At a Glance
- Tasks: Support individuals facing challenges like social isolation and help them access vital services.
- Company: Join the British Red Cross, a leading charity making a real difference in communities.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working hours, and the chance to make a positive impact.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and development.
- Why this job: Empower people to regain independence and improve their wellbeing in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in community support or health services; UK driving license required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 33699 £ per year.
Employer: British Red Cross
Location: Hertford
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week, Mon – Fri (09:00 – 17:00) but also includes occasional weekend working.
Salary: £26,994 (pro rata for 6 month contract)
Contract: 6 Month Fixed Term
Reports to: Locality Manager
Essential Requirement: UK Driving License and access to own car
This role is home based, but requires frequent travel across the Upper Lea Valley & Stort Villages areas, including home visits to service users and supporting local hospitals.
The Service: Commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council in 2017, the Hospital & Community Navigation Service is comprised of five voluntary organisations providing hospital discharge and social prescribing services to Hertfordshire residents. HCNS provides a free countywide Social Prescribing Service designed to support individuals to improve and maintain health and wellbeing.
Main purpose of the role:
- Support those struggling with issues such as social isolation, housing, finances, and managing their health or wellbeing.
- Assist people being discharged from hospital and reduce the likelihood of readmission by helping them regain and retain independent living.
- Find and access further support.
Responsibilities:
- Hold a caseload of clients and provide support and information to help them build sustainable relationships with groups, activities, and services.
- Create short, medium, and longer-term goals with clients through ongoing personalised care and support planning.
- Highlight any changes in a service user’s condition or circumstance and ensure appropriate measures are taken.
- Link clients to existing resources in the community to help them live well and avoid crisis.
- Identify gaps in resources and relay to management.
- Ensure clients develop sustainable relationships with organisations and services.
- Use a Case Management System to accurately record and report actions taken.
- Liaise with social care, health, housing, and other professionals to meet individual needs.
- Collect equipment from local hospitals and deliver them to clients, occasionally providing transport to service users’ homes.
- Carry out essential shopping, prescription collections, and urgent welfare checks as required.
- Work flexibly around the needs of the service, including weekend working and supporting other localities with casework.
- Ensure service users’ health and wellbeing is preserved and safeguarding policies are followed.
- Work with colleagues to ensure health and safety legislation and risk assessments are understood and implemented.
- Work in partnership with District and Borough Councils, Housing Associations, local Voluntary Organisations, and Forums.
Person Specification:
- Demonstrates a passion for delivering agreed outcomes.
- Works well under pressure.
- Self-motivated and able to carry out tasks with minimal supervision.
- Strong team player and able to work effectively as part of a locality, area, and Countywide team.
- Flexible, innovative, and adaptable with a ‘can do’ approach.
- Good understanding of the voluntary and statutory sector and ideally the specific locality area.
- Skilled at using user feedback to demonstrate outcomes and improve services.
- Demonstrates personal accountability.
- Works confidently with service users, partners, and stakeholders.
- Effective administrative skills and excellent IT skills including MS Office and appropriate software.
- Able to work and travel throughout the area regularly.
Experience:
- Recent experience in community development, adult health and social care, learning support, or public health/health improvement is essential.
- Experience of liaising with agencies on a day-to-day basis.
- Working in the public sector or a charitable organisation providing services to the public.
Subject to satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.
Whilst we recognise the growth and popularity of artificial intelligence (AI), it is important we are confident that your application is unique and has been completed without the use of AI technology.
Community Link Worker employer: Watford & Three Rivers Trust
The British Red Cross is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. As a Community Link Worker in Hertford, you will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals in your community while benefiting from flexible working arrangements and comprehensive training programs that enhance your skills and career development.
Contact Details:
Watford & Three Rivers Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Link Worker
✨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 Watford & Three Rivers Trust.
✨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 Watford & Three Rivers Trust!
✨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 Watford & Three Rivers Trust, 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 Watford & Three Rivers Trust 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 Community Link Worker
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 Watford & Three Rivers Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Watford & Three Rivers Trust! 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 Watford & Three Rivers Trust
✨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.
