Recruitment Information sheet
Key Terms and Conditions of Employment

Job Title:Befriending Support and Development worker

Service:The post will be line managed by the Wellbeing service, with delivery embedded within the Connect for Health Social Prescribing service.

Hours:37 hours per week

Grade:NJC Scale 5points22-25

Salary Range:£21,693- £23,111

Contract lengthUntil 31/3/21

Location:Clarence House, 11 Clarence Road, LS18 4LB andHillside, Beeston Road, Leeds, LS11 8ND

Responsible to:Team leader; 1:1 support

Annual leave:28 days + 8 statutory (pro rata)

Pension:Pension based on 3% contributory pension enhanced by salary exchange

Probationary Period: All posts are subject to a six-month probationary period.

April 2018

Job Description

Introduction

Leeds Mind is a progressive mental health organisation that supports people experiencing mental health difficulties to flourish. We are committed to developing services that are sensitive to individual need and of measurable benefit to users.

Leeds Mind has been awarded funding by Time to Shine to develop our befriending (social support) modelto work witholder people, in South and East Leeds, who have high levels of entrenched social isolation and are who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health. The post holder will be employed within the Wellbeing Service (individual support team) but will work in South and East Leeds, as part of the Connect for Health Social prescribing team, who will be the main source of referrals.

Purpose of the post

The successful post holder will be a highly motivated individual who will be responsible for the development, delivery, evaluation and monitoring of Befriending support in South and East Leeds. The is new project and we anticipate the purpose and main duties of the post will evolve and develop though learning and reflection during the project. At present main duties include: -

  • To provide social support to people, over 50, tohelp build confidence to get out of the house and meet other people.
  • Recruit, train, support and supervise volunteer befrienders.
  • Signpost and support people to attend existing local community groups.
  • Facilitate groups according to demand and need
  • Provide training and support for people who want to develop groups of their own.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Development and delivery of the service in Leeds South/East

  1. Promotion of the service to potential clients and referrers within Connect for Health.
  2. Undertake assessments of new referrals to the service from Connect for Health.
  3. Agree goals and outcomes with people wishing to use the service.
  4. Carry your own case load of 8-10 partnerships (at any one time).
  5. Support and signpost people to attend existing community groups.
  6. Establish a focus/engagement group to enable people using the service to contribute to the design, delivery, development and evaluation of the service.
  7. Develop the service in response to need and demand.
  8. Maintain positive relationships with partner organisations, in particular Connect for Health.

Volunteers.

  1. Recruitment, induction, support and line management of a small team of volunteers in line with the Leeds Mind volunteering framework.
  2. Create, oversee and review partnerships between volunteers and clients.
  3. Provide regular supervision and support for volunteers and periodic direct contact with the clients.
  4. Ensuring that volunteer records are maintained and are appropriate, accurate and relevant in line with data protection principles and the Accessible Information Standard.
  5. Support volunteers with any safeguarding concerns in line with Leeds Mind policies.
  6. Managing volunteer expenses and ensuring these are appropriate, relevant, recorded and monitored.

Group work

  1. To develop and facilitate social groups according to need and demand
  2. To provide training and support for people who want to develop groups of their own.

Admin and record keeping

  1. Maintaining appropriate and accurate monitoring records.
  2. Monitoring and evaluating outcomes for clients using a range of tools including questionnaires, case studies and direct contact with clients.
  3. Collecting, collating and returning monitoring data in a timely manner.
  4. Contributing to reports by providing input and outcome data, analysis and evaluation of the impact of your work, as required.

Training & Development

  1. Participate in performance management and development, including Leeds Mind compulsory training programme
  2. Undertake any staff development and training which is required, to enable the job to be performed in the best possible way.

Organisation

  1. Working within the framework of Leeds Mind’s policies and procedures Working within Leeds Mind Health and Safety Policies to ensure a safe working environment for staff, volunteers and students.
  2. Promoting the values, behaviours, ethos and philosophy of Leeds Mind.
  3. Promoting possibilities for empowerment where possible.
  4. Ensuring information is dealt with in accordance with policies around Confidentiality, Communications, Internet, Email and Telecommunications and steps are taken to ensure that confidential information is secure.
  5. Any other duties commensurate to the effective running of the service.

This job description may be subject to change.

It is our policy to make reasonable adjustments to enable workers with disabilities to undertake the above tasks.

April 2018

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Befriending Support and Development Worker- Person Specification

Essential / Desirable / Shown by
Qualifications /
  • A Mental Health related qualification or equivalent experience
/ Application form
Experience of /
  • Working in mental health or other relevant support services
  • Providing 1:1 support to people who are experiencing difficulties with their mental health.
  • Recruiting, training and supporting volunteers/students
  • Development and delivery of community based services.
  • Monitoring and evaluation procedures
  • Delivering training.
  • Managing small budgets
/
  • Providing befriending support
  • Lived (own) experience of emotional distress
  • Facilitation of groups
/ Application form and interview
Skills and abilities /
  • Highly motivated individual, who is able to work both independently and as part of a team.
  • Able to develop positive and enabling relationships with volunteers and clients
  • Able to network and liaise with other agencies and colleagues
  • A calm and thoughtful approach to risk
  • Non-judgemental, person centred approach to volunteers and clientsE
  • Excellent administration, record keeping and IT skills
  • communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skillsE
  • Able to work with people from diverse communities and with differing needs
/
  • Use of social media for promotion and publicity
/ Application form and interview
Knowledge of /
  • Good practice in relation to recruitment, management and retention of volunteers
  • The issues facing people with mental health needs in the community
  • Understanding and awareness of your own support needs.
/
  • Mental health and community service providers in Leeds
/ Application form and interview

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