Job summary
A Monday-Friday working pattern is just one of the attractions of a Senior Support Worker role with Talking Therapies.
We are looking for Senior Support Workers to join our friendly team at locations across Berkshire – (Newbury, Reading, Wokingham, WAM (Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead), Bracknell and Slough)
We are an IAPT (improving access to psychological therapies) service that leads on innovation, boasting a new preceptorship programme for our staff, allowing them to have a clear progression plan and develop in their career with us. A clear example of this is our recent recruitment day where our Senior Support Workers were successful at gaining roles as Trainees Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner.
A key focus of this role will be to build a strong rapport with cultural and ethnic diverse community groups and including sharing how Talking Therapies can support their community. This will involve facilitating the delivery of psychoeducation groups for those communities from Cultural Ethnic and Diverse Backgrounds. The post holder will be expected to work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary and should be committed to equal opportunities.
Main duties of the job
- Supporting the delivery of high-volume low intensity interventions using cognitive behavioural therapy for mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
- Opportunities to support those with long term health conditions and those with employment or wellbeing issues alongside our fantastic employment and wellbeing support teams.
- Opportunities to support a diverse population of patients
- Opportunities to facilitate the delivery of psychoeducation groups for those communities from Cultural Ethnic and Diverse Backgrounds.
- Opportunities to work with people with different cultural backgrounds and ages, using interpreters when necessary
Essential criteria to be shortlisted for this role:
- Evidence of vocational training or further study
- Experience of working with people in community settings
- Experience of working in or with a diverse or multi-cultural community
- Experience of completing mental health assessments
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
- Demonstrates an understanding of mild to moderate anxiety and depression and how it may present in Primary Care
- Willing to work one 12-8pm shift per week (the rest either 8-4pm or 9-5pm, no late shifts on Fridays)
We also welcome those who can offer therapy in other languages, although not essential for this role.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare has a record of achievement and success that places us as one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We are rated ‘Outstanding’ by the CQC, we have a history of strong financial performance, and we have a highly skilled and engaged workforce.
For our people who work here that means we want Berkshire Healthcare to be a great place to work where everyone can thrive and grow. Some of the benefits of joining our team:
- One of the only IAPT services to offer a preceptorship programme for career progression
- A leading service on digital therapy. A pilot service for virtual reality for the treatment of phobias and part of the global extemporal programme-instrumental leaders in digital innovation
- Large focus on wellbeing of staff with our very own wellbeing network team
- Brand new Continuous Professional Development programme
- Flexible working opportunities and a strong emphasis on your work, life balance
- Annual leave – 27 days for new starters, plus bank holidays. Increasing to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years NHS service. Pro rata for part time staff
- Confidential telephone care service providing independent support and advice for staff.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description for more information about this role and working at Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- NVQ in health, social care or relevant subject or relevant experience
- Evidence of vocational training or further study
- Education to GCSE standard or equivalent
- Willingness to undertake relevant training
- Experience of working in or with a diverse or multi-cultural community
Desirable
- Experience working/training in mental health services or studying psychology/health studies
- Honours Degree in Psychology (Upper Second class 2:1 or higher)
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in Health or Social Care work
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Evidence of taking part in mental health assessments
- Able to write clear reports and letters
- Evidence of delivering evidence based psychological interventions
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with people in mental health and community settings
- Experience of working in the voluntary sector including in housing, employment or debt services
- Experience of mental health promotion or health campaign work
- Experience of working with refugees/ asylum seekers
- Experience of working in or with a diverse or multi-cultural community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to evaluate and put in place learning from training
- Computer literate
- Excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
- Demonstrates a basic understanding of community mental health services
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental well-being
Desirable
- Demonstrates an understanding of full range of mental health problems and how they may present in Primary Care
- Fluent in languages other than English
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies
Additional Requirements
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation
- Advanced communication skills
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
- Ability to be self-reflective and use supervision and personal development positively and effectively
- Ability to work under pressure
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- To work flexibly within and outside of office hours on a shift pattern
- Car driver with ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation
- Able to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others as well as being able to cope with distressing circumstances
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications/Training
Essential
- NVQ in health, social care or relevant subject or relevant experience
- Evidence of vocational training or further study
- Education to GCSE standard or equivalent
- Willingness to undertake relevant training
- Experience of working in or with a diverse or multi-cultural community
Desirable
- Experience working/training in mental health services or studying psychology/health studies
- Honours Degree in Psychology (Upper Second class 2:1 or higher)
Previous Experience
Essential
- Previous experience in Health or Social Care work
- Demonstrates high standards in written communication
- Worked in a service where agreed targets are in place
- Ability to manage own caseload and time
- Evidence of taking part in mental health assessments
- Able to write clear reports and letters
- Evidence of delivering evidence based psychological interventions
Desirable
- Previous experience of working with people in mental health and community settings
- Experience of working in the voluntary sector including in housing, employment or debt services
- Experience of mental health promotion or health campaign work
- Experience of working with refugees/ asylum seekers
- Experience of working in or with a diverse or multi-cultural community
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Ability to evaluate and put in place learning from training
- Computer literate
- Excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills, including telephone skills
- Able to develop good therapeutic relationships with clients
- Demonstrates a basic understanding of community mental health services
- Demonstrates a knowledge of the issues surrounding work and the impact it can have on mental well-being
Desirable
- Demonstrates an understanding of full range of mental health problems and how they may present in Primary Care
- Fluent in languages other than English
- Demonstrates an understanding for the need to use evidence based psychological therapies
Additional Requirements
Essential
- High level of enthusiasm and motivation
- Advanced communication skills
- Ability to work within a team and foster good working relationships
- Ability to be self-reflective and use supervision and personal development positively and effectively
- Ability to work under pressure
- Regard for others and respect for individual rights of autonomy and confidentiality
- To work flexibly within and outside of office hours on a shift pattern
- Car driver with ability and willingness to travel to locations throughout the organisation
- Able to empathise, be supportive and sensitive to the needs of others as well as being able to cope with distressing circumstances
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
Additional information
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab) .
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab) .
