Mental Health Support Worker

**About us**

Libury Hall is community for 40 residents who live here because they need, or have needed in the past, varying degrees of practical, physical and emotional support in certain aspect of daily living. Libury Hall is based in a rural location. The aim is to provide for their care needs in a supportive but also stimulating environment. Some residents live in the main building and the majority live in cottages within the grounds and do quite a lot for themselves under the general care and supervision of staff.

Some residents have mental health difficulties, others have learning difficulties; or a combination of both. The fact that some have lived in institutions for many years means that helping them to recover lost skills and to enjoy as full and varied a life as possible is an important aspect of the work for care staff. All staff need to give the necessary help in a way that respects residents and treats them with dignity and that encourages them to retain or regain as much independence and control of their own lifestyle as possible. A day centre onsite helps with embedding and developing daily living skills.

Our work environment includes:

- Food provided
- Growth opportunities

**Duties**

All staff members work as a team. Each has his or her own main responsibilities and all are expected to co-operate with one another since there is considerable overlap in the duties necessary for the smooth running of the home. For each period of duty there is a Team Leader member of staff with overall responsibility for the work of all staff and for the home generally.

Every Support Worker has particular responsibility for certain residents under the Keyworker Scheme.

Each keyworker will; establish a relationship as an equal with the resident concerned, help prepare individual care plans and carry out reviews of progress. They will report areas of development or need to Team Leader staff, participate in meetings related to resident care, help and support residents to experience and develop and maintain choices.

**Social Care of Residents**

Support Workers have the main responsibilities for putting care plans into action. This could mean working with residents for example, learning to use a CD player, sewing, using a pay phone, purchasing goods from a shop, gardening, using games or quizzes to improve communication and co-ordinating skills, going out for walks, or trips to town, shopping or going to the hairdresser. Support Workers need to find out residents’ interests some of which they may not have had an opportunity to pursue for many years. Others may welcome the chance to try out new activities.

Motivation and encouragement of residents who may be physically capable and mobile but who lack incentive due to their mental health is a large part of the role for Support Workers, who are encouraged and supported in developing the appropriate skills.

**Personal Care of Residents**

Some Residents need practical help because of physical frailty and this could include the following:

- Help with dressing, undressing, washing, shaving, bathing and toileting
- Care of hair, nails and teeth
- Assist Residents with mobility problems and other physical disabilities including incontinence
- Help in the use and care of personal equipment eg spectacles and hearing aids.
- Care of Residents temporarily sick and needing for example minor dressings and bed nursing

**Care of the Residents Environment**

Bed making, cleaning and tidying Residents rooms, help to look after personal possessions.

Help and ensure clothes are changed, washed or dry cleaned regularly, help with laundry of linen and clothes, ironing.

Help make communal areas as cheerful and homely as possible, encourage Residents involvement in home making tasks.

**Catering and Meal times**

Help set tables, trays or trolleys, serve meals, assisting Residents who need help with feeding. Tidy and clear the dining room help to wash up. Prepare simple meals and snacks. Encourage Residents’ self help in preparing snacks. Make and serve tea for visitors.

**General**

Be aware of regular and occasional events in the home
- prepare Residents for these as appropriate. Be familiar with call systems. Answer emergency calls, the telephone and doorbell. Be alert to safety procedures or hazardous situations, deal with or report these. Use the in-house radio system in order to communicate with staff and Team Leaders on your shift. Use digital care planning devices to record care.

Receive formal supervision from designated Team Leader, to review aspects of work and set goals and targets.

Attend staff meetings.

**Training**

To undertake a week-long induction programme coupled with a workbook to be completed as part of the probation period and to attend further training in line with national requirements. Further training opportunities are available to you and are to be agreed between you and your Supervisor in the form of a personal development planning sessio