Senior Support Worker - REQ003963

Job title: Senior Support Worker (C1)

Salary: C1 £28,598 - £31,022

Hours: Full time 37hrs

Contract: Temporary (up to 12 months)

Location: Mental Health Day Opportunities – Laural Bank. Middelton Park Avenue, Middleton, Leeds LS10 4HY

As a Senior Support Workeryou’ll thrive on supporting adults with Care and Support needs in a supportive team.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council valuesand ambitions.

Mental Health Day Opportunities is part of Leeds City Councils Care Delivery Services, Adults and Health.

Mental Health Day Opportunities offer a service to adults who would like to improve their mental wellbeing, increase their independence and connect with their community. We help people to identify their strengths and build on these to improve their lives. We offer a wide range of groups and activities across Leeds. We also have specialist staff who can offer opportunities to volunteer or get back into work. We are committed to helping people build their self-confidence, raise their aspirations, and celebrate their success. Community is at the heart of our service. We work to challenge stigma and stereotyping, and to break down the barriers faced by people with mental health issues.

We would especially like to hear from you if you have caring experience and are an enthusiastic, flexible, and highly organised person.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a well-established and respected team within Adult Social Care.

The role will be based at Stocks Hill, Armley. However, to support and promote teamwork you will be expected to commit to work across the 3 hubs. For further information www.leeds.gov.uk/mentalhealthhubs. Out core hours are Monday to Thursday 8:30-16:30 and Friday 8:30-16:00.

About you

As a Senior Worker, you will bring to the role:

Good knowledge, experience and a passion to work with vulnerable adults.
Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as possessing numeracy abilities and be a team player.
An understanding of relevant legislation such as Care Act 2014 and the Mental Capacity Act (2005) some knowledge of Health and Safety Legislation, as well as an understanding of the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act (2008), its regulations and other relevant legislation and guidance.
You will be motivated and a critical thinker with the ability to assess the needs of your customers, act as an advocate where appropriateand ensure appropriaterisk management and safeguarding
Strength based approaches and a strong desire to make a difference

About the role

You will be required to manage a caseload and support Customers with to provide assessment and support planning for Customers with mental health needs with supervision and guidance of the Manager where required, to support the delivery of a Mental Health Day Opportunities across the city.

You will have a key role to undertake strength-based assessments and create outcome-focused support plans including, the review of individual plans relating to the assessed needs of customers, their families, and carers.

You will be responsible for support adults with mental health to socialise and take part in groups and activities, within the hubs and community.
You will be expected to contribute to and undertake the screening of new referrals for customers.
Responsible for undertaking regular reviews.
Offer short team one to one support, helping people to identify their strengths, improve their independence and achieve their goals.

Candidates must have an awareness and understanding of the needs of vulnerable people and be able to support to overcome barriers. A person-centred focus must be demonstrable along with a commitment to strength-based approaches and enabling self-determination to the potential of the people who use the service.

The candidate should be committed to building service users’ self-confidence, raising their aspirations, and celebrating their successes.

A commitment to equal opportunities and an understanding of disability issues is essential.

Successful candidates will also be required to contribute to service development and develop their own performance and skills through CPD (Continuous Professional Development).

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form

Read our guidancefor further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Michelle McGann on 07891271535 or email michelle.mcgann@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose: Under the direction of managers to provide assessment and support planning for service users with mental health needs. Working across 3 mental hubs to provide an integrated support to service users to enable them to live independent, safe and fulfilling lives in the community using a strengths-based approach.

