The Support Worker will provide a combination of personal care, care at home and housing support to people with dementia in their own homes. The post holder will be part of a dedicated team that will ensure that the highest quality of service is provided.

The Support Worker will work 2 or 3 shifts per week with the flexibility to increase hours to meet the demands of the service. The Support Worker will work day shift, backshift, weekends and nightshift.

We are looking for a unique person who can support people with dementia, living within their own home in a Supported Living Service, personalised to the tenants needs.

Our support workers are our most important people as they provide front line support.

Our support workers help tenants to maintain skills and independence by providing support and care with all aspects of daily living

Successful applicants will have a positive approach to dementia. You will also have good communication skills and a caring attitude. A willingness to learn and participate in training is essential. Relevant qualifications and/or experience of working with people with dementia is essential.

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

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 centered 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 centered 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 Stirling and Clackmannanshire locality, the post will be based at the Brain Health and Dementia Resource Centre in Alloa. 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 to a minimum of SVQ level 4, 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.

1 x permanent, part time position in Wigtownshire and Stewartry (21 hours per week).

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 centered 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 centered 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 Dumfries and Galloway locality, the post will be based within the Community Mental Health Team.

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 to a minimum of SVQ level 4, 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.