Mental Health Support Worker Full or Part Time

**Please call Michael Cassells on 07826852456 with any questions about the post or to arrange an informal visit to Mind in Furness.**

**Job Summary**

Mind in Furness is an independent local mental health charity affiliated to Mind and providing a range of services from the William Bingley Centre on School Street and other location in Furness, Ulverston & Millom

As a Mental Health Support Worker, your role will be to provide support and a range of interventions to individuals who have experienced episodes of poor mental health and members of the public accessing our new evening and weekend services.

You will participate in the operation and development of Mind in Furness’ extended opening hours through peer support activities and one to one support.

Provisional hours will be 16:30-10:30 in evenings & 12 noon to 17:00 at weekends. _Hours may vary as the new service develops_

**JOB PURPOSE**

You will provide support to those experiencing mental health problems, aiming to prevent escalation, reduce isolation, increase independence and self-management and improve mental health and wellbeing. These are exciting roles in a newly extended service. We are looking for highly motivated, compassionate individuals who have knowledge of supporting vulnerable adults to increase their independence and develop self-management strategies.

The role involves promotion of Mind in Furness and its range of services in the community and the promotion of positive relationships with mental health service users and the local community. The evening & weekend services are part of a wider ‘Crisis Café’ partnership including voluntary sector and health services.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Advice and Information**
- Provide information and where appropriate advice to people on matters relating to mental health conditions and recovery, self-help options and support available from health, voluntary sector and the wider community.
- Refer to a knowledge base of contacts, referral pathways and services in the local community and signpost individuals for support as appropriate.
- **Support Work**:

- Develop trusting relationships with people and support them to identify their problems and concerns and take appropriate action
- Provide one to one non-judgemental support.
- Promote and encourage independence and self-responsibility and to assist people to develop life skills and abilities
- Support individuals to make positive connections in their local community.
- Promote the use of the Recovery Star as a tool to develop effective support planning, SMART goals and positive interventions
- Effectively and calmly manage crisis and episodes of declining mental health as and when they occur
- **Communication**:

- Encourage people to become involved in the activities of the centre and ensure that they are involved as much as possible in decision-making processes.
- Attend staff meetings and liaise with other members of staff to ensure consistent levels of support are being offered and information is shared appropriately.
- Attend any training deemed necessary to fulfil the requirements of the post.
- Attend regular supervision sessions and to use these sessions to assist in developing skills and to receive feedback.
- Liaise with other professionals, support workers, carers etc and work to promote the clients best interest regarding support needs.
- Provide advice and information on a range of mental health issues to individuals and the public.
- Make effective use of information technology to communicate within the organisation, maintain secure and accurate records and network with partner organisations.
- **Group Work**:

- Organise, plan, implement and promote a range of social, creative, wellbeing events and peer support activities and to encourage participation.
- Work with attendees to co-produce activities by using the Mind Peer Support & Influence and Participation Toolkits
- **Other**:

- **You Will**:

- Support the Volunteer Support Worker by contributing to the ongoing support of volunteers for the various activities enabling them to fulfil their own needs as well as those of the clients and the organisation
- Work alone with the minimum of supervision and utmost discretion and within the realms of confidentiality agreements.
- Comply with Data Protection regulations (GDPR) and ensure that information on clients remains confidential and you maintain accurate and meaningful work records.
- Undertake any other reasonable duties to maintain the smooth running of the centre.
- Work on a rota basis so we can provide a seven day a week service including daytime & evenings. Staff may be asked to support other services within the organisation or within the community.
- Ensure all aspects of diversity and inclusion are considered when developing plans and services for the locations and to work in a manner that facilities inclusion particularly with people with mental health issues.
- Undertake such tasks as deemed appropriate