Mental Health Community Worker

Job Title: / Mental Health Community Team Leader
Responsible to: / Charity Manager
Responsible for: / This post has direct supervisory responsibility for the Mental Health Community Worker and volunteers.
There is a duty upon all employees to be aware of appropriate service standards and to report any breach of standards to someone in authority
Salary / £21,000 to 23,000 p.a.pro rata
Hours: / 30 hours per week (full working week is 37 hours)
Office hours are Monday to Thursday (9 to 5) Friday (9 to 4.30) plus the occasional evening and weekend
Fixed Term / Fixed term contract until 30 September 2020
(with the option of being extended 1 year plus 1 year depending on funding)
Based at: / Office is VASL, Torch House, Torch Way, Market Harborough LE16 9HL but some proportion of the role will be community based in the Harborough District

Background

VASL is a local charity that provides a range of services for elderly, disabled or rurally isolated people and supports carers.

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) Clinical Commissioning Groups and Local Authorities jointly commissioned locality based services, to develop supportive mental wellbeing communities and help individuals with mental health needs to stay well and live full lives. VASL tendered for and was successful for the Harborough District.

We are recruiting for 2 roles, a Mental Health Community Team Leader and Mental Health Community Worker

Job purpose: Mental Health Community Team Leader

Support and empower adults (over 18) with a diagnosed of mental illness and their carers to maintain and improve their own recovery.

Main tasks:

·  To make initial assessment and any further assessments as may be necessary to those people referred to the project

·  Support Service Users and their Carers. Specifically:

o  Individual support and liaising with other agencies on behalf of people who use the service

o  Enable and support individuals to self-manage their daily living, finances, physical health and emotional health and wellbeing

o  Encourage service users to recognise, understand and manage factors that affect their mental wellbeing and physical health

o  Support service users with employment opportunities, sustain employment and/or volunteering

o  To engage more with the wider community

o  Empower people to achieve their own solutions

o  Encourage people to access support in a positive way

o  To review their individual packages of care on a regular basis

o  Support, sign post and give information to their carers

·  Supervise the Mental Health Community Worker

·  Provide input into monitoring reports to VASL board and funders as required

·  To attend events organised by outside agencies where appropriate

·  Organise events and chair meetings

·  Recruit, train, monitor, manage and maintain volunteers

·  To match and introduce suitable volunteers to those people referred to the scheme.

·  Contribute to the protection of individuals from the risk of abuse and harm to self and others who use our services.

·  To maintain appropriate records for the project, including volunteer, client and carer records, expenses claims, correspondence and case studies.

·  Increase mental health awareness across the local community

·  Work with partner organisations (including adult Community Mental Health Teams in Harborough) and foster good working relationships

·  Treat people with courtesy and sensitivity, their cultural, religious and linguistic needs to be taken into consideration where appropriate

·  Support the development of the project

·  Contribute to the VASL website

Additional Requirements:

·  Understand and promote the organisation’s values and ensure they are complied with at all times

·  To play a full part in shaping the future of VASL through taking an active and contributory part in staff meetings/workshops/strategy discussions

·  To recognise and actively promote the VASL Equal Opportunities Policy.

·  To work under the principles of good practice in volunteer management.

·  To comply with safe working practices in accordance with VASL’s Health and Safety policy and current Health and Safety legislation.

·  Have Enhanced level clearance from DBS

·  The post holder should have regular access to a vehicle. You will be based at VASL offices in Market Harborough, however there will be a significant amount of travel and outreach work across the Harborough district. It is required that the vehicle has a suitable level of insurance cover (i.e. business and professional cover).

·  To attend any relevant training courses as may be required.

·  To work within VASL’s current confidentiality policy.

·  To carry out tasks as directed by the Charity Manager

·  Be available for occasional evening meetings and weekend events


Outline of Terms of Service

Accountability

Charity Manager

Duration

This post is funded until 30th September 2020 with the option of being extended 1year plus 1 year. Every effort will be made to ensure ongoing funding, but in the event that, for whatever reason, the contract is not renewed the service will cease.

Working Hours

The working week is 30 hours. These will be worked by agreement, but in a job of this nature there is a clear need for flexibility. Occasional evening and weekend duties may be required. Overtime is not paid, but staff may take time-off-in-lieu when hours worked exceed the working week.

Salary

Salary is payable on 20th of each calendar month. Annual cost of living increases, will be awarded at the discretion of the Trustee Board

Annual leave

25 days holiday (pro-rata for part time) a year plus bank holidays (pro-rata for part-time).

4 concessionary days (if scheduled to work) office closure over Christmas

Expenses

The Community Champions Worker will be paid travel and other outlay subject to prior approval. No payment is made for travel between home and work base.

“We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age”.

Any appointment will be subject to satisfactory references and disclosure by the Disclosure Barring Service. Convictions do not necessarily prevent a person being appointed. People wishing to discuss their records before applying should contact Jo Pateman by emailing

If this is you, please apply:

For an application pack please call: 01858 433232 or email .

Applications can be emailed to or posted to Jo Pateman, Torch House, Torch Way, Market Harborough, LE16 9HL

Closing date: 9am Wednesday 13th September 2017

Interview dates: 27 28th September 2017

(If you have not heard back by this date this will mean you have not been successful)

Registered Charity No: 1141274

Registered Company No: 7517828