At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals in mental health distress with empathy and practical strategies.
- Company: Join a compassionate team at The Sanctuary, Cambridge.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible hours, and meaningful work experience.
- Other info: Opportunity for personal growth and teamwork in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives during their toughest moments.
- Qualifications: Experience in supporting emotional distress and strong communication skills.
Based at The Sanctuary, Cambridge with occasional travel to Peterborough.
31.5 hours per week - evenings & alternate weekends, 4.30pm-11.30pm.
Salary: Salary Scale point 19 (18 + 1 for anti-social hours) (April 2025) £24,651.48 per annum for 31.5 hours per week (£29,347.00 p.a. FTE).
Main Objective:
The Sanctuary is a non-clinical, safe space for individuals to visit as an alternative to attending A&E and is part of the wider First Response Service across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Working one to one (either face to face, over the telephone, or on video call) you will support individuals experiencing mental health distress by:
- Establishing connection and rapport in a non-intrusive, non-judgmental and compassionate manner.
- Supporting individuals through guided self-help strategies including grounding and breathing techniques.
- Supporting individuals to relay their immediate needs and concerns and offering emotional and practical support and information to address these.
- Providing individuals with information on and how to connect with social support networks available to them in their own community.
- Supporting individuals to make a safety plan.
Specific Duties and Responsibilities:
This is a crisis response service operating between 11am and 11.30pm, 365 days per year and the successful post holder will:
- Provide practical and emotional one to one support to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Listen with empathy and without judgement and support individuals in distress to find ways to make their current situation more manageable.
- Support individuals accessing the service to develop self-management strategies, making best use of their own strengths and community resources.
- Take a pragmatic approach to risk management and ensure the safety of individuals accessing the service, supporting them to develop safety plans and liaising with other services as appropriate.
- Work supportively as part of a small team.
- Carry out administrative tasks in a timely way and provide written reports when required.
- Work collaboratively with external partners and organisations.
- Attend reflective practice supervision and one to one line management supervision.
- Provide cover across both Sanctuaries (Peterborough and Cambridge) when required.
- Perform any other relevant duties commensurate with the post.
This post is subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance.
Person Specification:
Please provide evidence to support these competencies within your application.
Essential:
- To demonstrate compatibility with CPSL Mind’s aims, objectives and values.
- Demonstrable experience of working with or supporting individuals experiencing emotional distress.
- Evidence of providing person centred support.
- A demonstrable awareness and understanding of mental health.
- Proven experience of engaging, supporting and empowering individuals on a one-to-one basis.
- Good communication skills across a range of media i.e., face to face, telephone, writing documents, email, presentations and data collection.
- Ability to work on own initiative and respond with flexibility.
- Ability to engage and work as part of a team and manage own workloads.
- Capacity to work flexible hours within an agreed shift pattern.
Desirable:
- Full driving licence held and car owner/access to car.
- Clear understanding of principles of suicide prevention and safety planning.
- Self-aware with ability to manage own wellbeing.
- Ability to use Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and Teams.
Crisis Recovery Worker in Cambridge employer: CPSL
The Sanctuary in Cambridge is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and compassionate work environment for Crisis Recovery Workers dedicated to making a difference in mental health. With a focus on employee growth and development, staff are encouraged to engage in reflective practice and collaborative teamwork, ensuring that they can provide the best support to individuals in distress. The unique location allows for meaningful community engagement, making this role not just a job, but a rewarding career path.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Crisis Recovery Worker in Cambridge
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at CPSL.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from CPSL!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like CPSL, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at CPSL or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Crisis Recovery Worker in Cambridge
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to CPSL:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to CPSL! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at CPSL
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
