Thank you for considering joining Action for M.E.
This is an incredibly exciting time in the charity’s development as we look to recruit a new Chair to help lead our new bold and ambitious agenda strategy for change.
I joined Action for M.E. in September 2012 and am delighted to be working with a staff and volunteer team and Board of Trustees who are passionate, dedicated and determined.
We are in the process of developing our new five-year strategy and know that we need to have a stronger clarity of purpose and a sharper purpose on what we will and won’t do and what difference our action will have for people with M.E.
The impact for people affected by M.E., a hidden illness with significant lack of awareness and understanding of the condition and the devastating effects it can have, has grown. As a result transformational changes are needed now, more than ever.
We believe that Action for M.E. can, and will, make a major contribution to creating the change that is so desperately needed.
Sonya Chowdhury
Chief Executive
Our values
Shared values are held with high regard in our organisation and reflect how we seek to work with our supporters, partners and other key
stakeholders. They reflect the attitudes, beliefs and behaviour that we value in each other and underpin our whole approach and culture.
About us
Action for M.E. takes action to end the ignorance, injustice and neglect that people with M.E. face day-in, day-out.
M.E. is a chronic, neurological illness affecting an estimated 250,000 adults and children in the UK. It may be diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome (PVFS).
M.E. affects different people in different ways and symptoms can fluctuate and change over time. Common symptoms include persistent and severe exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest, muscle and/or joint pain, sleep disturbance, having problems with memory and concentration.
Action for M.E. was founded by Sue Finlay in 1987 and since then has been working tirelessly to tackle the inequality experience by people with M.E.
Our vision
A world without M.E.
Our mission
Empowering people with M.E. to fulfil their potential and secure the care and support they need, while working towards a greater understanding of the illness and ultimately a cure.
Our people
President
Clare Francis MBE
Vice President
Martin Arber
Patrons
Lord David Puttnam CBE
Lord Melvyn Bragg
Julie Christie
Professor Anthony J. Pinching
Chairman
Alan Cook CBE
Vice Chairman
Vacant
Trustees
We are an organisation led by people affected by M.E. for people affected by M.E. We aim to have a minimum of 51% of our Trustees who have, or have had, M.E. themselves.
Our Trustees are unpaid and meet at least four times a year and many sit on one of our four sub-committees. Board meeting location alternates between London and Keynsham.
We have a staff team of 18 (13.5 FTE) and approximately 70 volunteers who support our work in a number of different ways.
Our head office is in Keynsham (between Bath and Bristol) and we also have a small number of staff and volunteers in Scotland.
Our three strategic touchstones…
Our promise to people affected by M.E.
Inform and Influence
We will increase awareness and understanding of the illness and its impact alongside working to influence policy-makers and others to increase investment in research and improve the services, care and support for people affected by M.E.
Empower and Support
We will empower and support people affected by M.E. to live life to their full potential, while providing them with a wide range of up-to-date information about M.E. and resources available to them.
Research
We will support high quality, evidenced-based medical and social policy research and invest in pilot research projects to help us learn more and to stimulate greater mainstream funding of M.E. research.
“Ensuring impact from all
our work”
Redefining our priorities…
There is much to do. We have pulled together the voices, views and opinions from a number of our key stakeholders and will be reviewing and refining our focus for the next five to ten years.
Currently, our key priorities that will shape our current and future activities:
· awareness and understanding
· health
· welfare
· research
· employment
Job summary
Job title / Project worker Mentor M.E. projectResponsible to / Project Co-ordinator for Scotland
Salary / £21,097 pro rata
Hours of work / 21 hours, Monday – Friday with occasional weekends/evenings
Annual leave / 26 days pro rata + grace days to be taken at Christmas as directed
Location / Home-based in Scotland Central belt
Background to Mentor M.E.: Peer support network project
This is an exciting post created to directly support people with M.E. who are keen to use their skills and experience to support others with the illness. This project was developed in direct response to the need identified by people in Scotland with M.E. for increased access to support, and also for opportunities to share their experiences constructively. People with long term M.E. told us they feel frustrated that their perspectives and knowledge gained of managing their condition day-to-day appear to be undervalued or dismissed by professionals focusing upon perceived weaknesses rather than individuals’ strengths.
During a previous project, Living and Learning with M.E., peer mentoring support was raised in group discussions and a proposal was developed to establish a peer mentoring project directly. Several participants expressed an interest in being involved in a future peer mentoring project. In March 2016, Action for M.E. was awarded a 3-5[1] year grant from the Scottish Government’s Transforming Self-Management Fund, which is managed by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland.
The project’s primary objective is to support and empower people with M.E. and their unpaid carers to manage their condition effectively, in line with individual circumstances and whilst living their lives as fully as possible. We aim to develop, a strong, sustainable peer mentoring network for people living with M.E. in Scotland and their unpaid carers. Starting in the Lothians and Fife and rolling out geographically in stages over 5 years,, the network will be developed with, and increasingly led by, people affected by M.E. themselves.
Job purpose
Under the guidance of the Project Co-ordinator for Scotland, establish a sustainable and effective volunteer-led Peer Mentoring Network for people affected by M.E. in Scotland within the project timeframe. We are seeking a committed individual with the drive to deliver genuine, positive outcomes for people affected by M.E. receiving mentoring and for the volunteer mentors involved in the project.
Key duties
1. Design and delivery of tailored skills development sessions for mentors
· Work with the Project Co-ordinator to develop tailored mentoring skills development session plans, materials and activities in line with good practice
· Co-facilitate sessions held around Scotland, leading facilitation as required
· Feed learning from facilitation and feedback into the development and improvement of future sessions.
