Wellbeing Worker
Job Description
Accountability & Supervision: Project Manager (with additional support and mentoring provided by Senior Wellbeing Workers)
Job Purpose: To provide psychologically-informed, housing-related support to people with mental health needs under the guidance of Senior Wellbeing Workers. This will involve engaging with service users and assisting them in achieving the goals within their support plan (which they have already created with a Senior Wellbeing Worker).
The post will also involve liaising with statutory and voluntary sector professionals, working constructively with Peer Supporters and helping people to use the services to engage with appropriate community services and formal and informal support networks.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
1. Under the guidance of a Senior Wellbeing Worker, support service users to carry out the activities agreed in their housing-related support plans and Staying Safe Plans, recording activities, interventions and progress and achievement of agreed goals.
2. Engage service users in recovery-focused support activities, aimed at helping them to maintain their tenancies through practical support and individual sessions as agreed.
3. Ensure that the day-to-day delivery of the service is underpinned by a constant focus on outcomes, with regular goal planning and review sessions ensuring that outcomes are achieved within service timescales.
4. Support and champion the work of Peer Supporters, ensuring that the service positively and effectively utilises the value of lived experience in support of people’s recovery.
5. Observe and map any behaviour cycles with service users in their housing-related difficulties; under the guidance of senior wellbeing workers, support service users to identify where cycles can be interrupted and take practical steps to do so.
6. Support service users in learning and practising strategies that support tenancy maintenance.
7. Use ICT appropriately to maximise the flexibility of service delivery and ensure timely and accurate recording of goal planning and progress towards outcomes.
8. Accurately record and input information on support provided and activities undertaken, using a range of administrative tools.
9. Actively participate in continuous learning, through clinical and line management supervision, reflecting on direct experience and liaison with colleagues and key partners.
10. Support service users in preparing for independence, including, but not limited to, the following activities:
- Identifying and strengthening informal support networks.
- Supporting people to gain, maintain and develop their daily living skills.
- Providing advice on benefits, tenancy rights or signposting when necessary.
- Identifying and helping to facilitate suitable move-on accommodation and support and actively engaging family/carers and wider networks in preparing for the transition according to the wishes of the service user.
- Facilitating access to vocational training and/or employment, including CV writing, online applications and job searches.
- Supporting employers, especially during initial stages of job placements. Ensure that any problems are addressed at an early stage and that necessary measures are put in place to prevent placement failures.
11. Carrying out other appropriate activities as required.
Equal Opportunities Statement
We acknowledge the unique contribution that all Together employees and service users can bring to the work of the projects and the organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief and any physical disability or history of mental health or additional problems.
All appointments and promotions are based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All staff have equal access to staff development.
Full details may be found in the Human Resources Policy and Procedure Manual. Any member of staff who breaches this policy may be subject of grievance and/or disciplinary procedures.
Wellbeing Worker
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
1. Ability to work flexibly as part of a geographically-spread team
2. Ability to use own initiative and work individually with people who use the service, with support, guidance and supervision from senior staff
3. The ability to liaise and communicate well, both orally and in writing, with health professionals, general public and other providers
4. A commitment to the Equal Opportunities and awareness of issues related to social and healthcare provision in a multi-cultural context
5. A belief in and commitment to utilising the value of lived mental health experience through the provision of peer support
6. Competent internet, office and administrative skills, including Microsoft Office programmes, good internet research skills and willingness to utilise remote working practices
7. Some experience of working in mental health settings or similar environments, either paid or unpaid
8. A willingness and capacity to travel locally (and occasionally regionally) as the job requires. Driving license and a car
Knowledge and Understanding
1. Understanding of people who exhibit deliberate self-harm and suicidal behaviour (Desirable)
2. The impact of drugs and alcohol on mental illness and personality disorders (Desirable)
3. Curiosity, and ability to reflect on own process when working with complex and challenging client groups (Desirable)
4. Understanding of common medications and their interaction with individuals’ lives and behaviours (desirable)
Personal Characteristics
1. Resourceful, resilient, enabling
2. Consistent
3. Welcomes feedback and learning opportunities
4. Clear uncompromising commitment to delivering the highest standards of care
5. Innovative, always looking to improve, facilitates and encourages staff innovation
6. Willing to learn, through training, supervision and day-to-day experience
7. An understanding of what ‘recovery’ means and a willingness to work in this way
Wellbeing Worker – Norfolk Floating Support
January 2014