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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Community Support Worker

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Interviews are due to be held on 25 February 2025.

The Wokingham Older Adult Mental Health Service is looking for an enthusiastic, caring and highly motivated Community Support Worker to join our friendly and innovative team. We are based at Wokingham Hospital where we have access to free parking and an onsite caf. We are friendly and supportive team with a shared passion for providing our patients and carers with the best experience of using our service.

The successful candidate will have experience of working with other adults with mental health problems, including dementia. You will also have some experience of co facilitating therapeutic group work such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy. This role is community based and therefore the successful candidate will hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes, including carrying patients and carers as passengers. You must be highly motivated, compassionate and demonstration an understanding for working with older adults.

This role is 37.5 hours a week - core hours between 9-5 Monday to Friday - this post is primarily community and office based, however there may be an opportunity to work remotely once or twice a week in line with service and caseload needs. The post holder will be well supported and guided by the Clinical Lead / and Mental Health Practitioners within the service. Full training will be provided as required.

Main duties of the job

  • We are a multi-disciplinary team with specialist skills in caring for older people with mental health needs in the community. The successful candidate will support qualified Mental Health Practitioners in meeting the needs of older people with mental health problems, living in the Wokingham locality, by providing practical and emotional support and advice.
  • The post holder will be responsible for managing a varied caseload, working collaboratively with qualified practitioners and other disciplines from both statutory and voluntary sectors as well as contributing towards the development of the service.
  • This role will also include helping to co facilitate therapeutic group work as directed by the service.

About us

Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.

Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:

  • Caring for and about you is our top priority
  • Committed to providing good quality, safe services
  • Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions

Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:

  • Flexible working options to support work-life balance
  • 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
  • Generous NHS pension scheme
  • Excellent learning and career development opportunities
  • 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
  • Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
  • Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
  • Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
  • Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
  • Free parking across Trust site

Details

Date posted

07 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,329 to £26,958 a year per annum (Incl. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS693

Job locations

Wokingham Hospital

41 Barkham Road

Wokingham

RG41 2RE


Job description

Job responsibilities

The "must haves" for you to be considered for this role:

  • Experience of working with older adults with mental health problems including dementia.
  • Have some experience of co facilitating therapeutic group work such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.
  • Be highly motivated, compassionate and demonstrate an understanding for working with older adults.
  • Have excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes, including carrying patients and carers as passengers.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Clare Bailey (Service Manager) on 0118 904 7200 or email: clare.bailey@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The "must haves" for you to be considered for this role:

  • Experience of working with older adults with mental health problems including dementia.
  • Have some experience of co facilitating therapeutic group work such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.
  • Be highly motivated, compassionate and demonstrate an understanding for working with older adults.
  • Have excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Hold a valid UK driving licence and have access to a car for work purposes, including carrying patients and carers as passengers.

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don't hesitate to call: Clare Bailey (Service Manager) on 0118 904 7200 or email: clare.bailey@berkshire.nhs.uk who will be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Good level of education

Experience

Essential

  • Paid or unpaid direct care experience
  • Working with older people with mental health problems including dementia
  • Experience in dealing with challenging behaviour
  • Have experience of therapeutic group work with older adults

Desirable

  • Work in a multi- disciplinary environment
  • Community working experience

Knowledge, skills & abilities

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including verbal & written communication
  • Ability to prioritise & manage demanding workload
  • Ability to deal with sensitive issue & manage conflict situation
  • Computer literate
  • Ability to work on own initiative and/or within a team
  • Intervention & outcome monitoring skills
  • Ability to drive & have the use of a car

Desirable

  • Knowledge of mental health legislation
  • Knowledge in risk assessment
  • Ability to manage stress

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Flexible & innovative
  • Proactive & dynamic
  • Well organised and highly motivated
  • Commitment to equal opportunity
Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

  • Good level of education

Experience

Essential

  • Paid or unpaid direct care experience
  • Working with older people with mental health problems including dementia
  • Experience in dealing with challenging behaviour
  • Have experience of therapeutic group work with older adults

Desirable

  • Work in a multi- disciplinary environment
  • Community working experience

Knowledge, skills & abilities

Essential

  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including verbal & written communication
  • Ability to prioritise & manage demanding workload
  • Ability to deal with sensitive issue & manage conflict situation
  • Computer literate
  • Ability to work on own initiative and/or within a team
  • Intervention & outcome monitoring skills
  • Ability to drive & have the use of a car

Desirable

  • Knowledge of mental health legislation
  • Knowledge in risk assessment
  • Ability to manage stress

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Flexible & innovative
  • Proactive & dynamic
  • Well organised and highly motivated
  • Commitment to equal opportunity

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

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Wokingham Hospital

41 Barkham Road

Wokingham

RG41 2RE


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Wokingham Hospital

41 Barkham Road

Wokingham

RG41 2RE


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Joint Service Manager

Clare Bailey

clare.bailey@berkshire.nhs.uk

01189047200

Details

Date posted

07 February 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 3

Salary

£25,329 to £26,958 a year per annum (Incl. of HCAS)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

371-MHS693

Job locations

Wokingham Hospital

41 Barkham Road

Wokingham

RG41 2RE


Supporting documents

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Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)