The Newbury Older Adults Community Mental Health Team is looking for an enthusiastic, caring and highly motivated Community Support Worker to join our friendly and innovative Service.
Our Service is comprised of the Home Treatment Team, Community Mental Health Team and the Memory Clinic. This role is varied, sitting in the Home Treatment team and also spanning the other two teams as required.
Our service is multi-disciplinary with specialist skills in caring for older people with mental health needs in the community. The post holder will work alongside the Mental Health Practitioners within the teams to support the implementation of care and treatment in the homes of people with functional mental health problems, as well as people with dementia.
About you:
The successful candidate must display a passion and understanding for working with Older People and people of any age with Dementia, appropriate training and support will be provided.
Hours may include 9-5pm Monday to Friday and 11-7 pm shifts. You may also be required to work one weekend a month Saturday and Sunday 9-3pm. Bank Holiday cover is 9-3pm.
The post holder will be well supported and guided by the team. They will have their own allocated caseload and support the delivery of excellent care to our Home Treatment, Community Mental Health and Memory Clinic patients.
This role requires multiple community patient visits throughout West Berkshire which is a vast geographic area.
Please note that reliance on public transport will not support adequate transportation. Please share your planned transportation means clearly in your application.
Observe and monitor mental state and levels of functioning, reporting observations to qualified mental health staff.
Provide social and emotional support to patients and carers within the context of trusting and therapeutic relationships.
Enable the patient to develop and maintain their social skills, encourage social contacts and promote social networks if/when appropriate.
Assist in the process of assessment and meeting care needs of patients and their carers in the community.
Participate in individual therapies in patients’ homes and in the community, contributing to the jointly agreed care plan, working under the supervision of qualified staff.
Co-facilitate and support staff in group activities including Cognitive Stimulation Therapy.
To provide support to MHPs in the provision of psychosocial assessment and intervention for behaviours that challenge in dementia.
Liaise with other agencies in both statutory and voluntary sectors, e.g. Alzheimer’s Society, Age Concern, Social Services, etc.
Be responsible for organising own daily work schedule to meet the clinical needs of the service.
Maintain clinical records as requested by a qualified member of staff.
Participate in the process of clinical supervision and appraisal.
Attend team meetings as appropriate.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated ‘outstanding’ by the CQC, we’re committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we’re committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
Caring for and about you is our top priority
Committed to providing good quality, safe services
Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
Flexible working options to support work-life balance
27 days’ annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
Generous NHS pension scheme
Excellent learning and career development opportunities
‘Cycle to Work’ and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
Free parking across Trust sites
The “must haves” for this role:
Have a passion to work with people of Older Age and people experiencing dementia.
1 year minimal experience of working with Older Adults and people with Dementia of any age in the community setting (CMHT Older Adults).
A desire to work and be part of a friendly and supportive team striving to offer the best service to our patients.
This role requires multiple community patient visits throughout West Berkshire which is a vast geographic area.
Please note that reliance on public transport will not support adequate transportation. Please share your planned transportation means clearly in your application. If this information is not shared progression to shortlisting will not be possible.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
We’re committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to call: Suzanne Wilson on 0118 904 3100 or email: suzanne.wilson@berkshire.nhs.uk who’ll be delighted to help.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.