Psychological Support Worker in Caerleon

We encourage applications from all with protected characteristics, including disabled and neurodiverse candidates and from those in the Armed Forces Community. Applicants are invited to apply in Welsh; any application submitted through the medium of Welsh will not be treated less favourably than applications made in English. Each job advert includes the relevant manager’s contact details, and you are encouraged to discuss any adjustments you may require directly with them. There is no obligation to disclose any personal or medical information—simply let us know what support would help you to participate fully. Please let us know if you have any particular requirements to enable you to participate in the application and selection process. We will be pleased to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support needed. If you need any documents in a larger font or a different format (such as braille) please either contact the recruiting manager named in the job advert or alternatively contact the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board recruitment team on 01495 745805 option 3 or email abb.vacancyrequests@wales.nhs.uk.

If you are successful at interview for this post you will receive your conditional offer of appointment and information pack via email. We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time. Therefore we encourage early applications to ensure consideration for this post. If you are shortlisted for this post, you will be contacted via your email account you used to apply for this post; therefore please check your account regularly. Successful applicants will receive all recruitment related correspondence via the email account registered on the application form.

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board supports flexible working. Please note that this vacancy may be withdrawn at any time should it be filled via the internal redeployment process.

Job Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Psychological Support Worker to be appointed on a fixed-term basis to work with the Hiraeth Service. The Hiraeth service provides a clinical and consultation service for individuals with highly complex psychological needs including personality disorder, complex trauma, psychosis and substance misuse. The service provides support for individuals living across the footprint of Aneurin Bevan Health Board and also works to repatriate a small group of patients who currently reside in out of county placements. The service has been developed to support individuals who have become ‘stuck’ in the cycle of increasing expression of risk behaviours, and the resulting increase in control measures taken by services in order to manage this risk e.g. ongoing hospital admission, increase in levels of observation, detention under the Mental Health Act, and placements in secure settings. Hiraeth aims to work extensively with the individual, and existing teams and providers, in order to develop a thorough psychological understanding of an individual’s ongoing distress, and to understand the function of risk behaviours, to implement positive risk management plans, to support the individual to live as independently as possible.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will support the provision of an innovative approach to delivering mental health care for individuals with severe, enduring and complex mental health needs, presenting with high levels of distress, risk to self, and interpersonal complexities.
• The post holder will need to form trusting therapeutic relationships with individuals to support them to manage their risk, to improve their independence, and to improve their quality of life.
• The post holder will need to work autonomously and use their initiative, whilst providing support as outlined in support plans and reviews. Support could take various forms, including engaging individuals in meaningful activities in the community, supporting them in their own home with daily living activities, providing emotional support, connection, and problem solving where needed.

This post is fixed term for 24 months due to meeting the needs of the service.

Working for our organisation

Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a multi-award-winning NHS organisation with a passion for caring. The Health Board provides an exceptional workplace where you can feel trusted and valued. Whatever your specialty or stage in your career, we have opportunities for everyone to start, grow and build your career. The health board provides integrated acute, primary and community care serving a population of 650,000 and employing over 16,000 staff. We offer a fantastic benefits package and extensive training and development opportunities with paid mandatory training, excellent in-house programmes, opportunities to complete recognised qualifications and professional career pathways including a range of management development programmes. We offer flexible working and promote a healthy work-life balance, provide occupational health support and an ambitious plan for a Wellbeing Centre of Excellence to support you at work. Our Clinical Futures strategy continues to enhance and promote care closer to home as well as high quality hospital care when needed. Join us on our journey to pioneer new ways of working and deliver a world-class healthcare service fit for the future.

Qualifications and knowledge

Essential criteria

• Knowledge acquired through degree or equivalent level of demonstrable knowledge and experience.
• Demonstrates introductory-level knowledge and understanding of relevant psychological theory (e.g. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Attachment Theory, trauma-informed practice).

Experience

Essential criteria

• Substantial experience of working at Band 3 or equivalent in a mental health or social care setting.
• To be able to demonstrate evidence of working clinically with people who are experiencing complex mental health problems.
• Experience of working with people presenting with high levels of risk to themselves, deliberate self-harm and suicidal ideation.
• Ability to communicate (verbally and written) and relate to others in situations that can be complex.

Desirable criteria

• Ability to reflect on own lived experience of psychological distress or caring for someone with mental health needs.