Senior Healthcare Support Worker - Leeds

At Care in Mind, we recognise that the key to our success is the dedication and commitment of our workforce. Without them, we would not be able to provide the best care and support to our young people. It is important to us that our staff are valued and recognised for the work they do and we believe in supporting our staff to achieve their full potential through training and career development opportunities.

When you join Care in Mind you will be part of a team who are passionate about providing individualised care. Our staff are dedicated to the successful transition of young people to greater levels of independence and we have helped many to live increasingly happy and fulfilled lives, without the need for re-admission to mental health services.

Moortown, Leeds £25,584 - £27,475.50 per annum dependent on experience and qualifications. Full time 37.5 hours per week.

Main duties of the job:

• Previous experience of working with young people who have mental health needs.
• Flexibility - Your role will involve working shifts including sleep ins/weekends/Bank Holidays.
• Must be able to attend training throughout employment which will be held on weekdays.
• Good written skills and the ability to write basic reports and record information accurately.
• Basic IT skills (Your role will involve some computer work, completing forms, using an online care system, and writing emails).
• Good verbal communication skills and the ability to listen to others.
• An understanding of the issues around confidentiality.
• An understanding of safeguarding.
• A professional working boundary between staff and service users.
• Ability to remain calm in emergencies, supporting others during difficult situations.

Desirable Criteria of a Senior Support Worker:

• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Previous experience of working as a Support Worker or Senior Support Worker.

Care in Mind provide residential services for young people aged 16-30 years old. The young people we care for often require a high level of support to assist with difficulties they may have from self-harming, behaviour, and emotional difficulties. Our aim is to support the young people using a therapeutic approach to help them achieve their individual goals, in preparation for transition to adult life.

Company Benefits:

• 30 days holiday (Rising to 35 days with service including bank holidays).
• An additional day off each year for your birthday.
• Opportunity to work part time hours if this suits your circumstances.
• Excellent Learning and Development opportunities (Level 3 in Adult Health & Social Care and support with completion of the Care Certificate).
• Paid Training, Induction and DBS check.
• Healthcare CashPlan with costs provided towards dental and optical care and a range of other healthcare treatments and benefits including discounted gym memberships, online shopping discounts, free eye tests and various other benefits.
• Blue Light Card to access further shopping discounts.
• Enhanced company pension.
• Life Assurance (2 x annual salary).
• Enhanced maternity/paternity leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme/24-hour Counselling Service.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities:

As Senior Support Worker your role will involve working alongside and supporting the Deputy and Registered Manager in supervising a team of staff and will carry out the co-ordination and leading of shifts. You will take the lead and play an active part in the young person’s key team, creating and updating care plans, work collaboratively with the homes multi-disciplinary team ensuring all actions have been completed. You will also take an active role in supporting new members of the team and be involved in the recruitment of new staff attending interviews and local job fairs.

At our home in Leeds, you will be working with young people who have diagnosed eating disorders, alongside a variety of mental health diagnoses. Your role will be required to support the young people through their eating complexities, including meal support, food and fluid documentation and post meal support. You will also support and help to manage incidents of self-harm and other risk-taking behaviours. Some of our young people have physical health concerns which require close monitoring and documenting - full training for this is provided. A number of our young people are preparing for independence too, to move on from the home into the community. Therefore, you will be supporting this transition through things such as: discovering different education routes, accessing public transport and appointments independently and supporting them to self-administer their own medication.

Previous experience of working with young people who have mental health needs is essential and ideally you will have worked as a Support Worker in a similar environment. Experience of working with service users who have eating disorders would be beneficial but key is a good understanding of nutrition. You will receive full training and ongoing support & mentoring from our friendly residential and clinical team. The job is highly rewarding and is an excellent development opportunity if you would like to gain supervisory experience and move into a future management role of which we will support the right candidates to do.

Person specification:

• Has NVQ Level 2 qualification in care or equivalent.
• NVQ level 3 qualification in care or equivalent.
• Previous experience of working in a team.
• Previous experience of working with young people who have mental health needs.
• Good understanding of Nutrition.
• Previous experience of working with service users who have eating disorders.
• Good written communication skills and the ability to write basic reports and record information accurately.
• IT skills and the ability to write emails and use Microsoft office.
• An understanding of the issues young people may face.
• Excellent observation and communication skills as well the ability to build trust and rapport with individuals who have experienced trauma.
• Able to work shifts within 24 hour/ 7 days per week rota (including some bank holidays).
• To have a clean manual driving licence and access to a car.

Other:

• Able to work shifts (including weekends, bank holidays where required to complete any necessary training).
• Good verbal communication skills and the ability to listen to others.
• A non-judgemental approach and the ability to demonstrate unconditional positive regard.
• Ability to think on your feet, remain focused and maintain your composure in difficult situations.
• Understanding of the issues around confidentiality.
• Understanding of safeguarding.
• Ability to meet the day to day needs of young people, including providing practical support with daily living activities.
• Form and maintain professional working boundaries between staff and service users.
• Ability to remain calm in emergencies, supporting others during difficult situations.
• Excellent telephone manner, polite, professional and relay accurate information to the manager.

Additional Information:

Please note that training will be 6 days held at our Head Office in Stockport – reasonable expenses will be reimbursed. Please note that we do not accept CVs and the application must be completed in full. Care in Mind operates a safer recruitment process and as part of this process the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. We are an equal opportunities employer who values diversity and positively encourages applications of all ages from all sections of the community. We reserve the right to close the advert early, should we appoint a suitable candidate.