Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity whose vision is a future where no one needs to face mental illness alone. We have been supporting people with mental illness for over 50 years across Scotland. Our mission is to provide transformational support where everyone has access to the support they need, when they need it and in a way that works for them.

About the service:

The Senior Support Workers in the Thrive Early Access Mental Health Service undertake short-term focused work with adults of all ages and from a wide range of backgrounds. They help people to identify what is important to them and the steps they can take to manage their mental health and wellbeing. The workers connect people into community services, clinical treatment options and self-management resources as appropriate.

Along with mental health nurses and other members of the multi-disciplinary teams, the Senior Support Workers staff the Open Access drop-ins that take place within the locality. They work closely with colleagues within health and social care, the wider third sector, and with community organisations across the city, ensuring that the service is accessible to and meets the needs of all sections of the community.

Key responsibilities:

• Assess the mental health and wellbeing of people who attend Open Access
• Ensure that any risks identified are escalated in line with NHS Lothian protocols
• Manage a caseload, working in conjunction with the nurses, occupational therapists and social workers in the team when needed
• Devise asset-based plans that focus on personal outcomes
• Assist people to utilise community services and self-help resources
• Facilitate Decider Skills and other psycho-educational groups
• Complete ongoing records on TRAK in line with NHS Lothian timescales
• Attend team Huddles, business meetings and locality wide Learning Labs
• Follow all operational processes and procedures
• Develop positive working relationships with statutory colleagues and CMH staff and contribute to effective team working
• Ensure all Health and Safety standards are maintained, including lone working and personal safety procedures

Essential Criteria:

• An appropriate professional qualification (at least SVQ Level 3)
• At least two years’ experience of working in the mental health field
• Experience of enabling people to identify and achieve their personal goals
• Experience of assessing risk and devising collaborative safety plans
• Experience of devising asset-based support plans
• A track record of managing own caseload and completing administrative tasks with minimal supervision
• Knowledge of theories and good practice around early intervention, asset-based approaches and person-centred working
• An awareness of support services in the city and of mental health self-help resources
• Able to work in a trauma-informed way and to apply trauma-skilled approaches
• Able to work with a high level of autonomy and to use an analytical and problem-solving approach
• Committed to continuous professional development and willing to undertake appropriate training and developmental opportunities
• A high level of competency with IT
• Able to effectively manage their own mental health and wellbeing

Successful applicants for this post will require a PVG Membership (this will be arranged by Change Mental Health before you start your role)

General Duties

• Ensure all records and client data are managed in line with NHS Lothian’s Data Management and Information Governance policies
• Comply with all legal and regulatory requirements such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
• To act in accordance with Safeguarding procedures
• To follow all lone working and team safety procedures
• To participate in regular supervision, appraisals, team and business meetings
• To undertake induction training and any other training appropriate to the role
• To work in accordance with the charity’s policies and the local operating procedures of Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
• To represent and promote Change Mental Health within the Thrive Early Access Mental Health Service and at external meetings and forums as required

This job profile and list of duties is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements. The line manager may stipulate other reasonable requirements and projects commensurate with the general profile and grade of the post.

All successful candidates will require a PVG Membership. Please be aware that it is classed as an offence if you apply for this role and are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children or vulnerable adults.

The Redress Support Service is a new initiative that aims to remove barriers that Survivors might face in their application for financial redress. The service employs a team of Link Workers who deliver emotional and practical support to applicants as required during their application process. There is an option at the end of the application process for survivors to access non-financial redress, which includes emotional support, and the Redress Support Service will facilitate this where required.

In addition, the service provides a responsive, high quality, trauma-informed helpline for those engaged in, or registered with, Scotland’s Redress Scheme.

Penumbra will employ an Operations Manager, who will work with the Alliance.

The Operations Manager will provide mentoring and guidance to a diverse team of Link Workers to ensure the needs of applicants are met and service provided is run effectively. Promoting participation and inclusion is a core value of the service, through working alongside people to deliver innovative, creative and personalised interventions and opportunities.

As a mental health charity, we really value the wellbeing of our staff. That’s why we want you to know that you’ll be joining a friendly team, who will give you a supportive environment to help you thrive in your role, including all the training you need to feel confident and equipped.

We can offer you a tonne of employee benefits, and we can promise you’ll be inspired by some pretty amazing humans every single day. We will support you on your own career path; developing new skills, accessing formal and informal learning experiences and providing opportunities to put your continual progress into practice.

With your mental health at heart

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our Midlothian Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Team. This post is funded by Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership.

We have an exciting leadership opportunity to join the Scottish Borders Community Mental Health and Wellbeing MAP Team as a Team Leader. Within this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the day-to-day delivery of our Scottish Borders mental health one-to-one, group and peer support services.

You should have experience in; leading and managing services, supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing, working as part of a team, meeting funding targets, data analysis and reporting.

If you have experience in these areas and are passionate about supporting people to fulfil their potential, we’d love to hear from you!

With your mental health at heart

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join our Midlothian Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Team. This post is funded by Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership.

We have an exciting leadership opportunity to join the Midlothian Community Mental Health and Wellbeing MAP Team as a Team Leader. Within this role, you will be responsible for ensuring the day-to-day delivery of our Midlothian Access Point and Guided Self-Help services.

You should have experience in; leading and managing services, supporting people with their mental health and wellbeing, working as part of a team, meeting funding targets, data analysis and reporting.

If you have experience in these areas and are passionate about supporting people to fulfil their potential, we’d love to hear from you!