Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Carer Support Worker to join our Adult Community Mental Health Services Team in Ware, Hertfordshire.

The area is well served with transport links to historic Hertfordshire and its glorious countryside as well as into London and beyond. We are looking for a Carer Support Worker who is passionate about delivering care to Carers of Adults with mental health issues.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an exceptional organisation with big ambitions, our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.

We can offer you a competitive salary, staff benefits package, excellent career development and training that comes from working for Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust.

Whilst it is a challenging period for the NHS, there has never been a more exciting time to join HPFT.  We are on a “Good to Great” journey as we continue to innovate, improve, transform and deliver the very highest standards of care to the service users and communities that we serve.

Please refer to the “Main Duties Of The Job”, “Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities” sections and the Job Description and Person Specification documents attached elsewhere for full details.

Main duties of the job

To work as part of a team which provides mental health services.

To focus directly the on the needs of Carers requiring support (inc assessment of their needs) using the Support Time and Recovery Model.

To work closely in association with the Service Manager and Team Leaders; as well as other senior staff and other agencies, to help maximise the quality and quantity of Carer services within available resources.

To work within approaches outlined through the Care Act 2014 and local policy re: providing Carers support.

To provide support, give time and thus promote recovery.

All Staff should comply with the Trust’s Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide support, give time to an allocated group of carers and thus promote carer support and recovery and promote their place in the broader community.

Responsible for providing support to the care co-ordinator, through providing support to the carer and linking any shared objectives into ongoing care planning.

To positively promote wellbeing and support for self-management for carers within the community.

To enable the capacity of the teams to develop a rapport with carers, based upon attentiveness, sensitivity, understanding, compassion and honesty.

To develop plans that will enable the provision of practical support to carers in developing and managing their lives.

To ensure the right information is available to enable staff and carers to gain access to resources, including benefits and welfare rights.

To help to identify early signs of ‘carer breakdown’ by monitoring the wellbeing of carers.

To report regularly to care co-ordinators and appropriate key workers.

To maintain accurate records as required by existing procedures, entering appropriate details on the carer record as necessary.

To ensure the carer understands and has a clear pathway of support across community services; to include, on occasion, liaison work with acute services.

To undertake direct carer work where this is deemed appropriate, and to proactively engage carers in working to achieve their own desired outcomes in line with recovery principles, and recorded in their care plans.

To respond to urgent situations emergencies or crises using local protocols.  E.g. implementation of carer contingency plans, carer breakdown.

To lead on the development of structured and semi-structured group work with carers within the community settings, and to contribute to the research of local need and the development of such groups to meet it.

To use information systems including information technology and be willing to undertake appropriate training.

To attend and actively participate in training sessions, team / care plan review meetings and supervision as appropriate.

To undertake such other duties as may be determined from time to time within the general scope of the post.

For full details of the main duties and responsibilities of the role please refer to the job description and person specification documents attached.

Car driver essential as a majority of the posts are community based, the post holder will need a full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes – including business insurance (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).

Person specification:

ANALYTICAL SKILLS

Essential

• Ability to analyse information and create innovative personalised solutions
• Ability to research information and resources

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

Essential

• Good written communications skills including ability to write reports and letters
• Good verbal communications skills including the ability to observe and listen effectively
• Ability to use IT programmes effectively, including E-Mail, Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint

AREAS OF EXPERIENCE / KNOWLEDGE

Essential

• Direct work with Carers
• Carrying out assessments
• Care Act 2014
• Triangle of care
• An understanding of mental illnesses and the mental health system
• Understanding of the issues and concerns of Carers
• Keenness to make a positive contribution to improving the life of people with mental health problems
• Ability to provide practical support to enable Carers to achieve their wellbeing aims
• Ability to plan and manage own workload and to work unsupervised in a range of settings

Desirable

• Care Planning
• Group Work
• Knowledge of local resources including welfare benefits and employment support

KNOWLEDGE, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 Qualification or Mental Health Certificate Level 3 or agreement to undertake such training as soon as resources permit
• Commitment to continuing personal development