Buckinghamshire Mind Shares National Mind’s vision: “We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect. We deliver high quality community based services across the county of Buckinghamshire to reach out and ensure everyone with a mental health problem gets access to the help they need.

Post Title:Friends in Need Coordinator

Reports to: Friends in Need: Team Lead

Salary:£22,000 per annum pro rata

No of Posts:1 post

Locations:Windsor/Ascot/Maidenhead

Slough

Bracknell

Hours of Work: 0.6 FTE (22 hours per week)

Basic Function

Friends in Need is a service that supports people with depression, anxiety and social isolation to maintain wellbeing by developing strong local networks of like-minded people. The post holder will be key in day to day service delivery, responsible for coordinating the services and activities for Friends in Need members and for supporting people to join and use the network effectively.

Main Responsibilities

  • Find creative ways of engaging people affected by depression, and the loneliness and isolation that come with it, across the area and encourage them to join and use the network effectively
  • Maintain a varied timetable of events and promote all available opportunities widely.
  • To work in a person-centered way with members, supporting them to achieve their goals.
  • To ensure all service associated administrative tasks and monthly monitoring figures are completed in a timely manner
  • Welcome and induct all appropriate referrals into the service.
  • Expertly support people to maintain recovery by expertly promoting the Five Ways to Wellbeing.
  • Support and encouragepeople using the project to develop and runsocial groups and exercise events.
  • Support the Team Lead in the recruitment of volunteers within the Friends in Need Communities.
  • Ensure effective management of service budget.
  • Responsibility for the support of Friends in Need peer volunteers.
  • Ensure high levels of meaningful members involvement in service provision.
  • Ensure the events and groups are run safely and effectively.
  • Encourage celebrations of the achievements of the Friends in Need community.
  • Participate in events to promote Friends in Need and Buckinghamshire Mind generally through voluntary sector and community sources.

Other

  • To attend staff meetings and external meetings as agreed with the Friends in Need Co-ordinator Team Lead.
  • To keep the Friends in Need Co-ordinator Team Leadinformed of matters relating to Friends in Need activities particularly those which have a bearing in the reputation and development of Buckinghamshire Mind.
  • To undertake such duties not included in the job description as are reasonably requested by the Friends in Need Co-ordinator Team Lead.
  • To comply with all Bucks Mind policies and procedures with emphasis on Health & Safety and safeguarding.

Person specification

Post: Friends in Need Coordinator

The person specification seeks to define a person most likely to be suited to the job of Friends in Need Coordinator. Candidates are required to meet all the essential Conditions listed. E = essential criteria; D = desired criteria. Reference to both Conditions and Requirements in completing your application form will help in selecting candidates for interview.

Conditions

  • Supports the aims and work of Buckinghamshire Mind (E)
  • Maintains strict confidentiality concerning all Buckinghamshire Mind matters (E)

Requirements

Qualifications and experience

  • Relevant professional qualification e.g. degree or diploma (D)
  • Relevant experience (E)
  • Experience of facilitating challenging group dynamics. (E)
  • Empathy of, or lived experience of mental health challenges (E)
  • Experience of coordinating innovative projects(D)
  • Excellent knowledge of IT based social networking (E)
  • Experience of working with and understanding the diversity of the local community(E)

Knowledge, skills and abilities

  • Is committed to working for equal opportunities for all people (E)
  • Ability to work flexibly (role can include evening and weekend working). (E)
  • Maintains confidentiality in line with Buckinghamshire Mind policy (E)
  • Ability to practically encourage and support vulnerable people to develop confidence (E)
  • Has excellent IT and communication skills (E)
  • Can work effectively as part of a team. (E)
  • Well-developed verbal, interpersonal and customer services skills (D)
  • Can organize own workload and work without direct supervision (E)
  • Can keep written records and data (E)
  • Has a current clean driving license and use of own vehicle (work related mileage will be paid) (E)
  • Understanding of equality and diversity principles (E)
  • Lives locally to post (Windsor or Maidenhead)

Friends in Need Coordinator JD/PS2May 2017