Mental Health Peer Advocate, National Forensics Mental Health Service
HAIL is seeking a Mental Health Peer Advocate to provide an advocacy service for patients in a hospital setting
12 month Specific Purpose Contract
Job title:Peer Advocate, National Forensics Mental Health ServiceLocation:Central Mental Hospital, Portrane, Co DublinResponsible/Reporting to:Principal Social Worker (NFMHS) and Mental Health Recovery Coordinator, HAILJob purpose:To provide a mental health peer advocacy service to patients of the Central Mental Hospital, PortraneSalary Scale:
€35,948 - €45,188
(based on HSE salary scale)
Job Information:This is a full-time post, 35 hours per week. HAIL offers flexible working within our core house – 10am – 4pm, Monday to Friday
About HAIL
HAIL is an Approved Housing Body with a strong reputation in providing both quality housing and floating support services to people with mental health difficulties in their own homes across Dublin, Kildare, Laois and Louth.
HAIL's vision is to be the provider of choice for housing and support for people with mental health difficulties, enabling them to achieve and sustain independent living in the community by having secure, quality, affordable accommodation with appropriate support services tailored to their needs.
HAIL's mission is to provide housing and individually tailored support services to support tenants and clients, primarily those with mental health difficulties, to integrate and live independent lives in the community.
Peer Support project: HAIL has an active and innovative peer support project since 2016, providing a range of one to one and group peer support. The HAIL Peer Support Programme is both peer designed and led through a process of coproduction. The programme includes practical, social, emotional and recovery support. The HAIL Peer Support Team members use a mixture of lived experience of navigating mental health recovery and mental health services to support others to manage their mental health recovery.
HSE National Forensic Mental Health Service (NFMHS)
The NFMHS is based in the Central Mental Hospital (CMH). The CMH is the only specialist HSE Mental Health Service provider that provides Forensic Mental Health assessment and treatment in Ireland. It is the only approved and designated centre in the state that provides psychiatric care in conditions of maximum and medium security. The CMH operates as a therapeutic rather than penal institution and is part of the HSE.
The CMH campus is designed to provide care and treatment within high and medium secure services and includes a number of shared facilities. The new facility consists of 9 in-patient units, a medical and therapy centre and an administrative complex. Adjacent but external to the main hospital is a newly constructed 10-bed forensic CAMHS unit and a 30-bed Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit (ICRU).
Role Description
This position entails working in the Central Mental Hospital and involves working alongside the Head of Service and multi-disciplinary teams to provide an advocacy service, both independent and collective, for patients in the hospital setting. The post may also provide some advocacy support for those who have transitioned into community settings if deemed appropriate.
The role will promote and facilitate opportunities for inclusion, advocacy empowerment, self-determination and mental health recovery for patients accessing the NFMHS within the appropriate statutory and legal frameworks.
Key Roles and Responsibilities
The main duties and responsibilities of the post are as follows:
1. To provide independent advocacy for patients, in compliance with the Mental Health Act (2001), the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and other relevant legislation including the Assisted Decision-Making Act (2015).
2. To maintain and operate within professional advocacy standards in accordance with good practice.
3. In conjunction with other disciplines at the CMH, to advocate for quality, innovation and better outcomes for patients.
4. To ensure that all patients are supported to both avail of advocacy services or self-advocate, including the safeguarding of rights relating to those individuals who may be defined as not having capacity/insight.
5. To promote awareness of statutory rights and resources available to patients of the hospital, and those who are transitioning to the community.
6. To adopt flexible, person-centred approaches to advocacy which meet the needs of each individual.
7. To actively seek and identify ways in which to engage particularly vulnerable and isolated individuals.
8. To embrace person centered approaches and individualised working to promote and facilitate effective communication of expressed needs in the immediate and long-term future.
9. To ensure that the civil and human rights of individuals are recognised, respected and upheld.
10. To maintain accurate and up to date records in a clear and concise manner with strict adherence to confidentiality and data protection policy.