Responsibilities

To facilitate and participate in the induction of new workers, volunteers and students and to supervise admin staff in the absence of management
To take a lead in managing the shift in the absence of the deputy manager / manager undertaking any duties commensurate with the role
To work flexibly across the mental health hubs
To work as part of a team and to support the manager to develop the service.
To contribute to the preparation of reports and management information
To assess new referrals to ensure that they meet the customers criteria via liaison with potential service users and referral agencies.
To work in partnership with individuals to identify their needs and strengths through the assessment and support planning process.
To undertake support plans and person-centred risk assessments and promote their implementation in order to promote independence in a safe environment.
To arrange and coordinate appropriate reviews including the provider-led annual reviews and participate in multi-agency meetings including the care programme approach (CPA). This will also include working collaboratively with health professionals to apply the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005)
To work in and asset-based community development (ABCD) way by building and developing positive links with the local community and mainstream resources including the use of leisure, education, employment, volunteering and faith organisations and support customers engagement with these resources.
To work towards recovery and increased independence through the promotion of peer support, and the provision of one-to-one support where required.
To lead, develop and organise group activities, including therapeutic, social and leisure which may be staff or user-led and assess for any potential risks. Where activities are in the building base, this includes the setting up of the room/s as appropriate and liaising with partners to support them to undertake facilitation of groups.
To facilitate customers to access the community and its links / events and/or appointments as required.
To assess and undertake lone working as required in accordance with the associated risk assessment.
To be a key holder, locking and unlocking the building at the start and end of the day where required, in accordance with the associated risk assessment.
To support customers to develop or maintain life skills by the provision of advice prompting, guidance and/or signposting.
To undertake financial transactions in line with LCC Financial Regulations. This may include amenity funds, petty cash and applications for grant funding.
To support customers to manage their medication as specified in their support plan and to administer medication if required and where staff have reached the required competency and reviewed every 6 months.
Where a customer has been assessed and meets the criteria to access the service, to provide personal care and support to customers where required and as specified in their support plan
To support the safeguarding of customers within a positive risk management framework, ensuring that all safeguarding issues are monitored and reported promptly in line with the multi-agency framework
To liaise and communicate with relatives, carers, other professionals and appropriate agencies.
To support and encourage customers to become involved in the on-going development of the service.
To promote the provision of advocacy services to customers where required.
To deal with crisis and challenging situations appropriately.
To attend and participate in meetings, training, personal staff supervision and performance appraisal as required.
To respect the confidential nature of the work and ensure that customers and carers are aware of the Councils policies relating to the customer access to files and to work within the appropriate information sharing protocol and the General Data Protection Rules (GDPR)
To accurately complete all necessary documentation on the Client Information System (CIS APEX), records and reports as necessary and determined by the LCC procedures including the Code of Conduct .
To comply with the requirements of all Leeds City Council policies, procedures and staff instructions, including responsibilities under the Health and Safety Policy and Procedures.
To participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills
To improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
To work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Qualifications

Level 2 or equivalent in Health & Social Care

Commitment to undertake a Level 3 Apprenticeship within 12 months of commencement of the post

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post. Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Ability to communicate orally and in writing complex and sensitive information effectively, accurately and concisely between various stakeholders.
Ability to promote and work in a supportive and enabling manner that focuses on supporting individual customers to achieve their goals.
Ability to undertake some moving and handling.
Ability to use a person centred, strength-based approach and undertake and monitor support plans and risk management plans.
Ability to promote, support and enable customers to make choices about their lives.
Ability to support customers with interpersonal skills when they meet and interact with other people.
Ability to manage challenging situations appropriately.
Ability to show empathy and patience when supporting customers.
Ability to work unsupervised and on one’s own initiative on a daily basis.
Ability to work with and take into account the needs of customers from diverse backgrounds.
Ability to make decisions and work flexibly as part of a team.
Ability to work in partnership with other professionals and agencies.
Ability to work successfully alongside mainstream community resources to promote and facilitate access for customers.
Ability to work with a variety of electronic communications and technology.
Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality and the needs and wishes of customers as appropriate
Demonstrate an awareness of the needs associated with vulnerable adults including safeguarding procedures
Demonstrate an understanding of diversity issues within local communities
Of current policies and trends in relation to vulnerable adults
Of Health and Safety at work policies
Requirement to complete the Care Certificate within 12 weeks of commencement of the post
Demonstrate functional skills in literacy and numeracy at Level 1 or equivalent and be willing to work towards formal qualification
Of enabling service users to access mainstream community resources.
Of working with people in a health and/or social care setting.
Of working as part of a team.
Of implementing person centred approaches.
Of communicating with individuals using a variety of methods
Of advocating service users needs and rights in line with legislative frameworks, policies and procedures

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Ability to use a variety of digital platforms and tools, including Microsoft Teams.
An understanding of the Authority, its function and organisation.
Of the social model of disability.
Of Health and Safety at work policies.
Of other p
Of how voluntary sector and community groups are organised and co-ordinated.
Working with Mental Health

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