Key responsibilities
Service user support

• Manage a caseload of learning4living service users on their support journey with the Hope Centre.
• Carry out holistic needs assessment to capture individual learning/support needs for the service users’ employability pathway and action planning to ensure support needs are managed
• Ensure service user remain motivated to engage and their involvement is person-centred
• Listening to service users and encouraging positive steps towards personal development.
• Providing advice, information, practical and emotional support to service users regarding their employability pathway and general support needs
• Regularly reviewing and reporting findings of caseloads to Skills and Employability Lead.
• Advocate for service users with internal and external services to ensure service users are engaging with the right support services and referrals to such services are appropriate
• Complete full, detailed and accurate records on the database.
• Complete relevant employability service and funding paperwork to required standards.
• Carry out regular progress reviews with service users.
• Ensure internal and external colleagues are kept up-to-date with service users engagement and progress.

Training design/delivery and group facilitation

• Design relevant groups and training resources (including Employability)– to include (where necessary) lesson plans, PowerPoint presentations and training handouts.
• Ensure all training & group materials are consistent with recognised learning standards.
• Support in the training of  other staff/volunteers to deliver training courses and facilitate groups
• Work with volunteers to ensure that learning support is available for identified learners during training and workshops.
• Keep accurate registers of all lifeskills/training sessions delivered and report any concerns with learner attendance or progress on the database and to the Service Manager
• Deliver engaging and interactive training sessions and groups
• Ensure all preparation is completed prior to training/group sessions – including printing of all relevant paperwork and delivery area set up correctly in advance.

General

• All information must be maintained within GDPR regulations and maintains confidentiality.
• Always maintain professional boundaries with service users.
• To ensure that all mandatory training is complete within specified timelines
• To update knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and report any concerns timely and as per policy
• To be an active and effective team member.
• To work some hours outside of normal office hours (including evenings and weekends).
• At all times to carry out every aspect of your duties with due regard to Northampton Hope Centre’s policies and procedures.
• To offer support and guidance to volunteers within the service
• To maintain a professional level of communication at all times.
• To keep clear records and plans of all contacts with service users, professionals and meetings with external agencies.
• Undertake other duties as may be reasonably determined by the Service Managers, Head of Service Delivery, the CEO or Board of Trustees.
• To participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal, and help identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To adhere to the relevant health and safety requirements at all times and ensure registration of all visitors, volunteers and service users on site.

Administrative

• To raise and maintain service user records in terms of attendance to workshops and as required for case management.
• To complete and file required records in line with the requirements from external funding bodies.
• To record, monitor and report on service user progress and outcomes.
• To attend staff meetings as and when required.
• To attend relevant training sessions and courses.

To carry out other reasonable tasks as requested by the Skills and Employability Lead or Head of Service Delivery.

Service Objectives 

• To support service users in identifying realistic job/career choices and plan a pathway to getting back into work and (or) engaging in meaningful activity and life skills
• To provide service users with the tools and knowledge to independently seek employment/volunteering/learning opportunities.
• To support engagement in and delivery of Hope Centre’s ‘life skills’ programme of activities
• To deliver essential work skills training for sustainable employment.
• To support recent and relevant competency-based work experience.
• To provide opportunities to connect with local agencies, businesses, and charity partners to move service users closer to secure paid employment, learning or long-term volunteering.
• To work holistically with users of the service, focusing on an improvement in confidence and self-esteem and progress towards personal objectives
• To offer preventative support to stop a cycle of homelessness / poverty, supporting personal growth
• To work cohesively with other internal service delivery, including specialist Mental Health & Substance Misuse teams

Person Specification

Qualifications
Essential Criteria

• L2 English and Maths
• Evidence of continual professional development

Desirable Criteria

• L3 or above Education or Training qualification (or willingness to complete)
• Education assessor or verifier certification
• First aid Certificate

Knowledge
Essential Criteria

• Good understanding and awareness of housing and homelessness issues
• Understanding of how mental health and substance misuse may impact on ability to seek and sustain employment
• Understanding of the barriers to employment for those who have experienced homelessness or are living in food poverty
• Understanding of risk assessment and risk management in working with vulnerable adults
• Knoweldge and understanding of safeguarding procedures and reporting any relevant issues in a timely manner.

