Job Title: Panacea in Mind Support Group Facilitator

Dorset Mind

Job Description

Job Title: Panacea in Mind Support Group Facilitator

Responsible to:Service Delivery Manager

Probationary Period: 2 months

Main Purpose

To facilitate the “Panacea in Mind” Service which is a peer support group for people experiencing anxiety disorders. (E.g. Agoraphobia, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Specific Phobias, Trichotillomania/ Dermatillomania and Social Anxiety Disorder). Facilitating involves coordinating and undertaking all aspects of the service including enquiries, session preparation and delivering.

Key Responsibilities

Facilitating the Support Group

• Developing a Quarterly Programme in consultation with service users’ needs and funding requirements
• Welcoming and meeting with new service users on or before the first session attended (where possible) to register and assess need
• Fostering professional relationships and maintaining professional boundaries with service users in line with Dorset Mind’s policies and procedures (e.g. Equality & Diversity, Social Media, Confidentiality)
• Completing risk assessments for service users where known risks are identified (e.g. suicide)
• Liaising with, or informing, appropriate agencies to inform them of concerns (in accordance with Dorset Mind Safeguarding, Confidentiality and Groups and Services Operational policies/procedures)
• Identifying and assessing needs and signposting to how and where appropriate specialist support can be accessed.
• Working in an empowering and motivating way to enable group members to participate comfortably in structured activities
• Planning activities which support the mental and emotional wellbeing of service users and are in line with the Recovery Model and 5 Ways to Wellbeing Model
• Managing group dynamics to foster a safe and accepting environment in line with Dorset Mind’s group guidelines and policies and procedures
• Encouraging and supporting service user feedback and involvement in all aspects of the service
• Undertaking setting, monitoring, measuring, reviewing and capturing service users’ progressof recovery-focused goals, using agreed tools.
• Ensuring that the Group Rules for service users are followed and that they are periodically reviewed with the Service Users

Service Coordinating/ Facilitation

• Planning session material including preparing resources, information sheets, handouts and worksheets and other resources
• Organising guest speakers
• Logging and responding to email and phone enquiries from service users in a timely manner (within a working week)
• Logging and responding to email and phone enquiries from referral pathways in a timely manner (within a working week)
• Logging and responding to email and phone enquiries from volunteers in a timely manner (within a working week)
• Supervising any registered volunteers in their duties within the group and providing regular supervision (according to Dorset Mind Volunteer Policies and Procedures)
• Implementing procedures and practices to deliver a quality of service, with particular emphasis on equality and diversity and confidentiality at all times.
• Promoting the groups by developing and maintaining relationships with relevant referral pathways (e.g. Steps to Wellbeing, CMHT’s, Housing Associations, Support Agencies etc)
• Ensuring the service remains compliant with statutory, legal and best practice obligations and Dorset Mind policies
• Ensuring that the recording of information is done in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Dorset Mind’s Data Protection Policy and Archive and Data Retention Procedure.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Inputting and recording Outcome Measuring using relevant tools and systems
• Recording all service-user enquiries, including response dates, times and outcome (e.g. signposted elsewhere or attended group etc)
• Recording all volunteer enquiries including response dates, times and outcome (e.g. signposted elsewhere or began process of application etc)
• Recording and capturing service user attendance using relevant recording systems, and ensuring these are given to the office within a week.
• Recording service-user charges using relevant recording systems
• Photocopying service user outcome and registration forms and filing them in the office regularly in service user files

• Ensuring that all identifiable service user and volunteer application data is held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 and Dorset Mind’s Data Protection Policy, Archive and Data Retention Procedure and Volunteer Procedure.
• Carrying out risk assessments for the venues, service and occasional planned activities and volunteer roles within the group

General Responsibilities

• Attending Clinical Supervision (approx. 6 times per annum)
• Attending Service Staff Meetings (approx. 6 per annum)
• Taking responsibility for meeting targets according to agreed action plans in supervision, staff meetings and appraisals.
• Relating to colleagues both within the staff team, volunteer team and outside services in a professional manner.
• Attending training appropriate to agreed professional development needs.
• Maintaining awareness of, and implementing the requirements of, health and safety policies.
• To undertake such other duties as may be required from time to time commensurate with the level of the post.
• Ensuring the service is run in accordance with all Dorset Mind policies, procedures and practices

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Support Group Facilitator Job Description Page 1 of 3Weds 21st September