Community Connector Support Volunteer Jobs
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.
Community Connector Workers x4
Hours: 37 Hours per week
Salary: £25,000 - £27,444 Per Annum Pro Rata (dependant on skills, knowledge and experience)
Contract: Permanent
Base: Location will be specific to one of the three: Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire. With some flexibility to support gaps
Benefits: 28 days annual leave + bank holidays, contributory pension scheme, flexible working and great discounts and cash back card schemes
NHS England have awarded funding for NHS, Local Authorities, and the voluntary sector to increase their capacity for joint working to meet multiple needs of communities.
Working in partnership across Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust, you will support the testing of new and integrated models of primary and community mental health care.
Community Connectors will support patients to access a wide range of community services and resources including social care, housing, family, debt and employment counselling that support maintaining good health and wellbeing.
Key Responsibilities:
- Work jointly with the Mental Health Practitioner in conducting assessments, including risk assessment
- Work with patients to support them in identifying their socially determined needs and goals, provide self- management tools and facilitate the development of personal support plans
- Provide a range of motivational and structured psycho-social interventions
- Promote independence through an enabling asset-based approach that draws on individuals’ strengths, preferences and ‘natural’ support networks
- Assist with community resource mapping exercises and maintain a database of community resources; map where there are gaps in provision across the PCN and wider geography and work with other VCS organisations to develop resources where most needed
- Promote and support (where necessary) advised follow up actions from physical health checks for people with SMI
- Work with the service to identify opportunities to expand provision particularly in local communities where there is a lack of service provision identified
- Broker and establish new partnerships between public and voluntary sector agencies to enhance service delivery and access to services
- Develop and sustain professional relationships with service users, partner agencies and appropriate external agencies
What’s essential?
- An understanding of good practice in safeguarding Adults
- Experience of working within mental health, wellbeing or similar environments
- Experience of working in a demanding environment
- Ability to work as part of a team and communicate effectively
- Experience of working with individuals, enabling them to identify their own goals to support personal wellbeing and recovery, and helping them to pursue these
- Ability to work both collaboratively and independently
- Excellent listening and interpersonal skills
- Ability to confidently use IT systems and software at a basic level
- Ability to travel to different sites daily to deliver face-to-face sessions across the Berkshire region.
- Good planning and organisational skills
We want you to know that your application is welcome. We welcome applications from people of all sections of the community, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
Closing date: This post will close as soon as a sufficient number of applicants have been received and all posts have been filled so please apply ASAP to avoid disappointment
Shortlisting date: Tuesday 26th April 2024
Interview date: Tuesday 30th April & Wednesday 1st May 2024
Interview location: TBC
Why work for us?
- We offer a friendly working environment and are committed to staff wellbeing
- We are devoted to equity, diversity, inclusion, and equality, with staff working groups and support groups
- We are an Oxford Living Wage employer
Here is a taste of what we offer:
- Generous holiday allowance, 28 days plus 8 bank holidays, increasing after 5 years (pro rata)
- Contribute to pension scheme
- Flexible working including; hybrid working, part time, compressed hours
- Ensuring growth and development of our people along their career journey
- Free support package from Health Assured for you and your family
- Great discounts and cash back card schemes
Oxfordshire Mind is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We therefore require a Disclosure and Barring Service check, for all our roles. The level of which will vary depending on the nature of the role.
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.
We welcome applications from people from all sections of the community, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief.
Oxfordshire Mind is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We therefore require a Disclosure and Barring Service check, for all our roles. The level of which will vary depending on the nature of the role.
No agencies please.
Wild in the City was established in 2013 and was incorporated as an asset locked non- profit Community Interest Company in April 2016 to address the growing problem of disconnection from nature and generational loss of knowledge and skills, and to help make nature a meaningful part of everyday life.
We are a national organisation supporting well-being through relationship with nature. We offer programmes in hiking, woodland living skills, natural history and ecotherapy, using the skills of our ancestors to develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and nurture a sense of belonging to communities past and present.
We are a black led organisation with a focus on health and supporting Black and minority ethnic communities in accessing nature and the countryside, addressing the widely acknowledged lack of representation and lower levels of involvement of people of colour in nature-based activity. We are a leading organisation in research and the facilitation of forums about race and nature.
We have an exciting vision for increasing the participation of people of colour in nature- based activity and highlighting black perspectives about the natural world through our core programmes.
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Nature Guides
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Nature Connectors
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Wild in the City Festival
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Black Nature Narratives
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Research and Consultancy
We’re looking for an exceptional individual to become our new Director of Operations. The right person will balance strong interpersonal and leadership skills and robust operational ability in the areas of finance, administration and fundraising. The role of Director of Operations is central to helping us achieve our ambition of further growing as a Black led institution for learning and caring about nature. We are looking for someone with the experience to help shape our growth and guide implementation of our 5 year plan, and who will grow with us to become our Chief Operating Officer.
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The role is offered for 21 hours per week.
Closing date: 3rd May 2024
Interview: w/c 13th May 2024
Start date: as soon as possible
Full job description with responsibilties and person specification is attached