Mental Health Outreach Worker, Complex Needs Housing

Mind in Mid Herts

We are looking for an experienced and professional Mental Health Outreach Worker to join the Hertfordshire Mind Complex Needs Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), working with housing teams and Drug and Alcohol Services across District and Borough Councils in Stevenage and North Hertfordshire. These teams work with individuals who are presenting as homeless and have a number of complex needs.

This role will provide advice, information, onward referral and holistic support to clients who are experiencing mental ill health or who need support with their mental wellbeing. A person-centred, recovery-oriented and trauma-informed approach will be essential in all aspects of the role. The successful candidate will ensure that the safety and wellbeing of clients is monitored and reviewed regularly, remaining a source of independent support for all clients at all times.

• Salary: £24,000 – £25,000 per annum dependent on skills and experience
• Discretionary staff retention bonus of up to £2,106 per annum, depending on performance and other factors
• Full time – 37.5 hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm), with flexibility to attend events/meetings which may be in the evening or at the weekend
• Fixed term contract 12 months
• One vacancy to cover Stevenage and North Hertfordshire

Service Objectives

The objectives of Hertfordshire Mind Complex Needs MDT are:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental ill health
• To increase early access to help for people experiencing mental ill health, by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided by Hertfordshire Mind and other third sector and statutory providers
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients
• To reduce the use of police, anti-social behaviour, tenancy enforcement, housing needs and environmental health services by clients whose primary need is related to mental ill health.

Responsibilities of the Post

The successful candidate will be line managed by the Complex Needs MDT Team Leader for Hertfordshire Mind but will manage their own workload, prioritising tasks and working on their own initiative.

Specific responsibilities will be:

• To receive referrals from housing teams for clients presenting with homelessness and other complex needs
• To undertake initial contact with clients and complete holistic needs assessments, making use of assertive outreach work to achieve the initial client contact, if required
• To provide holistic support and advocacy services to clients experiencing mental ill health
• To ensure all person centred risk assessments and support plans are completed as appropriate
• To accompany clients to initial visits and appointments as necessary in order to ensure the sustained use of existing support services in the borough
• To liaise with other agencies to ensure that clients receive appropriate support and continue to remain engaged with the service
• To assist clients to access appropriate mental health services, drug and alcohol services, housing/tenancy services and other services according to assessed needs
• To establish effective pathways across a variety of agencies to maximise and provide effective partnership working
• To work with partners both internal and external to ensure that vulnerable persons’ cases are monitored and risks evaluated in order to promote community safety
• To work with multi agency partners to support the delivery of co-ordinated services for clients where appropriate
• To work with the third sector and signpost to other agencies as necessary to improve the health and wellbeing of clients referred to the service
• To proactively recognise the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitate appropriate action, whilst liaising with relevant agencies
• To provide crisis/safeguarding intervention support. This will include responding to problems which pose an immediate risk
• To support clients to build their emotional resilience and crisis planning tools, promoting self-management through building an understanding of their own triggers/coping strategies
• To provide advocacy where requested by clients, accompanying them and ensuring their voice is heard when communicating with other agencies.

General responsibilities will include:

• Ensuring compliance with legal, ethical, regulatory and social requirements
• Managing personal resources and own professional development
• Ensuring that all duties are carried out in a manner which promotes equality and diversity
• Promoting a health and safety culture within the workplace
• Ensuring that essential information of a sensitive or personal nature is not disclosed to or discussed with inappropriate persons
• Ensuring that all information is maintained within the Data Protection Act
• Working as an active and effective team member
• Working some hours outside of normal office hours (including evenings and weekends) as required
• Carrying out every aspect of the role with due regard to Hertfordshire Mind policies and procedures including the Equalities Statement
• Ensuring that Hertfordshire Mind values are embedded in the service
• Maintaining a professional level of communication at all times
• Keeping clear records and plans of all contacts with clients, professionals and meetings with external agencies
• Maintaining full accountability to the project through supervision
• Full training for the role will be offered.

Person Specification – essential requirements

• Car driver with sole ownership of a vehicle, business insurance and a clean driving license
• A good understanding of mental health conditions
• Experience of working with vulnerable individuals
• Experience of working with people affected by housing difficulties
• Experience of managing a caseload
• Evidence of working to deadlines and achieving outcomes against targets
• Creative and flexible approach to working with individuals
• Demonstrable understanding of relevant legislation and policies regarding child and adult at risk protection issues and legal responsibilities, such as the Data Protection Act, Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults, Child Protection
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills
• Ability to work on own initiative whilst retaining team work responsibility
• Ability to work within the principles of equal opportunities and diversity
• Ability to maintain personal and professional boundaries
• Able to maintain confidentiality and adhere to data protection requirements
• An understanding of partnership working and the ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary/agency team
• Ability to deal with stressful situations in a calm manner
• Able to work flexibly and independently, prioritising and managing own workload to meet targets and deadlines
• Knowledge and understanding of housing processes
• Understanding the principles of advocacy
• Understanding of risk assessment and safety planning
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Good IT skills including Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, with proven ability to input and extract information
• Willingness to show flexibility in working location and to travel to locations county-wide.