At a Glance
- Tasks: Support clients with mental health challenges in daily living and social activities.
- Company: Join a dedicated team focused on improving lives through mental health support.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, generous annual leave, and a strong NHS pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the community while developing your skills in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in mental health services is essential; NVQ in Health & Social Care is a plus.
- Other info: Opportunities for career growth and a referral bonus for bringing friends on board.
The predicted salary is between 28800 - 43200 £ per year.
With estimates ranging from 40%-80% of the rough sleeping population living with mental illness, it is a major contributory factor to people not being able to find or maintain a home.
We are looking for a Support Worker with a passion for making sure these people do not carry on living without access to appropriate support.
Main duties of the job
To contribute in the assessment of clients referred to the service.
To provide support to clients and their carers in
relation to daily living and social activities, and help
maintain the social network by the use of a range of
interventions.
To carry out specified interventions, alone on
occasion, as per support plans and update as
appropriate.
To monitor progress of clients against the plans and
communicate findings, recommend changes to senior
staff.
To w ork flexibly in order to respond to clients and
adjust allocate work and prioritise at short notice as
necessary.
To e ngage clients and carers with plans and negotiate
options available whilst promoting inclusivity, recovery
and resilience.
To work with partner organisations such as GPs,
drug and alcohol teams and physical health teams
to ensure clients can access services.
To p romote work of the team to clients, carers, other mental
health professionals, statutory and non- statutory agencies
To work collaboratively with MDT members to
contribute to a flexible and effective
interdisciplinary team approach to clinical care.
To c ommunicate face to face with clients on a daily
basis, some of which display challenging behaviour.
To effectively establish a therapeutic relationship with service users
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Ability and desire to both obtain and underpin knowledge and skills appropriate to a support worker.
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To be able to work flexible hours when required eg to attend sleep counts or outreach
Desirable criteria
- NVQ level 2 or 3 in Health & Social Care
Experience
Essential criteria
- Previous experience of working in or using mental health services.
Desirable criteria
-
Knowledge/experience of emotional distress.
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Knowledge/experience of mental health services., * Ability to listen effectively and communicate effectively at all levels.
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Basic written communication skills to enable completion of records etc.
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Empathy, compassion, and patience.
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Ability to provide practical support with daily living skills.
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To be able to travel within the geographical work area in a timely and effective manner.
Desirable criteria
- Previous experience working within mental health services
NHS pension scheme Your employer pays 20.6% towards your pension and life assurance benefits.
Please see Apply. Apply/Pensions.aspx for more details.
Annual leave for Agenda for Change On appointment to NHS
27 days for full time or pro rata if part time
After 5 years NHS service
29 days full time or pro rata if part time
After 10 years NHS service
33 days full time or pro rata if part time
Plus bank holidays, that’s up to 41 days – more than 8 weeks paid time off!
Medical staffs have national Terms and Conditions.
Buying and selling of annual leave is also available as part of our flexible approach to staff benefits.
Recommend a friend campaign If you already work for us you could refer a friend from outside of the Trust to any of the roles below and you can receive £1000 if they are successfully recruited; Nursing staff – RMN RGN RNLD – Band 5 and 6, Medical Doctors, Clinical Psychologist and Allied Health Professionals,
Flexible working Covers job share, term time working, flexible shifts etc. Just ask and we will try to help.
Statutory and occupational maternity, paternity or adoption leave Dependant on length of NHS service
Other paid/unpaid leave This can be for Jury Service, Reserved Armed Forces, etc. This is paid outside of annual leave.
Non paid leave for career breaks<
Community Support Worker employer: Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
Contact Detail:
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Support Worker
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with the specific mental health services in your area. Understanding the local resources and how they operate will help you engage effectively with clients and partner organizations.
✨Tip Number 2
Highlight any previous experience you have working with vulnerable populations, especially those with mental health challenges. This will demonstrate your ability to empathize and connect with clients.
✨Tip Number 3
Be prepared to discuss your approach to building therapeutic relationships. Think of examples where you've successfully engaged with individuals facing challenges, as this will showcase your interpersonal skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Show your flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing situations. Share experiences where you've had to adjust your plans on short notice, as this is crucial for the role of a Community Support Worker.
We think you need these skills to ace Community Support Worker
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description and understand the key responsibilities and requirements of a Community Support Worker. This will help you tailor your application to highlight relevant experiences.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasize any previous experience working in mental health services or with vulnerable populations. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills in empathy, communication, and support.
Showcase Your Skills: Make sure to mention your ability to work flexibly and adapt to changing situations. Highlight your basic written communication skills, as well as your capacity to establish therapeutic relationships with clients.
Personalize Your Application: Address your cover letter to the hiring manager if possible, and express your passion for supporting individuals with mental health challenges. Share why you are drawn to this role and how you can contribute to the team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
✨Show Your Passion for Support Work
Make sure to express your genuine passion for helping individuals with mental health challenges. Share personal experiences or motivations that drive you to support those in need, as this role requires empathy and compassion.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Adaptability
Highlight your ability to work flexibly and respond to changing situations. Provide examples of how you've successfully adjusted your approach in previous roles to meet the needs of clients or adapt to unexpected circumstances.
✨Communicate Effectively
Prepare to discuss your communication skills, especially in challenging situations. Be ready to share examples of how you've established therapeutic relationships with clients and effectively communicated with multidisciplinary teams.
✨Knowledge of Mental Health Services
Familiarize yourself with local mental health services and resources. During the interview, mention any relevant experience you have with these services and how you can help clients access the support they need.