Support Worker

Elva Court provides compassionate support to individuals experiencing complex mental health issues, driven by an enthusiastic, professional staff team dedicated to providing person-centred care. The support delivered is tailored to and developed with individuals, encompassing all aspects of wellbeing including:

• Mental wellbeing
• Physical wellbeing
• Spiritual wellbeing
• Daily living skills

Our goal is to increase independence and feelings of accomplishment & assist people to move on to more independent living. The service is run in collaboration with service users, encouraging feedback and involvement in all areas of decision making. Elva Court is a supported accommodation service based in the heart of Sidley on the outskirts of Bexhill. The service accommodates 13 service users, each with their own flat. The service is staffed 24 hours with one member of staff sleeping in overnight (for which an additional allowance is paid).

While experience is not essential, we offer:

• Excellent training opportunities
• The chance to work in a dynamic and friendly environment
• Competitive pay
• Career development opportunities
• A range of benefits

Above all, we are seeking someone with a genuine passion for helping people take control of their own lives and a strong belief in recovery.

We are looking for a motivated individual with experience of caring or supporting individuals with a mental health diagnosis, and to work alongside the residents, putting them at the heart of all we do. A willingness to be flexible with different shift patterns which will include occasional sleep-in shifts. Workplace: on site, plus trips in the community. Successful candidates will require an enhanced DBS check.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain relationships of trust with service users, to build engagement
• Help service users to set, prioritise and achieve goals, managing their tenancies and move-on
• Work flexibly with service users in their homes and in the community
• Carry out assessments and determine urgency of service user needs
• Work with professionals from other agencies, and make onward referrals, linking service users into community opportunities
• Carry out risk assessments, to keep service users safe and improve the quality of our support
• Attend placement reviews
• Work with service users on a 1:1 basis and in groups
• Assist service users to deal with financial issues and navigate the benefits and education systems
• Manage friendships and family relationships
• Manage their medication, in accordance with Together procedures
• Accompany service users to appointments
• Assist service users to undertake domestic tasks such as cooking and light cleaning, ensuring adherence to infection control (training provided)
• Assist service users with personal care as and when required
• Adhere to the Together policy on lone working
• Make timely records which are concise, accurate, written for the service user to understand, using Together computer-based systems
• Write clear word processed and handwritten reports (training provided) and records in English
• Participate in mandatory and job-related courses and learning activities
• Maintain professional boundaries in all aspects of work with service users

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

• Experience in supporting vulnerable individuals gained from paid work and/or voluntary and/or life experience
• Minimum of GCSE or Level II qualification in English, or equivalent
• Basic competence in the use of email and word processing software
• Demonstrate a non-judgemental attitude and be able to be empathetic towards service users and create a trusting environment
• Able to work in partnership with service users and establish and maintain professional boundaries in working with service users
• Able to establish and maintain a safe environment
• Willing and able to undertake domestic tasks with, and for, service users as necessary
• Demonstrate problem-solving skills relating to welfare benefits, education and relationships
• Open to – and willing to participate in – formal and informal job-related learning
• Willing and able to collaborate with colleagues and other organisations
• Able to use email and computerised systems for service user records and reports
• Able to travel; have access to car/public transport
• Able to work a varying pattern of shifts on a 24 hour 7-day week rota, with notice

Practicalities

• Able to travel
• Able to work a varying pattern of shifts
• DBS clearance
• Minimum age 18 plus

Job Benefits

The benefits of working for Together include career development, training opportunities, competitive pay and a supportive environment. We value people as experts in what works best for them, and each individual we work with influences and shapes the support they and others receive from us. Founded in 1879, Today we work with approximately 4,500 people every month – at around 70 locations across England. Our services include:

• Support in the community
• Accommodation-based support
• Advocacy
• Criminal justice services

At Together we value and encourage diversity and inclusion within our workforce. We are committed to creating a workplace where you can be yourself, welcoming applications from people from diverse communities and backgrounds who share our values. As an employer, we are committed to making any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.