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of the principles of coaching and mentoring in supporting independent choice and overcoming barriers 

Experience
Essential Criteria

• Have experience of working in an advice and guidance setting, recruitment or support work setting
• Experience of preparing service users for work and training
• Experience of developing and sustaining effective working relationships with, and working successfully in partnership with, other services and organisations
• Experience of training design and delivery
• Experience of designing workshops around homelessness, employability or independent living and facilitating groups

Desirable Criteria

• Have experience of delivering career advice or progression
• Have experience of training and risk assessment in working with service users with vulnerabilities/long term unemployed
• Experience within a challenging, target driven work environment specifically within a mental health, substance misuse or employability skills setting
• Awareness of local services

Skills & Abilities
Essential Criteria

• Ability to deal with stressful and difficult situations in a calm manner
• Excellent presentation skills
• Excellent negotiating and advocacy skills, and the drive and commitment to achieve positive outcomes for service users
• The ability to communicate effectively, both across all levels of the organisation, and with external stakeholders
• Ability to take control and responsibility for stressful, disruptive or highly-charged situations, calling on emergency services when required.
• Excellent organisational and record-keeping skills
• Ability to work on own initiative and work well under pressure, prioritise work and meet tight deadlines
• Empathetic and able to relate to staff, volunteers, service users and external agencies
• To keep composure in the face of emergency and unexpected events
• Ability to prioritise and manage workload

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of using motivational Interviewing techniques

Practical
Essential Criteria

• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information and produce reports
• Willingness to complete Enhanced DBS

Desirable Criteria

• Full clean driving licence

Closing date of application if 28/10/2021.

Visiting Support Coordinator - Weekends

Bedford - Hybrid

Part Time (23 hours per week)

Permanent

Salary: £12,432 with car allowance of £1,240

Every Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) pattern that consists of two 12hr shifts. Every shift is 7am-7pm

Our client is are a forward-thinking housing association, on a mission to build thriving communities where people can live happily in a home they can afford.

They work right across the Oxford to Cambridge Arc, and own or manage over 19,000 homes. As one of the top 25 housing association developers in the country, they remain committed to delivering high-quality affordable housing to those who need it the most.

Their work in retirement living is no exception. They believe in creating modern communities where over-55s can live in desirable, social, independent spaces. Safe in the knowledge that they have extra tailored care and support available if it’s needed.

They are currently looking for a Weekend Visiting Support Coordinator, the main responsibilities of this role will be to travel between their Retirement Living schemes in Bedford and respond to dispersed customers as part of Bpha's community alarm service Carelink.

 What you will be doing: 

• Respond to callout activations to their Carelink and Retirement Living customers in Bedford as part of community alarm response service that is part of a 24-hour rota.

• Proactively complete customer Needs & Risk Assessments Plans ensuring that residents are receiving the appropriate support to manage their tenancies and their other needs.

• Contributing to improvements to the Retirement Living Service.

• Correctly recording and documenting customer interactions.

• Conducting relevant Health and Safety compliance checks within Retirement Living Bedford schemes as and when requested.

• Contributing to improvements to the Retirement Living Service.

They’d love to meet someone with: 

• Good IT skills in Microsoft Office.

• Experience of lone working. 

• Excellent communication and written Skills.

• Customer service experience. 

• Experience of working with older people. 

• Experience recording customer contact sessions.

• An understanding of the needs of older people.

• An ability to prioritise a varied workload.

Due to the nature of the role a full driving licence and use of a vehicle is required.
 

Amongst what they offer you is: 

• A competitive salary of £12,432 with car allowance of £1,240

• 28 days holiday PLUS Bank Holidays

• A generous contributory pension scheme

• Private health care

• Free life assurance

• Access to an extensive suite of wellbeing services and tools including a digital gym

• Opportunities for learning and development

• Discounted gym membership

• Retail discount scheme

Please note the successful candidate will be required to complete an enhanced DBS application and this will need to be returned and verified by our client before a start date can be provided.

Closing date: 2nd November, 2021 

Interview date: To be confirmed 

They reserve the right to close this recruitment if it is deemed that they have received a suitable number of applications. On this basis they would advise that applications are submitted as soon as possible.

