10 jobs available across the following districts:
- Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey
- Inverness East
- Mid & East Ross
- Lochaber
- Sutherland
- Skye, Lochalsh & Wester Ross
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.
We are excited to be expanding our Community Link Worker Service to over 60 GP practices across Highland and North
Scotland, resulting in a number of vacancies throughout the area.
The Community Link Worker service collaborates with 62 selected GP surgeries across Highland – supporting adults over
the age of 18 through social prescribing. Referrals are received from the GP to our Community Link Workers when
there might be a concern caused by social factors, rather than a medical problem. The service focuses on
improving health outcomes for people experiencing stressors in their lives due to social problems, which could
lead to poor mental health.
As a Community Link Worker, you will work directly with people referred to the Highland Community Link Worker Service
from their GP Practice who require immediate or on-going emotional, practical or vocational support in order to
deliver the best possible health outcomes.
This post works directly with people using the service to develop and review personal support plans. You will work
closely with other members of the Community Link Worker team, colleagues in Primary Care and representatives of
community-based groups and organisations, to achieve outcomes as defined by your line manager.
Within the Community Link Worker team there is a clear line management structure which supports and shapes the
practice. The post will contribute to an environment where people can improve their health outcomes, establish
improved connections in their communities, and enhance their quality of life.
Locations:
We are recruiting for 10 posts throughout the Highlands, please include your district preference from the list below
in your cover letter when applying for the role.
Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey:
Full-time (35 hour working week)
GP Practice areas:
- Aviemore
- Grantown-on-Spey
- Kingussie
- Newtonmore
Inverness
10 hours per week
GP Practice areas:
- Foyers
Mid and East Ross
22 hours per week
GP Practice areas:
- Fortrose
- Munlochy
- Cromarty
- Beauly
- Drumnadrochit
Lochaber
1 position at 26 hours per week
1 position at 28 hours per week
GP Practice areas:
- Acharacle
- Fort Augustus
- Ballachulish
- Mallaig
Sutherland
19 hours per week
GP Practice areas:
- Dornoch
- Bonar Bridge
Sutherland
21 hours per week
GP Practice areas:
- Armadale by Thurso
- Lochinvar
- Tongue
- Lairg
- Kinlochbervie
Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross
21 hours per week
GP Practice areas:
- Applecross
- Gairloch
- Torridon
- Lochcarron
- Ullapool
Skye, Lochalsh and Wester Ross
1 position at 29 hours per week
1 position at 31 hours per week
GP Practice areas:
- Carbost
- Dunvegan
- Glenelg
- Kyle
- Broadford
Key Responsibilities:
- Work as part of a team building positive working relationships
- Work closely with colleagues in Primary
Care
- Coordinate and refer service users to resources in the local community and to statutory and
non-statutory services as appropriate
- In partnership with service users, design, implement, and review
outcome focussed development plans to enable service users to achieve their identified goals
- Employ a
number of appropriate intervention strategies including positive communication skills
- Ensure ongoing
risk assessment is integral to my practice to ensure the wellbeing of service users
- Utilise group work
skills which bring people together in a safe environment
- Awareness of appropriate professional
boundaries including confidentiality
- Understanding of the requirements of Health and Safety in the
workplace and follow Change Mental Health policies
- Ensure that careful and ongoing review systems are in
place and maintained
Essential Criteria:
- Educated to SVQ level 2 or have relevant experience working in health and social care
- Able to plan and
prioritise workload
- Professional self-awareness and able to seek support and advice from my line manager
appropriately and participate in supervision and support meetings positively
- Able to liaise confidently
with statutory and non-statutory agencies
- Empathetic
- My personal and professional value base is
consistent with the aims and objectives of Change Mental Health
- Demonstrate genuine regard for service
users and their families
- Have good I.T. skills and can produce accurate case notes
- I am
enthusiastic to develop my knowledge and skills
- Full, clean, driving licence and access to a
vehicle
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of working with people affected by mental or physical health issues
- Experience of
community-development work
- Experience of working in a SSSC Registered Service
- A learning and
development portfolio which evidences my skills and knowledge
General Duties
- Act in accordance with Data Protection legislation. Ensure all records, personal, staff and client data are
managed in line with Data Management and Information Governance policies
- Comply with legal and
regulatory requirements such as provisions set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- As with all
employees, workers and volunteers; to encourage people to join Change Mental Health as a member, donor or
activist
- To act in accordance with the charity’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and to
notify your line manager promptly if there are any concerns
- To participate in regular supervision and
appraisal and undertake any relevant training as appropriate to the role
- To work in accordance with the
charity’s national policies and local operating procedures and those of external regulators or professional
bodies
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.
Please note that 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