Mental Health Support Worker

To provide high quality housing and support services to service users in order to assist them to sustain their tenancies, to achieve their potential and to move into independence.

Specific tasks

• Assist service users when moving in, or out of Target accommodation.

• To work in line with person centered support plans to ensure tasks and objectives identified are achieved within agreed time scales.

• To build the skills and confidence of service users to empower them in maximizing their independence

• To work in partnership with other agencies to maximize service delivery

• Support service users to maintain a safe, clean and comfortable living environment within their accommodation

• Offer advice and support to negotiated and agreed support planning to enable them to develop their skills for independent living.

• Assist service users to maximise their income and to manage their personal budgets.

• Support service users to understand their rights and responsibilities under their occupancy agreements.

• Support and motivate service users encouraging them to achieve personal goals.

• Carry out regular service user risk assessment and ensure it is properly recorded and copied to relevant officers in the organisation.

• Review support plans periodically and adapt them according to changing needs

• Make sure service users pay the rent due to Target Housing as required by the occupancy agreement. Assist service users with their benefit claims where necessary.

• Monitor service users’ handling of Target Housing property and consumption of gas & electricity.

• Monitor service users’ compliance with their occupancy agreements and take action to resolve non-compliance issues, informing line manager of serious breaches.

• Monitor occupancy to ensure that properties have not been abandoned or damaged and take prompt action when it happens to avoid unnecessary costs to TH.

• Where appropriate, help service users with budgeting. Negotiate with other bodies on behalf of the service user on the repayment of arrears such as rent owed to the Local Authority Housing Department.

• Enable and support the service user to deal with conflict and disputes amongst service users and between service users and neighbours.

• Assist in the delivery and development of service user activities.

• Keep all prescribed records in order that the value of the tenant support service can be audited and comply with confidentiality policy.

• Build links with external organisations, to maintain constructive working relations and to ensure service user’s needs are met.

• Participate in call out duties.

• Participate in office duty arrangements.

• Provide cover for absent colleagues as directed.

General tasks

• Attend and participate in training sessions or activities as required.

• Participate in team meetings and supervision as required,

• Perform other such duties as may be required to further aims of Target Housing within the Health and Safety requirements.

• Adhere to all of Target Housing’s policies and procedures in particular our Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and Health and Safety policies.

• Carry out other such duties as directed by senior managers as appropriate to the aims of Target Housing.

Person specifications

• In-depth and up to date knowledge of Welfare Benefits System.

• Experience in risk assessment and support planning

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults and/or within a supported living environment

• An understanding of relevant legislation relating to vulnerable adults

• Experience of working in partnership with Local Authorities and Health/Social Care professionals

• NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care is preferred

Competencies

Customer Focus (Critical)

Integrity (Critical)

Team Working (Critical)

Confidence & Judgment (Very Important)

Communication and Influence (Very Important)

Planning & Organising (Important)