About you

The successful candidate will be highly organised and motivated.  We are looking for somebody who has experience working in a remote team environment and is confident to work on their own as well as being a productive member of a team who is comfortable in contributing towards the success of the Services Team.  We would welcome applicants who have experience of working in a health/social care field and those who have an employment and/or business advice background. We would welcome applicants who have significant experience of providing specialist benefits advice.

Purpose of the Role:

Our purpose is to create better futures for horticulturists. Our casework team deliver help services which include advice, information and support for people who have experienced crisis, unexpected or lifechanging events.

Our services offer help with practical needs and we work with individuals and their families to identify and put in place solutions that will help them move forward in their lives. Our holistic approach often needs input from several different sources and our caseworkers offer help to identify and co-ordinate this support so that it works effectively. Our Casework team will provide generalist advice across areas such as social care, health, benefits, housing and employment, often have an area of speciality.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Delivering person centred impartial advice, information and support which meets the needs of individuals through face to face and home visits, video conferencing, email, telephone and emerging technologies
• Assessing service users individually, in families, or in groups, assessing their situations, capabilities, and problems to determine what services are required to meet their immediate and long term needs
• Provide easy to understand information and the range of options available, to help people feel better able to cope and able to make their own informed choices.
• Consistently delivering a high-quality standard of advice, and information which across areas including income maximisation, benefits, housing, education, employment, self- employment, health and social care
• Agreeing goals and actions with individuals and their families and in partnership developing an effective case management plan
• Help people to access specialist support that can offer practical and emotional support,
• Talking on an individual or family’s behalf, particularly where they have a problem that is difficult to tackle on their own
• Co-ordinating case management plans which provides, finds, or arranges for specialist advice, information and support services to be put in place to prevent more serious problems from developing or escalating
• Develop and review case management plans with service users and perform follow-ups assessing the quantity and quality of services provided
• Consistently managing a diverse and complex caseload a timely, efficient and effective manner ensuring a quality service and in line with targets and Key Performance Indicators.

Administration

• Ensure all case recording and other record keeping is detailed and accurate and completed within agreed timescales and that all records are kept and maintained in accordance with current legislation, policies and utilising best practice
• Share in team related tasks including twice weekly case prioritisation, first line assessment and responding to crisis or emergency cases
• Use of IT software for statistical recording of information relating to research and campaigns and funding requirements, record keeping and document production.
• Produce clear assessment summaries and management information reports
• Undertake supporting administration duties across a range of help and prevent services as required or requested

Professional Development

• To proactively continue to develop appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills through regular reading of information and attending training courses

• To maintain professional competency and up to date knowledge in all relevant areas of the role including key areas of advice, Data Protection, GDPR, Health and Safety and Safeguarding practice
• Maintain a comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of all areas relevant to the role and develop specialist knowledge related to the role as directed.
• Keep up to date with online systems, available training materials and other resources relevant to the areas of support
• Participate in training as required to maintain and improve the relevant level of knowledge and skills needed to deliver a quality service
• Preparing for and attending internal and external meetings as agreed with your line manager, contributing to projects, and the development of annual work plans as required.
• Identify and implement own learning and development needs

Other duties

• Maintain confidentiality in all areas of the role in line with procedures and, Data Protection regulations.
• To work at all times within the policies and procedures of Perennial
• Ensure all processes and procedures that relate to the responsibilities of the role are delivered with a high level of awareness of the organisation’s equality and diversity ethos and policies.
• Attend multi-agency and partnership meetings to raise awareness of the needs of people working in horticulture and Perennial’s services Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to foster a co-operative, flexible working environment.
• Be a positive ambassador for Perennial
• Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade and relevant to key tasks and responsibilities.

SERVE is a charity (no 1043321), established in 1981, registered as a charity in 1995, and based in Rushden, Northamptonshire. We support the North Northamptonshire residents as well as lead on Countywide Projects to reduce isolation amongst the Older Persons’ population.

