Outreach Home Visitor
Location: Home – based in the Basingstoke area
Hours: Part time – 20 hours per week
Contract: 3-year fixed term contract, subject to funding
Salary: Starting salary of £ 11 440 per annum
Reporting to: Outreach Programme Manager
About Hammersley Homes
Established in 2018, Hammersley Homes is a charity that provides support for life, for vulnerable adults who live with enduring mental health challenges and psychotic illnesses. Our aim is to establish a nationwide network of Day Centres, Outreach Services and Supported Housing schemes. We focus upon increasing people’s quality of life, whilst decreasing the likelihood of relapse into a mental health crisis. Implementing ongoing support provides an opportunity to notice if there is any notable decline in the person’s health or wellbeing.
Hammersley Homes has just been awarded a grant from The National Lottery to further expand our Outreach Home Visiting Programme. As a result, we are now looking for an Outreach Home Visitor to join us on a 3-year fixed term contract, to set up a new Outreach pod in the Basingstoke area. (There may be a possibility of contract extension, subject to securing funding beyond the initial 3-year period.)
Main purpose of this role
The Outreach Home Visitor will visit clients in their own homes or in community settings on a rota basis. Some aspects of the role can be completed working from home or from the Hammersley Home office which is located in Lymington in the New Forest.
The Outreach Home Visitor will support each client with company and tactful guidance, presenting options for the individual to make informed choices. They will encourage independence, self-care, happiness and contentment. They will encourage social contact and integration where possible and they will make appropriate referrals for further support when desired / necessary.
A person-centred approach is adopted.
It is expected that each visit will last up to 2 hours, dependent upon the contract agreed with the client.
Please note that personal care is NOT a requirement of this role.
Principle duties
This role will involve:
- Visiting clients in their own homes or in community settings on a rota basis.
- Supporting clients to achieve personal goals by providing encouragement, advice and motivation.
- Talking to clients about their needs and listening to their concerns, showing care and compassion.
- Providing practical support; accompanying clients on shopping trips, attending health and social care appointments (as agreed by the Outreach Programme Manager), assisting with mail, using online technology etc.
- Encouraging clients to look after their own home, personal hygiene and health.
- Encouraging clients to engage within their local communities, supporting each to attend groups and events, participate in hobbies etc.
- Supporting clients to maintain existing skills and develop new ones.
- Supporting clients to achieve their personal goals and ambitions.
- Observing and monitoring wellbeing, paying close attention to any changes in behaviour.
- Recording notes accurately after each session.
- Reporting any concerns, incidents or disclosures to the Outreach Programme Manager.
- Routine completion of the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) questionnaire, to evaluate the impact of our Outreach Support Service.
- Writing monthly reports for each client and sending these to the Outreach Programme Manager, before your monthly 1:1 meetings.
- Completing 1:1 meetings with a small number of Volunteer Outreach Home Visitors.
- Attending monthly team meetings.
- Performing all duties in accordance with Hammersley Homes policies and procedures.
- Adherence to the professional boundaries set out in Hammersley Homes Code of Conduct.
- Completion of training deemed necessary for this role including First Aid, Mental Health Awareness, Equality and Diversity, GDPR and Safeguarding Adults.
- Monthly submission of an expense claim for costs such as mileage and parking.
- Supporting the Outreach Programme Manager with event management and risk assessments.
- Any other duties, reasonably requested, and commensurate with your role.
Person Specification
Qualifications/Experience
- Previous experience of supporting vulnerable individuals.
- A driving license.
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
- A good understanding of the work of Hammersley Homes and a commitment to the vision and mission.
- An approachable and friendly disposition with a clear understanding of, and the ability to manage, appropriate professional boundaries.
- A good understanding of Safeguarding, confidentiality and informed consent.
- An understanding of best practice in relation to GDPR and Equality and Diversity.
- Comprehensive IT skills.
- Confident communication skills and the ability to engage positively with a diverse range of individuals.
- Empathy, kindness and patience.
- Good observational skills and honesty.
- Problem solving skills and initiative.
- An understanding of mental illness.
- The ability to treat all individuals with dignity and respect.
The nature of mental illness may mean that the person is not the same in mood or have the same expression each time you visit. They may have difficulty with boundary issues and ask more of you than you want to, or should, give. It is therefore important that you remain consistent and calm, knowing that the following week things may have returned to what they were before, or improved. If you notice a serious deterioration, it is your responsibility to report this to the Outreach Programme Manager.
A DBS check is a requirement of this role.
Application process
Please email a CV and cover letter to our CEO, Sally Harrild, explaining on no more than 1 side of A4 why you are interested in this role and why you feel you would be a suitable fit for the role:
Alternatively, please post a CV and cover letter to our office in Lymington, marked for the attention of Sally Harrild.
Please call 07542 321880 if you would like any further information.