Activities Co-ordinator

Main area Personality Disorders Grade Band 3 Contract Permanent: This post will be 3 days a week and will require evening and weekend work. Hours

• Part time
• Flexible working

22.5 hours per week Job ref 310-MASMH-

Site Springbank Ward, Fulbourn Hospital Town Cambridge Salary £25,760 - £27,476 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 15/06/:59

Job overview

An opportunity has emerged for a motivated and passionate individual to join Springbank Ward as an Activity Co-ordinator.

Springbank Ward is an award-winning service which provides inpatient treatment to women with a diagnosis of EUPD/Complex Emotional Needs. We take an innovative and least-restrictive approach as we support service-users to return to the community after frequently spending a lengthy amount of time in other inpatient settings. Our service-users typically complete a 12-month programme involving both DBT and a wider therapeutic activity and group programme. As the only NHS inpatient unit of its kind, our service-users come from across the country.

As the activity coordinator for the ward, you will work with both ward staff and the wider multi-disciplinary team to co-ordinate a timetable of therapeutic groups and activities to aid our service users' recoveries.

We operate with a flat hierarchy and aim to support all staff to develop and grow within their role. Some of what we can offer you includes:

• Regular supervision.
• Weekly staff sessions, including reflective practice, teaching and case discussions.
• The possibility to complete training around DBT skills.
• A multi-skilled and supportive team including Psychiatry, Nursing, Occupational Therapy and Psychology.

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job include:

• Provide and coordinate meaningful groups and activities both on the ward and in the community.
• Provide 1:1 activities and interventions in line with service-users' needs, interests and goals.
• Offer and develop group sessions around skill development, social inclusion, community integration and recovery.
• Work collaboratively with the ward team, including members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• Contribute to service-improvement initiatives and development of the ward programme.
• Maintain relationships and provide support to external activity providers such as volunteers and third-sector organisations.

Please note - this role will involve some evening and weekend work. There will also be an expectation of going out with service-users into the community as part of your role. You must have an interest in working with Personality Disorders before applying for this post.

Working for our organisation

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust is a health and social care organisation dedicated to providing high quality care with compassion to improve the health and wellbeing of the people we care for, as well as supporting and empowering them to lead a fulfilling life.

Our clinical teams deliver many NHS services, not only via inpatient and primary care settings, but also within the community. These services include children's, adult and older people's mental health, forensic and specialist mental health, learning disabilities, primary care and liaison psychiatry, substance misuse, social care, research and development.

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from all sectors of the community, particularly from under represented groups including people with long term conditions and members of our ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ communities.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date should we receive sufficient applications.

Regrettably, we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately your application form will be rejected from the process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities.

To lead in the planning and organisation of therapeutic groups and activities on the ward, with oversight and direction from the specialist Occupational Therapist.

Working under the regular direction/instruction of an Occupational Therapist, the activity coordinator will ensure group's therapeutic potential is maximised with skill development and meaningful activity in mind.

The activity coordinator may contribute to the assessment completed by the Occupational Therapist by providing feedback on engagement and presentations within groups.

To monitor and note progress of clients and report back to the qualified Occupational Therapist or relevant professionals/team member.

To contribute to evaluation, modifying and monitoring of the therapeutic program under supervision of a senior Occupational Therapist or relevant professional.

To develop and maintain effective, therapeutic and professional relationships with patients, including patients who may be considered difficult to engage or may present as a risk to self/others.

To assist /support / encourage patients to participate in meaningful and purposeful occupations and routines.

To work in a manner that is reflective and consistent with the CPFT PRIDE values.

To contribute and plan service improvement initiatives on the ward.

To contribute to the activity provision outside of the core Springbank timetable, including working during evenings and weekends.

Person specification Education/Qualifications

• Good level of secondary education to GCSE level (E.g., 5 GCSEs graded A-C or higher)
• NVQ level 3 qualification in care, specific technical skill, or equivalent qualifications (E.g., 2 A-Levels A-C or higher)
• Related Health or Social Care qualification.

Experience

• Experience of working with people who have complex needs, or significant interest in doing so.
• Experience in planning and organising activities and groups in a care setting.
• Lived experience of mental health challenges.
• Experience in adapting groups and activities for individual needs/skill level.

Skills/Abilities

• A positive approach and attitude towards patient care and therapeutic groups.
• Clear communication skills both written and verbal.
• Confidence in group facilitation.
• Interest areas that could be applied in therapeutic groups and activities

Physical/Other

• Some travel with service users may be required at times.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.