Mental Health Link Worker

Vacancy at Tyneside and Northumberland Mind

Mental Health Link Worker

Salary £ 14,687.40

Tyneside and Northumberland, Hybrid Working

Details

To work with adults who frequently attend the emergency departments, 111 option 2 and local PCNs within Newcastle and Gateshead.   Our Mental Health Link Worker will liaise with hospital staff and external agencies, as well as our own services, to better address the often-unmet psychosocial needs of these clients. 

The Mental Health Link Worker will take a care coordination style approach that prevents the clients coming back, because their needs will be met and managed elsewhere. 

This is a pilot project so the worker will be an integral part of the learning for the NHS and Tyneside & Northumberland Mind.

1.     Triage clients into the service following referrals from various pathways.

2.     Create a safe environment to explore the client’s mental health and wider determinants, using knowledge from referrals and professionals’ meetings.

3.     Help clients to identify the issues important to them and be someone who can respond to changes in individual circumstances.

4.     Develop a plan of support, with the client, ensuring they’re tailored to individuals need and circumstances.

5.     Provide tools and strategies that help clients to manage their mental health.

6.     Signpost and refer clients to other community and specialised support services.

7.     Develop client's resilience to reduce their reliance on primary care services.

8.     Continuously assess risk, follow a robust risk management, and risk escalation process, including safeguarding, to ensure the most appropriate support is offered.

9.     Supporting 1-2-1 work and peer group facilitation.

10.   Manage caseload, documentation, and own time effectively and ensure up to date and clear record keeping is in line with organisational policies.

11.  Contribute to the learning from the project with TNM, other providers and the ICB.

12.   Make best use of supervision, training, and staff development.

Expectations

1. Ensure all responsibilities and activities discharged within this post are consistent with the terms of TNM’s policies and in the spirit of our values.
2. Ensure that the needs of clients are at the core of the way TNM delivers its services.
3. Work as a team member developing and maintaining effective working relationships.
4. Keep up to date with relevant policies and procedures of both TNM and the Trust and comply with information governance expectations as laid out in the induction process and related documents and policies.
5. Commit to personal development and participate in appraisal and supervision.
6. Take responsibility for own health and wellbeing and contribute to the promotion of staff wellbeing.
7. Develop and maintain a working knowledge of Health and Safety policies and procedures and take all practical steps to ensure your own personal health and safety at work and the health and safety of those you work with.
8. Act in ways that support diversity, equity and inclusion and help to develop and maintain an organisational culture that supports equity and diversity.
9. Undertake any reasonable duties/responsibilities to meet the needs of the organisation.

Essential Criteria

1.     At least 2 years’ experience of working with people who have enduring and complex mental health needs. 

2.     Must possess a full driving licence and access to a reliable vehicle, as this role requires frequent travel within Tyneside and Northumberland area. 

3.     A genuine desire to work with this client group and the ability to build accessible, strong relationships with clients by working with them in a person centred, reassuring, supportive, manner which leads to an empowering professional relationship. 

4.     An understanding of a range of mental health issues and the wider determinants of physical and mental ill health. 

5.     Awareness of the barriers to recovery and experience of encouraging people to identify, challenge and overcome these barriers to enable them to better manage.

6.     Excellent understanding of Safeguarding risks, mitigation and responses. 

7.     Good understanding of local services available and experience of building links and partnerships with external agencies. 

8.     Ability to work independently, organise own workload and solve problems using own initiative.  

9.     Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work with people on all levels. 

10.  Knowledge of safe working practices and ability to identify and manage risk.
11. IT literate with a good working knowledge of MS Office; including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

11. IT literate with a good working knowledge of MS Office; including Word, Excel, and Outlook.

1. Experience of working with vulnerable people
2. Experience of working with complex needs
3. Experience of using a CRM system
4. Experience of delivering coaching and training

In the light of legislation [Section 8 Asylum and Immigration Act, January 1997], as a condition of being able to commence employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide documentation to prove that they are able to work in the UK. Such documents will include one or more of the following, as appropriate:
· National Insurance number.

· National Insurance number.

· Birth certificate or British passport.

· Certificate of registration, or naturalisation as a British citizen.

· Passport or documentation evidencing citizenship of an EEA country.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

For roles that involve regular travel to various locations to meet the operational needs of the business, offer holders must have:

·       A full driving licence.

·       Ideally access to private vehicle.

·       Valid business travel insurance.

The appointment is subject to a probation period of 6 months.

Out of pocket expenses will be payable at rates set out in Tyneside and Northumberland Mind's expenses policy. 

On joining, pro rata on a 24 working days per annum. Thereafter, the holiday entitlement increases depending on length of service. (The holiday year runs from 1 April to 31 March.)

Tyneside and Northumberland Mind has a group personal pension plan. Further details about the pension plan are available from the HR Advisor.  

Please note that in the event of high interest, we may close the advert and arrange interviews at an earlier time than originally stated. To avoid disappointment, please submit your application as soon as possible.

Sophie Marshall – Head of Business Development

Benefits

Private health cash back plan, Access to employee
discount scheme, Enhanced pension contribution, 24 days annual leave increasing depending on length of service.