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HR reference only)

As a charity established by carers, Rethink Mental Illness believes that carers play an invaluable role in helping their loved ones recover from mental illness and they should be acknowledged, valued and supported. Our range of carers’ support services includes local support groups,training sessions, advice and information. We also train professionals and help them work in partnership with carers, friends and families to improve the lives of those affected by severe mental illness.

Our Oxfordshire Carers Service provides practical and emotional support to carers, relatives and supporters of people with mental health problems. The service provides information about carers’ rights, mental health diagnoses, treatments available and other local services and resources. The service also delivers the Caring and Coping Programme to support the role of the carer.

To lead the way to a better quality of life for everyone affected by severe mental illness by:

• Provide formal carers assessments and develop support plans to assist carers in achieving their goals
• Ensure Carers have easy access to information, support and guidance that shall assist them in their caring role and develop social relationships and activities outside of their caring role
• Signpost carers and assist access to relevant services

• Respond to changes that may develop within the personalization agenda to be able to work with Carers of people receiving personalised budgets.
• Work flexibly to support carers who wish to access services out of normal office hours e.g. carers in employment.

• To be familiar with individual Care/Recovery Plans and support people who use our services in achieving their goals

• To provide key worker support to a specified number of service users, including one to one individual support and liaison with other mental health agencies on behalf of people who use our services
• Enabling individuals to self manage their personal and domestic resources
• Support individuals when they are distressed
• To undertake carer assessments on behalf of LPFT and the CMHT
• Provide practical and emotional help to carers on a one to one basis and in group situations
• To develop good working partnerships with local statutory services. Taking referrals and liaising with the CMHT
• To provide information to carers on how to access mental health services and carers assessments.
• Be involved in planning activities in response to suggestions from Rethink Mental Illness Groups/committees

• Develop range of activities requiring carer involvement and participation (including attending to fairs and conference stalls; attending boards and forums; training of professionals and participating in recruitment panels)
• Regularly assess the experience of involved carers and seek ways in which the concerns of all Mental Health Carers can feedback into activities and arrangements of a wide range of forums and services
• Ensure that voluntary sector agencies and other mental health service providing are aware of the value of carer involvement, and that appropriate support and encouragement are provided in terms of remuneration and access
• Ensure that carer involvement opportunities and carer participation are publicised and acknowledged through use of newsletters and other media

• To have primary responsibility for a service including managing stakeholder relationships

• To work as a team member, sharing information and supporting colleagues.
• To support and guide volunteers ensuring they have the knowledge, information,and resources to be successful in their roles and make a positive and valued contribution to the service.

• Participate in the monitoring requirements of the service by providing statistical and qualitative information on activities, success stories and outcomes achieved
• To maintain accurate records as required by policies and procedures, using appropriate paper and electronic systems. To maintain up to date details of service and support activities and outcomes on the Rethink Information System
• Engage with community events, meetings and forums to promote the service and Rethink Mental Illness
• To work with the team to ensure the service specific lone working procedure is adhered to at all times and regularly reviewed for effectiveness

• Ensure effective incident and complaint recording including reporting information on RIVO

• Proactively contribute to continuously improving the service by making positive suggestions, providing constructive feedback and assisting in the implementation of agreed new ways of working.
• To support individual’s to express their satisfaction with the opportunities they have accessed by submitting comments, compliments or complaints

• Act in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 and Information Governance Policies
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as provisions set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

• As with all employees, workers and volunteers; to encourage people to join Rethink Mental Illness as a member, donor or activist
• To act in accordance with the charity’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and to notify your line manager promptly if there are any concerns
• To participate in regular supervision and appraisal and undertake any relevant training as appropriate to the role

• To work in accordance with the charity’s national policies and local operating procedures and those of external regulators or professional bodies
• To be able to work with basic computer packages.

• Occasionally an opportunity may arise for an experienced MHRW to take on supervisory responsibility for up to 3 people. An additional 2 spine points will be paid, however this is non-contractual and maybe removed with a months notice. The purpose of this initiative is to provide development opportunities for experienced MHRW.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be exhaustive. The successful applicant will be expected to adopt additional tasks when required; in keeping with the general profile of the role

• Experience of providing support to people with a mental illness; or experience of providing care and/or support services within another social care setting in either a paid or voluntary capacity.
• Knowledge and understanding of recovery principles and embedding the ethos of recovery into your own practice.

• The ability to make a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s situation and needs; to develop, implement and review risk management plans and devise support plans to meet these needs.
• Understand the rights of Carers and promote the interests of Carers and the people they care for

• QCF Diploma or NVQ level 3 in Care or Certificate in Community Mental Healthcare (or working towards) or equivalent knowledge gained through lived personal experience as a Carer

• Present a positive image of self and the service when communicating with a clearly defined range of people on day-to-day matters and when appropriate reducing barriers to ensure effective communication

• Ability to work with people in a way that they are not just defined by their illness, and to adopt the other person’s frame of reference and be non-judgmental
• To be aware that each person has a unique life story
• Actively promote, support and develop the Recovery ethos.
• Work with individuals to identify their physical and mental wellbeing needs, related safety assessment and the need for intervention
• Challenging behaviour which creates risk and establish agreed boundaries and expectations, assisting people to develop greater control over their own behaviour.

• Identify signs that people are at risk and where there may be a need for protective measures. Report any suspicions of risk to the appropriate person/or organisation.

• Maintain the quality of own work by working within the limits and own competence and responsibility and refers to issues beyond these limits to the relevant person / people.
• To comply with legislation, policy and procedures and other quality approaches relevant to the work undertaken. To use and maintain resources effectively and efficiently.

• Support equality and value diversity and recognise people’s rights in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Value people as individuals by acknowledging and recognising people’s express beliefs, preferences and choices.

• Take into account own and others’ behaviour and its effects on others and take appropriate action when own or others’ behaviours undermine equality and diversity.

• Make changes in own practice and offer suggestions for improving services in discussion with line manager and work team and to time seeking support if necessary.

• To constructively share views and suggestions to improve services and alert the appropriate person when direction, policies and strategies are adversely affecting users of services or the public.

• Input, store and provide data information accurately and completely, using correct format and consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Find and provide requested data/information using agreed procedure and formats, maintaining the integrity of the data/information.

• Collect, collate and report routine and simple data and information effectively and to time, using set systems consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.

• Confirm that the data / information meets preset quality criteria and report any quality issues, maintaining the integrity of data / information using agreed procedures.

• Maintain knowledge and information resources and help others to access and use them by using agreed methods and frameworks.

• Establish users’ requirements and enable them to access the knowledge and information consistent with legislation, policies and procedures. Refer users to other people or sources when they are better able to meet their needs.

Agreed By Post Holder:

Agreed By Manager:

Date Agreed:

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