Band 3 Mental Health Support Worker

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a full-time Band 3 Mental Health Support Worker to join the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team (CRHTT), based at Resource House in Wokingham. The team supports adults experiencing an acute mental health crisis by providing timely, compassionate care in the community and helping to prevent avoidable hospital admission. Working under the direction of registered practitioners, you will provide practical and emotional support and undertake delegated assessments and interventions within agreed care plans and your assessed competence. You will gather and analyse relevant information, assess and monitor mental state, risk, physical health, functioning and social circumstances, contribute to risk formulations, safety plans and care plans, and record your findings and actions. You will make appropriate decisions within agreed Band 3 boundaries and promptly escalate complex, urgent or out-of-scope clinical decisions to the responsible, registered practitioner or shift coordinator. You will join a friendly, experienced multidisciplinary team and receive supervision and opportunities to develop your knowledge and skills in crisis care. This is a full-time post based at Resource House, Wokingham. The successful candidate will undertake community visits across the local area and must be able to meet the travel requirements of the role.

• Work with nurses, doctors, social workers, support workers, psychologists and administrative colleagues within the multidisciplinary team.
• Support care delivery through planned face-to-face visits and telephone contacts, under the direction of registered practitioners.
• Provide emotional and practical support to people experiencing a mental health crisis, promoting recovery, independence and daily living skills.
• Undertake delegated assessments within competence and agreed protocols, following training and competency assessment, with access to supervision from the responsible registered practitioner.
• Gather and analyse information from the person, carers, clinical records, observations and partner services, in line with consent and confidentiality requirements.
• Assess and monitor mental state, risk, physical health, functioning and social circumstances within assessed competence.
• Use assessment findings to contribute to risk formulations, safety plans and care plans with the registered practitioner and multidisciplinary team.
• Make decisions within Band 3 boundaries, delegated authority, care plans and service procedures.
• Escalate deterioration, increased risk, safeguarding concerns and complex issues to the responsible registered practitioner.
  
  1. Relevant experience of supporting people with mental health needs in a health, social care, community or similar setting, or a relevant qualification with transferable experience.
2. A caring, compassionate and non-judgemental approach to people experiencing distress. 3. Good verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to maintain accurate records and share concerns appropriately. 4. Ability, following training and competency assessment, to undertake delegated assessments, gather and analyse relevant information, and assess and monitor mental state, risk, physical health, functioning and social circumstances. 5. Ability to contribute to risk formulations, safety plans and care plans; record assessment findings and actions; make appropriate decisions within agreed Band 3 boundaries; and escalate complex, urgent or out-of-scope decisions appropriately. 6. Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, organise delegated work safely and work independently within agreed care plans, delegated authority, supervision arrangements and Band 3 boundaries. 7. Basic IT skills and an understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding, equality and professional boundaries. 8. A flexible and reliable approach to work, including the ability to organise tasks and manage competing demands. 9. A valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes, with reasonable adjustments considered where appropriate.


• Work within delegated authority at all times. Complex, urgent or out-of-scope decisions must not be made independently.
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish. Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
• Caring for and about you is our top priority
• Committed to providing good quality, safe services
• Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
• Generous NHS pension scheme
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities
• 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
• Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
• Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
• Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
• Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
• Free parking across Trust sites
The "must haves" for this role