Assertive Outreach Worker
Thank you for your interest in this position and in Oakleaf.
Are you passionate about working alongside vulnerable adults and thinking outside the box to ensure they get the support they need?
Do you have experience working directly with individuals facing multiple disadvantage? Incl. Mental Health Concerns, Homelessness and Addiction?
Would you like to work as part of a supportive team within an established and growing Mental Health Charity?
Oakleaf has a proud history of helping people across Surrey who are suffering from mental ill health. The need for good mental health support is growing and we provide a range of support including 1-to-1 Counselling, Employment Support and a wide variety of wellbeing activities provided both online and in person.
We’re looking for two individuals to work as Mental Health Outreach Workers through a commissioned project under the Changing Futures agenda funded by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The project is commissioned by Surrey County Council to deliver flexible, trauma informed, person centred outreach support to individuals coping with multiple disadvantages.
The role will sit within our Client Services department and benefits from being a part of a supportive team, whilst also having a certain level of autonomy in order to think outside the box to ensure an individual gets the support they need.
Context of the Role
The role will provide assertive engagement to complex clients through a trauma informed and holistic approach and includes, harm-reduction advice, motivation to change, benefits and accommodation support.
This role will span across Surrey working with a maximum caseload of 8 clients, to enable you the opportunity to work closely with each individual and, in turn, make a significant difference to their quality of life. In addition, to the extensive support from within our Client Services Department, this project benefits from being a part of a county wide programme working closely with key charity partners. Offering monthly clinical supervision and support.
Main duties & responsibilities
1. To liaise and work with SCC Changing Futures lead for Bridge the Gap and associated alliance partners in working towards Bridge the Gap principles and ethos in developing the project under the Changing Futures agenda.
2. To represent Oakleaf Bridge the Gap at Alliance meetings participating in feedback of evaluation outcomes.
3. To attend all practitioner/TAP meetings in respect of Bridge the Gap referrals as required through project. Ensure that you provide written evidence as required and follow up on any actions nominated in the meetings and work in a holistic way using a trauma informed approach.
4. To facilitate joint working with other support services to tackle any barriers, including Housing; Health; Social Care; Mental Health; Drug & Alcohol and Criminal Justice.
5. To undertake assertive outreach predominately across Guildford, Waverley and
Woking but with the possibility of delivering a Surrey wide service using a keywork approach for clients within Bridge the Gap.
6. To provide person centred and trauma informed approach to clients under Bridge the Gap principles.
7. To respond to working with clients in the community or wherever the client feels comfortable in a safe, risk assessed approach, working collaboratively with other practitioners to best support the needs of the client and in line with current best practice.
8. To conduct continuous risk assessment on clients’ needs and presenting behaviour and consider this risk in outreach approach. Develop and update risk management and crisis contingency plans in client records.
9. To conduct and record written assessments, support plans and stars on ECINS and work with clients to identify a support plan that best fits their current needs and be proactive in supporting them to achieve these goals.
10. To record client case notes factually and comprehensively after each client visit on ECINS and be responsible for each assessment, support plan, star and evaluation outcome data that feeds into the project for Bridge the Gap.
11. To support the National Changing Futures programme and participating and supporting both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the evaluation including completing DELTA training.
12. To transport clients in staff cars (own vehicle) to appointments as required
13. Participate and engage in weekly team meetings to share client presentation, risk and discuss outcomes for the clients within their support plan.
14. To adhere and work within Oakleaf’s risk assessment/safeguarding and all policies relating to the role.
15. To participate in training that is mandatory and essential for Continuous
Professional Development to undertake the role.
16. Engage with supervision and appraisals including a commitment to attend and participate in Bridge the Gap Clinical Psychological Supervision and Reflective Practice sessions.
17. To raise safeguarding concerns with your line Manager to discuss a plan. Take responsibility for completing referrals to other practitioners where a client is at risk to themselves, others and from others, following Oakleaf’s Safeguarding policy.
18. Staff to adhere to incident management policy and are responsible for recording all incidents factually involving clients, environment and building.
19. Represent Oakleaf BTG in all aspects of your work.
General
1. Ensure maintenance of a safe & efficient working environment in accordance with current Health & Safety legislation including the Health & Safety at Work
Act 1974, COSHH Regulations, Environmental Health & other Directives.
2. Perform any other reasonable duties as may be requested.
This job description is an indicator of general areas of responsibility & will be
amended in accordance with the changing needs of the organisation & in
consultation with the post holder.
Terms & Hours: 36pw. A rota across the operational hours of 10:00– 20:00 Mondays toFridays and 09:00 – 12:00 weekends. Annual leave: 24 days, plus public holidays.
Notice Required: Three months.
Contract length: Fixed term until April 2024.
If you think this role might be a good fit for you, please get in touch with our Head of Client Services, Annalise on annalisebaker@oakleaf-enterprise.org
