Are you a creative and motivated individual with the passion and drive to support people with a recent diagnosis of dementia to live well in their community?

If so, you can be part of a National Team of Post Diagnostic Support Link Workers (PDS Link Workers) providing high-quality, person-centred support to people living with dementia and their families for a minimum of a year following diagnosis in line the Scottish Government’s minimum guarantee.

The aim of the PDS National Service is to enable people to live well with dementia and is centred around Alzheimer Scotland's 5 pillar model so that people move on to a period of supported self- management.

The model includes understanding the illness and coming to terms with the diagnosis, peer support, connecting and maintaining links with their community along with planning for future care and decision making to develop an outcome focused plan to support their future hopes, desires and aspirations.

Supporting our Highland Locality, the post will be based within the East/Mid Ross Team. Alzheimer Scotland’s PDS Link Workers are required to be effective team workers and have the skills to build and maintain relationships with colleagues both within Alzheimer Scotland, the NHS and other stakeholders.

Skills in using digital platforms are essential as we use a blended approach to support people that involve some virtual meetings and on-line groups.

Applicants must hold a recognised relevant professional qualification, have a good understanding of dementia and how it affects people and their families along with excellent communication skills, a warm flexible approach, combined with skills in empathy and relationship building.

In addition, you should have skills and knowledge at the Enhanced Level of the Promoting Excellence Framework or be able to evidence you are working towards its completion.

This post requires a full driving license and access to a car.

Transform Forth Valley is offering this post in partnership with the Robertson Trust.

The Social Inclusion Project (SIP) supports people who use alcohol and drugs and have backgrounds of offending or other particularly challenging behaviour, to access existing services, referred by partner organisations. The Social Inclusion Project (SIP) model complements the work of existing agencies/services by supporting people to interact with services when their complex needs (such as substance use, homelessness, mental health illness, learning disability, welfare benefits issues, social isolation and / or family dysfunction) present barriers for their access to care. The collaborative approach between the Social Inclusion Project (SIP) and existing services is proven to deliver an effective means by which people can access services which they might otherwise struggle to interact with.

The post holder will work directly with the service user to enable their access to an integrated pathway across universal services including the ‘Third Sector’ and wider Health & Social Care services.

The post-holder will work in partnership with colleagues from local Councils, Social Work, Housing and Conflict Resolution Services, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, NHS Forth Valley and Substance Misuse Services.

The post-holder will be primarily required to work from their specified location and will work flexibly within an agreed number of hours to maintain the most appropriate level of provision.

Organisational Profile

Transform Forth Valley is a Scottish based registered charity limited by guarantee (SC033772).

Transform Forth Valley is governed by a Board of Directors and is strategically led, managed, and operated on a day-to-day basis by a Corporate Leadership Team consisting of a Chief Executive, Operational and Corporate Service Managers.

Transform Forth Valley offer a wide range of services to support individuals and families who are impacted by inequality, whether this be societal, financial or in relation to their health.

Transform Forth Valley is dedicated to empowering individuals and families to live a more fulfilled life. We work with partners to actively challenge inequalities and to achieve sustainable change.

You can find out more about Transform Forth Valley here: transformfv.org.uk.

Benefits:

Leave – For full time employees Transform Forth Valley offer 28 days of Annual Leave plus 9 days of Statutory Holiday per annum.

Pension – If eligible Transform Forth Valley will auto enrol you into our pension scheme where we will contribute 5%, and employee’s a minimum of 3%, of your pensionable salary.

Death in Service Insurance – If eligible Transform Forth Valley will place you into the scheme upon commencement of employment and the lump sum benefit is 4 x Basic Annual Salary.

Flexible Day – Non-Statutory Scheme – Transform Forth Valley offers a voluntary scheme where you can opt in to work extra hours to accrue a Flexible Day off every 4 weeks.

ACUMEN (Advancing Community Understanding of Mental and Emotional Needs) is a network of people who use mental health support from across the West of Scotland. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual to join ACUMEN in the West of Argyll. The post involves a significant amount of travel and requires the ability to develop networks across a large geographical area with a range of stakeholders.

The successful applicant will support ACUMEN to engage with people with a lived experience of using mental health services. ACUMEN Development Workers represent people who use mental health services and carers in a variety of forums in Argyll and Bute as well as working with a range of national partners who promote the voices of people with a lived experience of using mental health support.

You should have a clear commitment to Mental Health service users and carers and a proven ability to develop, facilitate and co-ordinate groups and in developing volunteers. The ability to engage with a broad range of partner organisations is an important function of the role.

Since 1981, Alzheimer Scotland has been campaigning for the rights and promoting the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people living with dementia, their families and carers.

The Community Connexions Outreach Worker role is central to our success, in providing people living with dementia with practical support, advice and access to resources, activities, groups and other community programmes that will sustain, as far as is possible, peoples’ independence, existing lifestyle and relationships.

The key role of the Outreach Worker is to:

• Meet with, and build relationships with people living with dementia, their families and carers and analyse their outcomes in order to understand the support they need to promote their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

• Act as a local resource for people living with dementia within a short intervention model; helping people build their confidence and navigate through the health and social care system; facilitating their access to appropriate services and support within the community.

• Work with the Community Connexions Senior Practitioner in facilitating a range of therapeutic interventions on an individual or group basis. i.e., Cognitive stimulation; Reminiscence; Memory rehabilitation techniques; Validation; Use of music/art/horticulture and pet therapies etc.

• Initiate, develop and maintain effective working relationships with other professionals working in the field of dementia in the local voluntary, statutory and private sectors.

• Record and monitor all work undertaken and produce regular progress reports to enable effective evaluation of the impact of outreach work on the person living with dementia, and the overall Community Connexions Service.

• Work with the Head of Operations, Service Manager and Community Connexions Senior Practitioner to identify gaps in the provision of outreach services for people living with dementia and their carers, sharing good practice with existing services.

• Promote positive attitudes in public services, and in the local community by providing information to raise awareness of the practical, psychological and emotional impact of living with dementia, and how people can support others to achieve their outcomes.

The Successful candidate will:

• Be flexible, self-motivated and dynamic with excellent communication and influencing skills, and ability to work effectively without close supervision.

• Have a proven track record of experience in each of the above elements of the role.

• Be committed to collaborative working and learning from others.

• Be experienced and show a good understanding of best practice in organising the provision of practical advice, support and access to resources for people living with dementia, their families and carers.

• Have achieved or be working towards a recognised professional qualification in social services and healthcare to a minimum of SVQ Level 3 or equivalent.

• Have a full and valid UK driving licence and access to a car during working hours.

This role will cover an area of the Fife Locality and ideally be based locally. A driving licence and access to a car during working hours is essential.

This is an exciting opportunity if you love supporting people to make a difference in their lives. The role enables you to bring your expertise and your network together to provide practical support that will enable people living with dementia to meet their individual outcomes.