Community Outreach Worker

We have a vacancy for a Community Outreach Worker to join our Community Support Service.

**Community Outreach Worker
Based: The service will be delivered in Watford, based at the Herts Mind Network Wellbeing Centre, providing outreach around Watford
Working hours: Full or part time hours will be considered
Rate of pay: £23,000 - £24,000 per annum pro rata**

The Community Outreach Worker will support people with complex needs who have mental health as a primary need. This includes people who may have drug and alcohol difficulties. Particularly when they are coming into repeat contact with Police, Tenancy SustainmentServices, Housing and Homelessness Services and Environmental Health Services.

**The purpose of the Hertfordshire Mind Network Community Outreach Worker role is to**:

- To provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients with coexisting drug and alcohol difficulties and mental ill-health. These will be clients who are presenting to the Police, Anti-Social Behaviour, Tenancy Enforcement, Housingand Environmental Health Services within Hertsmere Borough.
- To ensure that the safety and wellbeing of the client is monitored and reviewed regularly.
- To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
- Embed a person centred and solution focused approach in all aspects of the role.
- To raise greater awareness of complex needs and the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) amongst local service providers. Supporting them to gain confidence in working positively and consistently with people who have multiple needs.

**Accountability**

You will be line managed by the CSS Team Leader for Hertfordshire Mind Network but will manage your own workload, prioritising tasks and working on your own initiative.

**Responsibilities of the post**
- To take allocated referrals from the Police, Borough Council, Housing Providers, and other relevant services regarding clients who appear not to be coping and are making use of emergency services, crisis services and tenancy enforcement services due totheir mental ill health.
- Receive self-referrals, including walk-in contacts at the Watford Wellbeing Centre.
- To complete a holistic needs assessment, making use of assertive outreach work to achieve the initial client contact, if required.
- To provide holistic support and advocacy services to clients experiencing mental ill health.
- Ensure all person centred risk assessments and support plans are completed as appropriate.
- To accompany clients to initial visits and appointments as necessary in order to ensure the sustained use of existing support services in the Borough.
- To liaise with other agencies to ensure that clients receive appropriate support and continue to remain engaged with the service.
- To assist clients to access appropriate mental health services, drug and alcohol services, housing/tenancy services and other services according to assessed needs.
- To establish effective pathways across a variety of agencies to maximise and provide effective partnership working.
- To work with partners both internal and external to ensure that vulnerable person’s cases are monitored and risks evaluated in order to promote community safety.
- To work with multi agency partners to support the delivery of co-ordinated services for clients where appropriate.
- To work with the third sector and signpost to other agencies as necessary to improve the health and wellbeing of clients referred to the service.
- Proactively recognise the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies.
- To provide crisis/safeguarding intervention support. This will include responding to problems, which pose an immediate risk.
- Support clients to build their emotional resilience and crisis planning tools, promoting self-management through building an understanding of their own triggers/coping strategies.
- To provide advocacy where it is requested by clients, accompanying them and ensuring their voice is heard when communicating with other agencies.

**General**
- To ensure compliance with legal, ethnical, regulatory and social requirements.
- To adhere to all Hertfordshire Mind Covid 19 precautionary measures.
- To manage personal resources and own professional development.
- To ensure all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes equality and diversity.
- To promote a health and safety culture within the workplace, observe all health and safety rules and procedures as required and where appropriate conduct risk assessments.
- Ensure that essential information of a sensitive or personal nature is not disclosed to or discussed with inappropriate persons.
- All information must be maintained within the Data Protection Act.
- 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 Herts Mind Network’s (HMN) policies and procedures including the Equalities Statement.
- To ensure (HMN) values are embedded in the service.
- To maintain a professional level of communication at all times.
- To keep clear records and plans of all contacts with clients, professionals and meetings with external agencies.
- Maintain full accountability to the project through supervision.
- Undertake other duties as may be reasonably determined by line management, the CEO or Board of Directors.

Full training for the role will be provided.

Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle is essential for this role.

Interviews shall take place on Friday 13th May at our Watford Wellbeing Centre.

**If you would like to find out more about this position and to apply, please click the button to be directed to our website.**

No agencies please.