Joining #TeamNELFT means you’ll become part of a welcoming and supportive working environment. We’re CQC rated Good, and we want you to join us on the journey towards an Outstanding rating. NELFT has sites across North East London, Essex, Kent and Medway. We provide community and mental healthcare services to adults and children within these areas.

The Trust has award winning equality and diversity initiatives and staff health and wellbeing activities. We invest heavily in your development, because when you are valued and supported, we provide the best care to our patients. We are a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader, have been featured in the Working Families Top 10 Employers benchmark for three consecutive years, and we have achieved a Carers UK Level 1 Accreditation. Along with our staff networks and training opportunities, we work hard to embed a just and compassionate culture here at NELFT.

Find out more about NELFT careers and what makes our Trust a great place to work, in this video

Job overview

We are looking for a Band 4 STR Worker to join our Barking and Dagenham Home Treatment Team (B&DHTT) which is a 24 hour 7 days a week service providing alternative to hospital admission to those who face acute mental health crisis in the community. You will provide support to service users based in the Barking and Dagenham area. 

You will need experience of working with people who have mental health difficulties in the community. Your role as a senior support worker will be part of the wider multi disciplinary team and support the physical and mental health care plan of adults with ongoing Mental health and emotional needs.

Main duties of the job

The main duties of the role are outlined in the attached job description. 

This is an opportunity to be part of a dynamic service, providing opportunities to develop your skills and your career. You will play a key role in the multi-disciplinary team. You will need experience of working in a mental health care setting and have skills and experience in delivering a menu of interventions aimed at promoting recovery such as: health promotion, social prescribing, behavioural activation and key working

You will work closely with people who use our Services, their families, friends and carers and play an important contribution in how people experience our services. You are expected to be compassionate and responsive but professional and informative and contribute to the quality of the services we provide.

Working for our organisation

Starting with NELFT
NELFT place a great deal of importance on new starters being properly welcomed and inducted into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and will undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks which will include mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process new starters will have the opportunity to also meet the executive team, senior managers and attend a number of drop in sessions focusing in engagement, health and wellbeing and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period. Internal applicants are exempt from the probationary period (unless you are an internal applicant currently part way through a probationary period or currently a bank member of staff). 

High Cost Area Supplement - London

This post attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (minimum payment of £4,551 and a maximum payment of £5,735 per annum pro rata).

Use of AI

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

 You will be expected to contribute to the effectiveness of services by:

·Providing skilled, evidence based care which adheres to agreed policies and procedures

Working with patients and families and qualified practitioners to contribute to all stages of the care planning process including assessing risks and needs Acting as patient advocates in the multi-disciplinary team Working as part of a team implementing care plans or directives overseen by registered nurses Contributing to creating and maintaining high performing teams by: communicating well with all members of the team understanding their role in the team and how they help the team achieve its’ objectives reflecting on their own practice regularly Identifying how care could be improved Working to the standards set out in the Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers and Adult Social care Workers in England (Skills for Health 2013) Safeguarding people by recognising and responding when an adult or child might be at risk from abuse but also recognising their own limits and asking for help and escalate concerns when necessary Escalating safety concerns and by doing so acting as effective advocates for those who use our services Being open and transparent about their own practice Identifying areas where improvements in safety or quality can be made Working closely with others to improve services Maintaining accurate, legible, comprehensive records Maintaining compliance with their mandatory training requirements

The successful applicant will need

· To be aware and demonstrate the Trust Values

· To be able to travel efficiently throughout the Borough.

· To be flexible, supportive and if required to take a new role within NELFT appropriate to knowledge, education and skills, as required

To have knowledge of the resources available in the area

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer closely to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Any development needs to help you succeed in the role, can be discussed at the interview stage.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

•NVQ level 3 in care or equivalent Qualification in health and social care or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria

•Lone working experience •Demonstrate Putting people first, Prioritising quality,Being progressive, innovative and continually improve, Promoting what is possible, independence, opportunity and choice and Being professional and honest •Relevant Experience in a community setting and basic level of theoretic knowledge. •Working as a member of a team and flexible •Previous experience of working with a multidisciplinary team

Knowledge

Essential criteria

•Knowledge and understanding of Recovery and Social Inclusion •Understand the need for professional conduct and confidentiality. •Ability to listen effectively and communicate effectively at all levels •Basic written communication skills to enable completion of records etc. •Empathy, compassion, and patience. •Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing. •Knowledge and experience of mental health services and mental health issues •Ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers. •Ability to act calmly in emergencies and respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging behaviour

Desirable criteria

•Awareness of local services / resources •Knowledge of benefits / employment system •Previous experience working within mental health services •Experience and knowledge to complete physical health vital signs for patients •Able to travel within the geographical work area and across directorates

Skills

Essential criteria

•Ability to understand relevant documentation/information Flexible •Ability to work under own direction •Competent listening and observation skills •Good Communication Skills •Ability to relate to individuals and groups •Appropriate responses to situations •Good awareness of patient safety issues and reduction of risks and others •Contribute to the implementation of care plans by helping to assess patients, develop, implement and evaluate a care plan

Benefits

We believe in bringing your authentic and best self to work, in order to deliver the best care to our patients. We are committed to supporting our employees holistically. Here is a snapshot of what is on offer at NELFT:

A long-standing and award-winning approach to equality and diversity with supportive networks for ethnic minority staff, staff with disabilities or long term/chronic conditions and LGBT staff. A commitment to supporting colleagues to achieve a work life balance, through flexible working opportunities and our effortsto support our working parents and carers. This has resulted in us being recognised as a ‘Top 10 Family Friendly Employer’ from the Working Families Charity. Proactive health and wellbeing support, including access to our employee assistance programme, staff psychological support, individual wellbeing conversations and a network of health and wellbeing ambassadors. Detailed information about our wellbeing and benefits offer can be found in this link.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement whether that’s a job share, part time hours or another flexible pattern.