Support Worker

Job responsibilities

Clinical

To contribute to the assessment and delivery of a planned programme of care under the guidelines of ECC and with guidance and indirect supervision from the qualified practitioner.

To support individuals so that they are able to recognise, cope and self-manage with crisis situations and to help them develop independence where possible.

To contribute to the effective running of the service by providing and receiving information to/from other departments. Ensure this information is provided in the most effective way i.e. telephone, fax or in writing.

To use a variety of verbal and non-verbal skills to overcome communication barriers presented by service-users due to their mental health needs.

To contribute to maintaining a safe environment for service users in the community.

To carry out specific duties that contribute to the assessment of service-users as requested by a qualified practitioner.

To develop and maintain links with other agencies and services, both statutory and voluntary.

To contribute to the development of risk management plans for service users by reporting, to the qualified practitioner, any incidents of risk to the service user or risk to others as a result of the behaviour or actions of service users.

Professional

To participate in the Directorates performance management/supervision framework and work towards meeting identified goals and objectives as agreed in a PACE.

To act, at all times, in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

To undertake mandatory training as stipulated by the Trust and ensure that all interactions with service users are in line with this e.g. Manual Handling.

Under the guidance and supervision of a qualified practitioner, to make accurate and appropriate entries into health records.

To participate in staff meetings to assist effective two-way communication.

To seek advice and further training, if appropriate, before carrying out any duty you are unsure of.

To make the qualified practitioner aware of any incidents arising during your span of duty and carry out any actions arising from this as directed.

Take direction from the qualified practitioner as to any duties or tasks assigned to you for your span of duty and carry them out as requested.

To participate, as directed in the induction of new staff.

Organisational

To adhere to the Trusts rights based approach taking into account service user choice.

To take responsibility for ensuring your own personal safety and that of the service user when using equipment.

To take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and any others that may be affected by your acts and omissions at work.

To ensure that you are familiar with the terms and conditions of your post.

To participate in service development activities as required.Other

To maintain the dignity of service users at all times whilst dealing with aspects of personal care.

To seek appropriate advice and support from the qualified practitioner during occasions when service users or their carers become agitated or distressed.

To maintain service user confidentiality at all times both on and off duty.

To maintain appropriate professional boundaries with service users at all times both on and off duty.

To ensure that work is conducted in accordance with the Trusts Equality and Diversity Strategy.

In exceptional circumstances to co-operate with reasonable requests from more senior staff to vary your area of work to meet unplanned clinical need.

Knowledge/ Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in a care setting
• Understanding of issues of confidentiality

Desirable

• Experience of individuals with mental health problems or personal lived experience of mental health problems

Qualifications

Essential

• Health and Social Care Level 2 qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Care Certificate
• Physical Health competency basic passport
• MEWS
• Level 2 Smoking Cessation
• Good standard of education
• Qualification in craft, domestic skills, leisure or health equivalent to City & Guild Part 1, or 2 year experience working in a health setting
• Willing to work towards Level 3 Health Care qualification

Skills

Essential

• Able to communicate effectively
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Ability to demonstrate a non-judgemental attitude
• Ability to work on own initiative under the supervision of a qualified practitioner
• Ability to provide support and guidance to junior staff

Values

Essential

• Continuous Improvement
• Accountability
• Respectfulness
• Enthusiasm
• Support
• High professional standards
• Responsive to service users
• Engaging leadership style
• Strong customer service belief
• Transparency and honesty
• Discreet
• Change oriented

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).