Community Support Outreach Worker

Previous applicants need not apply. 

The Community Support Mental Health Outreach Team (CSMHOT) are embedded within Medway Council’s Adult Social Care Division, we have a thirst for knowledge and a drive to challenge the status quo, learning and innovation, which have become part of our identity. The team have been nominated and previously won the Making a Difference to Our Customers’ Lives award.

The successful candidate will be part of a team and a wider team, you will contribute to working and maintaining the team’s and organisation’s values. We are full of life and enthusiasm for the care of our customers that we support, and we drive this outlook throughout the daily work we provide. It is important for any candidate joining our team you have the service user at the forefront of what you always do and respect the values already in place.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Outreach Worker (Support Worker) to take a person-centred and holistic approach in the care that is provided.

Supporting vulnerable adults 18 years of age and above, who may be experiencing an array of enduring and complex functional mental health illnesses and mental health problems, including dual diagnosis and coexisting health conditions.

The support the team offers is person-centred and focuses on the person’s strengths, this may be through different stages of their illness which impact on how the person manages daily living and their social care needs.

The aim of all the support provided to the service user is tailored to the individual needs, to improve confidence, and to enhance their skills and well-being with the aim for the service user to increase resilience and self-management. Improving the quality of life and optimising the level of independence for as long as possible for each person we support.

This is a full-time role, 37 hours a week, which requires you to be flexible in your working hours this can be a combination of day, evening, weekends, and bank holidays to meet the needs of the service user and the service needs.  

Key Requirements

• A qualification in health and social care, or a qualification that is relevant to this field of work
• Demonstrable experience of working as a Community Support Worker, supporting service users with mental health needs
• Good working knowledge of mental health related illnesses and the impacts these can have
• Good knowledge of the principles for safeguarding vulnerable adults
• A good understanding of health and safety at work, including assessing risk
• Have a good knowledge of the local area and the community services that are available.
• You must have a full valid driving licence and access to a car for work purposes with the ability to travel around Medway catchment area and Kent
• Have a good level of understanding of Adult Social Care 

In return we offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency.  Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change. 

Our organisation:

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.

For more information on the job role please see the job specification or if you would like any further information about the role, you can telephone on 01634 331899 and either the manager Jenny Bartlett or a senior support worker will answer your questions you may have.

Important Information-

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, family commitments, sexual orientation, age, HIV status, religious or political beliefs, social class or trade union activity or irrelevant spent conviction.

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.  All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.