Job summary
We are looking for an enthusiastic and compassionate Community Connector to join our newly established CAMHS GP based service.You will be working closely with an Advanced CAMHS Mental Health Practitioner and will be based within local GP surgeries in Reading and Wokingham.
This is an exciting and innovative role supporting children and young people who need early help with their emotional and mental health. You'll be the bridge between GP practices, CAMHS clinicians, local services, schools, and community-based support. You will connect children, young people, and families to community resources, youth groups, wellbeing activities, and voluntary sector support as well as provide self-help, signposting and practical support to help families navigate the system.
Working pattern + Service operating hours
As a member of a small team, you will be expected to work within the University Medical Group GP surgery in Reading and the Brookside Practices in Wokingham but will be closely connected to the CAMHS West Getting Help Service for peer support, line management and supervision. The main base is Erlegh House at Reading University, where staff members assigned to this base receive additional High-Cost Area Supplement (HCAS) payments in their salary. Typical shifts are Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm (subject to negotiation and flexible working).
Main duties of the job
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 sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must have's for this role:
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're 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:Robin Hammond on 07817093766 or email: robin.hammond@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll 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 have's for this role:
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're 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:Robin Hammond on 07817093766 or email: robin.hammond@berkshire.nhs.uk who'll 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
- Level 3 Diploma or equivalent in mental health, or health and social care, or youth work
- Level 2 Diploma or equivalent in mental health, or health and social care, or youth work with 1 year post-qualifying experience
Desirable
- University degree level or a equivalent qualification in mental health, including Nurse Associates, Associate Degree in Social Work, and Psychology graduates.
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting children, young people, families or carers in a person-centred role, building trusting meaningful relationships
- Experience of supporting children and young people with a wide range of mental health issues and needs.
- Experience or knowledge of working within diverse communities and groups of children and young people
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations - both statutory and voluntary.
- Understanding of the principles and practice of equality and diversity.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with a wide range of people including senior level people within organisations.
Desirable
- Excellent administration skills, with experience of using spreadsheets, a bespoke organisational database and all Office applications, as well as social media applications.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to provide & receive sensitive information.
- The ability to assist people with support needs to set goals and make changes that are meaningful to them. Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
- You will have a strong sense of what factors influence health and wellbeing. And an understanding of how adverse circumstances and structural barriers can affect people's relationships and ability to meet personal goals.
- Ability to support people to share their skills with others - either through volunteering, or through developing their own activities.
- Ability and experience of managing and staying on top of a large caseload of clients
- Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals; and can cope positively with diverse behaviour.
- Able to work both independently and effectively within a team.
- Aware of and sensitive to the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health and barriers to accessing services.
- Ability to feedback relevant information obtained from community with team effectively.
- Able to be flexible and adapt approach according to need.
- Ability to adapt to a new role which is continually developing.
- Ability to work in collaboration with other people and/or agencies.
- Competent in IT and ability to use patient electronic systems and digital packages
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to work independently and manage complex sets of relationships with various agencies and GP practices.
- Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals.
- Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Ability to travel
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- Level 3 Diploma or equivalent in mental health, or health and social care, or youth work
- Level 2 Diploma or equivalent in mental health, or health and social care, or youth work with 1 year post-qualifying experience
Desirable
- University degree level or a equivalent qualification in mental health, including Nurse Associates, Associate Degree in Social Work, and Psychology graduates.
Previous Experience
Essential
- Experience of supporting children, young people, families or carers in a person-centred role, building trusting meaningful relationships
- Experience of supporting children and young people with a wide range of mental health issues and needs.
- Experience or knowledge of working within diverse communities and groups of children and young people
- Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations - both statutory and voluntary.
- Understanding of the principles and practice of equality and diversity.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with a wide range of people including senior level people within organisations.
Desirable
- Excellent administration skills, with experience of using spreadsheets, a bespoke organisational database and all Office applications, as well as social media applications.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Able to provide & receive sensitive information.
- The ability to assist people with support needs to set goals and make changes that are meaningful to them. Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
- You will have a strong sense of what factors influence health and wellbeing. And an understanding of how adverse circumstances and structural barriers can affect people's relationships and ability to meet personal goals.
- Ability to support people to share their skills with others - either through volunteering, or through developing their own activities.
- Ability and experience of managing and staying on top of a large caseload of clients
- Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals; and can cope positively with diverse behaviour.
- Able to work both independently and effectively within a team.
- Aware of and sensitive to the potential impact of discrimination & disadvantage on mental health and barriers to accessing services.
- Ability to feedback relevant information obtained from community with team effectively.
- Able to be flexible and adapt approach according to need.
- Ability to adapt to a new role which is continually developing.
- Ability to work in collaboration with other people and/or agencies.
- Competent in IT and ability to use patient electronic systems and digital packages
Additional Requirements
Essential
- Able to work independently and manage complex sets of relationships with various agencies and GP practices.
- Respectful approach to service users, families, carers, colleagues and other professionals.
- Willing to negotiate and can handle confrontation effectively and professionally.
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- Ability to travel
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.
