Mental Health Support Worker

Position Description
**Job Title**:
**Mental Health Support Worker**

Astute Living Care is a NDIS provider that specializes in providing support to participants with a mental health diagnosis. We are currently looking to recruit mental health support workers to support our participants in the western Sydney and Wollongong area. We are looking for support workers that are passionate about providing quality support to our participants. This role would also suit social work and psychology students, as we work with a flexible roster.

**Type Of Employment**:

- Casual_

**Report To**:

- Team Leader_

**Location**:

- Western Sydney/ Wollongong _

**Main Duties / Responsibilities**:
Provision of care and supports to participants as detailed in their support plans.

**General**
- Always check your understanding of the participant's required tasks before commencing your work.
- Be alert if you notice the participant is distressed or apathetic (uninterested or listless)
- Adjust your tasks to meet participant's needs, preferences and priorities
- Record all work as per the organisation's requirements

**Work Practices**

Duties will vary according to the participant's support plan but may include:

- Assisting people to perform important daily activities
- Facilitating daily personal hygiene and dressing tasks
- Performing home-based tasks such as food preparation and housework
- Undertaking tasks outside the home such as shopping
- Ensuring varied programs of social activities
- Providing emotional support and friendship
- Provide Recovery based support
- Report any real or potential risks of harm to a participant, including child and young people

**Communicate**:

- clearly, inclusively and respectfully
- adapt to participant's age, culture and cognitive ability
- understand individual communication - verbal and non-verbal
- use the best communication method to recognise the difference between self and participant
- be persistent and patient

**Build trusted relationships**
- build relationships based on mutual respect
- determine what makes the participant feel safe and valued
- work with both participant and their important people to understand how they are involved
- communicate directly with the participant unless otherwise determined
- prioritise participant's voice during any conflict
- treat equally but recognise the imbalance in the relationship
- recognise and report any threat in circumstances and environment

**Rights**
- understand participant and worker rights
- support participant to express views, raise concerns, report complaints and incidents

**Work Collaboratively**
- support all supporting stakeholders
- work within role and responsibility
- recognise the participant's skills, experience and contribution to everyone in the team
- keep participants informed when sharing and discussing them
- focus on strengths
- be optimistic, hope and patience

**Observe and respond**
- review all relevant notes and support plan information
- identify needs and strategies
- clarify your understanding
- be observant, attentive and present
- act responsively and flexibly
- celebrate reaching goals and independence
- maximise participant's control and confidence

**Heath and Safety**
- talk to participant/supervisor about any intermittent conditions to determine strategies when confronted with the situation
- support access to preventative and responsive health, dental etc
- respond quickly if the participant is uncomfortable, distressed, apathetic or in poor health
- identify potential and actual risks, then act promptly and in consultation with the participant
- escalate to your supervisor any situation when the participant is at risk
- identify and report any work health and safety issues
- promote independence and choice
- never use restrictive practice unless approved and trained in the practice

**Qualifications/ Requirements**:

- Current Worker Screening and WWCC (if required)
- First Aid Certificate
- Willing to complete a mental health first aid certificate
- Drivers License
- Reliable and comprehensively insured vehicle
- New Worker NDIS Induction Module
- Smartphone
- A formal certificate may not be required if the individual has relevant experience and skills however a cert4 in mental health is preferred.

**Experience**:

- Preferred minimum six months relevant experience
- Experience supporting people with a mental health diagnosis
- Demonstrated continuing professional development.
- Knowledge of continuous quality improvement principles
- Use of equipment related to personal and work safety
- Promoted participant's choice and independence
- Supported participants in hygiene practices

**Skills**:

- Verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work with various ages, cultures and ability levels
- Ability to build rapport and trust with clients.
- Strong time management and ability to prioritise.
- Ability to use Microsoft Office suite of programs and other computer systems for record-