Job summary
2 full-time posts available on a 12-month fixed term basis.Will consider applications from candidates looking for part-time/job share arrangements
About the role
The postholders will provide information, advice, signposting, and advocacy to unpaid adult carers who are caring for a relative or friend with a mental illness. They will work closely alongside NHS colleagues from the HOMEFirst, which is a new service run by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
At least one day each week will be liaising with HOMEFirst staff. The reminder of the week will be hybrid, with some work based at home and some work in community settings in Surrey, including NHS/statutory services settings, community buildings and carers homes.
This is an exciting, new initiative between Action for Carers and HOMEFirst and this will be your opportunity to shape this new way of working, pioneering the partnership and making a real difference to carers within Surrey.
Main duties of the job
The successful postholders will support carers who are caring for a person with mental illness by:
- providing information and/or advice, guidance, signposting and advocacy to carers around Care Act rights, learning & work, wellbeing and benefits
- support carers in a location suitable to the carer
- Proving a carer support plan
- making appropriate referrals to services
In addition to this, the post holder will:
- manage a caseload of carers and maintain accurate, appropriate, confidential and up to date case notes
- maintain up to date awareness of provision of external services within the area
- enable carers who are looking after a person with mental health problems, to meet other carers.
- facilitate and support initiatives for carers including carers networks and support groups and encourage and monitor peer support where appropriate.
- deliver and partner in training events and promote carers self-help e-learning and digital opportunities.
- work in conjunction with partner agencies, particularly the HOMEFirst Alliance, statutory services and volunteers in order to deliver high quality community engagement activities and workshops for carers.
- have confidence facilitating groups both face-to-face and over video conferencing software.
You must have a current driving licence and use of a road worthy vehicle (milage is paid at 45p per mile).
About us
Action for
Carers is a Surrey based charity, providing carers support. We have a vision to enable all unpaid carers to have a voice and
access support to improve their quality of life and wellbeing. We are a
committed, passionate charity determined to make a difference to young and
adult carers across Surrey.
We offer our
staff a friendly, supportive, flexible workplace and are committed to welcoming
applicants from a wide range of backgrounds as well as supporting staff who
have their own caring responsibilities.
We offer a generous holiday
entitlement, starting at 28 days plus bank holidays, an employee
assistance programme, pension and opportunities for development and training.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Carers Support Adviser - Mental Health
Hours and Location:
36 hours per week, worked Monday to Friday with some evening and weekend work when needed responding to carer availability
At least one day each week will be liaising with HOMEFirst staff, a new NHS service. The reminder of the week will be hybrid, with some work based at home and working in community settings in Surrey, including NHS/statutory services settings, community buildings, carers homes.
Covering the whole of Surrey.
Reporting to:
Adult Carers Support Manager
Job Purpose:
The post-holder will identify and support carers above 18 years old caring for a person with a mental illness and who is being supported by the HOMEFirst team.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Carers Support
- To provide information and/or advice, guidance, signposting and advocacy to carers around Care Act rights, learning & work, wellbeing and benefits.
- To support carers in a location suitable to the carer, this may include carers own homes, hubs, other community and public settings, and via other means such as telephone, virtually etc.
- To support moderate need carers using the carer support plan within a designated 12 week timescale.
- To make appropriate referrals to services for carers especially Space 2 B You.
- Engage and support all adult carers regardless of background to achieve mutually agreed outcomes that enhance their life experiences.
- To manage a caseload of carers and maintain accurate, appropriate, confidential and up to date case notes and support plan.
- To maintain up to date awareness of provision of external services within the area in order to provide signposting and advocacy services for carers, and to contribute to internal & external information points.
- To ensure that the diverse range of young adult carers aged (18 to 24 years) have ready access to an appropriately tailored range of services.
- To ensure access to and delivery of support is equitable and to identify and support carers from all client groups and communities, regardless of the condition and/or impairment of the person they look after.
Mental Health Support Groups / Workshops
- To enable carers who are looking after a person with mental health problems, to meet other carers.
- To facilitate and support initiatives for carers including carers networks and support groups, and encourage and monitor peer support where appropriate.
- To deliver and partner in training events and promote carers self-help e-learning and digital opportunities.
- To work in conjunction with partner agencies, particularly the HOMEFirst Alliance, statutory services and volunteers in order to deliver high quality community engagement activities and workshops for carers.
- To have confidence facilitating groups both face-to-face and over video conferencing software
General
- To attend and pro-actively contribute to team meetings, individual supervisions with line manager and internal communication meetings.
- To work within agreed budgets and provide reports and evaluations by required deadlines.
- To attend mandatory training identified by ACS and SABP.
- To ensure all work with carers meets current legislative requirements, good practice and is line with ACS policies and procedures, in particular to understand the responsibilities in the role in relation to safeguarding and in relation to confidentiality.
- To work in accordance with the ACS Code of Conduct and to understand and implement policies, standards and procedures of ACS.
- To provide equality of delivery.
- To undertake any other duties as appropriate and commensurate with the grading of the post.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Carers Support Adviser - Mental Health
Hours and Location:
36 hours per week, worked Monday to Friday with some evening and weekend work when needed responding to carer availability
At least one day each week will be liaising with HOMEFirst staff, a new NHS service. The reminder of the week will be hybrid, with some work based at home and working in community settings in Surrey, including NHS/statutory services settings, community buildings, carers homes.
Covering the whole of Surrey.
