Friends in NeedCoordinatorfor West London

Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title: Friends in Need (FiN) Coordinator

Location: London, within Kensington and Chelsea CCG

Grade: £26,000 per annum

Hours:37.5 hours per week

Pension: 6.3% contribution after completing a 6 month probationary period

Background

Depression Alliance (DA) is the leading national charity for people with depression across the UK. Our aim is to end the loneliness and isolation that come with depression, and to bring people together to make them happier. Werecently launched Friends in Need -a new community to connect people locally and online to maintain recovery and wellbeing by developing strong local networks of like-minded people.

Funded by West London Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), The West London FiN Team aims to reach everyone affected by depression in the CCG area. The FiN coordinator will be a part of a team of five staff acting as a catalyst for its development and success.

Principal Responsibilities to:

1.Find creative ways of engaging people affected by depression across the patch and encourage them to join and use the network effectively.

2.Encourage people to spread the word about Friends in Need.

3.Meet people with depression, GPs, employers, health practitioners, families, friends and partners of people with depression and encourage them to use the Friends in Need community.

4.Expertly promote the Five ways to wellbeing to support people to maintain recovery from depression

5.Keep abreast of activity on the FiN community and encourage people on the site to meet locally, and those meeting locally to join up online

6.Identify Friends in Need volunteers and encourage them to take part in informal training sessions on how to manage issues that may arise in the community

7.Support and encouragepeople using the project to develop and runsocial groups and exercise events

8.Ensure the events and groups are run safely and effectively

9.Encourage celebrations of the achievements of the community

10.Recordaccurateinformation on the activities of Friends in Need community

11.Participate in events to promote Friends in Need and DA generally to funders, regulators, supporters and members

Depression Alliance

12.meet regularly with the DA staff team

13.contribute to Depression Alliance’s strategies and initiatives

14.carry out duties with due regard to DA’s policies and procedures

15.attend training and supervision and annual appraisals

16.any other duties reasonably required

Person Specification

Qualifications/ education/ training

A degree or equivalent qualification is expected but experience is also recognised

Experience

Essential

1.Minimum 2 years’ experience in a similar environment or role

2.Excellent knowledge of IT based social networking

3.Ability to work innovatively and enthusiastically

Desirable

1.Experience of developing innovative projects

2.Experience of working with diverse communities

3.Knowledge of support systems and services in West London

Knowledge and skills

Essential

  1. Social and communication skills
  2. Well developed verbal, interpersonal and customer services skills
  3. IT skills
  4. Experience of collecting, processing and reporting management information
  5. Ability to practically encourage and support vulnerable people to develop confidence

Initiative and self motivation

Essential

  1. Ability to work independently to prioritise work
  2. Ability to work on own initiative, a proactive self starter
  3. Flexibility and responsiveness to the needs of the team leader and the organisation as they develop

Specific Working Requirements

Ability to work flexible hours, with weekend and evening working

From time to time your manager will review this job description with you