HARP Safeguarding Statement and Equality Statement

HARP Safeguarding Statement and Equality Statement

HARP Safeguarding Statement and Equality Statement

Safeguarding Statement

HARP is founded on the principles that people have a right to be completely secure from both the fear and reality of any abuse. The safety and well-being of each service user is of paramount importance.

HARP intends to create services within which people are safe from abuse, and in which any suspicion of abuse or actual abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to.

Equal Opportunities Statement

HARP recognises that people with different social and ethnic backgrounds, skills and attitudes, can bring new ideas and perceptions to an organisation.

HARP is committed to taking positive action to fight unlawful discrimination in every aspect of its work and the services it provides.HARP believes that everyone has a right to services and employment which are free from direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of gender, race, colour, creed, religion, marital status, sexual orientation or disability or any other grounds protected by legislation.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title:MENTAL HEALTH LIAISON WORKER

Reports to:Team Leader

Responsible for:Project Workers, Students, Volunteers

Grade:Coordinator

Scale:Points 26-28

Department/Service: The Transitions Project is part of Operational Services.

Job Purpose:

The Bradbury Centre team will enable 50-100 long-term rough sleepers to improve their mental health, physical wellbeing and move off the streets into supported housing providing stability and support. Focus will be on helping them make improvements to their mental health, managing physical health problems, sustaining a tenancy with support under the Transition Project and other accommodation options.

The Mental Health Worker will be in contact with long term rough sleepers resident in the Transitions Project to improve their physical and mental health, linking them into mental health services as required and be available to chat, whilst informally assessing their needs, and building trust. Developing, creating and maintaining partnerships with the voluntary and statutory mental health agencies is a vital component of the role to deliver maximum impact to helping service users sustain their accommodation and achieve a better quality of life.

Organisation chart

1.Duties and key responsibilities

  • Work alongside the team at The Bradbury Centre to improve rough sleeper’s physical and mental health, linking them into mental health services as required.
  • Managing a caseload, key working service users and undertaking risk assessments, support plans and Outcomes Stars with follow up reviews.
  • Develop, create and maintain partnerships with voluntary and statutory mental health services.
  • Develop a Single Point of Contact arrangement between HARP and key mental health services
  • Provide intensive support to those who are referred to mental health services.
  • Enable Transitions Project service userswith mental ill-health to retain their accommodation with HARP or in the community to prevent eviction through appropriate support from HARP and key agencies.

Delivery

  • Deliver the service as outlined by the Project Plan and to the agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) as specified to the Big Lottery Fund.
  • Ensure that all service users have an accurate fully maintained case file
  • Ensure that every service user has a Full Needs & Risk Assessment, Outcome Star/Action Plan and contact sheets and that these are regularly monitored and up dated by the Housing Workers.
  • Work as part of a team and co-operate fully with all the other HARP services.
  • Ensure that anti-oppressive practices are an integral part of the service and that it is applied to all our service users.
  • Assist colleagues in a range of meaningful activities groups as required
  • Provide evening and weekend cover across all sites in accordance with the Work Rota.

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Ensure that the information on the HARP In-Form database is accurate and fully up dated so that it is always available for monitoring and reporting purposes and in line with Data Protection requirements.
  • Manage participation and outcome data, maintain key programme data, collate information onto the database and assist colleagues to produce relevant reports.
  • Take responsibility for conducting entry and exit interviews with participants.

Budget

  • Provide timely information to the Service Manager to ensure that the HARP budget is created and effectively managed.
  • Take responsibility for service charge collection, managing petty cash and recording donations.

Stakeholder management

  • Liaise with the Meaningful Activities Coordinator to provide appropriate training opportunities relevant to the person’.
  • Develop and maintain good professional working relationships with all the other agencies that work in partnership with HARP, and establish where appropriate, joint service user reviews so that all support can be coordinated for the service user’s benefit.
  • Liaise with the Private Rented Sector Coordinator at The Bradbury Centre to find suitable move accommodation.
  • Support the Service Manager to maintain relationships with all relevant external stakeholders and organisations.

Local press and PR

  • Support Service Manager in developing relationships with local and national press (includingBlogs and websites) to gain local programme coverage.
  • Collaborate with the Corporate Team and PR Manager in insuring that social media is effectively used.
  • Ensure that programme information with regards to participant outcomes is kept updated.
  1. General Responsibilities
  • Represent and be an ambassador for HARP
  • Attend regular team meetings, supervision sessions, and performance reviews.
  • Undertake learning and development activities as appropriate.
  • Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices
  • Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace
  • Ensure that service users are safeguarded, protected from abuse and improper treatment
  • Treat with confidentiality any personal, private or sensitive information about individual organisations and or clients or staff and HARP data
  • Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position

PERSON SPECIFICATION: Mental Health Liaison Worker

EXPERIENCE

•An understanding of and substantial experience of working face to face with vulnerable people.

  • Substantial experience working inthe mental health field.

•Substantial experience working in the homelessness sector or supported housing environments.

•Good experience of applying Health & Safety guidance and ensuring that policies and procedures are adhered to.

•Working with a range of stakeholders and partnership working or strategic networking, spanning voluntary and care or health sectors.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

•Clear communication skills face to face and on the phone or email.

•Ability to manage difficult situations, and deal with them calmly, efficiently and effectively.

•Writing skills – produce reports and ability to write succinct documents on complex areas.

•IT skills at a level that supports report writing, email, internet and database.

•Time management and organisational skills.

•Establishing trust and maintaining a good rapport with service users when carrying out advice/support work; including the ability to identify and raise concerns regarding safeguarding.

•Ability to engage and motivate others.

•Self-motivated with the confidence to work alone but can also work co-operatively and flexibly as part of a team.

•Ability to stay focused and efficient in the face on changing priorities.

•Ability to remain calm in a crisis and deal with all incidents in a professional manner.

KNOWLEDGE

  • Regulatory requirements and best practice guidance relating to:

-Homeless people and the issues that may affect them including physical ill-health, mental ill-health, drug and/or alcohol misuse

-Databases and writing reports.

-Housing legislation and welfare benefits

-Supported Housing environments

EDUCATION/TRAINING

•NVQ Level 4 in Health and Social Care (Adults) or above or any other related qualification.

•Undertake any further training that may be seen as necessary to further your knowledge and to become more effective in your role.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

  • Able to travel extensively within the Borough and Region.
  • Able to work evenings and weekends and Bank Holidays on a shared rota.
  • Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work.
  • Commitment to the values and ethos of HARP.
  • Full Driving Licence and access to a car required.

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