Our charitable activities involve a range of services for the elderly and adults with disabilities in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire. These include, but not limited to:

• Domestic Care and Personal Care for the elderly and adults with disabilities in their own homes
• A range of physical, mental, and social activities for our beneficiaries in general and for specific groups amongst the people we serve
• Community transport which includes our own accessible minibuses and cars provided by volunteer drivers.

• Countywide Befriending at Scale in partnership with other VCSE organisations
• Informal Carers respite support

Some 5,000 elderly and disabled people benefit from one or more of the above services.

This role will work within a small team which will include the Trusts & Foundation fundraiser, volunteers, and the CEO to develop and execute a plan to increase supporter numbers and income, specifically in the areas of community, events and corporate, in line with the charity’s overall fundraising strategy.

The majority of this role will focus on building corporate fundraising support, the additional community events are essential to raising awareness of the charity.

Benefits 

• Training & development opportunities
• 28 days holiday - rising to 33 with length of service
• Hybrid model of office, community, and home working
• Contributory pension scheme 

Key Responsibilities

To hold lead responsibility for the development of community and business opportunities to generate income for the charity, ensuring development opportunities are effectively maximised principally with local business and community sponsorship and engagement events.

• Help develop and roll out a community, events, and corporate fundraising plan
• Liaise with the charity’s trusts and foundations fundraising consultant on opportunities and build a supportive relationship
• Support the charity’s trusts and foundations fundraising with research and administration
• Achieve agreed financial and non-financial targets, based on a 3-year growth strategy
• Work within an agreed annual budget and regularly report on income and expenditure against targets
• Organise and deliver the charity’s own fundraising events (approx. 8-12 small community events per annum)
• Monitor and evaluate the success of community events
• Develop a range of stakeholder events and work with the Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement Officer to recruit and support participants
• Generate support from organisations and companies, primarily within our region but more broadly when appropriate.
• Provide high standards of supporter care with a view to retention and increased engagement
• Effectively develop and maintain a supporter database for donor information and reporting to the CEO
• Act as an ambassador for Serve at all times, including attending and speaking at networking and fundraising events as required.
• Develop and produce fundraising materials as required.
• Maintain a current knowledge of legislation affecting charities and ensure all activities are compliant
• Maintain up to date knowledge on trends in fundraising techniques and best practice
• Be prepared to occasionally work evenings and weekends as required, for which TOIL will be given
• Work with the Wellbeing Manager and Volunteer Recruitment and Engagement Officer to maximise effective use of social media and the website to celebrate current fundraisers and recruit new ones
• Taking personal responsibility for keeping up to date with issues affecting Older People, the work of the charity and maintaining professional skills and expertise
• Attend and contribute to staff, volunteer, and Board sub-committee meetings.

Required Experience

Experience of organising and supporting events and/or community and corporate fundraising in a voluntary or paid role.

Desired Experience

• Professional fundraising experience
• Fundraising qualifications e.g., CIOF certificate in fundraising
• Interest in supporting Older People to maintain independent living
• Track record in project management

Skills Criteria

• Excellent organisational skills and ability to plan, keep records, manage deadlines, and prioritise workload

• Great customer service skills, the ability to recognise and meet the needs of supporters and to manage expectations when required

• Excellent written communication skills - sufficient to write a thorough End of Year Service Report, excellent computing and internet skills and excellent numeracy skills – sufficient to deal with financial and other management information
• An understanding of social media (Facebook, linked in, twitter and Instagram)

• Ability to understand and manage data (including numerical) and to create reports and analysis

• Confidence in using and maintaining databases
• Team-working - an inclusive team player who can work across boundaries, harnessing and valuing individual differences, and achieving results through others.
• Drivers’ License and access to a vehicle is essential

Deadline for applications is the 12th November 2021 at 4pm, date for interview will be 25th November 2021.

We are currently recruiting for:

Community & College Skills Project Workers – Learning Assistants - £18700- £19200 p.a. or pro rata

Both full and part time roles available (a minimum of 3 days a week)

Full year and term time roles available

No shift work or evening/weekend work

Are you a caring person that wants to see young people with autism develop in learning life skills?

Are you patient and able to communicate to young people in a way they engage with?

Are you wanting to use your life experience to really impact someone’s life?

