Safe Haven Crisis Support Worker - High Wycombe - 14 hours per week

Description

Key Responsibilities

• To provide a warm and welcoming environment for those people facing a mental health crisis; treating service users with respect and providing personalised support focused on individual need.
• To prevent the escalation of the mental health crisis and thereby reduce A&E attendance and avoid hospital admissions.
• Reduce visits to primary care services.

• To offer appropriate interventions that aim to improve the mental health and wellbeing of individuals within a non-clinical setting.
• To raise patient awareness of alternative mental health services, appropriate to personal need and circumstances, and encourage their use to improve longer term mental health and well-being and reduce social isolation.
• To increase independence and good self-management skills of those people accessing the service.

• To provide an environment for individuals which is both safe and non-judgemental with the aims to reduce feelings of isolation whilst supporting the individual to identify risk and empower them manage their mental distress.
• To work collaboratively with statutory mental health services - including out of hours crisis teams, to provide support and interventions to the individual where this becomes appropriate.

• To provide individual based advice, guidance and emotional support to provide onward links. These include referrals within our Safe Haven+ service which supports, housing needs, including those at who are or at risk of homelessness, benefits support, and substance misuse.
• We also have an excellent range of appropriate services within Buckinghamshire Mind, including Peer groups and Counselling.

• Working as part of the Safe Haven team to contribute to the smooth running of the service as a whole.
• Provide emotional support to individuals referred to the Safe Haven.
• Welcome new referrals to the Safe Haven; carry out initial assessments and maintain accurate case records within the required data collection and reporting system.
• Offer light refreshments and help create a relaxed atmosphere.
• Utilising the online Bucks Mind Guide to help people to develop self-management strategies and to make the best use of the local resources around them, signposting or making referrals as required.
• Ensure the wellbeing and safety of service users, reporting any concerns to your line manager.
• Keep up to date with best practice and contribute to the continuous improvement of the service.
• To ensure Safeguarding concerns are responded to appropriately in line with Buckinghamshire Mind’s Safeguarding Policies.

• To work creatively, looking at new possibilities, bringing new ideas to the team and respond appropriately to the needs and views of both current and potential service users.
• Communicate effectively with other team members ensuring that relevant information is passed on appropriately.
• Attend staff meetings as required.

• Assist in monitoring the quality of the service and the outcomes achieved.
• Ensure that the named care coordinator (or other referral source) is made aware of recommendations so that they can be followed up.
• Monitor patient progress by liaison with AMHT colleagues and/or accessing electronic patient records.

Experience, Knowledge & Skills Required

• Supports the aims and work of Buckinghamshire Mind and Oxford Health NHS Trust
• Maintains strict confidentiality concerning all Buckinghamshire Mind and Oxford Health NHS Trust matters.
• A positive attitude towards people with mental health problems, in particular people’s ability to develop and change.
• Experience and/or training in how to deescalate challenging behaviour.
• Strong commitment to equal opportunities and diversity.
• Appropriate and confidential home working space to allow for remote delivery of the service when necessary.
• Experience of providing a support service to adults with mental health difficulties/in emotional distress and maintaining appropriate boundaries
• Ability to form positive working relationships with service users and make a positive contribution to improving the quality of life for people with mental health difficulties.
• Ability to recognise and support the personal resourcefulness of people with mental illness to enable service users to create effective solutions and obtain/retain responsibility for their decision making
• Ability to prioritise your own workload and manage time effectively.
• An ability to demonstrate personal resilience and act calmly in emergencies and utilise support and supervision provided.
• Be committed to the delivery of the Safe Haven Model, understanding limitations and boundaries for supporting service users.
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous development of job-related knowledge and skills, including essential IT skills.
• Ability to access a range of settings including ability to travel between sites
• Able to work weekends/evenings.

• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant statutory authorities including NHS and social care.

• good level of IT skills including Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• good verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• effective team worker with ability to take initiative and work on an individual basis.
• ability to use the support and supervision provided effectively.
• understanding of the importance of team working in a challenging environment
• services available and the range of ways they can use the Buckinghamshire Mind service and other related services.

About Buckinghamshire Mind