Service Lead (Mental Health)

We’ve got an opportunity…

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced caseworker to join the British Red Cross across Harrow and Brent, working on an innovative NHSE programme that supports people who access health care more than expected (commonly referred to as High Intensity Use (HIU) of urgent and emergency care and Mental Health services). BRC will deliver this project in Partnership with Central North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust.

Based in the community, predominantly working across the boroughs of Westminster, Harrow & Brent, including Northwick Park Hospital, you will work intensively with a rolling caseload, helping to identify and address unmet social needs that may be exacerbating physical and/or mental health. The people we support may have complex presentations, including mental health, substance misuse, multiple long-term conditions, adverse traumatic experiences, and they are often suspicious of formality and offers of support. So, we are looking for someone whose ability to connect is exceptionally strong. You must be authentic, engaging and compassionate.

A large part of our role is to lower the stigma that is associated with this group of people and to change mindsets and behaviours that can adversely affect access and recovery. By building strong relationships with partners, in this case the Liaison Psychiatry Department (LPS) at Northwick Park Hospital and the Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT), you will advocate for access to other statutory services, improve integrated working, whilst supporting the person to self-manage and achieve outcomes that improve their overall wellbeing.

Most of your time will be spent out in the community; meeting people in their homes, in cafes or walking in a local park, so you will need to be confident of lone working procedures and able to keep meticulous support records whilst out and about. You will also need to be physically able to maintain face to face activity (within public health and BRC guidelines) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

You will receive triaged ‘step down’ referrals from the LPS at Northwick Park Hospital, therefore we are looking for team members who have experience of working alongside mental health and/or drug and alcohol services and who can demonstrate their ability in supporting people to achieve good outcomes. You will be a go-getter, who can juggle multiple tasks, handle crisis calmly and be able to build really strong relationships with our local stakeholders.

A comprehensive training programme will equip you to build on the skills you have already developed, offering long term career progression within the organisation.

Say hello to the team…

You will join BRC’s existing London service teams and will also be a part of our national HIU network, where we share best practice and problem solve together.

About you…

We are seeking a resilient, courageous and kind individual who has a real appetite for helping some of the most vulnerable people in our society. You will be able to think ‘outside the box’ and have strong negotiation and communication skills to empower people to achieve ‘what matters to them’. You will be experienced in person centred support planning and dynamic risk assessing.

The closing date for application is 23.59 on Monday 22nd May 2023 with interviews to follow.

Please note that early application is encouraged, as we’ll be reviewing applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert in advance of the advertised closing date.

• 36 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Option to buy an extra 5 days annual leave
• Up to 6% contributory pension
• Flexible working policy

Click here for further details on our staff benefits

Should you have any questions on this role please email us at recruitment@redcross.org.uk quoting job reference 7388.