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

The purpose of this post is to work as a member of a multi-disciplinary Crisis team which aims to prevent hospital admissions and to facilitate supported discharges from hospital.
The post holder will undertake a range of delegated clinical duties in a community mental health setting. The role will include evaluation and communication of clinical informationto ensure patient centred care is provided at all times.
The post holder will contribute to the growth and maintenance of key functions of the Crisis Team by carrying out assigned tasks, involving direct and indirect care to service users under minimal supervision and as directed by the qualified staff and/or Team Leader. The role will include assisting in reviews of service users in the community; contributing to the assessment of their needs and ensure care plans are fully implemented. Personal development planning and targeted training will support the need to work autonomously, as a competent practitioner.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a Band 4 Support Worker to join our Crisis Resolution and Home treatment team in Eastbourne., this is a 6 month secondment opportunity.

This is an exciting new opportunity that we believe will add real value to our services. We are aiming to create more opportunities for early discharge from hospital, focused crisis and relapse prevention planning and this post will be instrumental in this development.

You will form part of a resource allocated to achieve the above goals and improve crisis intervention work overall. You will be working with people when they first present to Crisis Home Treatment Team until the point of discharge.

This will be a challenging but rewarding role, working with people presenting with a range of mental health issues and risks. You will need to demonstrate how you can work in a fast paced environment, have the ability to be dynamic and adaptable and also be able manage you own stress and resilience. Previous experience within a mental health setting is essential.

Working for our organisation

We are a skilled, enthusiastic and motivated team who provide excellent services to those experiencing a mental health crisis.

The successful candidate will receive the benefits of working for the NHS and in addition will develop skills related to the post, who will receive appropriate support and supervision.

We encourage flexible working. We know that a positive work/ life balance brings about huge health-related benefits, which has a positive impact on the care we provide. Please speak to us about flexible working, for example, home-working, part time hours, flexible start/ finish times or anything else. If it works for you and works for the role, we'll do our best to make it happen.

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

Detailed job description and main responsibilities
1. Contribute where appropriate with [Band 6 front line assessor] the assessment of the needs of service user.
2. Responsibility for managing an allocated workload and establish priorities within it.
3. Support service users to actively and effectively engage with their care plan; ensuring it is fully implemented by the service user, in accordance with service specifications.

4. Monitor the quality of care delivered and service user and carer satisfaction with the service.
5. Assist in reviews of service user in the community on a systematic basis so as to ensure the continued need and appropriateness of services provided by the Trust and maintain review records.
6. To be able to work with a wide range of service users and their families that may present various levels of complexity and associated challenges.
7. To develop a therapeutic relationship with service users and their families within appropriate role and professional boundaries and in accordance with the standards of expected behaviour as set out by the Trust.
8. To provide regular and practical support in developing and managing the service user's independence and maintaining dignity and self-respect, including self-care and home management
9. To ensure the service user understands and has a clear pathway of care across sector/agency boundaries with key contact points/named individuals.
10. To help service users and their families gain access to resources to include benefits and welfare rights.
11. To help service users and their families access community activities, e.g. clubs, centres, libraries and daytime services.
12. To provide information on health promotion.
13. To help to identify early signs of relapse by monitoring the service user's progress, level of functioning and mental state and alert the appropriate staff involved in the client's care.
14. Adhere to, and where appropriate, ensure the implementation of relevant legislation, Department and Trust policies and procedures.

15. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records as required by the Trust. Entering appropriate details on the service user's case notes as necessary.
16. Participate in a formal programme of supervision and annual appraisal.
17. Participate in regular staff meetings.
18. Participate in Conferences, Courses, professional development
opportunities, meetings, in-house training, organized /arranged by the Trust.
19. To participate in the review and planning of service developments and
protocols.
20. Use Trust-wide and departmental computer technology in line with the Trust's Information Management Technology Strategy.
21. Undertake any other duties that may be prescribed on occasion.

Person specification

QUALIFICATIONS
Essential criteria

• NVQ Level 3 in Care and equivalent skills acquired through experience

EXPERIENCE
Essential criteria

• Experience working within a health or social care setting
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Good communication skills

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.