2. Recruiting and co-ordinating volunteers and mentees
· Promote the project and recruit volunteer mentors and mentees
· Outreach to local support groups and individuals
· Establish strong ongoing communication with mentors and mentees
· Provide structured one-to-one support to mentors and monthly group experience-sharing sessions
· Organise group sessions, taking the lead in practical co-ordination with participants and facilitators.
3. Information capture and management
· Establish and maintain robust project records and databases
· Ensure that data protection rules, policies and good practice are fully adhered to in the handling of sensitive data
· Produce accurate and timely monitoring and evaluation information reports.
4. Reporting and information sharing
· Contribute to six-monthly report writing – being prepared to take a lead role as required
· Contribute to project information resources, communications and presentations on the project – being prepared to take a lead role as required.
5. Contribute to major project outputs
· Draft written project outputs
· Organise end-of-project event, taking the lead in practical arrangements and co-ordination.
6. Other Duties
· Contribute constructively to internal and external meetings as required
· Positively promote the work and activities of Action for M.E. and represent the organisation
· Keep up-to-date with best practice and comply with relevant legislation and regulatory requirements, working within the organisation’s policies and procedures
· Undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by your Line Manager, the Chief Executive or any other member of the Senior Management Team.
Person specification
1. Educated to degree level or proven transferable and relevant experience / Y / Application
2. Understanding of key issues affecting people with M.E., carers and family members / Y / Application/Interview
3. Experience of developing and/or running peer mentoring projects or services / Desirable / Application/Interview
4. Experience of providing support and/or skills development training to volunteers / Desirable / Application/Interview
5. Experience of facilitating workshops or group discussions and/or delivering training / Y / Application/Interview
6. Excellent organisational skills to effectively plan work and prioritise activities within deadlines / Y / Application/Interview
7. Commitment to an outcomes focused approach to work / Y / Application/Interview
8. Proven ability to deliver key project outputs and outcomes, ideally within the voluntary sector / Y / Application/Interview
9. Ability to effectively plan, organise and facilitate training/skills development sessions and group discussions / Y / Application/Interview
10. Ability to provide strong one-to-one support to volunteers face-to-face and by telephone, Skype (or similar) / Y / Application/Interview
11. Excellent interpersonal and network/relationship building skills with the ability to communicate confidently and empathetically / Y / Application/Interview
12. Experience of working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and with differing needs and priorities / Y / Application/Interview
13. Ability to nurture and support collaborative working and to manage conflict / Y / Application/Interview
14. Ability to capture and share learning, feeding it back into project planning and development / Y / Application/Interview
15. Excellent communication skills both written and oral, including ability to present information in an accessible format / Y / Application/Interview
16. Ability to use own initiative, work independently and to work well in a team / Y / Application/Interview
17. Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends / Y / Application/Interview
18. Willingness to travel to meetings/workshops across Scotland, some of which are likely to require overnight stays / Y / Application/Interview
19. Strong IT skills including MS Word, Excel and Outlook / Y / Application/Interview
20. Experience of using social media and Skype (or similar) / Desirable / Application/Interview
Terms and conditions
Outlined below are some of the main terms and conditions of employment relevant to all employees of Action for M.E.
1. Probation
All posts are subject to three months’ probation. During this probationary period, either party may give the other one week’s notice in writing to terminate the employment. After successful completion of the probationary period, the notice stated on your contract of employment will apply.
2. Annual leave
The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December. In each holiday year in addition to bank and statutory holidays the holiday entitlement for a full time employee is 26 days. Holiday will be calculated on a pro rata basis for part time posts.
3. Pension scheme
Action for M.E. operates a group pension scheme. All employees may join the scheme on the completion of the probationary period. Action for M.E. will match employees’ pension contributions of 3% of salary. Action for M.E. will not pay into a personal pension scheme.
4. Salary payment
Salaries are paid in arrears on the last working day of each month, by direct credit transfer into a bank or building society.
5. Flexibility
This post may require working outside of normal office hours and travel to attend meetings and events within the UK, including occasional overnight stays.
Application timetable
Deadline for applications / 5pm Friday 10 JuneShort list meeting / Tuesday 14 June
Successful applicants to be notified by / Thursday 16 June
Interviews and assessment held in Edinburgh / Monday 27 June
For more information, or to submit an application, please contact Anna Whitson at Action for M.E., 42 Temple Street, Keynsham BS31 1EH. Tel: 0117 937 6637. Email:
for the post of
Project Worker (Scotland)
Please PRINT and use black ink if not completing electronically. This form must be completed in full. Any additional information submitted (eg. CV) will not be considered in the shortlisting process.
Personal details
Surname / First name(s) / TitleAddress
Email address
Office hours telephone number / Other hours telephone number / Mobile number
Do you need a work permit for permanent employment in the UK? YES / NO / If so, do you have one?
YES / NO
Please provide School history and qualifications
Name of School / DateFrom - To / Qualifications Gained
Please provide full work history (please ensure you account for any gaps in employment)
from – to – / Reason for Leaving
/Please provide current salary details (or last post if not in current employment) £______
Please describe, in no more than two pages, why you want this role and how you fit the person specification set out in this application packPlease describe, in no more than two pages, why you want this role and how you fit the person specification set out in this application pack
Referees
Please give details of two referees; one of whom should be your current/most recent employer. Please note that references will be taken up prior to final interview but not without your express permission.Name
Address
Telephone
E-mail address:
Relationship to you / Name
Address
Telephone
E-mail address:
Relationship to you
/Declaration