work with clients seeking support, by developing a holistic approach to care planning and working in collaboration with other services to assess their needs and identify and work towards individual goals, ensuring an integrated approach towards support
  • Develop positive working relationships with clients in order to facilitate the best possible outcomes and to address issues of social isolation and exclusion
  • Be responsible for an agreed small caseload of complex mental health needs clients and ensure that accurate information is stored and maintained on the database for performance management and quality assurance purposes
  • Complete the required data entry onto the CHAIN (rough sleeper) database and ensure that other records of work undertaken are reported effectively on CHAIN
  • Complete the required data entry on the Charitylog database

4. Organisational Responsibilities

  • Contribute to regular team meetings, away days and staff meetings
  • Participate in staff management and support systems in line with SPEAR’s policies and procedures, ensuring regular attendance at line management meetings
  • Maintain a safe and appropriate physical environment for staff and service users, in line with SPEAR’s Health and Safety Policy
  • Liaise and work with all internal stakeholders to deliver an effective SPEAR wide service
  • Undertake other duties as your line manager should require, in keeping with the responsibility of the post

Person Specification

  • Registered with the BABCP and hold a low or high intensity psychological wellbeing practitioner qualification (PG certificate), or be an accredited psychotherapist via the BACP.
  • A working knowledge of mental illness, diagnosis and associated medication, TheMental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act, the clinical treatment systems in place for people living with mental ill health within the community and other legislationrelated to this client group.
  • Experience of delivering 1-2-1 counselling sessions, group work and delivering self-development workshops, willing to develop the delivery of Trauma Informed Care at the service
  • Experience of working in an environment where people may present difficult andchallenging behaviours as a result of their personal experience of domestic abuse/violence
  • Experience working with homeless people or rough sleepers, including key working, care planning and joint working with statutory agencies, with a particular focus on mental health and substance misuse services
  • Experience of supporting people to address their needs by the use of comprehensive assessment and case management and an understanding of involving the person in their own care, taking a person centred approach
  • Experience of working to psychological informed approach: IAPT, Motivational interviewing etc.
  • To have a good knowledge of substance misuse and/or Mental health services and the range of services and treatment available for homeless people
  • A knowledge and awareness of homeless outreach services and practices to engage with rough sleepers
  • Understanding of the causes of homelessness and the pathways out of homelessness
  • The ability to work with clients who may display challenging behaviour and complex needs
  • A thorough knowledge of appropriate legislation, for mental health and homelessness including welfare benefits and housing law
  • An ability to represent SPEAR appropriately at all times, work professionally with external agencies and to promote a service to a wide range of audiences
  • Excellent administrative, recording and reporting skills that are suitable for case management of clients
  • Good IT skills, including competence withdatabases, word processing, spreadsheets, and email, and the ability to learn how to use new IT applications
  • An understanding of and commitment to confidentiality and professional boundaries
  • An understanding of equal opportunities and how it can be applied within SPEAR
  • An understanding of Health and Safety and an ability to manage the associated requirements practically and professionally. This role will include lone working and some out of hours work, the post holder will be required to assess and mitigate risk for these requirements.
  • Effective time and workload management
  • Use of your own transport would be desirable