Job Description
Job Title:
Lead Worker (Changing Futures Together Programme)
Location:
Birmingham
Accountable to:
Team Leader
Salary:
£19,000 per annum
Hours:
37.5hrs
About the role
This is a hugely exciting opportunity to lead and shape a new and innovative service
designed to provide intensive support to individuals in Birmingham with entrenched multiple
needs of homelessness, mental health, substance misuse and offending behaviour.
As a Lead Worker you will be providing a key worker approach of support to a small group of
clients with multiple needs.
You will work to engage clients who have long disengaged from existing services, using a
variety of techniques and approaches to build a relationship with clients and develop a
support plan. You will meet the client’s needs first, working across the city and being ready
to be there when the client needs them.
You will work to develop and coordinate a full package of support for clients, addressing all
their multiple needs, and where services are unavailable or unsuitable identifying
alternatives for support.
You will also work alongside Peer Mentors, who as former service users, will be there to
provide additional advice and support to the client.
The goal of our service is to champion the latest developments and approaches in support
work, as a Lead Worker you will be expected to undertake a variety of training and personal
development, becoming an expert in this field of support
Main Objectives
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To deliver professional, impartial, pragmatic and outcome focused support to a range
of clients with complex needs to ensure that they can sustain their accommodation
and thrive in their community.
To give full advice on different issues which are likely to include a number of the
following areas; homelessness and housing, tenancy, domestic abuse, asylum and
immigration, relationship breakdown, dampness and disrepair, illegal eviction, welfare
and housing benefits, debt, employment, child protection and adult protection.
Key Responsibilities
Support Worker
 Undertake comprehensive needs and risk assessment so that the client’s Housingrelated support needs are fully identified
 Develop an outcome focused support plan with client.
 Provide information, advice and advocacy for clients
 Provide flexible support, including support in people’s homes and a variety of settings.
 Undertake all monitoring as required.
 Effectively manage a varied caseload
 Act on advice and support from more senior staff as appropriate on cases
 As considered appropriate by Team Leader/Manager, and in exceptional
circumstances - prepare for either handover of a case to Senior Support Worker/Team
Leader or work very closely with the Team Leader/Senior Support Worker on the case.
General
 Work within strategic and legislative framework.
 Ensure all work meets both external and internal quality, contractual, performance and
professional targets and standards
 Ensure client details are entered onto a case management system accurately and
punctually
 Identify cases requiring further help (specialist advice, alternative support) and refer as
appropriate
 Works in accordance with the Service operating model
 Develop, maintain and coordinate effective working relationships with external
agencies.
 Maintain and develop advice/support knowledge and expertise
 Other tasks as delegated by the Team Leader
Diversity
 All staff should adhere to Birmingham Mind’s Equality and Diversity Policy and will be
expected to play a key role in its successful implementation
Job Specification
What is Birmingham Mind Looking For?
How do we check if you have it?
Application = A
Interview = I
Assessment /Test = T
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
1
2
3
4
Knowledge of mental health.
Knowledge and experience of working within a safeguarding framework
Experience of working with vulnerable people and / or people with multiple and
complex needs.
Experience of using a range of IT tools to carry out your work, including case
management systems, Microsoft Office applications, internet and email etc.
A/I/T
A/I/T
A/I/T
A/I/T
Behaviour Profile
Works Proactively
Demonstrates initiative, thinks ahead and takes prompt action to solve
problems; completes tasks, overcomes obstacles and seizes opportunities.
I/T
Essential for this Role - Level 2
Level Description
Initiates actions even in challenging situations
Is not prepared to act in challenging situations
Behaviour Examples
 Identifies emerging opportunities or issues and takes action accordingly
 Acts to create opportunities or avoid problems
 Makes the most of new opportunities
 Anticipates expectations and provides solutions where possible
 Recognises critical situations and acts with the appropriate sense of urgency
 Follows-up to ensure actions which are down to others take place as necessary
and or as expected
 Actively contributes to team objectives rather than waiting to be prompted
 Is prepared to take action even when circumstances appear difficult
Leads Change & Improves Performance
Responds quickly and positively to change, seeking to continuously improve
performance by learning quickly from mistakes, celebrating successes and
constantly developing people and processes.
Essential for this Role - 2
Level Description
Takes action to make change successful and speaks positively about the benefits of
performance improvement
Actions create mistrust of change and speaks negatively about changes at work
Behaviour Examples
 Cooperates with appropriate changes to working practices to help embed
I/T
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them into own area of work
Helps others see the future positively and gets practical support to operate in
the changed conditions
Encourages others to identify opportunities for improvement to processes
and ways of working and to develop solutions.
Helps build and develop others’ skills by sharing knowledge across the team
Develops own skills and knowledge to improve performance
Shares and praises own and others’ success
Demonstrates Creativity & Innovation
I/T
Applies creative thinking; challenges the status quo and introduces new ideas,
methods and processes
Desirable for this Role – Level 1
Level Description
Thinks laterally and challenges the ‘status quo’
Waits for others to take the lead in bringing about change
Behaviour Examples
 Actively supports the introduction of new ideas, methods or processes
 Looks for ways to apply new ideas and improvements to the job
 Suggests new or different ideas and methods
 Contributes to and builds on other people’s ideas and proposals for new
methods
 Continuously reviews processes to increase efficiency
 Reacts constructively to set backs
Client & Customer Focused
Focuses on and understand the needs of internal and external customers,
clients and other stakeholders and strives to deliver a prompt, effective and
personalised service. ( For ‘customers’, please also read clients, stakeholders
and audiences)
Essential for this Role - Level 3
Level Description
Builds good relationships with key customers and partners
Does not take positive action to foster mutually beneficial relationship
Behaviour Examples
 Identifies and acts appropriately upon the diverse needs of customers
 Proactively builds and maintains solid relationships with customers and other
stakeholders.
