Community Connector Jobs in Watford, Hertfordshire
Groundswell Community Connector (Luton) – Job Description
Groundswell Project
Groundswell is a Community Interest Company (CIC) that focuses on peace-building, countering social harms and creating more resilient communities. We seek to do this through our trademarked ‘FIND-CONNECT-AMPLIFY’ model in which we identify local and existing community based organisations, connect them with wider community and statutory partners and amplify their efforts. We are active across the UK and are now seeking to expand our network of community connectors.
Salary – 32-34k depending upon experience, plus expenses.
Location – Luton
Job Context
Groundswell Project is seeking to recruit community connectors to work on a Big Lottery funded project called ‘Together we are’. This project seeks to implement Groundswell’s ‘Find, Connect, Amplify’ approach in four cities in the UK, namely London, Manchester, Glasgow and Luton. These roles are tasked with mapping community based groups in their respective cities, offering them support, connecting them with local statutory partners and putting on events that allow said groups to expand their outreach in the local area. Ultimately, the aim of the role is to ensure local community groups are better connected, much more visible and, thus, more effective. We are currently recruiting for a Luton based connector.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
1) Mapping the local landscape for community based organisations and producing a borough profile
2) Building strong relationships with local statutory and community based partners
3) Arrange meetings that connect local stakeholders in order to foster greater collaborative work
4) Arrange and promote a series of events in the local area that focus on relevant local themes
5) Help develop the Groundswell community mapper
6) Report directly to the ‘Together We Are’ project manager on all aspects of local work
Person Specification
The person must possess the following:
- A strong familiarity with the local area
- Experience of working with community based organisations
- Event management experience
- Competence with budget management
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Alignment with the vision and goals of the Groundswell Project
Employee benefits
Fully covered expenses for laptops, phones, and travel, as well as flexible remote work options.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job description
Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge are working in partnership with Stepney and Wapping Primary Care Network’s Neighbourhood Team to support the Transformation of Mental Health Services across Tower Hamlets.
Tower Hamlets is one of the pilot Boroughs to implement the Community Mental Health Framework which aim is to redesign the offer to support people with serious mental illness (SMI) to not just get back on track with their lives but to be happier and more fulfilled.
The programme is grounded in a population health approach to SMI, delivered through and with Primary Care Networks in Tower Hamlets, with an ambitious vision to support more patients closer to home and reduce the stigma and fragmentation in existing services.
Purpose of the role
The Community Connector will be responsible for working within the Neighbourhood Team within Stepney and Wapping PCN to ensure that people with SMI are able to live fulfilled lives through offering of one-to-one support to set goals towards their aspirations, needs and to offer hope and choice using a range of skill, knowledge and tools to achieve this. The community connector is seen as valuable asset to our neighbourhoods and act us a local expert, gathering and sharing information about local services.
The post holder will work collaborative and in partnership with the Multi-Disciplinary Teams and local Services and Community Groups to create pathways of support for people and to will act as the ‘glue’, linking people in with experts and local assets, and undertaking support work in partnership with external stakeholders to complement their interventions. The post holder will support people to identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, employment circumstances and unemployment, loneliness, isolation and caring responsibilities.
Adopting our Organisation culture
We have a strong reputation for delivering high quality Employment in Talking Therapy services and achieving positive recovery outcomes.
Our employment advice and support practices are underpinned by our Professional Code of Ethics, Code of Conduct and organisational values. We expect everyone to embrace our culture, ethos and our anti-racist, anti-discriminatory and inclusive practices throughout their work.
Key Responsibilities
Case Management
· To support and offer opportunities for the involvement of people with lived experience of mental health in the design, delivery and monitoring of services.
· To conduct regular innovative and engaging sessions (virtually or in person) in order to work towards support plan goals.
· To use a range of tools and skills such as health coaching and motivational interviewing techniques, identify barriers to people accessing services, and work with service users to overcome these.
Community Development
· Develop productive relationships with local partner organisations to improve service outcomes, and involve service users and carers in the design, development, and delivery of the service.
· Triage referrals and signpost to specialist support quickly where necessary, and deal with general queries to contribute to the overall smooth running of the neighbourhood team.
