The role of a Mental Health Link worker is support our clients mental health and wellbeing services, expand its services into Medway. 

The role will provide support and advice to clients with mental health needs. The aim of the service is to deliver individually tailored, one-to-one and time limited support for individuals with mental health needs; this support could be directly in relation to mental health as well as other factors impacting on this, such as loneliness, housing and employment. The role will work closely with local primary care networks, as well as other key stakeholders.

Main responsibilities

1.    Support people through different approaches, including one to one support as well as referring and signposting to other services and community provision 
2.    Provide an asset-based, personalised approach in supporting people to better manage their mental health and wellbeing, working with them based on their priorities and needs 
3.    Co-produce a simple, personalised support plan which is goal focused and reviewed  
4.    Effectively manage a caseload, with a good awareness and understanding of when to refer to other professionals/agencies when the person’s needs are beyond the scope of the service
5.    Identify, assess and effectively manage risk and safeguarding issues
6.    Supports clients to access more specialist services as appropriate.  
7.    Work independently in the community, proactively building up a network of professional relationships, including primary care networks, to ensure that you are able to support people with a variety of needs
8.    Maintain timely, accurate and up to date records relating to people and assist in the compilation of quarterly progress reports and other reports as required

QUALIFICATIONS
Desirable
1.    To hold a level 3 qualification in the area of either mental health, housing, welfare advice, social work, health care or substance misuse or be willing to work towards one. 

EXPERIENCE
Essential
2.    Experience of supporting vulnerable people in the community 
3.    Experience of supporting people with mental health needs
4.    Experience of supporting vulnerable people to access resources in the community

Desirable 
5.    Experience of working with a range of statutory and voluntary agencies
6.    Experience of working with a person-centred approach to assist people to feel empowered and able to develop and implement their own solutions

SKILLS & ABILITIES
Essential
7.    Good interpersonal and communication skills
8.    Good literacy, numeracy and IT skills
9.    An ability to use own initiative to work both independently and as part of a team
10.    An ability to organise own workload efficiently, balancing face-to-face work with paperwork
11.    An ability to initiate and maintain constructive relations with people you support, colleagues and other professionals from a wide variety of cultural and social backgrounds
12.    An ability to engage with people to support them to set goals and make position changes in their life

KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING
Essential
13.    A comprehensive knowledge of the challenges and support needs of vulnerable people in the community
14.    Understanding of supporting vulnerable people with mental health needs in the community
15.    Knowledge of safeguarding practice for both adults and children 
    
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Essential
16.    Commitment to the practical application of Equal Opportunities
17.    The capacity to handle pressure and to be adaptable to changing or conflicting demands
18.    Good team player with a ‘can do’ and flexible approach
19.    To be a holder of a full drivers licence and have access to your own vehicle. A willingness to travel within a designated area(s) in order to meet client needs.  

This role is being offered on a temporary based for a period of 3 months however this could be expended. 
 
Project/Base:            Medway
Reports to:            Service Manager
Hours:                37.5 hours per week
Salary:                 £11.33 - £12.65 per hour 

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