Activity Co-ordinator

Eput; Basildon; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

27 days holiday

Pension up to 14.5%

Relocation package £8K

Season ticket loans

Staff discounts

Job summary

EPUT is seeking an Activity Co-ordinator for the Basildon Mental Health Unit to deliver recreational activities on the ward and in groups, promoting engagement and wellbeing for patients.

You will work with a multidisciplinary team, plan activities, prepare materials, monitor stocks, and ensure safety and dignity. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends is required. Essential experience in mental health and strong communication are expected.

Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience in activity-based work.
• Experience working in NHS or healthcare settings beneficial.
• Ability to plan and deliver recreational activities safely.

Responsibilities

• Lead on planning and delivering individual and group activities.
• Prepare craft and equipment before patients arrive.
• Maintain stocks of supplies and inform ward staff of shortages.
• Develop rapport with patients and involve them in planning.
• Coordinate with nursing staff and multi-disciplinary team.
• Record interventions in an agreed format.
• Work some evenings and weekends as required.

Skills

Self-management

Time management

Communication

Assertiveness

Education

NVQ level 3

NHS experience

Job description

We can provide emotional and wellbeing support for anyone affected by the Lampard Inquiry. Find support

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

Please note you must have right to work in the UK to apply for this position.

Due to current Home Office Guidelines, we are unable to sponsor this job role.

Activity Co-ordinator - Basildon Mental Health Unit

Under the guidance of the Ward Manager, you will be expected to assist in the delivery of recreational activities within the service. Activities will be delivered one to one and through group work and may include creative, social and physical activities, the majority of which will be on the ward environment. We are looking for someone who can work flexibly; as well as working week days, you are required to work some evenings and weekends.

Main duties of the job

• To liaise with ward staff in the planning of recreational activities.
• To lead on recreational activities, working with groups of patients and patients on their own.
• Prepare craft and any other appropriate equipment before patients arrive.
• Maintain stocks of appropriate supplies for use in the activities provided; informing the ward manager of any shortages of stock or equipment needed.
• To develop rapport with patients to encourage their interests and skills, and actively involve them in deciding and planning their participation in activities.
• To be aware of individual patients’ needs through communication with nursing staff.
• To liaise with the wider multi-disciplinary team in order to encourage collaboration with the therapeutic timetable.
• To observe general behaviour, ability and response of patients to activities.
• To have an awareness of the situations that may make patients vulnerable or at risk.
• To report any concerns immediately to qualified staff.
• To respect patients choices and confidentiality at all times.
• To record interventions in an agreed format.
• Any other tasks delegated by qualified staff as appropriate to grade and experience.

Working for our organisation

Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
• Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Ideally, you will have experience in mental health and have excellent problem solving, communication and organisational skills.

As part of the multi-disciplinary ward team, you will be developing intervention pathways and expanding our support for people with chronic, long-term mental health needs.

Person specification

Education/ Qualifications

• Understanding of the use of activities.
• NVQ level 3 or previous relevant experience
• Previous experience of working in the NHS
• Experience in skills based work e.g. cooking, craft, sports etc

Knowledge

• Knowledge of group planning
• Understanding of health and safety

Skills/Experience

• Self and time management skills Assertiveness
• Ability to communicate with various types of people

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

As a newly appointed employee, you are responsible for incurring the cost of your initial DBS check relevant to your post; the amount will be deducted from your first salary with the Trust.

Our Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of using mental health services. We also hold the Disability two tick symbol and have made the pledge to commit to employing more people with learning disabilities, we encourage people with a disability to apply. If you require this application form in another format i.e. Braille or audio tape etc, please contact the Recruitment Department on 01375 364513 or email [e-mail] and we can arrange for this to be dispatched to you.

The Trust has the right to expire vacancies prior to the closing date if they so wish. The Trust makes every attempt to contact all applicants and we strongly advise that you check the email account which is registered with NHS Jobs regularly, we would advise however due to the high number of applications we receive that if you have not heard from us within three weeks of the closing date your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and expect all staff to undertake this commitment. Applicants will be subject to robust safer recruitment processes.

Important Notice: Recently the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) which amended on 22 July 2021 and come into force on 11 November 2021 that anyone directly employed to work in a Care Home or who are required as part of their role to be deployed to a CQC registered care home are required to have had both their COVID vaccinations, unless they are exempt. This is therefore a requirement of this role and will form part of our pre-employment checks.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

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.