South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Museum Assistant
The closing date is 20 May 2026
This is a fantastic opportunity for 12 months at 15 hrs per week. The workdays will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday or just 2 days at 7.5 hrs or could be split over 3 days if needed.
Get involved in the Trust's innovative and award-winning Mental Health Museum. The role will involve working with service users, carers, Trust staff and community groups and organisations to further develop Mental Health Museum projects and initiatives.
The postholder will need to have experience and skills around archiving, community engagement. They will have to have good interpersonal skills as this role is all about partnerships and relationships building.
The postholder would be working across the areas served by this NHS trust including Barnsley, Wakefield, Kirklees, Calderdale, though would be able to work agilely, and would be expected to work with a certain degree of autonomy.
The main base for this post will be the Mental Health Museum at Fieldhead, Wakefield.
For informal chat people contact Ash Mahmood on 07342059213
Main duties of the job
You will have the chance to help shape the future of MHM and really have a positive impact on the service user as you become part of the MHM team. The team is responsive and dedicated and open to change and always strives for the highest standards. There will be opportunities within the role for further training and development.
You will bring excellent skills and knowledge to the role, great communicationskills and be confident in outreach work in the community as well as hospital settings. During your time you will be supported by MHM manager.
At the time of advertising, this role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. For this reason, we are unable to sponsor anyone for a skilled worker visa for this role.
We are happy to accept applications from candidates who can prove their right to work in the UK or via alternative visa routes. Such applications will be considered alongside all other applications.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means we're accountable to our members, who can have a say in how we're run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The purpose of this job is to undertake clerical, administration and collection keeping duties within the museum; operating, prioritising and supporting tasks on the collection management system. To co-ordinate volunteers duty rota on a day to day to basis. To ensure internet and intranet sites are updated and maintained.
S/he will work with minimum supervisions and be prepared to work flexibly to ensure that the museum environment and educational programme is appropriately maintained. The postholder will be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the grade as directed.
* Manage day to day museum service provision
* Develop an accurate museum collection system
* Develop and maintain education programme visits, handling sessions and written material for people accessing the museum
* Assist and promote the Mental Health Museum
CORE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
* Maintain excellent customer relations face to face, be telephone, email or letter
* Provide museum advice, support and training to individuals, and groups including staff, service users, volunteers and the public
* Prepare and maintain display boards, organise exhibitions and training events and revise when necessary
* Be able to answer enquiries such as research enquiry identification and collection enquires from museum users/partners,
* Create and maintain an accurate museum collection management system with guidance from the museum curator
* Work under indirect supervision from senior librarian (based at Fieldhead) Provide appropriate cover for the museum curator as required e.g. holiday and sickness cover with supervision from Equality and Inclusion Development Manager
* Provide and maintain audio/visual equipment and check that items are functional, relevant and up to date before use.
* Assist with promotional materials, ordering books, leaflets, journals etc and promoting the mental health museum as a visitor destination.
* Support and provide museum users with relevant information to help them observe copyright regulations
* Provide assistance to volunteers within the museum by facilitating access, managing duty rotas and training, including handing petty cash for travel expenses etc Assist in developing quantity and quality indicators in relation to usage and museum service provision, so to inform statistics and service development.
* Provide an efficient museum loan service, retrieving material required for MHM projects including exhibitions, publications and marketing.
* Put into practice new / revised polices regarding museum work/personnel practice and suggest changes to enhance the museum provision.
* Liaise with finance department regarding invoice queries and budget reporting reports and follow Trust procurement procedures
* Maintain contractual responsibility and commitment in attending and completing all mandatory training requirements.
* Maintain up to date knowledge of legislation, national and local policies and to comply with all SWYPFT policies including those relating to Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety and Confidentiality of Information and to be aware of any changes to these
* Participate in the Trust appraisal system and undertake available training and development opportunities to enhance care delivery systems
COMMUNICATION WITH OTHERS:
* To listen and communicate effectively
* To building community and partnership links
* To spend time working effectively
* To be empathic, compassionate and patient
* To deal sensitively with distress, disturbance and unpredictability
* To be non-judgemental
* Acknowledge diversity
* Promote non-discriminatory practice
* Maintain confidentiality
* Promote equal opportunities and ensure service users are treated with dignity and respect as part of ethical practice.
* Be discreet and diplomatic.
* To take part in events and activities to promote mental health museum resources.
* Be able to welcome and monitor external contractors.
Training
* MH awareness training.
* MH first aid.
Personal Attributes
* Ability to work in isolation at times and, plan time effectively, using own initiative and having a problem solving approach.
* Ability to engage with users/visitors to support learning and enjoyment.
* Enthusiastic and committed to the mission and values of the Trust and museum.
* Confident in working with a wide range of people.
* Ability to work flexibly occasional evenings and weekends.
Special Knowledge/Skills
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
* Able to prioritise work load and utilise effective time management skills.
* Engender empowerment and promote learning.
* Ability to work in a methodical manner, possessing excellent. organisational and monitoring skills.
* Knowledge of risk assessments.
* Knowledge of collection management.
Experience
* MS office skills.
* Experience of administration duties and/or customer service.
* Involvement with museum, gallery, heritage or community setting in a paid or voluntary capacity.
* Previous experience of working in a museum, gallery or heritage environment.
* Experience of volunteering or working with volunteers.
Qualifications
* 5 O level / GCSE including English and Maths.
* NVQ level 3 or equivalent.
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post. A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
* Must be able to move and handle heavy or bulky items.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer name
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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