Community Links and Inclusion Worker

Job Description

Role: Community Links and Inclusion Worker

Main Purpose

To design, coordinate and facilitate drop-ins, groups, brief interventions and peer support at key locations across Doncaster. These interventions will be open to anyone with a mental health need and housing-related support needs, including current, former or potential clients.

Support may include providing one-off advice or signposting relating to any of the core service aims or support areas. Groups will cover a range of topics relevant to the contract and client group, including tenancy sustainment, skills development, confidence building, improving health and wellbeing and developing social network etc.

The role will collaborate effectively with existing community based facilities and services where available to promote the service, enhance the offer and avoid duplication of provision.

The role will support the wider MHFS team in increasing tenancy sustainment and increased mental wellbeing by enhancing the MHFS offer and reducing the need for referrals/re-referrals where Individuals have low level or one-off needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish relevant community based locations across key areas of Doncaster for the delivery of group sessions and drop-ins.
• Deliver regular drop-ins, groups and skills development sessions at our local office/s and across relevant community locations across Doncaster for current, former and potential clients.
• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders, particularly in terms of sourcing appropriate locations, promoting the service and the delivery of ad hoc support and groups.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues in all aspects of service delivery.
• Provide ad hoc telephone support and brief interventions, in accordance with the overall aims of the service, particularly around maintaining tenancy sustainment and mental wellbeing, preventing re-referral into the service where one-off advice or guidance is needed.
• Build a peer support network and facilitate peer-led activities, enabling Individuals to develop networks beyond the service.
• Support people to access the MHFS service where they have ongoing needs.

• Build and develop a team of volunteers.
• Lead on activities centred around co-production, lived experience, feedback and consultation.
• Collaborate with external agencies and professionals to enhance overall service delivery.
• Build links with community based resources to increase referrals into the MHFS service and also enhance the resources available to those already within the MHFS service.
• Develop, deliver and co-produce service user training in line with identified Housing Related Support needs.
• Maintain accurate and sufficient records relating to brief interventions delivered, client contact, groups and sessions both to demonstrate the value of the role and meet contractual and organisational requirements.

• Provide excellent customer service to all stakeholders accessing the service.
• Take a caring and non-judgemental approach with service users, ensure they are treated with respect, promoting dignity, choice and control.
• Promote anti discriminatory practice and ensure that services are responsive to the specific needs of female service users, clients from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities.
• Ensure that the specific needs of service users who have additional problems, including mental and physical health needs, substance misuse and disabilities, are identified and flagged, referred or responded to as appropriate.

• Provide support and guidance to develop independent living skills.
• Help service users maximise their income and manage personal budgets effectively.
• Educate service users about their rights and responsibilities under their occupancy agreements.
• Develop risk assessments for group activities
• Empower service users by building their confidence and life skills to promote independent living.
• Ensure that emergencies and incidents are responded to promptly and appropriately within company policy and reporting procedures
• Complete safeguarding alerts as and when required in accordance with company policy and local reporting procedures
• Maintain accurate and confidential records to support service auditing and reporting.
• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with external organisations to meet the needs of Individuals’.
• Participate in on-call duties and provide cover for absent colleagues as required.
• Participate in office duty rotas and day-to-day operational tasks.

General Responsibilities

• Attend all required training and development activities.
• Participate actively in team meetings and supervision sessions.
• Adhere to all Target Housing policies and procedures, including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality, and Health & Safety.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required to support the organisation’s aims and objectives.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Current knowledge of mental illnesses and how they impact peoples lives, the Mental Health Act 2005, Mental Capacity Act 2008 and the Care Act 2014.
• Ability to grow and adapt accordingly to ensure projects remain fit for the future.
• A good understanding of housing legislation and Duty to Refer
• Ability to foster good working relationships with a range of partners in order to support smooth transition for people using the service
• Current knowledge of the Welfare Benefits System
• Experience working with vulnerable adults or in supported living environments
• Understanding of legislation related to the protection of vulnerable adults
• Proven experience working collaboratively with local authorities and health/social care professionals

Key Competencies

Competency

Importance

Customer Focus

Critical

Confidence & Judgment

Critical

Planning & Organising

Critical

Technical

Very Important

Communication & Influence

Very Important

Integrity

Important

Team Working

Important

Our Ethos

As an Equal Opportunities employer, we have an Equality and Diversity Action plan in place showing our commitment in ensuring continuous improvement in creating an inclusive culture. We also have a committed group of Diversity & Inclusion Ambassadors who meet monthly to ensure progress is being made. We invite applications from people from all backgrounds and cultures, especially minority groups that are underrepresented in the workplace. We also welcome applications from those with lived experience. We embrace flexibility and are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

If you have any special access requirements or other support needs throughout the application process (including interview), please contact us so that we can let you know how we can support you.