Family Support Workers
Vacancy Description:
We are recruiting 2 Family Support Workers (1 x Newry & 1 x Lurgan) to work within a small team to identify and support families bereaved by suicide. The family support workers will work to ensure that all the practical arrangements are in place for families in the immediate aftermath of suicide. They will work with families to identify their ongoing needs and ensure they are provided with appropriate and adequate community and professional support.
Please Read the Following Information Carefully
JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE: Family Support Workers ( 1 x Newry & 1 x Lurgan)
Place of work: PIPS Hope and Support – Newry & Lurgan
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Salary: £21,589 - £23,369 per annum (pro rata)
Hours: 20
Annual Leave: 24 days pro rata
BENEFITS:
Auto Enrolment, National Employment Savings Trust (NEST)
Pension Scheme
Access to Company Westfield Health Care package
Organisation Sick Pay scheme
Investors in People award
TOIL (time off in lieu) accrual system (monthly)
Outreach travel expenses at 45p per mile
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Family Support
- To work closely with the Counselling Department in ensuring a timely, sensitive, and effective service to families bereaved by suicide.
- To provide a first point contact for families bereaved as soon as possible after a bereavement.
- To engage with bereaved families, offering appropriate support, undertaking an initial assessment of their needs, and developing a supportive ongoing relationship with them in the days following their bereavement, which identifies and responds to their ongoing needs.
- To consult with families a month after the death, at a six-month period and around the first anniversary of their bereavement
- Provide additional support and referral/signposting to other available support services.
- Participate in the development and delivery of outreach services.
- To work in partnership with other relevant service providers to ensure the needs of families are met.
- Maintain appropriate recording and database procedures which ensure that accurate written records of all contacts with families and other agencies are maintained in line with data protection legislation and client confidentiality procedures.
- Facilitate suicide bereavement support meeting.
- Familiarise yourself with local statutory, community and voluntary sector resources relevant to Client base, to enable appropriate signposting and referral to other services.
Crisis Intervention
- To provide crisis intervention service to families and other service users as required.
General
- Participate in team meetings, supervision, and other team activities.
- To attend and participate in training to ensure professional development and competence.
- Carry out all duties in accordance with the values and policies of PIPS Hope & Support
- Other duties which may arise from time to time, as requested by management. The duties and responsibilities of this job description are neither definitive nor restrictive and can be modified to meet the changing needs of the organisation. The organisation is committed to providing the highest possible quality of service to its clients and the community. Members of staff are always expected to provide a caring service to treat those with whom they come in contact in a courteous and respectful manner.
FLEXIBILITY:
This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the role. the post holder may be required to perform other duties commensurate with their competence and will be required to attend events in the evening and/or weekends with TOIL provided.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
The post holder is required to familiarise themselves with PIPS Hope & Support policies and procedures and to always comply with these.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION:
The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about clients, team members and other health service business and always meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act (2018) and General Data Protection Regulation (2018).
the post holder must always comply with all PIPS Hope & Support information on data protection policies. The work of PIPS Hope & Support is over confidential nature and any information gained by the post holder in their role must not be communicated two other persons except were required in the recognised course of duty.
HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLBEING:
Team members must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and must always follow these in full, including ensuring that they always act in line with all agreed procedures to maintain a safe environment for clients, visitors, and fellow team members.
PIPS Hope & Support his committed to support the health and wellbeing of all its team members. The post holder is required to familiarise themselves with the organisations range of health wellbeing support and report stress and ill health as early as possible.
EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:
PIPS Hope & Support Aims to grow inclusive teams in which you feel like you belong, we encourage a culture of learning from different points of view. We want to support you to be courageous and to overcome bias and challenge prejudice.
We are a disability confident employer. We go the extra mile to make sure disabled people get a fair chance.
USE OF TECHNOLOGY:
PIPS Hope & Support Increased use of computer technology. Most team members (both clinical and non-clinical) should expect to use the salesforce automated information systems and their work to improve quality and coordination of services, to ensure faster and more certain communication within the organisation. necessary training will be provided.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
This person specification lists the requirements necessary to perform the job. Candidates will be assessed according to the extent to which they meet or have the potential to meet the specification. it is therefore important that applicants pay close attention to all aspects of the person specification when deciding if their skills, experience, and knowledge much these requirements.
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
- A Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a support role with people who are in distress or at a time of crisis in their lives.
- A relevant qualification e.g., Counselling, Social Work, Youth and Community Work, Health, and Social Care
- Experience of working with families
- Ability to create and sustain effective working relationships and build consensus with key stakeholders
- Effective advocacy skills
- Can demonstrate clear understanding of the importance of confidentiality.
- Understanding of risk identification, reporting and management
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Self-motivation and ability to organise and effectively manage a programme of work with multiple strands.
- Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook,)
- Can demonstrate an understanding of the importance of confidentiality
- Willingness to undertake additional training.
- Flexible and dedicated approach to work
DESIRABLE CRITERIA:
- Experience of working with families’ children and young people
- Knowledge and understanding of the ‘Protect Life’ Strategy
- ASIST or equivalent training
- Knowledge of suicide and impact suicide has upon community.
- Personal leadership
- Commitment to and experience of exercising self-evaluation and accountability
- Full driving license and access to a car.