Specialist Community Mental Health Link Worker (Malvern)

The role of Community Mental Health Link Worker & Counsellor is a unique opportunity for a qualified counsellor to develop their skills within a specialist voluntary sector to support vulnerable adults through 1-to-1 link worker support and counselling.

This new role is funded through Homes for Ukraine and will be providing significant support to those in need alongside our existing Housing Community Mental Health Link Workers.

A Community Mental Health Link Worker & Counsellor will be supporting individuals with needs relating to mental health and the wider determinants of health and wellbeing and to help break down barriers for residents between housing, drug and alcohol support services, and primary and secondary mental health services.

This is a unique opportunity for a qualified Counsellor to develop their skills within a specialist voluntary sector organisation and the post holder will work directly with Malvern Hills District Council clients who are experiencing mental ill health and wellbeing.

This role is an expansion of an already existing service funded by the Homelessness Prevention Grant at Malvern and Wychavon District Councils and will offer 121 link worker support and counselling to clients. Funded through Homes for Ukraine funding via Malvern Hills District council this role will also support those who have been rehomed or in the process of being rehomed within the Malvern Hills District.

Clients will receive mental health support that will have a positive impact on their ability to sustain tenancies, avoid homelessness and secure accommodation as appropriate through person centred support that enables positive change. This role will be instrumental in enabling Malvern District Housing clients to link up all elements of treatment and support and helping them to navigate both primary and secondary mental health services and wider community options.

The role will also offer prevention & early intervention through the delivery of upskilling, training & awareness to professionals and key members of the community through Mental Health First Aider and other bespoke training packages.

This is a joint role with two areas of responsibility.

There is an option to apply for 22.5 hours Community Mental Health Link Worker or 14.5 Counsellor hours or full post to be delivered, responsibilities listed are broken down below.

Key Responsibilities: Community Mental Health Link Worker

1. To facilitate one point of access for support for Housing Services, VCSE and NHS support and signposting
2. Triage clients and provide signposting or referral information
3. Build and coordinate relationships and work closely with key staff in Housing Services, Neighbourhood Community Mental Health Teams, GP practices and Drug and Alcohol support service. Attend relevant meetings to encourage referrals and ensure that there is a clear understanding of the role of the Specialist Community Mental Health Link Worker (Housing)
4. Help clients (and carers) to identify and support them to address any wider issues which are impacting on their housing status, health and wellbeing, such as debt, loneliness, diet, drug or alcohol use and make referrals to other services where appropriate
5. Provide care navigation and facilitate access to community support, activities, organisations, opportunities and advice
6. Assist clients (and carers) to link up and coordinate all elements of treatment and support available including wider community support, information and advice
7. Provide personalised one to one support to individuals using a range of evidence-based tools to support them to manage mental health and increase resilience
8. Ensure the service is integrated within related provision in the district
9. Work as an integral part of the Housing Support team providing feedback as appropriate and contributing to the implementation of this new way of working
10. Work with other VCSE delivery partners to ensure the provision of a seamless and integrated service ensuring recognition of anyone with an informal carer role
11. Manage and prioritise caseload in accordance with needs, priorities and urgent support required by individuals
12. Refer people back to other health professionals/agencies where appropriate
13. Seek regular feedback about the quality and impact of the service, and prepare and provide regular written and verbal feedback and reports on performance
14. Use appropriate systems for data capture, case management, feedback and reporting, to include NHS and Onside case management systems as appropriate, adhering to data protection legislation and data sharing agreements
15. Work as part of the team to seek feedback, continually improve the service and contribute to business planning

Key Responsibilities: Counsellor

1. Accept Referrals via agreed protocols within the service working with housing & other professionals to ensure clients are put into the most appropriate treatment pathway
2. Assess clients for suitability for counselling, amending approach to be more coaching orientated if the client is deemed inappropriate for the service
3. Provide interventions to clients presenting with multiple and complex personal difficulties include those arising from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (such as within warfare)
4. Work with a range of presenting issues; supporting each client to explore a range of life issues which are of a distressing nature
5. Exercise sound theoretical knowledge of the processes of counselling based on evidence of efficacy and to employ a range of short-term counselling interventions to meet the needs of the referred client.
6. Follow ONSIDE protocols and best practice in the assessment and ongoing management of risk and safeguarding concerns, making disclosures to the appropriate agency/colleague where necessary.
7. Explore opportunities to develop therapeutic group support for suitable clients.
8. Maintain the highest professional standards of practice by undertaking regular professional/clinical supervision, caseload management supervision.
9. Adhere to an agreed activity contract relating to the number of client contacts offered, and clinical sessions carried out per week to minimise waiting times and ensure treatment delivery remains accessible and convenient.
10. Attend multi-disciplinary meetings relating to referrals or clients in treatment, where appropriate.
11. Keep coherent records of all clinical activity in line with service protocols.
12. Work closely with other members of the team ensuring appropriate step-up and step-down arrangements are in place to maintain a stepped care approach.
13. Following and adhering to NICE Counselling Guidance & BACP Frameworks (including ethical code of conduct)

If you wish to find out more or apply, go to this link.