Due to an increasing demand for our service, we have Community Living Skills vacancies to deliver a range of services to students with a learning disability and/or autism. Within the Equip Project, you will support young people, aged 16 - 23, to meet the outcomes on their Education, Health & Care Plans (EHCP). For some of our learners we provide 1:1 support in college, to support them to achieve their course. We also deliver a range of community groups to help learners develop their social skills, confidence, life skills and independence. These include, but are not limited to, Independent Living Groups, Women’s & Men’s Groups, Creative Media Groups, Art Groups & Travel Training Groups. In addition, we offer a range of work experience opportunities including horticulture, working with animals, retail & mechanics.

You will work at our High Wycombe and Aylesbury buildings, plus in local colleges and out in the community. You will work alongside people with a learning disability or autism to meet their individual needs and support young people with their families to achieve positive outcomes.

To succeed you will be able to work both as part of a team and independently and have a 'can do' attitude. You will need to have good communication skills and an understanding of both self-advocacy and inclusion. We can teach you all you need to know; you just need to have the passion and care.

You will have the opportunity to help someone develop and grow as a person whilst making a difference that will live with you forever. And, as one of our team said, ‘Working with people with a learning disability or autism is the most rewarding and fulfilling role I have ever had.’

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on successful applicants including a Disclosure & Barring Service check (DBS) including checks with past employers (Applicant Declaration must be completed and returned with application).

“This organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults with care and support needs and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment”

Closing date: 5th November

Creative Support is looking for a motivated individual to assist in the management of our dedicated staff team based at our Northampton supported living service for individuals with learning disabilities.

As a Team Leader you will have the confidence to lead our staff team in delivering a person-centred and flexible Northampton support service that enables service users to develop the life skills and confidence necessary for independent living, as well as participate in desired activities out in the community such as volunteering, swimming, walks and meals out.

The service is well established and provides a warm and compassionate environment for those that reside there.

Your role as Team Leader will include:

• Leading and coordinating the service, acting as the first point of contact for staff, service users and professionals regarding the running of the service
• Completing the service rota, deploying staff in line with commissioned hours and ensuring the rota is monitored daily to check there is ample staff cover
• Providing person centred support for people with learning disabilities based at the service. This includes providing respectful personal care, emotional and practical support with daily activities and living tasks
• Supporting people to achieve positive outcomes

This is an exciting opportunity to develop your career in service management, collaborating with service users, families and involved professionals to maximise outcomes for individuals based at our Northampton service.

For our Team Leader role you will need previous experience of supervising staff.  You will also need to possess a level 3 in health and social care, with prior experience in supporting service users with learning disabilities.

A clean driving licence and access to a car is also required for this role.

Our staff benefits include:

• Competitive pay and a pension with company contribution
• 33 days annual leave, with a holiday bonus after two years of service
• A range of training and development courses to further your personal and professional development
• Free 24/7 counselling and employee support programme
• Company paid enhanced DBS for all staff
• All our staff are supported 24/7 by our out of hours teams

Creative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.

We expect all applicants to Creative Support to have had at least their first Covid 19 vaccination prior to starting employment with us and to be committed to having the second vaccination within a 3 month period.

We are currently recruiting for:

Learning Disability Project Workers - £18700 - £19200 p.a. (pro rata for part time staff)

Both full and part time roles are available (a minimum of 3 days a week)

No shift work or evening/weekend work 

Do you have a passion for making the difference to someone’s life? Do you have patience and a good sense of fun? Do you wonder what it would be like to be able to help people learn life skills and practical areas so they can live independently.

At Talkback our Vision is ‘To help everyone with a learning disability or autism embrace new opportunities, lead the fulfilling lives they want and actively contribute to their local community.'

Our Project Workers play a vital part of that vision and are responsible for planning and delivering creative, fun, and engaging sessions that enable people to progress and develop their independence.

Core projects that staff work on include, social and life skills training, sports and wellbeing, men’s and women’s groups, a drama group which puts on regular shows, an upcycling and woodwork enterprise, gardening and allotment groups, work experience and a creative arts group.

We embrace staff from different working backgrounds who can use their experience and talents to benefit the lives of people with a learning disability or autism. If you have the passion and desire, we can provide the training and support.

