Community Support Worker

Overview

We’re looking for people who share our values of compassion, accountability and optimism to help us provide high quality care for the patients, carers, families and communities we serve. We specialise in NHS mental health and learning disability services and we’re proud to make a difference every day. At SPFT we put people first. We’ll do everything possible to help you feel respected, valued and included.

You’ll have opportunities to learn, grow and gain new experiences to support your career, with access to lifelong learning and professional development. We actively promote flexible working and understand how important work life balance is, especially in healthcare. Whether it’s part time hours, hybrid working or flexible start and finish times, we’ll explore what works for you and the role.

We recognise that AI is becoming part of daily life and you may choose to use it to help prepare your application. We welcome innovation but ask that anything you submit reflects your own abilities, experience and voice. AI can support how you describe your skills and experience, but it should never replace your own words as we want to get to know you.

We’re shaping a workplace where ideas are encouraged, technology supports you and everyone has a voice in how we improve.

Role: We are looking for a full time Community Support Worker to work in Intensive Support as part of the Dementia & Older People’s Mental Health Team based in Worthing, West Sussex. Intensive Support operates 9am–5pm, 7 days a week including Bank Holidays.

• The Community Support Worker role is pivotal to the review process for older people and their carers who are experiencing crisis and require interventions from our services.
• Direct work with people in the community and home settings, liaising with primary care services and other providers of support within the local community.
• Be part of a friendly, highly skilled and enthusiastic multi-professional team; receive regular managerial and clinical supervision.
• Support development of skills and encourage special interests aligned with service and team objectives.
• Travel across the geographical area (Adur, Arun & Worthing) covered by the team; the ability to travel to remote areas is essential.
• Promote safety and the well-being of service users and their families/carers at all times.

• Experience of working as part of a team
• Good communication skills
• NVQ Level 2 in Care or equivalent experience
• NVQ Level 3 or equivalent experience; experience of working with mental health needs in a paid or voluntary capacity
• Experience of working collaboratively with colleagues, wider teams, service users, etc.
• An understanding of confidentiality; good command of written and spoken English
• Ability to exchange factual information with service users using reassurance, tact and empathy
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team; flexible around shift work and able to communicate effectively
• Ability to know when to escalate concerns
• Ability to work in partnership with service users, carers and other agencies
• Ability to know when to seek support from team members when working individually within a service user group or in a 1:1 setting
• Ability to organise own day-to-day work tasks or activities
• Basic IT skills
• Ability to carry out duties related to lone working, including escorting service users on home visits and accessing the community
• Successful candidates are normally appointed to the bottom of the pay scale unless previous NHS experience in a similar role can be evidenced

• This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975; a Disclosure will be sought from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).