Mental Health Worker

Full-time(35 hours per week)

Secondments and job-share considered

Main Purpose of Job:

  • Support the immediate mental health needs presented by asylum seekers and refugees at the PAFRAS drop-in service, including mental health assessments
  • Provide short to medium term care for PAFRAS clients where need is identified
  • Liaison with mainstream and refugee and asylum mental health provision, improving access and ensuring appropriate referrals
  • Work on an ongoing action researchproject in partnership with Touchstone, one day per week

NJC point 26, £22,2221 per annum

Up to 5% matched pension contribution from employer

Fixed Term Contractuntil 31/8/2012, (probationary period of 3 months)

Secondments considered.

Deadline for completed application form:Thursday 19thJanuary 2012 at 5 pm.

To apply for this job, visit the ‘Jobs’ page on the PAFRAS website ( and follow the links to download the application pack.

If you require any further information, please email:

Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers PAFRAS is an organisation working with asylum seekers, refugees and local communities in Leeds and the surrounding areas. PAFRAS aims to help meet basic needs, reduce the effects of destitution, provide support, promote health and well-being and encourage full integration into UK society. PAFRAS works mainly with destitute asylum seekers who are homeless, withoutfood or money and prevented from improving their situation.

During January to November 2011PAFRAS received7,460visits at its drop-in service, which included 321 new clients during this period. We provided 2,054one-to-one support sessions with specialised staff. PAFRAS has also provided 5,870 hot meals and4,087food parcels.

PAFRAS is a small organisation that depends of the flexibility and adaptability of its staff and volunteers to run these services.


Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS)

Job Description

Mental Health Worker

(35 hours per week)

Hours:35 hours / week (full-time)

Location:PAFRAS drop-in centre, PAFRAS office and Touchstone office one day per week

Period of Fixed Term Contract until 31/8/2012

Employment:probationary period for 3 months

Salary:£22,221 per annum

Pension:Up to 5% matched employer contribution

Holidays:25 plus English Bank Holidays (pro rata)

Reports to:Project Manager

Main duties and responsibilities of Mental Health Worker

  • To provide a rapid assessment of mental health needs, and available resources for PAFRAS clients (predominantly destitute asylum seekers) including for those people presenting with acute or emergency mental health problems (crisis management)
  • To provide short to medium term mental health care, taking into account high levels of trauma in this client group
  • To provide crisis interventions for clients who experience high levels of distress at PAFRAS drop ins.
  • To participate in Action Research: Understanding refugees’ and asylum seekers’ (RAS) experiences of accessing and receiving Mental Health (MH) support in Leeds and work in collaboration with the other PAFRAS MHW.
  • To develop referral procedures to and from mental health services, and make referrals to a range of appropriate agencies across different sectors and to support clients in accessing mainstream mental health provision
  • Work at PAFRAS drop-in centre in a potentially intense and high pressured environment., and in other venues where appropriate
  • Maintain good standards of record keeping, in accordance with relevant procedures and best practice
  • Act within the boundaries of client confidentiality
  • Work closely with PAFRAS staff members including the Project Manager andDestitution Support Workers including joint case-working where appropriate
  • Participate effectively and positively in team development including team meetingsand group supervision for PAFRAS staff
  • To take responsibility for own professional development
  • Comply with all statutory requirements and PAFRAS policies and procedures, and actively developing these further.
  • Maintain flexibility and liaise with the team regarding service cover and other duties agreed with the line manager which may include supporting volunteers and contributing to the smooth running of the drop in
  • Promote the aims and objectives of PAFRAS.
  • The post-holder will be provided with external clinical supervision

Person Specification

Essential Criteria (Experience, knowledge, skills)
  1. Relevant mental health qualification (e.g. Diploma in counselling, mental health nurse, social work qualification etc)
  1. Experience of working with asylum seekers and refugees and understanding of the mental health needs of the client group including the specific needs of destitute asylum seekers
  1. Experience of working with people with minor to severe mental health problems, people who have experienced trauma and people in crisis
  1. Ability to carry out accurate holistic mental health assessments toidentify a broad range of mental health issues from minor to severe
  1. Ability to identify appropriate external referrals and experience of ensuring compliance with appropriate referral procedures
  1. Caseload management, the ability to operate as an autonomous practitioner and the ability to manage own workload under pressure
  1. Ability to communicate well with people from different cultures and backgrounds and to communicate complex and sensitive information via interpreters as necessary
  1. Ability to work effectively with organisations from a range of sectors
  1. Ability to work effectively as part of a team, and contribute positively and to work on own initiative as required
  1. The ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the organisation and the service
  1. Ability to act within boundaries of confidentiality
  1. Experience of carrying out research
  1. Knowledge of child protection
  1. Ability to participate inclinical supervision and contribute to team supervision
  1. Good organisational skills, and ability to prioritise and time-manage effectively
  1. Computer skills, including ability to effectively use word processing, databases
  1. Ability to develop and maintain administrative processes
  1. Commitment to equal opportunities and diversity
  1. Commitment to the aims and objectives of PAFRAS

Additional Information

The post holder will be expected to manage their own workload effectively. They will also undertake, and have a positive attitude towards, training and development.

