Personality Disorder Support Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Summary of Post:

The PD Hub and Psychotherapy Service at Haigh Road in Waterloo has been developed to offer a Therapy Day Service and Crisis Service to service users with Personality Disorder. At present, the Day Service runs a therapeutic programme of activities aiming to promote health, wellbeing and recovery. This is currently running 7 days a week. The Crisis service operates 7 days a week 9.00 until 22.00, based at Haigh Road in Waterloo that will support service users over the phone and facilitate them visiting the service for crisis support. The PD HUB Day and Safe Service works in collaboration with YMCA Stepping Stones to provide respite and crisis support on a 24 hour supported residential basis. The post holder will work within the PD HUB (Spring House) and YMCA Stepping Stones site (predominately YMCA Stepping Stones).

The PD HUB Safe Service providing both telephone support and direct contact with service users when they visit the PD HUB, as well as facilitating group activity sessions to support the Day service. A Band 7 manager will lead the PD Safe Service, a Band 7 Manager will lead the Day Service and a Senior Manager will have responsibility for the YMCA Stepping Stone site. The post holder will work alongside Band 5 nurses Band 3 nursing assistants/Occupational Therapy Assistants and YMCA Support Staff

Clinical Responsibilities

1. To work effectively as a member of a team in the PD HUB Day Service/YMCA Stepping Stones , providing a programme of group based therapeutic activities that are flexible according to the changing needs of service users.

2. To actively engage service users in therapeutic activities to promote independence wellbeing and social inclusion.

3. Under the supervision of the senior staff (PD HUB/Stepping Stones) , or with guidance from a Senior Activity Worker/Co-coordinator the post holder will facilitate and participate in planned group work.

4. To participate in service development in terms of developing, planning and creating group programmes, sessions and resources, evaluating current interventions and making suggestions to the team for service improvements under the supervision of the Manager of YMCA Stepping Stones/PD HUB Day /Crisis Service Lead.

5. The post holder will be required to work at times single handed under the guidance of the senior staff.

6. Facilitate individual sessions on a 1:1 basis with service users who are isolated and having difficulty engaging in the service programme, at times working in service users homes, elsewhere in the community, and based at the PD Hub/ YMCA/Stepping Stone .

7. To give feedback to the team on service users performance/progress in areas of self maintenance, productivity and leisure including risk factors

8. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records are kept and recorded appropriately in accordance with Professional and Trust Standards

9. To participate in clinical governance and quality improvement projects as allocated by the senior staff

10. To participate in team audit and evaluation activities as agreed with a senior member of staff .

12. This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and the post holder may be required to undertake other duties that fall within the grade of the job, in discussion with the manager.

Main Responsibilities

1. To carry out assigned duties, involving direct care and observation of service users under the guidance and indirect supervision of senior staff.

2. To report to senior staff any observations made whilst providing care to service users activities and leisure, providing details of mental state and risk factors.

3. To work with service users on an individual and group basis as outlined in the care plan and as directed by the appropriate named lead professional.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Numeracy and literacy skills to GSCE level

Desirable

• Qualification in craft, domestic skills, leisure or health equivalent to City & Guild Part 1, or 2 year experience working in a health setting.
• Phlebotomy trained
• Physical Health competency basic passport
• Willing to work towards Level 3 Health Care

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Experience working in a mental health care setting
• Experience facilitating group activities or working in groups with service users.

Desirable

• Experience of working with individuals with a personality disorder, or have personal lived experience of mental health problems.
• Experience planning and facilitating a range of group sessions focused on self-care, productivity and leisure occupations.
• Knowledge of creative and leisure skills applicable to the role.
• Experience of dealing with crisis/risk situations

Skills

Essential

• Able to communicate effectively.
• Well developed interpersonal skills
• Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with service users
• Ability to confidently maintain professional boundaries with service users
• Understanding of issues of confidentiality.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to demonstrate a nonjudgemental attitude.
• Ability to work on own initiative under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
• Ability to work autonomously and unsupervised at times
• Approachable and flexible attitude towards work
• Ability to provide support and guidance to junior staff
• Observation Skills
• IT Skills
• Capacity to respond to challenging behaviours non defensively and resolve potential conflicts

Values

Essential

• Interest and desire to support service users with PD, including helping them develop their own resourses and skills
• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Strong customer service belief
• Transparency and honesty
• Discrete

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

Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Spring House (split between Spring House and Stepping Stones, Bootle)

12 Haigh Road

Liverpool

L22 3XP

Employer's website

https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)