STR Programme

STR Workers

We are looking for people who:

  • Can demosnstate empathy, compassion and patience
  • Have facilitation and mentoring skills
  • Have non-judgemental, open-minded approach to working with people with mental health needs 
  • Have excellent listening and communication skills
  • Have sound record-keeping and organisational skills
  • Can create innovative solutions to help empower service users
  • Are able to work in a range of settings including our day centres
  • Are able to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users and carers
  • Recognise and support the personal resourcefulness of people with mental health needs
  • Acknowledge diversity and promote anti-discriminatory practice / equal opportunities
  • Can provide practical support with daily living activities and to work in a way which will enable service users to obtain/retain responsibility for their decision making
  • Wish to undertake one of the City & Guilds Mental Health Certificates and associated core training

Commitment required:

Our servcie users need consistency in the support they receive and we would be unlikely to accept a Volunteer STR worker who was unable to give a commitment of less than 6 months. The number of hours you can give per week is less important and we are happy to welcome volunteers who can offer only four hours per week (subject to additional training and supervision requirements). Sessional volunteers should arrive 15 minute before sessions begin and should be prepared to stay up to 30 minutes after the end of the session, in order to attend pre and post session meetings.

STR workers must also be committed to attending training in order to gain a City and Guilds VRQ (Vocationally Related Qualification) in Mental Health Work

In order to do this you must be available to attend the training, as part of the programme. the is held on Monday or Tuesday evenings.

Support and Supervision

For the first few sessions you attend you will be paired with a more experienced STR worker to help with your induction. During your induction period you will familiarise yourself with the policies and procedures of the Centre, and Flexicare, our floating support service.

Applying

HCCT provides quality services to vulnerable adults and as such strives to offer opportunities to volunteers who are committed to its values and objectives. This commitment, a desire to learn and train and an enthusiasm for the organisation and its work are more important than experience and qualifications. We actively encourage applications from those with experience of homelessness, addiction, displacement and mental ill health.   

The selection process for STR workers involves completing a brief Application Form [PDF / 44.3 kB]and Competencies questionnaire [PDF / 62.17 kB] Prospective STR workers then attend an information/selection day and are also invited to a brief interview where we will discuss the selection day and the competencies questionnaire.

We will get back to you soon after the interview to let you know whether you have been selected on this occasion.

All STR positions are dependant on applicants’ CRBs being suitable to work with vulnerable adults. 

If you would like more information:
Email: natalie.treacher@hcct.org.uk

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