Reporting to:
Adult Carers Support Manager
Job Purpose:
The post-holder will identify and support carers above 18 years old caring for a person with a mental illness and who is being supported by the HOMEFirst team.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Carers Support
- To provide information and/or advice, guidance, signposting and advocacy to carers around Care Act rights, learning & work, wellbeing and benefits.
- To support carers in a location suitable to the carer, this may include carers own homes, hubs, other community and public settings, and via other means such as telephone, virtually etc.
- To support moderate need carers using the carer support plan within a designated 12 week timescale.
- To make appropriate referrals to services for carers especially Space 2 B You.
- Engage and support all adult carers regardless of background to achieve mutually agreed outcomes that enhance their life experiences.
- To manage a caseload of carers and maintain accurate, appropriate, confidential and up to date case notes and support plan.
- To maintain up to date awareness of provision of external services within the area in order to provide signposting and advocacy services for carers, and to contribute to internal & external information points.
- To ensure that the diverse range of young adult carers aged (18 to 24 years) have ready access to an appropriately tailored range of services.
- To ensure access to and delivery of support is equitable and to identify and support carers from all client groups and communities, regardless of the condition and/or impairment of the person they look after.
Mental Health Support Groups / Workshops
- To enable carers who are looking after a person with mental health problems, to meet other carers.
- To facilitate and support initiatives for carers including carers networks and support groups, and encourage and monitor peer support where appropriate.
- To deliver and partner in training events and promote carers self-help e-learning and digital opportunities.
- To work in conjunction with partner agencies, particularly the HOMEFirst Alliance, statutory services and volunteers in order to deliver high quality community engagement activities and workshops for carers.
- To have confidence facilitating groups both face-to-face and over video conferencing software
General
- To attend and pro-actively contribute to team meetings, individual supervisions with line manager and internal communication meetings.
- To work within agreed budgets and provide reports and evaluations by required deadlines.
- To attend mandatory training identified by ACS and SABP.
- To ensure all work with carers meets current legislative requirements, good practice and is line with ACS policies and procedures, in particular to understand the responsibilities in the role in relation to safeguarding and in relation to confidentiality.
- To work in accordance with the ACS Code of Conduct and to understand and implement policies, standards and procedures of ACS.
- To provide equality of delivery.
- To undertake any other duties as appropriate and commensurate with the grading of the post.
Person Specification
Abilities
Essential
- Good, sensitive telephone and face to face manner with effective written, verbal communication and active listening skills.
- Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships and boundaries with clients and professionals.
- Ability to multi-task, plan workload, set priorities and manage time effectively.
- Ability to use own initiative, be resilient and work without direct supervision.
- Friendly and approachable with the ability to form good internal working relationships.
- A flexible approach to working hours.
- Current driving license and use of a road worthy vehicle.
- Able to designate a place in own home which is suitable for home working.
- Able partake in training sessions relevant to the role.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with and advocating for adults and families e.g. in social work / health / education / voluntary sector settings.
- Understanding of carers rights, and of safeguarding of adults at risk and trained to Safeguarding Level 1.
- Awareness of issues surrounding carers.
- Awareness of issues for carers of people with mental health conditions
- Knowledge of the legislation relevant to carers and disabled people, and in particular The Care Act 2014, Children & Families Act 2014 & National Carers Strategy.
- Experience of forming good working relationships with people and their families.
- Ability to deliver and facilitate training and information sessions to groups of people.
- Basic welfare benefits and Continuing Healthcare knowledge.
- Knowledge and experience of working with cultural diversity.
- Up to date competence in standard Office applications, databases and report writing.
Desirable
- Awareness of the role of the voluntary sector and experience working with volunteers.
- Experience of being a carer or experience of using the services of a Carers service.
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum GCSE English grade C or equivalent.
- A professional understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality issues.
Desirable
- Qualification in community work, presenting or training, or counselling.
Person Specification
Abilities
Essential
- Good, sensitive telephone and face to face manner with effective written, verbal communication and active listening skills.
- Ability to develop and maintain professional relationships and boundaries with clients and professionals.
- Ability to multi-task, plan workload, set priorities and manage time effectively.
- Ability to use own initiative, be resilient and work without direct supervision.
- Friendly and approachable with the ability to form good internal working relationships.
- A flexible approach to working hours.
- Current driving license and use of a road worthy vehicle.
- Able to designate a place in own home which is suitable for home working.
- Able partake in training sessions relevant to the role.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working with and advocating for adults and families e.g. in social work / health / education / voluntary sector settings.
- Understanding of carers rights, and of safeguarding of adults at risk and trained to Safeguarding Level 1.
- Awareness of issues surrounding carers.
- Awareness of issues for carers of people with mental health conditions
- Knowledge of the legislation relevant to carers and disabled people, and in particular The Care Act 2014, Children & Families Act 2014 & National Carers Strategy.
- Experience of forming good working relationships with people and their families.
- Ability to deliver and facilitate training and information sessions to groups of people.
- Basic welfare benefits and Continuing Healthcare knowledge.
- Knowledge and experience of working with cultural diversity.
- Up to date competence in standard Office applications, databases and report writing.
Desirable
- Awareness of the role of the voluntary sector and experience working with volunteers.
- Experience of being a carer or experience of using the services of a Carers service.
Qualifications
Essential
- Minimum GCSE English grade C or equivalent.
- A professional understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality issues.
Desirable
- Qualification in community work, presenting or training, or counselling.
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.