As part of the role, you will work across Buckinghamshire at both our High Wycombe and Aylesbury locations, plus out in the community. You will work alongside people with a learning disability, aged 23 years and older, to meet their individual needs to achieve positive outcomes.

To succeed you will be able to work as part of a team and independently and have a 'can do' attitude. You will need to have good communication skills, as well a desire to help people with a learning disability learn new skills, access employment opportunities and build friendships.

In addition to our building based service, Talkback deliver virtual sessions via platforms such as Zoom. This addition to our traditional service was developed during the Covid-19 lockdown and not only provides vital support for people unable to attend a building based services but connects our current sites and enables a wider range of activities to be shared with our members.

You will have the opportunity to help someone develop and grow as a person whilst making a difference that will live with you forever. And, as one of our team said ‘Working with people with a learning disability is the most rewarding and fulfilling role’

If you want to make a lasting difference to people we want to talk to you.

Closing date 5th November

Creative Support is looking for a motivated individual to assist in the management of our dedicated staff team based at our Wellingborough supported living service for individuals with learning disabilities.

As a Team Leader you will have the confidence to lead our staff team in delivering a person-centred and flexible Wellingborough support service that enables service users to develop the life skills and confidence necessary for independent living, as well as participate in desired activities out in the community such as volunteering, swimming, walks and meals out.

The service is well established and provides a warm and compassionate environment for those that reside there.

Your role as Team Leader will include:

• Leading and coordinating the service, acting as the first point of contact for staff, service users and professionals regarding the running of the service
• Completing the service rota, deploying staff in line with commissioned hours and ensuring the rota is monitored daily to check there is ample staff cover
• Providing person centred support for people with learning disabilities based at the service. This includes providing respectful personal care, emotional and practical support with daily activities and living tasks
• Supporting people to achieve positive outcomes

This is an exciting opportunity to develop your career in service management, collaborating with service users, families and involved professionals to maximise outcomes for individuals based at our Wellingborough service.

For our Team Leader role you will need previous experience of supervising staff.  You will also need to possess a level 3 in health and social care, with prior experience in supporting service users with learning disabilities.

A clean driving licence and access to a car is also required for this role.

Our staff benefits include:

• Competitive pay and a pension with company contribution
• 33 days annual leave, with a holiday bonus after two years of service
• A range of training and development courses to further your personal and professional development
• Free 24/7 counselling and employee support programme
• Company paid enhanced DBS for all staff
• All our staff are supported 24/7 by our out of hours teams

Creative Support is a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organisation. We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Silver award. We actively encourage applications from candidates from all backgrounds and cultures.

We expect all applicants to Creative Support to have had at least their first Covid 19 vaccination prior to starting employment with us and to be committed to having the second vaccination within a 3 month period.

We are currently recruiting:

Engagement Facilitators:

To work on a zero hour basis, 1 to 2 days a week

To work in Buckinghamshire

Talkback has worked for over 20 years in a person-centred way with people with learning needs and/or autism. We provide people with opportunities for education, life & social skills and employment. We enable them to share a voice and be recognised equally in their community. We are committed to creating a society where Individuals with a learning disability and/or autism are inspired to live fulfilling lives.

We are looking for students, with either a minimum of 2 years study in Psychology or Social Care, or MSc and PhD students with more in depth experience, with an ability to think outside the box and work with Talkback to undertake research and run engagement sessions.

The core of our work is focused on supporting people to speak up and have their say on local issues. We do this by facilitating groups and sharing feedback in a variety of creative ways at professional meetings. These are exciting and varied roles, with a range of opportunities and development within various areas such as Advocacy, Training and Positive Behaviour Support.

You need to be a strong, independent person who can use your initiative and enjoy a wide variety of work and being part of a team, supporting each other.

We believe everyone is unique and needs to have a voice. Do you want to be a person who can enjoy the satisfaction of making that happen?

We give training and support to all our team.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and a comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on successful applicants including a Disclosure & Barring Service check (DBS) including checks with past employers (Applicant Declaration must be completed and returned with application).

