Job Description

The Intensive Support Team provides a rapid, time limited, community based assessment and treatment service for people with learning disability living in Hertfordshire, who challenge services and have additional mental health needs. IST seeks to provide an alternative, where appropriate, for Service Users to hospital admission, so as to minimise further disruption to their lives and to the people who care for them.
Candidates must hold a valid driving licence and access to a car due to having to travel around East and North Hertfordshire to enable our service to be provided in the persons own home or workplace. driver (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010 which prevents you from driving)
Main duties of the job
The post holder will work within a Multi- Disciplinary Team and will carry out direct Service User work under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
To participate in assessing the specialist needs of people with a learning disability living in the community or as inpatients in Hertfordshire LD Inpatient services and in the implementation of their individual care plans.
To develop and maintain professional working relationships with service users, carers, team colleagues and other agencies.
To work flexibly over a 7-day period in a variety of health and social care settings.
To work as a lone worker using delegated autonomy and initiative.
All staff should comply with the Trust's Anti-Discriminatory Statement, Employee Charter, Trust Policies and Procedures, Code of Conduct and Equality and Diversity.
About us
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is an outstanding organisation with ambitions to match. We are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from the Care Quality Commission, and our aim is to be the leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services in the country.
Our family of over 4000 members of staff provide health and social care for over 400,000 people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. We also deliver a range of nationally commissioned specialist services including Tier 4 services for children and young people, perinatal services, plus medium and low secure learning disabilities services.
The care we provide makes a fantastic difference to the lives of our service users, their families and carers - everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout:
Our Trust values are:
Welcoming. Kind. Positive. Respectful. Professional.
These values are at the core of who we are, everything we do, and how we do it!
Would you like to be part of the HPFT family? Would you like work with us to ensure our service users live the fullest lives possible they can? Would you like to be supported in your career to be the best that you can be?
Details
Date posted
31 October 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 4
Salary
27,485 to 30,162 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
367-LD&F-9841
Job locations
Saffron Ground
Ditchmore Lane
Stevenage
SG1 3LJ
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and Clinical Responsibilities:
To work with an allocated caseload under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
To acknowledge & respect the physical, psychological, emotional and environmental needs of the service users and their carers during contacts.
To plan and lead group and individual interventions in conjunction with
the case holder.
To carry out delegated tasks without direct supervision from a qualified practitioner, in a variety of settings, including LD and MH inpatient services, and then to report observations back to the case-holder.
To attend and contribute to meetings as agreed with the case holders.
To participate in the assessment and treatment process so as to further develop individual service users skills. This will include direct and indirect support to maintain the service users physical and psychological wellbeing. It may also include transportation of service users to support them to access appropriate services & facilities as part of the assessment and treatment plan.
To keep accurate records of tasks undertaken, observations and events concerning service users and to report to the relevant members of the team, as appropriate.
To prepare reports on individual service users, as requested.
To maintain and promote good communication and working relationships both within the team and with colleagues from other agencies.
To develop a knowledge and understanding of the specialist needs of individual service users, and the approaches used in their care plans.
To maintain skills and knowledge by actively participating in all mandatory training and professional developmental opportunities.
To report and document any changes or concerns in a service users health / behaviour to a senior member of staff.
To report and document incidents to a senior member of staff.
To participate in regular supervision and the annual appraisal process.
To participate in the induction of new staff members, students and trainees.
To work within Team and Service standards.
To be willing to continue to develop their skills and knowledge through training opportunities.
To be willing to participate in promotional activities such as healthcare events, team presentations both local to Hertfordshire and nationally, to raise awareness of the work of the team and of the healthcare needs of people with learning disabilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Duties and Clinical Responsibilities:
To work with an allocated caseload under the supervision of a qualified practitioner.
To acknowledge & respect the physical, psychological, emotional and environmental needs of the service users and their carers during contacts.
To plan and lead group and individual interventions in conjunction with
the case holder.
To carry out delegated tasks without direct supervision from a qualified practitioner, in a variety of settings, including LD and MH inpatient services, and then to report observations back to the case-holder.
To attend and contribute to meetings as agreed with the case holders.
To participate in the assessment and treatment process so as to further develop individual service users skills. This will include direct and indirect support to maintain the service users physical and psychological wellbeing. It may also include transportation of service users to support them to access appropriate services & facilities as part of the assessment and treatment plan.
To keep accurate records of tasks undertaken, observations and events concerning service users and to report to the relevant members of the team, as appropriate.
To prepare reports on individual service users, as requested.
To maintain and promote good communication and working relationships both within the team and with colleagues from other agencies.
To develop a knowledge and understanding of the specialist needs of individual service users, and the approaches used in their care plans.
To maintain skills and knowledge by actively participating in all mandatory training and professional developmental opportunities.
To report and document any changes or concerns in a service users health / behaviour to a senior member of staff.
To report and document incidents to a senior member of staff.
To participate in regular supervision and the annual appraisal process.
To participate in the induction of new staff members, students and trainees.
To work within Team and Service standards.
To be willing to continue to develop their skills and knowledge through training opportunities.
To be willing to participate in promotional activities such as healthcare events, team presentations both local to Hertfordshire and nationally, to raise awareness of the work of the team and of the healthcare needs of people with learning disabilities.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential

• Evidence of academic achievement to at least GCSE level or equivalent in English, Maths, and a science subject

Desirable

• A relevant care qualification

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Experience of working with people who have learning disability and who may have mental health needs and/or challenging behaviour

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY
Essential

• The ability to work under the direction and indirect supervision of qualified practitioners.
• The ability to deliver the band 4 role within an agreed care plan.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential

• Excellent written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use the appropriate reporting structure as timely to individual situations.
• Willingness & ability to promote the independence and social inclusion of people with a learning disability.

ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential

• Knowledge and skills in behaviour management.
• Decision making skills both in routine practice and in crisis situations.
• Knowledge & skills of non-adverse risk assessment & management planning.

Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Essential

• Evidence of academic achievement to at least GCSE level or equivalent in English, Maths, and a science subject

Desirable

• A relevant care qualification

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Essential

• Experience of working with people who have learning disability and who may have mental health needs and/or challenging behaviour

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE/ABILITY
Essential

• The ability to work under the direction and indirect supervision of qualified practitioners.
• The ability to deliver the band 4 role within an agreed care plan.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Essential

• Excellent written, verbal, and non-verbal communication skills.
• Ability to use the appropriate reporting structure as timely to individual situations.
• Willingness & ability to promote the independence and social inclusion of people with a learning disability.

ANALYTICAL SKILLS
Essential

• Knowledge and skills in behaviour management.
• Decision making skills both in routine practice and in crisis situations.
• Knowledge & skills of non-adverse risk assessment & management planning.

Skills Required