Group Facilitator : External Activities and Mystery Tours
Location: Basildon (with travel across the local area)
Contract: 12:month fixed:term (with view to extension subject to funding and performance)
Hours: 37.5 per week, Monday : Friday, 9am : 5pm
Salary: GBP 27,000 per annum
Annual leave: 28 days per year (pro:rata for fixed:term/part:time)
Pension: Workplace pension with employer contributions in line with policy
Reports to: Service Manager
About Our Client
They are an activities service for people living with dementia and related neurological conditions. They focus on ability, creativity, and joy, offering sport, art, culture and mystery tours that help people stay active, connected and fulfilled.
The Role
Our client is seeking an enthusiastic Group Facilitator to plan and deliver inclusive, dementia:friendly activities both on:site and out in the community. Youll design and run engaging sessions, lead mystery tours and outings, complete risk assessments, brief and support volunteers, and provide one:to:one help where needed. Every activity should be safe, empowering and fun, promoting confidence and independence. Youll also build relationships with community venues and partners to expand opportunities for their members.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead and facilitate a varied weekly programme of on:site and community activities.
* Plan and deliver mystery tours : source venues, organise timings, catering and transport.
* Research new partners and community opportunities to broaden our clients offer.
* Carry out venue, route and transport risk assessments; Record and manage any issues.
* Use dementia:aware techniques (visual cues, calm pacing, one:step instructions).
* Provide practical 1:1 support where needed, encouraging independence.
* Supervise and brief volunteers; Ensure they understand roles and safeguarding duties.
* Keep accurate session records : attendance, incidents, risk logs and short evaluations.
* Monitor wellbeing and escalate safeguarding or welfare concerns promptly.
* Gather feedback from participants and Carers to inform improvements.
* Provide occasional transport cover for pick:ups/returns (TOIL or adjusted hours agreed).
* Support colleagues and undertake reasonable duties to aid smooth running of the charity.
Person Specification
Essential:
* Experience leading and facilitating groups (describe setting and your role).
* Proven ability to keep vulnerable adults safe in community settings.
* Experience completing and implementing activity or venue risk assessments.
* Skilled communicator able to adapt for people with limited or no verbal communication.
* Understanding and application of safeguarding procedures.
* Experience with older adults and dementia:aware facilitation.
* Experience supervising volunteers.
* Organised, reliable, flexible team player with good basic IT skills.
* Full, clean UK driving licence (D1 desirable).
* Enhanced DBS (or willingness ).
* Understanding of role boundaries around personal care (escort/prompt only).
Desirable:
* First:aid or manual:handling qualification (or willingness to train).
* Experience supporting people with neurological conditions (e.g. Parkinsons).
* Experience liaising with community partners and arranging accessible activities.
* Creative, practical, or sporting skill (e.g. music, art, carpentry, or sport) that can enhance engagement and enjoyment.
Practical and Training:
* D1 (minibus) desirable.
* Comfortable assisting with mobility aids (up to 18 kg with training).
* Flexibility for early starts, late finishes or occasional weekends.
* Mandatory training provided : safeguarding, manual handling, first aid and dementia awareness.
* Full induction, supervision and professional development support offered.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our client welcomes applications