Title of Post:Dual Diagnosis Family Link Worker

Job Description

Employer:Herts Young Homeless (hyh)

Managed by:Head of Health and Specialist Services

Hours: 37 per week (Full time)

Salary: £21,500 - £25,400

Contract:Fixed Term (3 years – funded by Children In Need)

Based at: hyh HatfieldOffice. Will include countywide travel.

Annual Leave: 25 days per annum

Benefits: hyh will operate a pension scheme with The Pension People in the name of the staff member. The basic scheme is for to hyh contribute 3% of basic salary for all staff on permanent contract.

Staff eligible to join the scheme will be automatically joined into the scheme at the 3% of basic salary at the earliest moment, a decision to undertake personal contributions is not necessary when joining the basic scheme. Once in the scheme, staff can elect tomake personal contribution to the scheme via a payroll deduction, personal contributions are matched up to a further 3% by hyh. Personal contributions above 3% are not matched.

Other benefits:hyh operates a Group Life Insure Scheme based for staff on contracts longer than six months based on 4 times Salary via FriendsLife. Entry to the scheme is automatic on joining the charity; completion of a nomination form is required to

Purpose of Job:

This role will work alongside hyh Mediation and Advice and Information service, working with 10-18 year old children and their families, who are affected by mental health and substance misuse problems. The aim is to reduce family conflict and reduce the risk of homelessness by improving health and wellbeing within the family.

Duties and Responsibilities

Working with Young People and Families

To work alongside service users and other professionals to assess any un-met needs of families regarding mental health, substance misuse, housing and financial difficulties and provide quick, effective support to connect them with the services they may need.

To work creatively and imaginatively in order to facilitate solutions with young people and their families

To identify, review and overcome the families’ barriers to engaging effectively with statutory and non-statutory services.

To provide an approach to families that will improve their communication, helping them to build on strengths and support each other better.

To be able and willing to work with communities and neighbours to improve communication where community relationships have broken down as a result of a child or family’s behaviour.

To provide information for children, families and their communities about living with mental health or substance misuse problems

To work in conjunction with statutory and non-statutory service providers on care planning and reviewing.

To encourage and empower service users to make best use of appropriate statutory and community resources.

To establish and develop links between services that ensure service users access the full range of care and treatment services to meet their needs.

To work effectively alongside the Mediation team to provide practical support to complement conflict resolution and emotional support

Time Management

To hold a maximum caseload of 15 families at any one time and manage own time effectively

To accurately maintain service users’ records within agreed timescales

Administrative

To assist with the recording of statistical data, including analysis for funders

To work in line with the requirements of funders, including contributing to service reports

Maintain filing systems, both paper based and electronic database

Relationship Building

To liaise and build relationships with partner agencies and share information in accordance with hyh policy

Development Work

To input into the development of the Mediation and Dual Diagnosis Services

General

To ensure safe practice and professional boundaries are maintained

To work alongside volunteers as appropriate

To identify personal training needs in agreement with the line manager and attend training as appropriate

To attend supervision, team meetings and other meetings as appropriate

To provide a culturally sensitive service.

To maintain confidentiality in relation to the service user in line with legislation and the highest standards of professional integrity.

To work to agreed training and development objectives, attending courses and conferences as relevant

To undertake any other reasonable duties as may be required and consistent with the normal level of responsibility of the post.

To assist with other duties as required by the Head of Service

To ensure hyhpolicies and procedures are adhered to at all times

Note: No job description can be entirely comprehensive. The post holder will be expected to undertake any other tasks that may be required from time to time.

This job description will be formally reviewed as necessary to take account of changing priorities. Aspects of the job may be subject to review in negotiation with the post holder at any time.

Person Specification

Essential

Ability to engage and motivate young people, strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to be appropriately assertive

Ability to communicate effectively, in writing and verbally, with colleagues and partners at all organisational levels

Ability to work effectively with a full and varied workload with conflicting deadlines

Highly motivated with the ability to work using own initiative and as part of a team

Excellent understanding of confidentiality with strict professional boundaries and personal integrity

A commitment to undertake training where required and an enthusiasm for new challenges and experiences

Working knowledge of Word and Excel, internet and email

A commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

Current driving licence and use of own car or motorbike for business purposes

Desirable

Professional qualification in social work, counselling, nursing or similar

Experience of service user support within a dual diagnosis or mental health service

Awareness of recent developments in mental health/substance misuse