Senior Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The key responsibilities of the Senior Support Worker are to:

1. Lead on local service delivery of the Crisis Support Drop-In Service, by line-managing all staff paid and unpaid, including

ensuring all shifts are properly staffed,

authorising annual leave,

conducting line management meetings,

conducting individual supervision sessions with all local staff, including Bank workers and Volunteers as appropriate.

providing emotional and wellbeing support to staff including volunteers,

carry out all administrative tasks as required for the proper delivery of the service, and so on.

2. Create, coordinate, and communicate to all site staff and volunteers rotas at least 6 weeks in advance, ensuring any gaps caused by planned leave/absences are covered.

3. Provide short-term cover for the service by working CSDI shifts as and when required. NOTE: The role requires the post-holder to be available to work up to 6 CSDI service shifts per month as part of the roles contracted hours.

4. Keep an accurate log of staff hours worked and report monthly variations, overtime, sick leave, annual leave, etc. hours to the Services Lead.

5. Ensure CSDI staff, including volunteers attend their 6-weekly clinical supervision sessions.

6. Assist in the recruitment and induction of new CSDI Support Workers and lead the recruitment and induction of local volunteers.

7. Provide all administrative support to the team and service; Including responding to telephone, email, and written enquiries following the services standard operating procedure using a high level of initiative and responding in a confidential and sensitive way as required.

8. Proactively working to continuously improve the service by working with the Services Lead, partners and Derbyshire Mind personnel to consider and then implement improvements to the service and its provision/delivery.

9. To ensure that the service databases are up to date and all data is entered appropriately so that clients can be managed appropriately, and service reports can be run.

10. To support staff and volunteers in developing their skills and accessing training as appropriate/required, both in-house and external.

11. Hold responsibility for local staff health, safety and welfare in line with Derbyshire Minds Health and Safety policies, procedures and guidance, including for example, risk assessments, reviews, reporting, safeguarding, incidents/accidents, premises issues.

12. Be the first point of contact for managing all communications with external and partner organisations/agencies as an essential part of the role. i.e. Statutory services, clinical teams, NHS Services, partner organisations in VCSE Sector, etc.

13. Work positively as part of all partnerships and the wider multi-disciplinary and multi-agency crisis alternatives teams across Derbyshire.

14. Facilitate and attend both internal and external meetings as required, representing Derbyshire Mind and promoting the CSDI Service.

15. Play an integral role in instilling Derbyshire Minds values through all service provision.

16. Lead on and be responsible for raising local and wider awareness of and about the Crisis Support Drop-In Service so that local organisations know what is on offer and how it works.

17. Help ensure that the service is, and remains, accessible to all individuals and groups including; younger adults, women with children, black and minority ethnic communities, veterans and groups who may have more difficulty in accessing mental health services.

Supervision, training, meetings, and support

18. Undertake training as required or considered appropriate for the role.

19. Actively participate in regular supervision sessions and team meetings.

20. Participate in Individual Performance Review and Personal Development plans, and undertake training and development as identified within these discussions and as indicated by the requirements of the post.

21. Be proactive in reviewing and evaluating personal performance and identifying areas for improvement and development.

General

22. Provide cover for other members of the CSDI team both at your designated site and others if necessary.

23. Maintain the confidentiality of information about clients and other services, in accordance with Derbyshire Minds policies and procedures.

24. Keep up to date on all matters relating to Derbyshire Minds policies and procedures, and adhere to these at all times.

25. Be familiar with matters relating to health and safety management and work in accordance with Derbyshire Minds Health and Safety policy and procedures.

26. Derbyshire Mind is committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion for all, at all times. Therefore, it is expected that all employees and volunteers understand, support and apply this policy through their working practice, which requires all individuals to be treated with respect, dignity, courtesy, fairness and consideration.

27. Represent and be an advocate and role-model for Derbyshire Mind.

28. Carry out any other duties as are within the scope, spirit and purpose of the job, as requested by your Line Manager and/or senior members of staff.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Administrative Experience
• Experience of working in an administrative role
• Experience of coordinating a small service or team
• Experience of the line management, supervision and development of staff
• Good IT and technology skills in order to perform a number of administrative functions including using case management system, manage emails and documents using Microsoft programs, writing reports, etc.
• Experience of working on own initiative and as a member of a team.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Experience of working in a public facing role and maintaining a polite and compassionate manner.
• Operational Experience
• Active listening skills.
• Ability to gather and interpret information, problem-solve, make decisions and act.
• Knowledge of common mental health conditions and issues affecting adults with mental health issues.
• Ability to communicate with different range of cognitive abilities e.g. learning difficulties, age difference, language differences, non-verbal attendees.
• Ability to plan and manage and prioritise own workload in line with shift requirements.
• Understanding of working within safeguarding, data protection, confidentiality and equality frameworks.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations

Desirable

• Experience of working for a mental health organisation or similar
• Experience of working within the voluntary sector
• Experience managing rotas and timesheets
• Experience of recruiting, working with and supporting volunteers.
• Experience of coordinating services which operate outside normal business hours, evenings, weekends and on call

Ability to Work Flexibly

Essential

• Car driver with own vehicle to get to and from site and other locations as required for the role (as will be working outside of Public Transport operating times).
• Willingness and ability to work flexibly in terms of working outside of normal office hours and supporting a service that needs to run all year round.

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of de-escalation techniques and resources.
• Ability to seek and acquire knowledge of local services available to attendees.
• An understanding of the principles, philosophy and practical applications of the Person-Centred Approach
• An understanding of the issues faced by individuals from minority groups Monitoring and evaluation skills
• Strong organisational and administrative skills and knowledge
• Strong IT skills, including proficient in the use of Microsoft Office programmes.
• Strong team management skills to support and supervise staff.
• Strong planning and problem solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to deal with conflict, stay calm, and work with a solution-focused approach.
• Understanding of working within safeguarding, data protection, confidentiality and equality frameworks.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the local area.
• Knowledge and understanding of relevant statutory authorities including NHS and social care.
• Knowledge of Co-Production methods.
• Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues and mental health crisis.

Other

Essential

• The following are required of all roles with Derbyshire Mind.
• However, you do not need to address these in your application:
• Understanding the need for confidentiality and where to set the boundaries for confidentiality.
• Be a role model of best practice and promote professional boundaries.
• Genuine interest in and commitment to Derbyshire Minds work and client population.
• Strong commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Strong commitment to the involvement of people who use services, social inclusion, recovery and partnership working.
• Strong commitment to the values and ethos of Derbyshire Mind.
• Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational/service requirements.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good level of general education, including English and Maths at GCSE grade C and above.

Desirable

• Leadership/management training and/or administrative qualifications

Personal Characteristics

Essential

• Professional, compassionate and supportive approach
• Reliable and organised, with a can-do attitude
• Highly motivated and able to learn quickly, willing to seek advice appropriately.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Derbyshire Mind

Address

12-14

West Street

Swadlincote

Derbyshire

DE11 9DE

Employer's website

http://www.derbyshiremind.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)