Recovery Support Worker
Our Vision is to provide the best mental health, learning disability, autism and community based services for the populations we serve.
As an integrated mental health, learning disability and community Trust, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including:
- Primary and secondary mental health care for children and adults including specialist inpatient child and adolescent mental health provision, perinatal mental health, forensic services including low and medium secure care.
- Specialist community support for children and adults with learning disabilities and autism, including intensive support.
- Community physical health and well-being services for children and adults.
The Trust was first established in 2002 and employs approximately 7,000 staff who provide care from more than 400 sites. The organisation offers opportunities for medics, mental health and general nurses, allied health professionals, psychology, administration and clerical staff, apprentices and volunteers.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust supports flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, home/remote working, and flexi-time.
For more information visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
Job overview
We have an opportunity to recruit a Recovery Support worker to join our team in the Mental Health Unit within Woodview Unit Mitton Rd Whalley. The successful candidate will work with the ward teams and the occupational therapy service, alongside a strong multidisciplinary team helping people with acute mental health issues to achieve a successful and timely discharge from hospital.We are looking for someone with a compassionate nature who can communicate successfully with people who have different abilities and presentations. They will be a team-player who can undertake some duties independently and at times act upon their own initiative.
Experience of leading groups, working individually with people and providing activity would also be a desirable ability.
The successful candidate will be offered regular clinical, professional and line management supervision as well as opportunities to attend internal and external training. The successful candidate will be working with a friendly team and have access to good facilities and support from managers.
If you feel you have a genuine caring nature, enjoy challenges and are enthusiastic about providing the best possible service for people to live satisfying, independent lives we would be very keen to meet you.
Main duties of the job
The adult mental health inpatient services aim to meet the holistic needs of service users/patients and carers while they recovery from their mental illness. The post holder will support the clinical team to provide a meaningful and therapeutic day for service users.They will support service users to identify and engage in the diversional activities offered. Such activities may take place on the ward, in the unit or grounds or in the community.
Working alongside the ward staff, occupational therapists, and the rest of the multidisciplinary team, the post holder will provide a holistic person centred approach to care. Using their skills in a range of leisure and recreational activities, they will plan and deliver a range of group and individual activities across 7 days and into the evenings, to enable the promotion of the five ways to well-being (connect, take notice, be active, learn, giving something back to others) for patients experiencing MH issues.
The post holder will establish and maintain a rapport with the patients, carers, relatives and visitors. They will maintain a good up to date knowledge of and links with community resources and actively support service users to develop links that will enable them to continue to engage with activity upon their return to their community.
During times of pressure due to workload or staffing difficulties, the post holder will liaise with Occupational therapy staff to provide a prioritised service.
Working for our organisation
Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides a range of services including secondary mental health care across this area. Specialist provision comprises inpatient child and adolescent mental health services, perinatal mental health and forensic services including low and medium secure care.
The Trust also provides a range of physical health and well-being services in the community alongside a range of partners in the Lancashire, Cumbria and Sefton area.
Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust encourages flexible working, we believe that a positive work/life balance benefits NHS employees through improved health and wellbeing. We would consider working patterns such as; term time, part time, compressed hours, flexi-time and career breaks.We encourage applicants to state clearly on their application forms this request and discuss these options at interview.
For more information please visit our website via Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS FT.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please see attached the job description and person specification for more information about this role
Person specification
Experience
Essential criteria- Supporting people with mental illness e.g. nursing home, hospital ward, as a carer
- Working in a mental health setting.
- Previous experience working in inpatient settings.
- Previous work in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Planning and leading groups.
- Inputting to electronic records.
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Awareness of confidentiality.
- Knowledge of signs and symptoms of a range of mental disorders and its effects on individuals.
- Knowledge of the 5 Ways to wellbeing and its impact upon recovery.
- Knowledge of de-escalation techniques.
- Knowledge of Local history.
Education
Essential criteria- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or care certificate completed (or willingness to complete in first 12 months from appointment) or equivalent knowledge skills and experience
- Ability to undertake Violence Reduction physical intervention training.
- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care (completed or working towards)
- CYQ/YMCA Level 2 Fitness Instructor
- First Aid at work certificate
Skills
Essential criteria- Good communication both written and verbal and the ability to pass on information accurately.
- Able to motivate service users using activity.
- Able to work without direct supervision to deliver a programme of distraction activities.
- Ability to communicate and work with people of all ages and adapt/develop activity programmes to reflect people’s intellectual and physical abilities, and interests.
- Standard IT skills.
Other
Essential criteria- Able to work in a changing environment.
- Able to work a working pattern that meets the requirements of the role.
Please note that further communication from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust (LSCft) will normally be to the email address given on the application form. You should also ensure that email addresses and telephone numbers are provided for your referees, to enable LSCft to contact them.
Please be aware the use of artificial intelligence (AI) when submitting an application is monitored and if you have used AI to generate an application, you are required to declare this on your application form. AI-generated content may lack specificity and fail to address key criteria outlined in the job description.Personalisation is essential when submitting an application form to convey your skills, knowledge, and experiences effectively.
Please ensure that you read the person specification attached below as your application will be measured against this document. Applications from job share partners are welcome and other forms of flexible working will be considered for all posts.
For all posts which require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check please be aware of the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice, a copy of which is available by logging on to the DBS website. If the post is subject to DBS disclosure, a charge will be made to the successful candidate(s).
You are advised to consider applying for LSCft vacancies as soon as possible as in some instances vacancies are closed as soon as a sufficient number of applications have been received. If you are not invited to interview within three weeks of the closing date then please assume that on this occasion you have been unsuccessful, as it is not possible to contact all unsuccessful candidates.
LSCft is committed to celebrating difference as an asset and we know that recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds helps to create a more flexible, creative and effective workforce. We actively challenge discrimination and welcome applications from people regardless of age, disability (particularly those with experience of accessing or caring for someone who has accessed mental health or learning disability services), ethnicity, gender, religion or belief or sexual orientation.
Our goal is for the Trust to be truly representative of the communities we serve so we are particularly keen to receive applications from people in under-represented groups. If there is anything you’d like to discuss in relation to your application then please ask.