Keyworker

Job Purpose

The Connect 3 keyworker role has the aim of supporting clients with mental health needs, to live independently and with as much control over their lives and the decisions that affect them as possible.  Keyworkers work alongside clients to support their needs, whilst ensuring clients also understand their own roles and responsibilities.  The service aims to prevent issues such as homelessness, social exclusion and crisis admissions to hospital or residential care occurring during the period of support or afterwards.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To provide emotional, practical support and information for clients with mental health needs
• To assess and process referrals
• To provide professional support to clients, including undertaking needs and risk assessments and support planning with clients, to ensure they receive the appropriate level of support from Sheffield Mind or external agencies.
• To ensure delivery meets defined key performance indicators / targets and outcomes for clients. 
• To respond to complaints, incidents or anti-social behaviour (ASB), and follow agreed recording practices and policies.
• To provide practical advice and personalised support to enable clients to move in to and / or maintain their home including domestic skills, rent and bill payments, decoration and furnishing and connection of utilities.
• To assist clients to participate in employment, education, social and leisure activities and actively seek opportunities for them to be fully integrated members of their communities.
• To maintain good working relations with other agencies, friend/family and advocates of our clients – involving them in assessments, reviews and support planning as appropriate.  Support clients to access specialist services such as substance misuse agencies, aftercare and resettlement.
• To support clients to manage their finances effectively so that they can sustain their tenancies and empower them to ensure that they receive the benefits which they are entitled to.  Submit any Housing Benefit claims with the client and support clients to monitor and manage their rent accounts (if applicable).

General

• To act at all times in accordance with Sheffield Mind’s aims, philosophy and policies.
• To work in accordance with Sheffield Mind’ Equal Opportunities policy
• To treat all information in accordance with Sheffield Mind’s Confidentiality policy.
• To undertake training as required
• To undertake any other reasonable duties which are consistent with the objectives and nature of the post as agreed by the post holder and the Board of Trustees.
• To participate in regular supervision sessions and appraisals with the line manager.
• To attend and participate in team meetings
• To promote client involvement in the management and delivery of the service
• To report concerns/queries to the service manager.
• To work flexibly to meet the needs of clients including very occasional evening, weekend and bank holiday cover and provide emergency cover as required.

Administration

• To keep accurate records, providing information for monitoring and evaluation as required
• To maintain records as required by Sheffield Mind.

This post is funded until August 2020, with the potential for extension (subject to funding)