This is an exciting new role for a specialist housing and benefit support worker to work alongside our patients, ward management, nurses, occupational therapists and community mental health teams with the aim of improving patient outcomes, aiding recovery and improving patient flow.

You will have a relevant housing qualification and demonstratable skills to evidence that you are able to confidently navigate the entire range of housing and benefit options that are available and needed, in order to support a timely and safe discharge from hospital.

You will be passionate about the importance of minimising the risk of homelessness or inadequate housing and have experience of working within the field of Mental Health. You will need to have excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills and will be expected to demonstrate your ability to work within a team.

The position is full time and based at Prospect Park Hospital and will be between the hours of 9-5 Monday-Friday.

Main duties of the job

• To reduce the number of patients discharged with no housing provision in place
• To minimise the number of delayed transfers of care cases where housing has been listed as the cause
• To reduce repeat presentations from people who are street homeless
• To ensure presentations to local housing authorities are done in an efficiently managed way
• To ensure all benefits are in place prior to discharge meetings
• To reduce any other social barriers to a safe discharge

About us

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

The must haves for this role:

• GCSEs in English and Maths (or equivalent)
• Level 3 Safeguarding
• Chartered Institute for Housing or other relevant Housing qualification (diploma level)
• Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (or equivalent)
• Understanding of NHS mental health services and acute wards
• Understanding of housing issues to contribute to a successful discharge
• Knowledge of local housing pathways
• Knowledge of housing legislation (homeless reduction act, Duty to Refer, Universal Credit)

For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.

We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.

Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.

We welcome a conversation about flexibility and any other questions you may have. Please dont hesitate to call: Zoe Emms- Bed Optimisation Clinical Delivery Manager on 07867 906809 wholl be delighted to help.

Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Person Specification

Education/Qualifications/Training

Essential

• GCSEs in English and Maths (or equivalent)
• Level 3 Safeguarding
• Chartered Institute for Housing or other relevant Housing qualification (diploma level)
• Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care (or equivalent)

Continuous Professional Development

Essential

• A commitment to undertake continual personal development

Previous Experience

Essential

• Previous experience of working in the Mental Health sector
• Previous experience of lone working in clinical environments and with patients
• Working with people with dual diagnosis and homelessness
• Previous experience working within a mental health environment and providing care for those clients.
• Advanced IT skills
• Experience using MS Office packages/remote working applications such as MS Teams.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Understanding of NHS mental health services and acute wards
• Housing issues to enable a successful discharge
• Local housing pathway
• Housing legislation (homeless reduction act, Duty to Refer, Universal Credit)
• Knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health Act, Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and other relevant legislation
• The understanding of types of mental health illnesses and the level of care some clients may require
• An understanding of current approaches to mental health practice and recovery
• Awareness of the local services available (community/statutory/3rd sector) to those with mental health needs.
• Awareness of the local services available to those with mental health needs.
• Current knowledge of welfare benefits to ensure residents receive their maximum entitlement.
• Experience and confidence to liaise with other agencies, attending ward rounds and reviews.
• Understanding of the Recovery process and how to implement this in daily practice.
• Basic drug awareness.
• Focussed Therapy and Motivational Interviewing etc.
• Understanding of complex trauma and personality disorder
• Basic Health & Safety knowledge
• To work confidently, flexibly and creatively to engage complex clients
• Good communication skills, written, verbal and listening.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Good literacy and numeracy skills.
• Ability to provide non-judgemental, emotional and practical support to clients and to gain their trust.
• Ability to engage with and build appropriate working relationships
• Ability to work safely and responsibly without direct supervision with clients, and on your own.
• Demonstrate respect for difference and diversity
• Ability to act calmly and in a professional manner whilst dealing with unpredictable and challenging behaviour

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel efficiently across sites as per the requirement of the role.

Employer details

Employer name

Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust

Address

Prospect Park Hospital

Honey End Lane

Reading

RG30 4EJ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

371-MHS634