Role: Community Link Worker-Social Prescribing(22.5hrs) & Administrator (7.5hrs)

Hours: 30hrs pw

Location: BMW PCN (Berryfields Surgery, Meadowcroft Surgery, Whitehill Surgery)

Salary: £18,800

Contract Duration: Permanent

Reporting to: Team Leader

ABOUT BUCKINGHAMSHIRE MIND

Buckinghamshire Mind shares National Mind’s vision: “We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect.”  It remains our mission to deliver high quality community-based services across Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire to reach out and ensure everyone with a mental health problem gets access to the help they need.

Our charity has over 500 volunteers (including 400 peer ambassadors/mentors in schools and over 100 in befriending partnerships). These dedicated individuals support our passionate staff team alongside an active service user council, who all ensure our services are tailored to need and are of the highest quality.  

Purpose of the role

The Social Prescribing service will be delivered by Community Link Workers working from GP surgeries in Primary Care Network (PCN) areas. The Community Link Worker will be directly employed by Buckinghamshire Mind.

Social prescribing empowers people to take control of their health and wellbeing through GP referral to non-medical Community Link Workers (CLW’s) based in GP surgeries who give time, focus on ‘what matters to me’ and take a holistic approach, connecting people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support. Community Link Workers work collaboratively with all local partners.

Social prescribing can help to strengthen community resilience and personal resilience and reduces health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing, and physical inactivity, by increasing people’s active involvement with their local communities. It particularly works for people with long-term conditions (including support for mental health), for people who are lonely or isolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

1. Take referrals from GP practices within a primary care network.
2. Provide personalised, holistic support to individuals, their families, and carers to take control of their wellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes.
3. Develop trusting relationships by giving people time and attention to their priorities and ‘what matters to me’.
4. Co-produce a personalised support plan to improve health and wellbeing, introducing or reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services.
5. Managing and prioritising your own caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent support required by individuals on the caseload.
6. To refer people back to other health professionals/ agencies when the person’s needs are beyond the scope of the Community Link Worker role.
7. To provide Administrative support to our South Asian Communities Link Worker.

Key Tasks: Referrals

1. Promoting social prescribing to patients; its role in improving health outcomes, reducing social isolation and the ability to remain independent in one’s own home for longer.
2. Build relationships with key staff in GP practices within the local Primary Care Network (PCN), attending relevant meetings, becoming part of the wider network team, giving information and feedback on social prescribing.
3. Be proactive in developing strong links with GP surgery personnel to encourage referrals, recognising what they need to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals.
4. Work in partnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of social prescribing and how partnership working can reduce pressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes and enable a holistic approach to care.
5. Provide referrers with regular updates about social prescribing, including information on the types of people most likely to benefit from the service, how to refer and outcomes of referrals
6. Seek regular feedback about the quality of service and impact of social prescribing on referrers.
7. Work in close collaboration with the Prevention Matters service to maximise the availability of social prescribing across the county whilst ensuring there is no duplication of resources.

Provide personalised support

1. Meet patients on a one-to-one basis, making home visits or using digital technology such as Skype where appropriate. Give them time to tell their stories and focus on ‘what matters to me’. Build trust, providing non- judgemental support, respecting diversity, and lifestyle choices. Work from a strength-based approach focusing on a patient’s assets.
2. Be a friendly source of information about wellbeing and prevention approaches.
3. Help patients identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.
4. Work with the patient, their families and carers and consider how they can all be supported through social prescribing.
5. Help people maintain or regain independence through developing skills, adaptations, enablement approaches and simple safeguards.
6. Work with patients to co-produce a simple personalised support plan – based on their priorities, interests, values, and motivations – including what they can expect from the groups, activities, and services they are being connected to and what the person can do for themselves to improve their health and wellbeing.
7. Where appropriate, physically introduce patients to community groups, activities, and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable. Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support.
8. Where patients may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate.

Support community groups and VCSE organisations.

1. Develop supportive relationships with local Voluntary, Community, Social Enterprise groups/organisations and statutory services, to make timely, appropriate, and supported referrals for the patient being introduced.
2. Work with commissioners and local partners to identify unmet needs within the community and gaps in community provision.
3. Support local partners and commissioners to develop new groups and services where needed, through small grants for community groups, micro-commissioning, and development support.
4. Encourage patients who have been connected to community support through social prescribing to volunteer and give their time freely to others, in order to build their skills and confidence, and strengthen community resilience.
5. Encourage patients, their families, and carers to provide peer support and to do things together, such as setting up new community groups or volunteering.

