Assistant Project Worker - Group Activities in Lanark

Glasgow Association for Mental Health is an independent Scottish charity that provides community-based support to the people of Glasgow and their communities. The services and opportunities we offer help people who are recovering from mental health problems to live the lives they want to live. We also support Carers, including Young Carers, and promote the equality, inclusion and human rights of people who have been affected by mental ill health. We work with people in ways that encourage hope, learning and self-confidence. We recognise that people are the experts in their own lives and their own health. They are experts by experience and have the right to make their own choices and decisions.

We recognise that the effects of inequality, stigma and discrimination make recovery more difficult than it should be and undermine people’s sense of wellbeing. As an organisation, we work to ensure that both as a service provider and as an employer, we avoid discrimination and promote fairness and inclusion for everyone.

The role of the Assistant Project Worker (APW) is to contribute to the effective delivery of GAMH community-based support services, ensuring they meet key service objectives and the expressed needs of service users and carers. The APW will support individuals to lead the life they want to lead through a recovery-focused, strengths-based approach that promotes confidence, resilience, wellbeing, self-esteem and social inclusion. A significant part of the role will involve supporting and facilitating groupwork activities within the GAMH Community Hub and wider group services.

The post holder will help create safe, welcoming and inclusive group environments where people can build relationships, develop skills, improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and support one another in their recovery journeys. The role will encourage meaningful participation, peer support and opportunities for service users to shape and co-produce group activities and programmes.

• Conduct and assist in assessment processes to establish support needs, identify strengths, assess risk factors and determine service suitability.
• Work in partnership with service users and carers to identify goals and review user-defined outcomes under the supervision of a Project Worker.
• Support the planning, development and delivery of recovery-focused groups, workshops and wellbeing activities that promote confidence, self-management, social connection, creativity, learning and emotional wellbeing.
• Facilitate group sessions within the GAMH Community Hub and community settings, ensuring activities are inclusive, trauma-informed, strengths-based and responsive to the needs and interests of participants.
• Encourage and support service users to actively participate in the co-production, organisation and leadership of group activities, helping individuals develop skills, confidence and peer support opportunities.
• Build positive, supportive relationships with service users and carers that encourage participation, engagement and recovery.
• Facilitate opportunities for service users and carers to build supportive social networks and stronger community connections that contribute to improved wellbeing and reduced isolation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and partner organisations to develop a varied programme of meaningful group opportunities that reflect recovery and wellbeing principles.
• Contribute to the support of carers by offering information, signposting and access to appropriate resources and support services.
• Participate in and facilitate other support opportunities as directed by senior staff.

• Contribute to a team approach in planning and delivering support identified within Personal Support Plans, in partnership with service users, carers and relevant stakeholders under the direction of the Project Worker.
• Support the development of groupwork approaches and activities that encourage participation, peer support, recovery and wellbeing outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with agreed team working practices that promote participation, inclusion, effective communication and safe practice.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and review of support plans with service users and carers.
• Work in partnership with service users, carers, key people and external agencies to promote choice, independence, wellbeing and recovery.
• Review with service users the outcomes of agreed support and group participation, providing feedback to the Project Worker and wider team.
• Work with colleagues to ensure compliance with systems, procedures and practices that support positive outcomes for service users and carers.
• Use organisational procedures to challenge poor practice and record/report any issues of poor practice or malpractice to the appropriate person.

• Attend mandatory Safeguarding training to promote understanding of key Safeguarding issues and understand and implement GAMH Adult Protection/Child Protection policies and procedures.
• Promote the protection of carers including ensuring that you can access and understand information about the legal and organisational requirements for the protection of adults and children.
• Act in accordance with GAMH Safeguarding policies and procedures that always support the safeguarding of individuals from harm or abuse.

• Work effectively and follow lone working practices which encourage effective and safe practice.
• Ensure that you are aware of and comply with GAMH policies, procedures and practices designed to protect the health, safety and security of all employees.

GAMH complies with all aspects of data protection and takes seriously its duties, and the duties of its employees, under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016. The GDPR (2016) applies to personal information that is processed. This includes obtaining personal information, retaining and using it, allowing it to be accessed, disclosing it and, finally, disposing of it. The Carers Support worker will be expected to adhere to the organisations Data Protection and Data Management Policy. Will ensure that records and reports are stored and shared within confidentiality agreements and according to legal, work setting and other agency agreements and requirements. Will ensure that records and reports are accurate, concise, objective, understandable and legible.

• Take responsibility for and keep up to date with current practice and maintain records of your own personal and professional development, according to legal and organisational requirements.
• Ensure that the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) Codes of Practice are always complied with.
• Participate in out-of-hours work.
• Carry out any other duties and responsibilities consistent with the post as directed by Senior Staff.