Job Description

Description

Job Purpose

The Wellbeing Outreach Advisor will work as part of a wider team in Lewisham adult mental health services, including other community services and mental health services. The role involves working alongside participants to provide support, information, and resources to improve their quality of life, as well as providing person-centred, goal- and outcome-oriented support.



The role is based across Lewisham Borough and will aim to build bridges with those harder-to-reach people in the community.

The Service

The Lewisham Outreach Service is a newly opened community service that will provide:

Timely, targeted 1-2-1 support of up to 12 weeks A variety of group workshops to help people across the diverse communities in Lewisham manage their mental health Tools, resources, and links to local services to improve wellbeing and resilience in the long term



The service aims to manage the wider determinants of health by engaging with people who are reluctant to engage or who are disengaged from mental health services. Through proactive and person-centred engagement, we will:

Support access to prevention and early intervention initiatives Prepare people for engagement with therapeutic interventions Enable access to meaningful interventions including culturally appropriate and faith-relevant support Reduce levels of isolation

Service Hours:

Monday to Friday: 12-8pm Saturday: 12-4pm Some Sunday mornings to meet service user needs



Our approach to service design, delivery, and development is based on our core values of:

Collaboration Choice Integrity Resilience Continuous improvement



These values form the core of everything we do and ensure the service is delivered in line with the specification, meeting the needs of Lewisham residents.



We support people to navigate local options of support and to be linked with specialist services which can meet their needs. Our aims are to:

Support people to make informed decisions Improve the wellbeing of everyone in Lewisham Support those with mental health needs to manage their wellbeing

Role Overview

This key role within a new and innovative assertive outreach service in Lewisham involves autonomous and mobile working, meeting service users in community premises and libraries across the Lewisham borough.



Our existing service, Lewisham Community Wellbeing Hub, is based inside The Albany, Deptford, and is already being delivered in community settings across the borough in partnership with the community.



Knowledge and understanding of Lewisham, together with existing relationships, will inform our effective new assertive outreach service to ensure engagement with those who are ambivalent, reluctant, or disengaged from services.



Workers will be required to:

Coordinate and maintain their own caseload Report on their activity as required



The majority of a Wellbeing Outreach Advisor's time will be spent delivering bespoke one-to-one and group support to individuals experiencing or recovering from mental health problems, both inside the hub and in the community across the Lewisham borough. Support will be provided both face-to-face and online.

Key Responsibilities

Support individuals in a focused and time-limited basis over 12 weeks through one-to-one and group workshops Meet service users mostly in community premises across the Lewisham borough Undertake risk management assessments for all service users within their caseload Ensure safeguarding from abuse and self-harm Contribute to individual development through knowledge of local opportunities Help design and facilitate group workshops in the community


Communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds Work closely with other local community and mental health services Maintain open, honest, and transparent professional relationships Forge and maintain relationships with other agencies Share knowledge, skills, and experience within the team while observing confidentiality


Promote engagement within the community as a key factor in recovery and self-management


Empower individuals to exercise choice and control through a person-centred service


Maintain and build upon good working knowledge of IT Use IT to progress Together's working practices


Record and report on activity and outcomes Share examples of good practice Maintain up-to-date records and share with individuals at any time


Promote and foster opportunities for service users to lead service development Support volunteers, including peer supporters


Raise aspirations and support growth of the new service Increase community engagement and awareness Enable individuals to lead full and happy lives without relying on conventional mental health services Support completion of meaningful Wellbeing Plans & Safety Plans Empower individuals to lead their own journey and have control over their lives



Information relating to service users must be treated in the strictest confidence and discussed with colleagues only with prior consent, unless in the case of risk Information relating to staff must be treated in the strictest confidence and discussed only with senior staff or line manager



This list is not exhaustive, and amendments and additions may be required in line with future policy changes.



We acknowledge the unique contribution that all Together employees and service users bring to the work of the projects and the organisation in terms of:

Culture Race Gender Sexual orientation Gender reassignment Marital status Nationality Age Religion or belief Physical disability History of mental health or additional problems



All appointments and promotions are based on merit. No job applicant or employee will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All staff have equal access to staff development.



Full details may be found in the Human Resources Policy and Procedure Manual. Any member of staff who breaches this policy may be subject to grievance and/or disciplinary procedures.

Skills, Knowledge & Expertise

Role Specific

Essential

Understanding of issues surrounding mental health and issues likely to affect those experiencing or recovering from periods of mental illness

Proven skills in managing a busy workload
Experience of working autonomously

Ability to plan ahead whilst also retaining capacity for flexible working
Able to efficiently maintain appropriate records including use of information technology
Willing and able to engage with databases and activity capture systems on a day-to-day basis
Proven ability to build rapport with others and present a positive image of the service and oneself
Proven ability to build and maintain appropriate and person-centred professional client/worker relationships
Good, clear and adaptable communications skills
Willing and able to maintain a free-flowing and transparent communication between worker and the person being supported
Experience of working with people from diverse backgrounds
Understanding of factors around equal opportunities, marginalisation and social exclusion
Including understanding of issues surrounding BME, LGBT and other minority groups
Knowledge and experience of working with confidentiality
Experience of working in a fast-paced environment

Experience of working with individuals on a one-to-one basis

Able to work in the field including daily local travel within the borough
Understanding of importance of user involvement and leadership
Good IT skills including email, internet, word processing, basic Excel and mobile phone use
Excellent telephone manner

Willing and able to learn new systems as needed including databases

Good written English and ability to write and produce written documents to a high standard

Desirable

Lived experience of mental health problems

Experience of working with contact and outcome management databases
Experience of external-facing communications with other agencies
Experience of forging community relationships
Experience of person-centred or personalised support
Experience or clear understanding of accommodation-based SP if required
Experience of developing, supporting or fostering user leadership or involvement opportunities
Experience of using contact management and activity capture systems
Advanced skills in word processing, email and internet

Knowledge of the personalisation agenda and self-directed support

Knowledge of local systems related to self-directed support

Job Benefits

The benefits of working for Together

Download the PDF to find out more about what you can get out of working for us.

Benefits of Working for Together

About Together for Mental Wellbeing

Together for Mental Wellbeing is a national charity that supports people with mental health issues to lead fulfilling and independent lives.



We value people as experts in what works best for them, and each individual we work with influences and shapes the support they and others receive from us.



Founded in 1879, today we work with approximately 4,500 people every month - at around 70 locations across England.



Our services include support in the community, accommodation-based support, advocacy, and criminal justice services.



At Together we value and encourage diversity and inclusion within our workforce. We are committed to creating a workplace where you can be yourself, welcoming applications from people from diverse communities and backgrounds who share our values.



As an employer, we are committed to making any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process.