PAFRAS will pay for external supervision.

PAFRAS is a small organisation and so this post requires flexibility from the post holder, you will need to be adaptable and responsive to the organisation’s needs and may be required to complete tasks not detailed in the job description.The role will require significant flexibility. However, these tasks will be relevant and appropriate to the job role.

The nature of this work means that any member of staff is required to have a CRB check completed.

Charity No. 1120950Company No. 5751987

PAFRAS Organisational Structure

Charity No. 1120950Company No. 5751987

Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS)

Diversity Statement

Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers (PAFRAS)is committed to recognising and valuing the diversity of its employees, clients, contractors, partner organisations and the people and communities it works with & serves. As an organisation, it does not only recognise diversity - it strives to ensure that it is diverse and promotes diversity as an essential element of personal, organisational and societal development.

An integral part of the organisation’s ethos and policies is its belief that all individuals and communities can contribute according to their talent & be treated in a fair & equitable manner irrespective of age, race, religion, disability, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or marital status, domestic circumstances, social & employment status, gender reassignment, HIV status, political affiliation or trade union membership, so that the organisation and the people it serves are benefited by and develop positively through diversity.

PAFRAS recognises & abides by its legal requirements as set out in the 1976 Race Relations Act (subsequently amended as the Race Relations (Amendment) Act), the Sex Discrimination Act, Disability Discrimination Act, Employment Equality Regulations (2003) & the Human Rights Act.This isdemonstrated

by:

  1. Aiming to provide interpreters, recognising that the majority of PAFRAS clients do not have English as their first language.
  2. Ensuring that equality operates in our employment practice.
  3. Ensuring that equality operates in the delivery of services.
  4. Influencing partner organisations & contractors.
  5. Promoting equality within local organisations & the community as a whole.
  6. Promoting & celebrating the faiths of all communities.
  7. Ensuring all communities feel integrated & are included in decision making processes.

This Diversity Statement is linked to PAFRAS Equal Opportunities Policy & should be read in conjunction with this.

Adopted by the Trustee Board of Positive Action for Refugees & Asylum Seekers February 2009.

Employment Documentation Needed

Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

The Asylum and Immigration Act 1996 makes it a criminal offence to employ a person who is not entitled to work in the UK. PAFRAS therefore requires all potential employees to provide the appropriate documentation as set out by the Home Office.

The following documents are acceptable:

List 1 (Any ONE of these documents is required):

  • A passport showing that the holder is a British citizen, or has a right of abode in the United Kingdom.
  • A document showing that the holder is a national of a European Economic Area country or Switzerland. This must be a national passport or national identity card
  • A residence permit issued by the Home Office to a national from a European Economic Area country or Switzerland
  • A passport or other document issued by the Home Office which has an endorsement stating that the holder has a current right of residence in the UK as a family member of a national from a European Economic Area country or Switzerland who is resident in the UK
  • A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that the holder can stay indefinitely in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay
  • A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that the holder can stay in the UK; and that this endorsement allows the holder to do the type of work offered, if without a work permit
  • An Application Registration Card issued by the Home Officer to an asylum seeker stating that the holder is permitted to take employment

List 2 (Two of these documents are required from one of the two combinations):

First Combination:

  • A document giving your name and permanent National Insurance number. This could be a: P45, P60, National Insurance card, or a letter from a UK Government agency.

Along with one of the following:

  • A full birth certificate issued in the UK, which includes the names of the holder’s parents; OR
  • A birth certificate issued in the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or Ireland; OR
  • A certificate of registration or naturalisation stating that the holder is a British citizen; OR
  • A letter issued to you by the Home Office to the holder which indicates that the person named in it can stay indefinitely in the United Kingdom, or has no time limit on their stay; OR
  • An Immigration Status Document issued by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the person named in it can stay indefinitely in the UK, or have no time limit on their stay; OR
  • A letter issued to you by the Home Office to the holder which indicates that the person named in it can stay indefinitely in the UK, or has no time limit on their stay.
  • An Immigration Status Document issued to by the Home Office to the holder with an endorsement indicating that the person named in it can stay in the UK, and this allows them to do the type of work offered.

OR

Second Combination:

  • A work permit or other approval to take employment that has been issued by Work Permits UK

Along with one of the following:

  • A passport or other travel document endorsed to show that the holder is able to stay in the UK and can take the work permit employment in question;
  • A letter issued by the Home Office to the holder confirming that the person named in it is able to stay in the UK and can take the work permit employment in question.

Charity No. 1120950Company No. 5751987