Job Vacancy – Crisis Support Worker

Position: Crisis Support Worker

Location: Port in a Storm, Harwich and Dovercourt Hub

Hours: Wednesdays 6.30pm-9.30pm

Salary: £12 per hour. Mileage paid at 45p per mile

Contract Type: 1 year fixed term, to be extended depending on first year pilot

Closing Date: TBC

Interviews: TBC

We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of

race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.

Please send a covering letter explaining how you meet the essential criteria outlined in

the person specification to: keaton@reachoutfmh.co.uk

Reach Out for Mental Health (ROFMH) is a suicide prevention service operating in Essex set

up to reduce the number of attempted and completed suicides in the area. Sadly, Essex is

home to two areas consistently with a higher than the national average rate of suicides Tendring and Colchester. We are excited and honoured to launch a new out of hours non clinical crisis service (Port in a Storm) to support residents of Harwich when they’re feeling

suicidal, hopeless or overwhelmed with life. It’s a safe, respectful and non-judgemental space

for people to talk to a trained member of staff for up to an hour, with the option of using the

social area for peer support afterwards.

All staff, volunteers and our Board of Trustees have their own personal lived experience of

emotional distress/suicidal thoughts, have supported a loved one or have sadly lost

someone to suicide. ROFMH was set up to support individuals who were feeling suicidal,

overwhelmed or felt like they’d just hit a wall with life. All staff are trained in suicide

prevention and are here to offer a containing, respectful and trusting environment to anyone

who feels unable to cope.

A Port in a Storm is open Wednesdays 7pm-9pm. The role of the Crisis Support team

is to provide a range of practical and emotional support to people in acute mental

health crisis.

• Working with people in acute states of distress and who use a variety of coping

mechanisms. This may involve working with people who use substances and people

who self-harm.

• Supporting people who are expressing suicidal thoughts and feelings.

• Alongside the team, managing the shift to ensure the maximum number of visitors

can access the service and gain support; whilst maintaining the safety of the house

and its ambience as a place of sanctuary.

• Working within the organisation’s policies and procedures regarding the

safeguarding of children and adults at risk of abuse.

• Working with the team to ensure that the services are accessible to visitors from

minority groups, including people from culturally diverse communities and LGBT

communities.

• Referring people on to other services where appropriate. This may involve other crisis

and/or emergency services.

• Undertaking administrative duties necessary for the smooth running of the services.

This will include inputting the details of visitors on to a database and maintaining

records in relation to support, risk management and health and safety.

• Attending quarterly supervision meetings with your line manager, monthly group

clinical supervision and monthly reflective practice meetings with the team.

• Attending internal and external training events in order to improve your practice and

update your knowledge and skills.

• Contributing to the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the project.

• Undertaking other duties appropriate to the post as required by the manager.

Detailed below are the types of skills, experience and knowledge which are required of

applicants applying for the post. The ‘Essential’ requirements indicate the minimum

requirements and applicants lacking these attributes will not be considered for the post. The

points under ‘Desirable’ are additional attributes, which are not essential, but may be used to

distinguish between acceptable candidates.

• The ability to engage people and form collaborative, warm and empathic

relationships with people in mental health crisis; including people from minority

groups.

• The therapeutic and personal skills to provide person centred one to one support to

people in acute distress, including people who have attracted a ‘personality disorder’

label.

• The ability to facilitate choice amongst people using our service, including personal

responsibility and participation in decision making about the kind of support they

receive.

• The ability to communicate effectively with people in crisis, staff, volunteers and other

professionals.

• The ability to work calmly and sensitively with people who self-harm and/or who

have suicidal thoughts and feelings.

• The ability to reflect on your own attitudes towards mental health and your own

practice.

• The ability to work as part of a team and to provide support to colleagues and volunteers.

• To manage basic record keeping on a database

• In depth knowledge of the impact of trauma and complex trauma on mental health.

• An understanding of the issues faced by visitors from minority groups, including

people from culturally diverse communities and LGBT populations.

• An understanding of the principles, philosophy and practical applications of the

Person Centred Approach.

• An understanding of the concept of empowerment as it relates to mental health.

• An understanding of self harm and the functions it has for people.

Charity Number 1199647 4

• Knowledge and awareness of your own support needs.

• Either personal experience of emotional distress/crisis/suicidal feelings or having

supported someone else E.G family member or a friend

• Experience of working with people who self harm.

• Experience of working with people who experience suicidal thoughts and feelings.

• Experience of working as part of a team.

Desirable

• Experience of using mental health services.

• Experience of working in a survivor led service.

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems, including people

from culturally diverse communities and LGBT populations. This could include

experience of providing support over the telephone or face to face

• Experience of involving people using services in making decisions about their own

support needs.

• Experience of working with those who have attracted a ‘Personality Disorder’ label.

• Experience of working in a person-centred service.

Desirable

• A counselling qualification

• A health and social care qualification