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 Fife locality, the post will be based within the Community Mental Health Team at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, KY12 0SU. 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.

Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing unique support to people with severe and enduring mental ill health. With over 50 years’ experience across Scotland, we believe people affected by poor mental health and illness deserve the highest quality of support in the community and that every person has the right to be valued and to share in the opportunities, challenges, and joys of everyday life.

The Senior Support Workers in the Thrive Welcome Teams undertake short-term focused work with a wide range of people. 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, treatment options and self-management resources as appropriate.

They work closely with other members of the multi-disciplinary team and Peer Workers within the locality and develop positive working relationships with other Health and Social Care colleagues, the wider third sector and community organisations in the city. They contribute to the overall development of the Thrive vision, ensuring that the service is accessible and visible and meets the needs of the local community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assess the mental health and wellbeing of the individuals who come to the team
• 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 if necessary
• Devise asset based Thrive Plans that focus on personal outcomes
• Assist people to utilise community services and self-help resources
• Complete ongoing records on TRAK in line with NHS Lothian timescales
• Attend daily team huddles, business and team meetings
• Contribute to the development of operational processes and procedures
• Develop and sustain effective relationships with statutory colleagues and with Change Mental Health staff
• Contribute to effective team working and the development and evaluation of the service
• Ensure all Health and Safety standards are maintained, including lone working procedures

Essential Criteria:

• An appropriate professional qualification (at least SVQ Level 4)
• At least two years’ experience of working with vulnerable people, preferably 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

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 the charity’s 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 Welcome Team 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.

Benefits:

• 24/7 access to an award-winning Employee Assistance Programme providing free legal, financial, and medical advice as well as support with life’s challenges
• A 35-hour working week, enhanced sick pay & season ticket loan.
• A great work life balance with flexible and blended working environment.
• Access to purchase a Blue Light Discount Card
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Enhanced sick pay and leave entitlements
• Generous 37 days’ holiday
• Paid Mental Wellbeing Days
• Professional development including funded opportunities

Would you like to make a difference to the lives of People Living with Dementia in Midlothian?

We are looking for a unique person to join our team at our dementia specific day service in Bonnyrigg. Our day services are personalised to the preferences and needs of individuals, providing therapeutic activities with a focus on maintaining skills and independence. The day services in Bonnyrigg are open Monday to Friday.

Our Support Workers are our most important people as they provide front line support. Successful applicants will have a positive approach to dementia. You will also have good communication skills and a caring attitude. Supporting individuals to keep connected to their communities, engage in their interests and hobbies and access peer support.

The use of a car is preferred (mileage and expenses are paid).

A willingness to learn and participate in training (including SVQ’s) and registration with the SSSC is essential. Relevant qualifications and/or experience of working with people with dementia would be an advantage.

We are offering fixed term post for a Development Worker – Training to facilitate, develop and deliver Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Safe Talk and Scottish Mental Health First Aid Training within Midlothian.

Please note candidates must have completed and maintained Training for Trainers status in these courses.

You will be part of the delivery collective responsible for implementation of Creating Hope Together – Scotland’s suicide prevention strategy and action plan.

You will be highly skilled in administration and manage related tasks including advertising, managing enquiries and waiting list, risk assessment, collecting and collating statistics and producing reports.

This role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, where the successful candidate will be required to deliver various training courses within Midlothian.

You will be key to maintaining quality within this area of service delivery. You should have experience of delivering training to a variety of groups including people experiencing mental health problems to support them to gain knowledge and understanding of suicide prevention, intervention and mental health and wellbeing. You should also have experience of developing systems and processes and sharing your learning experiences across teams.

If you have experience in these areas and are passionate about delivering training to raise awareness and improve mental health, we’d love to hear from you! If you would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Tammy Kirk by email @ tammy.kirk@health-in-mind.org.uk