Health Recovery Support Worker: Visa Sponsorship Available

Support Worker Job Summary

We seek the services of a Support Worker. The Start Thinking About Recovery Team (STAR-Team) is the dual diagnosis service in the in-patient forensic service for BEH Mental Health Trust based at Chase farm Hospital. The team work with service users on the in-patient wards in the forensic service who have issues relating to drug and alcohol use.

Main duties of the job

This involves the assessment of service users as well as the delivery of evidence-based interventions such as relapse prevention and motivational interviewing. The service place great emphasis on the therapeutic relationship and view this as the main vehicle through which recovery can begin and continue. The post will include providing 1:1 as well as group working sessions.

About us

The partnership between Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust (BEH) and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (C&I) is going from strength to strength since it was originally established in 2021 forming the North London Mental Health Partnership.

Why choose to join the Partnership?

• We believe that by working together, our two Trusts can achieve more for the residents of North Central London and our patients than we can by working apart.
• Deliver the best care using the most up-to-date practise in supporting those with mental health illnesses.
• Transforming and creating a positive environment for our service users, staff and visitors.
• Creating and working together to become a great place to work for all our staff.
• We offer flexible working, a wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives, NHS Pension and so much more.
• Generous Annual Leave Allowance
• NHS Discounts in a large variety of retail stores and services.
• We have excellent internal staff network support groups.

The postholder will need to be comfortable working in an environment of complex matrix management arrangements and will at all times behave and align with our Trusts’ values and cultural pillars:

• We are kind
• We are respectful
• We work together
• We keep things simple
• We empower
• We are proudly diverse

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY RELATIONSHIPS:

Service users and carers

Administrators

Substance Misuse Recovery workers

Other members of the Substance Misuse team

Substance Misuse Lead

Senior Managers

NLFS MDTs including Doctors, Nurses, psychologists, OT staff, HCAs etc.

BEH Mental Health NHS Trust

Community services including Third sector organizations, as appropriate

MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical Responsibilities

1.1. To support the development and implementation of treatment within the field of dual diagnosis (mental health and substance use/misuse) for service users identified as potentially having a dual diagnosis within NLFS.

1.2. To carry out substance misuse assessments, as appropriate

1.3. To provide one to one sessions with service users, ensuring that care and recovery planning in relation to Substance misuse is conducted on an individual basis according to the specific needs of the service user.

1.4. To communicate highly sensitive information requiring the development of persuasive or re-assurance skills to service users and colleagues.

1.5. To establish, sustain and disengage from therapeutic relationships with individuals.

1.6. To interact and co-operate with service users, relatives, and other professionals within NLFS and any community services as appropriate.

1.7. To have professional responsibility for promoting equality, diversity, and rights.

1.8. To work closely with ward-based nursing teams and multidisciplinary teams to support the implementation of substance misuse care plans

1.9. To implement and monitor treatment plans with service users that address their needs in relation to mental health and substance misuse problems.

1.10. To assess and act upon immediate risk of danger to service users and/or others.

1.11. To educate and give information to service users and others in the care of the client on issues related to mental health problems and substance misuse.

1.12. To support service users to engage in interventions aimed at addressing their substance misuse difficulties.

1.13. Able to deliver structured psychosocial interventions including harm reduction/minimization strategies, motivational interviewing, CBT programmes, problem solving, behavioural interventions and counselling techniques as negotiated with individual service users.

1.14. To co-facilitate and support the delivery of group programmes throughout NLFS in-patient services and within the community.

1.15. To understand the rationale for UDS (urine drug screening), Ion tracker screening and breath alcohol testing and support such testing as necessary.

1.16. To support the production of reports as required.

1.17. When required to advocate for service users.

1.18. Where appropriate, to engage friends and family of the service user in their treatment, where explicit consent has been given.

Personal Responsibilities

3.0. To agree an annual appraisal/personal development plan with Substance Misuse Lead/Supervisor.

3.1. To work to objectives as agreed with the Personal Development Plan and the Substance Misuse Lead/Supervisor.

3.2. To participate in clinical supervision with a nominated Supervisor.

3.3. To represent the service in formal and informal settings as requested by the Substance Misuse Lead.

3.4. To develop and maintain good working relationships with Trust colleagues and other relevant professionals.

3.5. To carry out other duties as requested by the Substance Misuse lead that are in line with the Job Description and the needs of the service.

3.6. To be aware of and able to work within a diverse cultural and ethnic community.

3.7. To participate in service development and maintain standards as requested by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust.

Educational Responsibilities

4.0. To assist in induction programmes for new personnel employed by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust.

4.1. To support students and staff on secondment in the service as required.

4.2. To facilitate learning and information exchange through presentations and activities in formal and informal settings internally and externally to the Trust.

4.3. To assist in development of training programmes related to dual diagnosis, with the development of/or resourcing the appropriate supportive literature.

Professional Responsibilities

5.0. To adhere to all Barnet Enfield, and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust policies.

5.1. To contribute to the development and implementation of the Substance Misuse team within NLFS.

5.2. To encourage by example the attainment of higher standards of practice and professionalism.

5.3. To keep accurate, current, and legible records of interventions with service users as per Trust protocols.

5.4. To adhere to Caldicott guidelines, and Trust confidential policy.

5.6. To attend relevant courses and seminars and keep professionally up to date.

5.7. To develop own knowledge and practice including making positive use of supervision and reflective practice.

5.8. To contribute to training programmes connected with Dual Diagnosis and Mental Health.

5.9. To actively participate in the collection data for research purposes.

5.10. Any other duties commensurate with the grade and in line with the requirements of this post.

Recording and Administration

6.0. To maintain an accurate record of all work undertaken.

6.1. To maintain and update awareness of current issues relating to severe mental illness and substance misuse.

6.2. To ensure effective communication on all relevant matters with other members of the Substance Misuse team and MDTs at NLFS.

6.3. To attend and participate in all Substance Misuse meetings and any other relevant training.

Data Protection

7.0. If required to do so, to obtain and/or use information held on the computer in a fair and lawful way.

7.1. To hold data only for the specific registered purpose and not to use or disclose it in any way incompatible with such purposes.

7.2. To disclose data only to authorised persons or organisations as instructed.

7.3. To ensure that all staff are aware that matters of a confidential nature should not be divulged to any unauthorised persons and that any breeches of confidentiality may lead to disciplinary action.

7.4. Be aware of the Trust Risk Management Policies and ensure that junior staff are aware of their responsibilities under this Policy and the Health and Safety at Work Act.

7.5. To ensure the welfare and safety of patients/residents/visitors and staff within the unit ensuring that all staff are conversant with fire and emergency procedures.

7.6. To have an understanding and implement the lone workers policy regarding visiting service users in the community.