11. To source and provide relevant information on a range of services that the patient may wish to access.
12. To contribute to the ongoing development of the advocacy role through participation in training, research, and professional development within HAIL and other appropriate external agencies.
13. To contribute to the communication and planning processes within the service.
14. To ensure good practice in terms of organization, i.e., accurate and clear record keeping, filing and communication.
15. To ensure good time management.
16. To produce and contribute to written reports on work relating to the project.
17. To share appropriate information within the patients' Multi-Disciplinary Team, distributing articles and reports and encouraging co-production and a collaborative working throughout the Advocacy Service.
18. To support patients in attending meetings with their clinicians such as case conferences, MDT reviews and other forums where appropriate.
19. To facilitate group work sessions with new and on-going groups when appropriate – this could involve contribution to the improvement of service delivery in the CMH, or general feedback on services.
20. To work proactively with individuals who are deemed to be additionally vulnerable through matters of capacity/insight in accordance with statutory principles.
21. To create links with advocacy initiatives outside of the hospital in order for people of this and other services to develop relationships, skills and expertise.
22. To support people making informed choices and present information on alternatives to traditional arrangements, in particular for people who are about to make the transition back into the community.
23. To undertake appropriate training in areas related to Forensic Mental Health provision as appropriate to the role of Independent Advocate and the needs of the Forensic Advocacy Service.
24. To assist in the provision of training, workshop, and presentations as a means to contribute to raising awareness of the Advocacy Service and role.
25. To be aware of the Services policies and guidance on the management on Patient Confidentiality.
This list is not exhaustive, and this role may require completion of other tasks as reasonably required, in agreement with your line manager in HAIL or Principal Social Worker, NFMHS.
Person Specification
26. Experience, Knowledge & Skills
The Applicant must have proficient experience, knowledge and skills in the following areas to be deemed suitable for this position.
Essential:
27. Experience of working with people with mental health difficulties and /or acute social care needs.
28. Experience of advocacy, support, practical assistance, guidance and or emotional support in your work with people.
29. A demonstrated awareness of diversity, inclusion and other issues which may impact on an individual's ability to fully participate in their treatment, care plan or community.
30. Demonstrated awareness of being non-judgmental, non-directive and respectful of the rights of the patient in terms of their privacy, relationships, and confidentiality.
31. Be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills and relationship building utilizing nonconfrontational approaches in problem solving conflict between third parties.
32. Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between advocacy, peer support, social work and other clinical interventions.
33. To be familiar with relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act 2001, the Criminal Law (Insanity) Act 2006 and the Assisted Decision-Making Act (2015), and the ability to interpret and apply basic principles of legislation in practical settings.
34. To demonstrate an understanding of the social model of disability, Recovery oriented practice, the values of inclusion and equal opportunities, learning styles and their implications for how we communicate with one another.
35. Experience of producing written reports and correspondence to a high standard
36. Effective IT skills, particularly with Microsoft Word and Excel.
Desirable:
37. An understanding of disability and equality issues.
38. Lived experience of mental health services, with a demonstrated ability to reflect on same and the relationship between lived experience and peer or advocacy work
39. Direct experience of providing advocacy.
40. Experience of co-production approaches
41. Experience and knowledge of how to deal with conflict and perceived challenging behavior.
42. Have good communication skills including the ability to communicate with patients who may or temporarily have communication difficulties.
43. To have experience of creating accessible materials adapted to fit different communication styles and preferences.
44. To understand the legal and ethical concept of care within the criminal justice system and, forensic mental health.
45. To have a working knowledge of person centred approaches and tools that can be used to support people.
46. To use initiative in the absence of immediate direction and support and be prepared to call on assistance as required.
47. To have experience of creating information in different formats to inform patients with different communication needs and those whose capacity may be impacted by mental illness.
48. Conditions
49. The Salary will be commensurate with the experience of the individual appointed and in line with the salary scale.
50. Appointment
51. Posts will be filled immediately.
52. 12 month Specific Purpose Contract
53. All contracts are subject to successful completion of six-month probationary period.
Please note this post is funded by the HSE and is subject to a Service Level Agreement