Job summary
Are you interested in Early Intervention in Psychosis work? If so, this may be the post for you. We have an exciting opportunity for a full time permanent position within the team.
The North Somerset Early Intervention Team is based at the Coast Resource Centre in Weston-Super-Mare; just 5 minutes from junction 21 of the M5. We are a small friendly team who work with people aged 14-64, experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
As an Early Intervention support worker, you will be working alongside the keyworkers with their caseloads as needed. You will work closely with families and carers, working alongside your team members and independently, to deliver specific interventions in line with the National Standards for Early Intervention in Psychosis, which includes psychoeducation, specialist interventions, as well as providing practical support around housing/benefits/attending GP appointments, and social inclusion work. You will also be expected to facilitate groups and be part of the duty and assessment rota for the team.
If you enjoy working with people who have an emerging psychosis and as part of a team and would like to find out more about this role, please contact:
Naomi Gourlay, Early Intervention in Psychosis Team Manager, Tel 01934 523700 naomi.gourlay@nhs.net
Louise Cridland, Senior Practitioner, Tel 07561 602771 louise.cridland@nhs.net
Main duties of the job
To undertake the role of mental health worker, supporting people with severe and enduring mental health needs.
Following personal development planning and targeted training, the competent practitioner will be in a position to work more autonomously in supporting service users. As a result you will have developed a broad underpinning knowledge of Psychosis and other mental health diagnosis including depression, anxiety, mood disorders and emotional dysregulation including trauma issues, and have the ability to evaluate information and communicate effectively with a range of professionals.
This might include: Behavioural activation and graded exposure work. Knowledge of available community services/signposting. Engagement/relationship building, Group planning + delivery.
o Supporting a service user to manage their finances or housing needs.
o Writing formally to a GP or others directly involved in the care of a service user.
o Empowering a service user to manage their treatment and general health.
About us
We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust):a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.
We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.
Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.
AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.
At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people.
2. Promote and maintain effective communication with people in order to build and sustain positive working relationships with individuals, families, friends and carers, team members and other agencies. This may include accessing translation and interpreting services.
3. Contribute to the planning, implementation and review of care, support and treatment, including implementing specific parts of an individual support plan on behalf of different care professionals.
4. Promote continuity of care by maintaining regular contact with service users during episodes of inpatient treatment, liaising closely with the ward/hospital and helping to facilitate early discharge.
5. Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing reports and letters.
6. Enable people to understand and manage their mental health needs in line with their support plan and relapse prevention strategies. This may include enabling people to manage their own domestic and personal resources, enabling people to access learning / training, or work opportunities and helping people with their housing needs.
7. Support individuals in developing and maintaining their identity and personal relationships, including sometimes difficult or potentially difficult relationships.
8. Enabling people to explore a range of behavioural responses and to develop coping strategies in liaison with appropriate specialist teams.
9. Enable people with Mental Health needs to undertake their own health care, in accordance with their support plan.
10. Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local policies and procedures.
11. Develop own knowledge and practice, making use of supervision and available learning opportunities.
12. Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace.
Policies and Procedures
Trust employees are expected to follow Trust policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines. Copies of Trust policies can be accessed via the staff intranet (Ourspace) or from your manager.
In particular, attention is drawn to the Trusts arrangements in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as well as infection prevention and control.
All employees are expected to be familiar with the Trusts approach to risk management, take a risk management approach to their own work and take responsibility for the management of the risks they own.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Promote and value the rights, responsibilities and diversity of people.
2. Promote and maintain effective communication with people in order to build and sustain positive working relationships with individuals, families, friends and carers, team members and other agencies. This may include accessing translation and interpreting services.
3. Contribute to the planning, implementation and review of care, support and treatment, including implementing specific parts of an individual support plan on behalf of different care professionals.
4. Promote continuity of care by maintaining regular contact with service users during episodes of inpatient treatment, liaising closely with the ward/hospital and helping to facilitate early discharge.
5. Maintain accurate, confidential records of patient activity, writing reports and letters.
6. Enable people to understand and manage their mental health needs in line with their support plan and relapse prevention strategies. This may include enabling people to manage their own domestic and personal resources, enabling people to access learning / training, or work opportunities and helping people with their housing needs.
7. Support individuals in developing and maintaining their identity and personal relationships, including sometimes difficult or potentially difficult relationships.
8. Enabling people to explore a range of behavioural responses and to develop coping strategies in liaison with appropriate specialist teams.
9. Enable people with Mental Health needs to undertake their own health care, in accordance with their support plan.
10. Contribute to the protection of individuals from abuse and harm in line with local policies and procedures.
11. Develop own knowledge and practice, making use of supervision and available learning opportunities.
12. Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace.
Policies and Procedures
Trust employees are expected to follow Trust policies, procedures and guidance as well as professional standards and guidelines. Copies of Trust policies can be accessed via the staff intranet (Ourspace) or from your manager.
In particular, attention is drawn to the Trusts arrangements in relation to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults as well as infection prevention and control.
All employees are expected to be familiar with the Trusts approach to risk management, take a risk management approach to their own work and take responsibility for the management of the risks they own.
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience of working in a mental health setting.
- Good knowledge of the principles of care underlying early intervention in psychosis
- The ability to form and sustain a trusting relationship with service users/carers and other friends and family.
- Experience of and commitment to multi-disciplinary working.
- Being able to act as an advocate for our service user in appropriate circumstances.
Desirable
- Possession of an appropriate qualification and can demonstrate its relevance to this role.
- Developing, leading and advising on group / psycho-educational programmes.
- Knowledge and skills in specific therapeutic approaches relevant to the client group
skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills: able to communicate sensitive and complex information and to overcome barriers to communication
- Possess an enthusiasm for learning and development.
- Good organisational skills: able to plan and prioritise own workload and activities
- Empathy/engagement skills with the client group.
- Ability to be flexible, adaptable and innovative.
- experience of risk management, able to plan and prioritise workload based on need
Desirable
- Experience of teaching/training individuals or groups.
- Trained in phlebotomy or physical healthcare skill
Person Specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience of working in a mental health setting.
- Good knowledge of the principles of care underlying early intervention in psychosis
- The ability to form and sustain a trusting relationship with service users/carers and other friends and family.
- Experience of and commitment to multi-disciplinary working.
- Being able to act as an advocate for our service user in appropriate circumstances.
Desirable
- Possession of an appropriate qualification and can demonstrate its relevance to this role.
- Developing, leading and advising on group / psycho-educational programmes.
- Knowledge and skills in specific therapeutic approaches relevant to the client group
skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills: able to communicate sensitive and complex information and to overcome barriers to communication
- Possess an enthusiasm for learning and development.
- Good organisational skills: able to plan and prioritise own workload and activities
- Empathy/engagement skills with the client group.
- Ability to be flexible, adaptable and innovative.
- experience of risk management, able to plan and prioritise workload based on need
Desirable
- Experience of teaching/training individuals or groups.
- Trained in phlebotomy or physical healthcare skill
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.
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