General tasks: Data capture

1. Work sensitively with patients, their families, and carers to capture key information, enabling tracking of the impact of social prescribing on their health and wellbeing.
2. Encourage patients, their families, and carers to provide feedback and to share their stories about the impact of social prescribing on their lives.
3. Support referral agencies to provide appropriate information about the patient they are referring. Use the case management system to track the patient’s progress. Provide appropriate feedback to referral agencies about the patients they referred.
4. Work closely with GP practices within the PCN to ensure that social prescribing referral codes are inputted to EMIS and that the patient’s use of the NHS can be tracked, adhering to data protection legislation and data sharing agreements with the clinical commissioning group (CCG).
5. Work closely with our South Asian Communities Link Worker to provide administrative support and ensure that Emis is updated regularly.

Professional development

1. Work with your line manager to undertake continual personal and professional development, taking an active part in reviewing and developing the roles and responsibilities.
2. Adhere to organisational policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety.
3. Work with your line manager to access regular ‘clinical supervision’, to enable you to deal effectively with the difficult issues that patients present.
4. Attend team meetings with other Community Link Workers, organised by the Team Manager.
5. Work with allocated GP who will have oversight of the successful embedding of this role into the surgeries and support with patient issues as required.

Miscellaneous

1. Work as part of a team to support the Coronavirus vaccination rollout and support the PCN with Coronavirus recovery.
2. Work as part of the team to seek feedback, continually improve the service and contribute to business planning.
3. Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner.
4. Duties may vary from time to time in this new and developing service, without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility.

Person Specification

Candidates are required to meet all the essential conditions and requirements listed (E) and the majority of the desired requirements (D). Please refer to these requirements in your supporting statement as they will be used to help select candidates for interview.

Requirements

• Supports the aims and work of Buckinghamshire Mind (E)
• Maintains strict confidentiality concerning all Buckinghamshire Mind matters (E)

Personal Qualities & Attributes

• Ability to listen & empathise with people and provide person-centred support in a non-judgemental way (E)
• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust & confidence, motivating Others to reach their potential (E)
• High level of written & oral communication skills with the ability to apply these effectively with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies & stakeholders (E)
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals (E)
• Ability to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets (E)
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with all colleagues and other partners(E)
• Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience and works well under pressure (E)
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative (E)
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, GDPR & Health and Safety (E)

Qualifications, Training & Experience

• Experience of working in VCS or relevant Adult health & Social care roles (E)
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing of equivalent experience (D)
• Experience of supporting people with their mental health (in a paid or unpaid capacity) (D)
• Maintains confidentiality in line with Buckinghamshire Mind policy (E)
• Experience of Supporting people, their families/carers in a related role (D)

• Has excellent communication skills, especially with people who experience/have experienced mental health issues (E)

• Is able to network and build sustainable working partnerships with other agencies (E)

• Is able to organise own workload and work without direct supervision (E)
• Is able to keep written records and data (E)
• Understanding of equality and diversity principles (E)

Other

• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own homes (E)
• Meets DBS reference standards, in line with the law on spent convictions (E)

Employee Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays and 2 wellbeing days pro rata
• Training and development opportunities
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme – free professional confidential counselling
• Childcare vouchers
• Annual leave purchase scheme
• Flu vaccinations
• Free eye tests
• Pension: Auto Enrolment (currently 5% employee contribution, 3% employer contribution)

Applications: Please send –

CV and Supporting Statement.  Your Supporting Statement should explain how your skills and experience meet each of the requirements detailed in the Person Specification.

The short-listing panel make their decisions based on this information and no assumptions about your skills or experience will be made.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, therefore please apply as soon as possible.

Closing date for applications is: 29th October 2021.

Buckinghamshire Mind is an Equal Opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all sections of the community including individuals with lived experience of mental health problems. Any offer made relating to this post will be subject to satisfactory references and a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

To apply for any of our vacancies, please send your CV and covering letter.