Mental Health Support Worker

Job responsibilities

Principal Duties & Responsibilities:

Clinical Practice and Support

• Support the delivery of low-intensity, evidence-based interventions for children, young people, and families in one-to-one and group settings.
• Provide emotional wellbeing support, practical strategies, and psychoeducation to children, young people, and their families.
• Undertake triage, screening, and routine outcome measures, escalating concerns appropriately in line with risk and safeguarding procedures.
• Manage an allocated caseload, maintaining regular contact and ensuring interventions are delivered in line with agreed care plans.
• Offer advice, guidance, and signposting to ensure children, young people, and families can access the right support at the right time.
• Support the implementation of CBT-informed approaches and other early intervention strategies within day-to-day practice.
• Work within the i-THRIVE model, particularly the Getting Advice and Getting Help pathways.
• To work within appropriate time frameworks.
• To educate and involve family members and others in the work as necessary.
• To maintain clients confidentiality in line with agreed guidelines.

Partnership and Educational Liaison

• To work as an active member of the Tees Valley Getting Help Service Team,contributing to the delivery of a high-quality, evidence-based service for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.
• To create and maintain effective working relationships within the Tees Valley GettingHelp Service team, and with colleagues across partner organisations.
• Work collaboratively and liaise effectively with wider workforce including schools, colleges, and community partners to support a whole-school approach to emotional wellbeing and mental health and coordinated care for children, young people, and families.
• To support the development, delivery, and promotion of the Tees Valley Getting Help Service, contributing to service improvement, innovation, and the achievement of service outcomes.
• Demonstrate knowledge of local referral pathways and eligibility criteria across the Tees Valley mental health system.
• Support engagement activity to improve awareness and access to early help services.

Professional Standards and Ethical Service

• To maintain appropriate and accurate records, including assessments, clinicalactivity, routine outcome measures, and feedback from children, young people, andtheir families.
• To undertake relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities, both as required for continued professional accreditation or registration and as identified through the services Professional Development and Appraisal System.
• To participate in an annual appraisal and respond to agreed actions and objectives.
• To adhere to all The LINK CIC and Teesside Mind policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• To operate within agreed NHS, Tees Valley Getting Help Service, and professional guidelines and Codes of Practice.
• To undertake an appropriate level of clinical supervision from a qualified Clinical Supervisor in line with the Tees Valley Getting Help (TVGH) Supervision Programme.
• To ensure a safe and secure working environment for self and others, acting in accordance with Health and Safety policies and procedures.
• To demonstrate a commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, valuing diversity and equality of opportunity for employees, workers, service users, and the wider community. This includes challenging discriminatory language and practice and positively encouraging staff, volunteers, partners, and young people to adopt non-discriminatory practice.

Safeguarding

• Maintain a clear understanding of safeguarding legislation, local procedures, and responsibilities for protecting children and young people.
• To take responsibility for safeguarding children and young people by always promoting the welfare of service users and operating in line with local safeguarding policies and procedures.
• With appropriate guidance and support, to take safeguarding action where necessary to protect children and young people who may be at risk of significant harm.
• Under guidance and supervision, to identifyfamilies who may benefit from additional support and assist them in accessing Early Help services.
• To share appropriate information with partner agencies regarding children and young peoples wellbeing and progress, in line with confidentiality, information governance, and information-sharing protocols.

Undertake other duties and responsibilities as required from time to time commensurate with the post.

Person Specification

Other Personal Qualities

Essential

• High levels of enthusiasm and motivation
• Ability to work within a dynamic team and foster good working relationships
• Ability to work confidently and competently under pressure
• Self-aware and committed to continual professional and personal development. Able to accept and respond positively to feedback from supervision
• Committed to promoting a positive image of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities
• The ability and skills to act as an advocate for a new service, to engage and foster good professional relationships with all professionals and with the wider key stakeholders especially in education and health care system
• Demonstrates an ability to effectively build and manage relationships with referrers both within schools and the community
• Ability to travel independently in accordance with service needs
• This post is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check
• Act in ways that support equality and promotes diversity

Desirable

• Strong working relationships with school leadership teams to support and maintain contracts

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Holds a Level 4 qualification in Psychology or other Health/social care/youth related subject
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Experience of ...