We are currently hiring a Community Engagement Worker to join our inspiring and friendly team at our John Hall Wellness Gardens in Leek.
Rethink Mental Illness are an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness.
JOIN THE TEAM!
John Hall is a wellbeing community garden in the centre of Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands. We offer a range of activities including gardening groups, maintenance groups, craft sessions, wellbeing courses and education workshops.
We also offer volunteer placements, whether it be for volunteers to take a lead in the garden or maintenance teams, administration or to run any sessions.
We also grow and sell produce to sell to the public..
How you will make a difference as a Lifestyle Support Worker:
* I provide mental health support to Friends of the Garen & community members *
* Record support given onto HIVE. *
* Support team with existing Peer/support groups and networks to grow peer-support
* I organise and facilitate group-based workshops and activities.
* Liaise with and support volunteers and peer supporters who will assist with the delivery of activities.
* I develop, encourage and support the involvement of volunteers and support them into training, education & work as required.*
* Develop partnerships for employment engagement opportunities
* I establish and maintain links with local statutory and voluntary organisations, to ensure awareness and knowledge, promote partnership working and sharing resources.
* I identify gaps in services and respond to local need without duplicating services, ensure self-help and peer support groups cover a flexible timetable including evenings at weekends.
* I establish strong local partnerships with relevant statutory, voluntary and independent sector agencies including health and social care professionals and raise awareness of service widely across these partner agency staff groups.
Essential skills and experience required for this role:
* Level 3 qualification in subject area relevant to the post, such as Certificate in Community Mental Health Care.
* Personal lived experience of mental health problems or experience as a carer
* Experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers
* Experience of developing and co-ordinating projects and activities
* Excellent group facilitation skills, active listening and building rapport
* Knowledge of risk assessments and ability to identify potential risks and how to best manage the risks.
Who we are?
We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”
It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer. We recognise and support staff networks and support groups for our ethnically diverse and LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.
We aim for our workforce to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve; for those who work for us to feel heard, valued and feel they belong; and for our work to help tackle wider mental health inequalities. We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience of mental illness, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and any other gender identity not expressed here (LGBTQIA+); people who are neurodiverse, have a health condition, or a disability or hidden disability and people from an ethnically diverse background - regardless of your age, religious or spiritual belief, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, political view or socio-economic status.
Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation
We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrates our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation. You can read more about our progress here.
We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Please see further details on our Website
You can also follow us on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram and LinkedIn to find out more about the work we do!
If you have any questions about the position, please contact