Monitoring and Compliance
· Ensure accurate and timely record keeping and data collection in line with MindTHNR’s and ELFT’s policies and procedures
· obtain and collate feedback from services user and their carers and ensure that these are recorded and shared with Neighbourhood Team and MindTHNR
· Maintain confidentiality and ensure that information is stored according to Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge policies and service guidelines, GDPR and data compliance.
General
· Act as an ambassador and represent Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge at external functions, events, giving talks and presentations to inform and inspire.
· Comply with, promote, and contribute to the development of MindTHNR’s: Aims and Values, Equality, Diversity and Inclusive principles and all organisational policies.
You must have:
· To have attained a minimum Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent
· Demonstrable and substantial experience of providing 1:1 support in mental health within voluntary or statutory settings
· Good knowledge and understanding of the diverse population in East London, their needs, complexities and the inequalities they may experience
· Experience of setting up and facilitating wellbeing groups and activities and delivering monitoring and evaluation activities in a 1:1 or group setting
· Experience of working collaboratively with local people, community, and statutory organisations with a working knowledge of the principles of co-production, involvement, and peer work within mental health services
· Experience of using skills and tools such as coaching or motivational interviewing techniques
· Demonstrable ability to engage with people from all backgrounds and a commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion practices.
The benefits of working for the organisation include 28 days annual leave pro rata + Public Holidays, Development and Growth opportunities, Company Pension Scheme and an Employee Assistance Programme.
Post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check and Right to Work Checks.
As an anti-racist, anti-discriminatory and inclusive organisation, we strongly welcome applications from all sectors of the community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, we offer a number of activities from our wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and our aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.
Community Connector (Mental Health Resilience Worker)
Post no: 594
Working base: Dunstable
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: £24,720 per annum
Hours: 37.0 hours per week, Monday to Friday
About the Role
Community Connectors work as part of an integrated, blended mental health offer to support people with emotional, social and practical needs to access a range of local, non-medical and non-clinical services, to improve confidence, social inclusion and independence.
This role will involve working as part of a multi-disciplinary team with statutory, third sector and NHS colleagues to support clients who are suffering from moderate to severe mental health difficulties. You will need to have experience working with those suffering with mental health illness as well as being able to demonstrate in depth knowledge of the services, support networks and local resources that may assist in improved outcomes for those dealing with complex and enduring mental health issues. The ability to be adaptable, work independently and the resilience to work in some challenging environments are key attributes for this role.
Service Delivery
- Assess suitability for community connection support as part of a blended team approach and support individuals to access the service by utilising in depth knowledge of local voluntary and community services and networks in your respective area
- To work with individuals to coproduce a plan to address their mental health and wellbeing goals. Am enable people to achieve these goals through facilitating access and connecting with appropriate resources
- Enable people to access community resources which may include accompanying them.
- Offer support, guidance and help where possible to people to gain confidence, overcome initial fears and seek solutions to any barriers inhibiting attendance.
- Take a holistic approach, based on the individuals’ priorities and wider determinants of health that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, being unemployed, loneliness and caring responsibilities.
- To work as part of an integrated team to ensure the best outcomes for each person accessing the service.
- Identify and build good working relationships with the community groups, relevant services and activities for partnership work and signposting as well as keep updated information about them.
- Competently work as part of a blended team, under direction from Mind BLMK and ELFT, working with independence and in an agile way to support people with complex mental health challenges.
Entitlements/benefits:
- 25 days (pro rata) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
- Auto-enrolment NEST pension scheme (employer contributes 3%, employee contributes 5%)
- Health Plan with a wide variety of benefits
- Discounts available through Blue Light Card & Tickets for Good
- In-house and external Learning and Development as appropriate for the role.
- Flexible Working On request (in line with Mind BLMK policy on Right to Request Flexible Working)
If you have a passion for working in mental health and possess the required skills, we would love to hear from you.
Closedown: 5pm Thursday 2nd May 2024
Interview date: TBC
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply
Start date: ASAP
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Mind BLMK has been committed to the Mindful Employer charter and the Disability Confident Employer Scheme since 2008.
Please note: Mind BLMK follows Safer Recruitment practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all our roles are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
No agencies please.