Welcome from our Chief Executive

Our organisation is expanding and we're looking for people with the right values, skills and/or potential to join us. We need people with energy, expertise, enthusiasm to help us provide the very best possible specialist NHS mental health and learning disability care. This involves helping us achieve our strategy to improve the quality of life for the communities we serve through People, Prevention and Partnerships.

So what can we offer you in return?

We're an organisation which puts people first. We'll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included. We'll help you learn, acquire new skills and gain further experience to support your career development. And we'll provide the opportunity for you to bring your fresh ideas to work about how we can do things differently and continue improving.

You will also be joining a health and care system committed to working together to do the best we can for the communities we serve. Above all, at Sussex Partnership you'll have the chance to make a difference to the lives of the patients, carers and families across our communities.

If you like the sound of that, then come and join our team.

Job overview

As part of our commitment to contribute to the national strategy to reduce suicide Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust we have been providing additional support to people who are presenting to the emergency department following an incident of self-harm. The project has had an external review and we aim to continue to offer this service with a plan over the next 6 months to integrate this service into the Sussex Mental Health line. Therefore we are seeking 2 Support Workers for secondment post for 6 months. The post holder will require experience and knowledge of working with vulnerable people and ability to identify risks that require escalation to a senior colleague. This support will include telephone based contact following an assessment with the aim of checking that the individualised safety plans are still meeting their needs. As part of this telephone contact we may identify the need to provide additional help and support and signposting.

To protect the health and safety of our staff/workers, patients, and those attending our sites, we encourage our workforce to get fully vaccinated against COVID

Main duties of the job

The post holder will need to demonstrate the ability to connect with an individual that they have not previously met and skills and experience of mental health issues. Experience of working with people with complex needs as well as working within a fast-paced environment and can work on their initiate is essential. The post holder will be required to have relevant experience in a workplace or comparable role, and are able to undertake this role with minimal direct supervision. The post-holder will work as part of a wider team and immediate guidance and support will be available and a comprehensive induction and training package will be arranged in addition to on-going supervision.

The post holder will work with a rolling cohort of people who attended ED for a mental health episode of self-harm or suicidal ideation, by providing a specific therapeutic follow up compassionate telephone or digital call within three days of their attendance.

Working for our organisation

The Trust is committed to providing a working environment that promotes the psychological safety for all staff regardless of their role and responsibilities. As a provider of mental health services we expect our clinical staff to be able to work confidently, compassionately and effectively with people who use our services. If you feel that you have the relevant experience and skills for this post and that you believe that you will positively contribute to this new supportive intervention we would be delighted to receive your application. Post-holders will be expected to help (time allowing) to support with responding to Sussex Mental Health Line. For further details contact Karen Hoskin Deputy Director on 07500799718

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide a telephone service providing a follow up support to an individual who has presented to A&E following episode of self-harm or suicide ideation.

To support carers, family and any health professional requiring help in managing someone else's mental health.

To work within the services systems and processes to prioritise calls based on date of presentation in a timely manner.

To work alongside to provide service users with seamless continuity of care.

To effectively support person, reflecting on the safety care plan agreed following presentation to A&E to support the motivation of following through agreed plan.

To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team in providing quality evidenced-based health care to meet the immediate needs of service users.

Sussex Partnership NHS FT is committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our communities. Our workforce is currently under-represented from Black and Minority, Ethnic and disabled communities and we would welcome applications from these communities.

We regret that we are unable to advise candidates if they have not been shortlisted. If you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date please assume that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

In the event of an excessive number of applicants the Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy earlier than indicated.

Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust takes its responsibilities for the safeguarding and protection of children and young people and vulnerable adults very seriously and expects this of all its employees and bank workers. The Trust works with adult and children's social care to ensure that the integrated service has systems in place to equip staff and bank workers with the knowledge and skills to recognize abuse, and take action to safeguard and protect vulnerable adults and children and young people. It is expected that all staff and bank workers familiarise themselves with the appropriate structures and policies and with the Sussex child protection and safeguarding procedures and the Sussex multi-agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults and undertake the relevant essential training and further training appropriate to their role.

Successful candidates are normally offered salaries at the bottom of the relevant salary range. However, where previous or equivalent NHS experience in a similar role can be demonstrated and evidenced, this may be taken into consideration when setting the starting salary.