 Takes responsibility for customer issues across relevant areas of service
delivery
 Identifies and takes up opportunities to extend the business relationship to
benefit the service and the partnership arrangement
 Ensures delivery on agreed quality standards
 Proactively works towards a shared and realistic outcome for the customer
 Actions and decisions are in keeping with the customer’s contract/needs
 Effectively utilises resources to ensure delivery to agreed quality standards
 Manages customer feedback and ensures findings are prioritised and acted
upon
I/T
Influences Others & Communicates Effectively
Listens closely and communicates clearly both verbally and in writing;
I/T
positively influences others and where appropriate persuades them to change
their views, intentions or actions.
Essential for this Role – Level 2
Level Description
Uses multiple influencing styles and approaches and acts and communicates
professionally in a range of situations
Approach is inflexible or too simplistic and delivery lacks impact or is inappropriate
to the situation
Behaviour Examples
 Identifies appropriate people to communicate with and tailors the
message to their needs
 Presents opinion logically, checking for understanding and
encouraging open discussion
 Quickly gains the attention of others and maintains their interest
 Notices others’ responses and adapts communication style
accordingly
 Expresses views constructively and diplomatically when others
disagree or challenge
 Demonstrates self-control and the ability to manage own reactions
and emotions
 Appears and sounds confident, makes an immediate positive
impression
 Uses communications skills to listen closely and is engaging both in
groups and one to one
 Builds a relationship or creates rapport before attempting to
persuade, where possible
 Writes in the appropriate style ensuring the message is accessible to
the target audience
Results Driven & Commercially Aware
Committed to achieving results, takes personal accountability for work and
understands and applies commercial and financial principles
Essential for this Role – Level 1
Level Description
Shows resilience in delivering results in demanding situations and is able to pursue
business opportunities
Fails to deliver results when situations become difficult and does not capitalise on
business opportunities
Behaviour Examples
 Effectively manages workload and prioritises tasks as appropriate
 Demonstrates a positive attitude in tackling tasks and completes them
to agreed standards and quality levels
 Recognises when results are not achieved and focuses on how to
change this to succeed
 Proactively approaches tasks and completes them to agreed
standards and quality levels
 Understands how own work can contribute to delivering Birmingham
Mind’s vision and values.
 Understands and works to Birmingham Mind’s financial procedures
(including purchasing procedures)
 Operates under instruction within agreed expense limits and
parameters
I/T
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Takes steps to ensure all work is on track and to the required
standard
 Understands their contribution to the achievement of Birmingham
Mind’s vision and values
Tailored Examples
Applies & Shares Expert Knowledge
Demonstrates the specialist knowledge and technical requirements of the job;
applies skills and experience to perform the job effectively, completes work to
a high standard and shares knowledge across the organisation.
I/T
Essential for this Role – Level 2
Level Description
Uses professional expertise to contribute to internal policy and best practice
Does not take or misses opportunities to contribute to policy and best practice
Behaviour Examples
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Carries out tasks at the required professional skill level for the role
Keeps up with developments in subject area and shares knowledge
with colleagues as necessary
Adapts expertise from other teams, functions and implements working
practices accordingly
Uses own experience and expertise to ensure objectives can be
achieved as agreed
Considers and implements the practical application of the latest
advances in own area of work and identifies gaps in knowledge for
own and wider area of work
Maintains awareness of the latest advances in own area of work
Actively contributes to knowledge and good practice sharing across
the team/organisation
Utilises and shares knowledge of available resources with colleagues
as appropriate
Works Collaboratively with Others
Works collaboratively with others for the good of the business; builds a
network of good relationships and develops a thorough understanding of the
organisation and the wider sector
Essential for this Role – Level 2
Level Description
Resolves conflict and facilitates cooperation within teams, the organisation and other
stakeholders
Fails to address barriers or conflict within teams the organisation and other
stakeholders
Behaviour Examples
 Involves colleagues appropriately in all relevant activities
 Participates fully and encourages others to participate, building on
and supporting their contribution
 Praises, values and recognises the expertise and input of others
 Understands and accepts that others have different team roles and
contribute in different ways
 Builds and maintains constructive working relationships with other
I/T
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teams and groups
Takes into account the impact on other areas of the organisation
when taking decisions or actions
Cooperates when working with other teams and groups
Builds broad knowledge of overall business to improve own
effectiveness
Acquires knowledge of the role and responsibilities of different parts
of the organisation to help improve team effectiveness
Demonstrates a willingness to support other team members
Values & Respects Others
Respects other individuals; listens and takes into account different opinions,
feelings and motivations; is trustworthy and acts with integrity; responds and
acts constructively towards others.
Essential for this Role - Level 3
Level Description
Plans for and handles difficult interactions and deals positively with emotionally
charged situations
Mishandles interactions or alienates others
Behaviour Examples
 Plans an interaction so as to have a constructive outcome for all parties
 Creates rapport by understanding and adjusting communication approach to
adapt to the other person’s style or mood
 Responds with empathy to personal, difficult or embarrassing subjects
 Uses an understanding of underlying issues and needs to help solve a
problem
 Changes behaviours to achieve a constructive outcome
 Moulds approach to meet the needs of the individual and the situation
 Encourages and recognises others who behave with honesty and integrity
 Leads by example in encouraging and upholding confidentiality principles as
appropriate
 Challenges discriminatory or disrespectful behaviour as soon as it is
apparent and instigates appropriate corrective action
 Can accurately reflect, summarise or paraphrase what people say to ensure
understanding
 Encourages others to give truthful and constructive feedback
I/T