Mental Health Wellbeing Link Worker (Information and Advice)

Overview

Working as part of a Social Prescribing Project to provide a community-based service for individuals aged 18+ who experience or are at risk of mild/moderate mental health issues. The service aims to help individuals to be independent, healthy and active, happy, socially engaged, valued in society, and to learn and develop to their full potential, while engaging in their community and maintaining safe, healthy relationships. The mental health wellbeing link worker element is intended as a short-term intervention. The focus is on empowering individuals to make their own choices, overcome barriers, set personal goals, and improve wellbeing and social inclusion. The service is predominantly delivered on the telephone and face to face.

Responsibilities

1. Respond to individuals who require support/information/advice related to their mental health to help identify needs and link them with local services or activities that could meet those needs. This could include:
   • Community wellbeing activities
   • Support and preventative services, including helping individuals access these services
   • Services to resolve socio-economic needs (e.g., benefits advice, housing, prevention of homelessness), including assisting with relevant paperwork
   • Wider information and advice (e.g., citizens rights, entitlement and available support, helplines, information about mental health)
   • Other health services and support in a crisis
2. Support and empower individuals to create their own action plan, set their own goals, and determine what help they need to achieve them through a proportionate assessment.
3. Assist individuals to access services through coaching, onward referrals, information/advice, or arranging additional support as required.
4. Use techniques to assess needs, such as the ‘What Matters’ approach and motivational interviewing.
5. Deliver short-term interventions to individuals in an agreed geographical area (subject to funding).
6. Maintain regular check-ins with individuals to review progress and adjust plans as needed.
7. Work as a lone worker delivering services face to face and by telephone (1:1) based on individual need. Delivery will be in local community settings.
8. Manage and document risk as appropriate.
9. Have in-depth knowledge of local services and activities and signpost individuals accordingly.
10. Help train, supervise, and support volunteers as required.
11. Promote social inclusion, early intervention, recovery, and work within Mind Monmouthshire’s ethos and Mission Statement.
12. Accurately and efficiently manage all administration processes.
13. Deliver an effective service to meet set Service Level Agreement targets in conjunction with the relevant manager.
14. Promote/publicise the service and establish positive engagement and input, and participate in promoting general aspects of wellbeing and Mind Monmouthshire.
15. Maintain all required records of clients to support the running of the project.
16. Ensure monitoring, reporting, and evaluation forms are completed on time, accurately, and stored securely in accordance with GDPR requirements.
17. Support all project evaluation activities as required.
18. Adhere to Mind Monmouthshire policies and procedures, including Staff Code of Conduct, Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding, and Confidentiality.
19. Attend training relevant to the role, internally or externally.
20. Stay informed about national themes, policy, legislation, and local services relating to wellbeing.
21. Participate in supervision and annual appraisal with the relevant manager.
22. Support and contribute to the participation of people with experience of mental health problems, including collaboration with Mind in Gwent and working alongside people with lived experience as colleagues, volunteers, or campaigners.
23. Carry out any other reasonably required tasks as directed by a manager.