Salary: £27,000 - £28,478 per annum pro rata
Hours: 20 hours per week (evenings and weekends, hours to be agreed)
Based at: 63 Downs Road, Belmont, SM2 5NR
Reporting to: Crisis Café Manager

Summary
This is an exciting opportunity to join Sutton Crisis Café. Working in the Crisis Café in the evenings, your role will be to work with people experiencing a mild to moderate mental health crisis. You will make them feel safe and listened to, helping them to navigate their crisis over a series of visits, and working with them towards a resolution of the crisis.

SMHF welcomes applications from people with lived experience of Mental Health.

Benefits

Holiday – 28 days pro rata, rising to 33 days after 5 years’ service
Employee Assistance Program
Workplace Pension Scheme
Enhanced pay for working Christmas/New Year

Job Description
Service Delivery

• To listen to and support people to de-escalate their immediate situation empowering them to develop self-management techniques, build their assets and advocate for their own wishes.
• To assess the risks and needs of people using the crisis café service.
• To provide one-to-one support, information and guidance to help crisis café visitors to navigate through their crisis, using an empowering, person-centered approach.
• To work with Crisis Café visitors to promote mutuality and reciprocity, rather than dependency.
• To comply with highest standards of confidentiality and data security when handling any personal, private or sensitive information.
• Have an understanding of, and the ability and motivation to implement excellent Equality & Diversity practice

General Duties

• To complete all necessary training, including Intentional Peer Support training.
• To work effectively as part of a team with management staff and volunteers in the Crisis Café, communicating clearly to ensure relevant information is shared.
• To keep the needs and views of visitors to the Crisis Café to service at the centre of working practice.
• To take part in Team Meetings and engage in reflective supervision outside of the operational hours of the Crisis Café.
• To undertake accurate data collection, recording outcomes and user experience measures.
• To participate in the external evaluation of the service as required.
• To engage in an annual appraisal.
• To implement all necessary policies and procedures for the safe and effective running of the service.
• To operate in accordance with the ethos and values of SMHF and the Sutton Crisis Café service.

Health and Safety

• To work to ensure a healthy and safe environment for all employees, visitors, visiting professionals and other visitors by ensuring service delivery is in line with SMHF’s commitment to Health and safety and our organisational procedures and H&S Legislation.

Management of resources

• To work according to Crisis Café’s budget and SMHF’s financial policies and procedures.
• To make best use of SMHF’s property, equipment, and Information Technology at all times in the Crisis Café.

SAFEGUARDING: Sutton Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with SMHF.
An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.
This job description is subject to change depending on the needs of the service.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
Sutton Crisis Café - Crisis Support Worker

‘E’ denotes essential criteria which will be used in shortlisting, while ‘D’ denotes desirable qualities or factors.

1. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Experience of supporting and engaging positively with vulnerable adults (and stakeholders involved in their care) using a person-centred approach to form collaborative, warm and empathetic relationships leading to positive outcomes. E

Experience of confidently and effectively assessing risks and needs, as well as developing appropriate risk management plans. E

Understanding of issues facing people in a mental health crisis, and experience of communicating effectively with people in a mental health crisis to finding safe and positive ways to ‘hold’ and de-escalate situations. E

Strong grasp of equal opportunities, confidentiality, data protection, risk management and anti- discrimination practice E

Knowledge of local mental health services D

Experience of working with BAME communities and young people D

Knowledge of relevant legislation, eg Community Care, Mental health, Health and Safety and welfare benefits legislation D

2. EDUCATION
There are no specific educational or professional qualifications needed for this post. However, applicants must have a good level of literacy and be able to communicate with clients, professionals and carers.

3. SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Excellent listening skills E

Effective time management skills E

Working co-operatively as part of a team E

Dealing effectively and calmly with challenging situations as they arise E
Working independently and taking initiative E

Effectively using IT including case management systems, Microsoft 365 and equivalent E
Speaking and writing fluent English and explaining information face to face, over the ‘phone and in writing and communicating effectively across cultural boundaries E
Effectively following SMHF policies and procedures E

Positive and flexible attitude to work E

Sufficiently healthy and physically able to carry out the duties in the job description. The premises has a lift to the first floor but some rooms are only accessible by a short flight of (3 or 4) stairs. E

Be able and willing to work the hours required, as needed bearing in mind that this service operates 365 days a year, 7 days a week, in the evenings. E

Be able and willing to undertake all necessary training and supervision E

To apply: send your CV and cover letter to admin@smhf.org.uk