BANK - Mental Health Recovery worker

This is a Bank vacancy that will close in 11 days at 23:59 BST.

Your role:

Rethink Mental Illness is an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values.

We are hiring BANK Mental Health Recovery Workers to join our inspiring and friendly team at Gloster and Ashleigh Road Services, in Barnstaple.

Gloster Road and Ashleigh Road are supported living services providing accommodation with support commissioned by Devon Partnership Trust NHS and Devon County Council.

We have a friendly, mixed-gender team of Mental Health Recovery Workers who provide 1:1 support to our clients, as well as hosting various group activities and outings. Our mental health specific support provides recovery support to our clients with a goal of moving on to independence within two years. We also offer spaces on our Community Outreach team so that clients can continue to be supported in their own homes where needed, with a view to gradually reduce support hours as support needs change.

How I will make a difference:

• I provide key worker support to a specified number of service users, including one to one individual support and liaison with other mental health agencies on behalf of people who use our services.
• I always have the individual’s needs at the forefront, working to the recovery model and using communication, motivation and coaching skills to support the service user to achieve their goals and aspirations.
• I develop a rapport with service users based on respect and honesty and work within clear professional boundaries and the Rethink Mental Illness Code of Conduct.
• I enable and encourage service users to find out about local services and facilities within their community and facilitate access to alternative services where specific needs are identified.
• I am familiar with individual Care/Recovery Plans and support people who use our services in achieving their goals.

Essential experience, skills required for this position:

• I have transferable life/work experience to apply to this role.
• I am a good listener, empathetic, understanding, kind, patient and willing to learn.
• I can demonstrate behaviours consistent with the values of the Charity.
• I may also have experience of providing support to people with a mental illness; or experience of providing care and/or support services within another social care setting in either a paid or voluntary capacity.

We are looking for individuals who embody our values hope, understanding, expertise, equity, commitment, passion and openness. Are you a good listener, empathetic, understanding, kind, patient and willing to learn? In your application we would love to hear how you would bring these skills to life in your role and why working for a Mental Health charity is for you.

Who are we?

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”

It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like it’s key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion:

Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing this is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer.

We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.

We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.

Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation:

We have an ambition of becoming a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement. We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

You can read more about our progress here.

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact recruitment@rethink.org

What do we value?

• Passion: We are passionate about leading the way to a better quality of life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.
• Commitment: We work tirelessly to provide support for everyone severely affected by mental illness.
• Hope: We offer hope of a better quality of life for all those severely affected by mental illness.
• Expertise: We constantly use our expertise to provide practical and personal support for people who are severely affected by mental illness.
• Equity: We believe that in a world where discrimination and disadvantage exist, treating people with equity is critical to ensure justice and fairness for all.

What will you receive?

You will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your abilities with the opportunity to make a real difference every day. In addition, you will have excellent development opportunities including funded training, career development, and a range of e-learning courses. You will also receive:

• Employer funded pension
• Flexible working
• Life assurance up to £55 towards the cost of new glasses or lenses
• Training opportunities
• e-learning courses & much more
• Annual leave 25 days rising to 30, plus bank holidays
• PULSE Reward, Benefits and Recognition Platform
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Rethink day 1 day’s additional leave (pro rata) on your Birthday

For the full list, see our website.

Our colleagues say:

• “From the very start I was made to feel welcome and respected in my new team. In the short time I have been working with Rethink Mental Illness as a service administrator I have been able to contribute ideas and make meaningful change, and I appreciate that Rethink allows me to direct my own role development and help me build on the skills I want to work on.”
• “Working for Rethink Mental Illness is the most rewarding job I could ask for. As a Peer and Volunteer Co-ordinator I get to work with a huge variety of people, with a range of skills and support them to incorporate those skills into their volunteering roles. I am always looking for gaps that need filling and creating new and exciting opportunities that will benefit our service, mental health in the community, but most importantly the people giving up their time to help.”
• “I’ve previously worked in a large corporate environment, in the criminal justice sector and other charities. Without a shadow of a doubt, Rethink Mental Illness has been the best employer I’ve ever had. They care about their staff. It’s great working with like-minded people and knowing that you are making a real difference to people’s lives.”
• “It feels very rewarding to be part of such a meaningful Organisation where everyone is valued and has the opportunity to make a difference.”

Please be mindful that we may need to close adverts early if we receive a high volume of applications, we therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible.