Advertised role location: Southern HSC Trust area (SHSCT)
Official document: Senior Support Worker Band 5_Mental Health_Job Description FEB 2 (docx)
Senior Support Worker (Mental Health Division) Band 5

Senior Support Worker (Mental Health Division) Band 5

JOB DESCRIPTION


JOB TITLE
Senior Support Worker (Mental Health Division)

BAND
5

DIRECTORATE
Mental Health & Disability Services

INITIAL LOCATION

Supported Living Units (Armagh, Portadown & Newry) – To be confirmed on appointment

REPORTS TO

Supported Living Services Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO

Head of Supported Living Services
(Mental Health Division)

JOB SUMMARY

The Trust is further developing its Supported Living Schemes within the Trust Area for adults with a mental health diagnosis. Staff will be required to support service users in a person centred way within their own homes, taking into account individuality and promoting social inclusion within the wider community. Staff will provide a housing support service and care where appropriate to these individuals to enable them to maintain their own tenancies within their local community. In addition to this staff in the Armagh area will support service users living in private rented accommodation as part of the Peripatetic Housing Support Service. The aim of this service is to provide individualised support which helps service users maintain their tenancy and reduce hospital admissions. All of our services provide everyday experiences, opportunities and choices to support and enable individuals to live ordinary lives based on their assessed individual need. We promote empowerment to enable individuals to make informed decisions in relation to their daily lives.

Senior support workers will be expected to assist management in the everyday delivery of the service, ensuring a high standard of Care/Support is achieved in accordance with the ethos of supported living, policies & procedures of the Trust and the Domiciliary Care Agencies’ Regulations (NI) 2007. As a senior, the post holder will direct and supervise, by example and good practice, the work of support workers and facility support workers. Seniors will ensure that all specific strategies outlined in support plans, as they relate to Care/Support, are put into practice and are reinforced in keeping with the ethos of supported living. The post holder will also take responsibility for being the senior member of staff on duty and provide supervision and appraisals for support workers. It is also a requirement that the post holder has up-to-date registration with their relevant professional body and may be asked to undertake profession specific duties within their level of competency.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES
To comply with all policies, procedures, standards and guidelines of relevant professional body, for conduct and professional practice.

To assist management in the everyday operational delivery of a Supported Living Service in accordance with the ethos of Supported Living, Trust policies & procedures and legislation by taking responsibility for the scheme on a day to day basis and liaising with management.

To advocate and support individuals in obtaining a quality lifestyle in a supportive environment which promotes the independence of each individual in a person centred way according to their assessed needs.

To supervise and lead by example on a daily basis a team of support workers in the delivery of a safe effective service to the tenants.

To Support Individuals with finances and budgeting and adhere to the supported living financial policy and procedures.

To provide practical support to individuals, as required, in personal matters and household tasks as required and to provide a housing support service tailored to individual need.

To observe individuals behaviour being aware of changes in mental state, i.e. change of mood or feeling unwell and attend to same, documenting and reporting action taken.

To support individuals on outings either individually or in groups, as and when required and to support the integration of individuals into the local community.

To participate fully in the team approach to the individuals care/support by contributing and attending staff meetings, etc. and ensure that good communication and co-operation is kept to a high standard at all times.

Staff will be required to administer, supervise and record medication as prescribed by the GP in line with the system and policy for the administration of medication.

Staff will be required to support tenants in their financial affairs as per their support plans and in accordance with financial procedures for adult supported living schemes.

Staff will be required to undertake night duty, as is appropriate within the particular facility.

To carry out formal supervision and appraisal with support workers and supervise and monitor practice. To liaise with management when issues arise for guidance and support.

To ensure that all emergencies, untoward events and complaints are acted upon and processed in accordance with the Trust Policy and Procedures.

To develop review reports and attend regular review meetings when the individual tenants support service is reviewed.

Consult and liaise as necessary with social work staff, nurses, doctors, psychologist, or other professionals as appropriate in the interests of tenants.

Consult and liaise as necessary with other departments both internally and externally responsible for support services.

To assess, implement, maintain, develop and monitor individual care/support plans and risk assessments on an ongoing basis ensuring that these are up to date and are tailored to meet the tenant’s social, emotional, physical and spiritual needs and meets legislative requirements.

To take responsibility for the management of the scheme in absence of the manager and delegated roles such as rotas, medication, health & safety, menu planning, tenant activities, first aid etc. as agreed with your line manager.

To ensure that adequate Health & Safety measures are maintained in accordance with the Trust’s policy, thus ensuring the health and safety and welfare of tenants is paramount at all times.

Liaise with Housing association/ contractors in relation to specified maintenance, Security and Health & safety issues.

RAISING CONCERNS - RESPONSIBILITIES
The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.

The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the Trust’s ‘Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)’ policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
The post holder will be required to:
Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his/her own actions and those of any staff for whom he/she has responsibility.

Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to his/her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.

Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example:
Smoke Free policy
IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct
standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

All employees of the Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the Trust including patients/clients, corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the [org name] policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

Take responsibility for his/her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his/her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he/she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.
September 2025

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE AND BAND Senior Support Worker (Mental Health Division) Band 5

DIRECTORATE Mental Health & Disability Services

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria
Assessment

Qualifications/ Experience

Professional qualification in Nursing/Social Work/AHP and be registered with its relevant professional body (NMC, NISCC, or HCPC).

OR

QCF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Health and Social Care AND 2 years’ paid experience providing health/social care service to people with a severe and enduring mental illness.

OR

ILM Level 4 Certificate in Leadership (or have successfully completed Year 1 of the QCF Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Health and Social Care) AND 3 years’ paid experience providing health/social care to people with a severe and enduring mental illness.

Shortlisting by Application Form


Be registered or eligible for immediate registration* with NISCC (this does not apply to Nurses or AHPs with their relevant professional registration).

*Before taking up appointment applicants must have secured registration with NISCC.

Shortlisting by Application Form

Other
Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car at the closing date of advert. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.

Shortlisting by Application Form


Be willing to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service including shift, weekend and evening working

Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview stage:

Skills / Abilities / Knowledge
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.

Ability to use initiative and cope with emergencies and stressful situations.

Effective communications skills to meet the needs of the post in full.

Ability to provide effective leadership.

Knowledge of current care and support programmes for people with a severe and enduring mental illness

Have an understanding of person centred care and Risk Management.

Interview

DESIRABLE CRITERIA

SECTION 3: these will ONLY be used where it is necessary to introduce additional job related criteria to ensure files are manageable. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.

Factor
Criteria
Assessment

Experience
Experience of supervising staff

Shortlisting by Application Form


Experience working in a mental health setting
Shortlisting by Application Form


Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
Proof of qualifications and/or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for the Trust to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed. Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment.

THE TRUST IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times