Mental Health Case Worker - Dublin

Mental Health Case Worker (Floating Support)

Dublin (on site)

Full time (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm, 1 hour unpaid break)

12 Month Fixed Term contract (with a view to permanency)

Salary: €39,090.33 per annum

Role

The Mental Health Case Worker will provide specialist person centered mental health floating support to service users across a number of Depaul services in Dublin, in collaboration with Inclusion Mental Health Services.

General Responsibilities

• Respond flexibly and positively to changes in requirements of this post and work flexibly to meet the requirements of the role and support other services when required.
• Undertake other projects and tasks as required to support the achievement of Depaul's strategic and operational objectives.
• Treat those with whom you come into contract in a courteous and respectful manner in accordance with the Dignity at Work Procedure.
• Demonstrate commitment to Depaul by regular attendance and efficient completion of all tasks allocated to you.
• Take care of your own health and safety and that of people who may be affected by what you do (or do not do).
• Co operate with others on health and safety and not interfere with, or misuse, anything provided for your health, safety or welfare.
• Follow the training you have received when using any work items your employer has given you.
• Endeavour to ensure the on going confidence of the public.
• Maintain high standards of personal accountability.

Key Areas of Responsibilities

• Offer specialist support to service users around their mental health needs through structured assessment and support planning.
• Build professional relationships with service users based on empathy and positive regard and deal with difficult or problematic situations in a sensitive, supportive manner in line with a trauma informed approach and Depaul's vision, mission and values.
• Assess the safety, wellbeing and support needs of service users and support residential services and key workers to develop and deliver support plans to a high standard.
• Establish effective partnerships with mental health support services, plan and facilitate appropriate supports and interventions to respond and meet support needs in a structured way.
• Work one to one with service users to increase their agency and choice in managing their mental health needs.
• Refer or support service users to access relevant external services and promote maximum user agency and involvement in developing support planning and interventions with external agencies.
• Accompany service users to appointments when necessary; this may include day services, hospitals, prison, courts etc.
• Develop and maintain ongoing professional relationships with a variety of mental health services as well as wider support services such as specialist medical, addiction and city or county councils.
• Advocate for psychological or psychiatric assessments where appropriate and in the interest of the service user.
• Provide practical and emotional support for people as they move through and between services (e.g. when first referred, when moving from assertive outreach to scheduled care and when admitted to or leaving hospital or prison).
• Provide graded support to people graduating to mainstream care from specialist homeless services, being available during the transition period to advise and orient both the individual themselves and the staff of the destination service.
• Promote good mental health and wellness for service users and staff.
• Work with volunteers to facilitate therapeutic time and activities for service users in hostels and promote wellness activities and trauma informed environments.
• Engage and work proactively with service users who have dual diagnosis issues and promote an "open door" policy with external agencies in relation to dual diagnosis.
• Ensure accurate and clear records are maintained in line with Depaul's policies and procedures, GDPR guidance and for facilitating programme evaluation.
• Ensure all quality assurance policies and procedures are adhered to.

The above list is not exhaustive; additional areas of responsibility may be added over time and flexibility to cover for other staff roles is required from time to time.

Person Specification

• A qualification in psychology, nursing, social work or other related areas would be desirable.
• A minimum of 2 years' experience working in the homeless sector or another related field, with people requiring mental health support.
• Experience responding to crisis, knowledge of appropriate actions, and the use of initiative to support others through trauma informed principles and a person centred approach.
• Experience working with relevant models of intervention applied in working with people experiencing homelessness.
• Experience working with an organisation's policies and procedures and familiarity with using these guidelines.
• The ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• An ability to liaise effectively with other service providers and represent the organisation externally.
• Good computer skills, including experience using client management software and cloud applications.
• Ability to work flexible hours when required.
• An understanding of why people become homeless and the issues they experience, particularly in relation to people requiring mental health support.
• An understanding of relevant models of interventions that can be applied when working with people experiencing mental health challenges and homelessness.
• An understanding of the statutory and voluntary sector resources available to people living with mental health challenges and homelessness.
• An understanding of the importance of an organisation's policies and procedures.
• A commitment to and an understanding of equal opportunities and diversity.
• Respect for the Vision, Mission, and Values of the organisation (e.g., Depaul).

Our Benefits

• Annual Leave - Up to 3 years' service: 25 days per year
• 3 to 5 years' service: 27 days per year
• Over 5 years' service: 30 working days per year (exclusive of bank and statutory holidays)
• 10 public holidays each year with Good Friday as discretionary day.
• Day off and day pay for Christmas Day, St. Stephen's Day, and New Year's Day worked for shift workers.
• Non Shift Workers: Paid day off on public holidays.
• Shift Workers: Expected to work on public holidays; receive an additional day of annual leave in lieu.
• Non Rostered Employees: May be entitled to one fifth of the normal weekly rate of remuneration for the public holiday.
• Pension matched by the employer.
• Health Assistance - Each staff member gets access to a health cash plan so you can claim money back, up to set limits, on a number of treatments. This includes dental, optical, acupuncture and many more. Children under 16 are also included on the plan.
• Life Assurance - Four times salary.
• Maternity/Adoptive Leave - 18 weeks full pay.
• Paternity Leave - 2 weeks full pay.
• Sick Leave - Entitlement to sick pay starting from day 1 with level of entitlement increasing with length of service (subject to policy terms).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - A confidential counselling service that provides support to company employees and their families. It is available 24/7, 365 days a year covering counselling, legal advice, financial information, career guidance, life coaching, mediation, health information, cancer support, autism support, infertility and pregnancy loss, elder care support, parent coaching and international employee support.
• Learning and Development - Depaul's Vision, Mission and Values course, travel to meet the Depaul International family.
• Emerging Leaders - Support for workers that would like to develop their leadership skills and progress to a management role.
• Online learning resources within Depaul's award nominated online learning platform, Moodle. Mandatory training includes MAPA, Health and Safety, Child Protection, Fire Safety and First Aid.