Activity Co-ordinator

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking health service dedicated to improving community mental health. In this role, you will assist in delivering engaging recreational activities, fostering a supportive environment for patients. Collaborating with a multi-disciplinary team, you will help develop intervention pathways that enhance the well-being of individuals with long-term mental health needs. This position offers the chance to make a real difference in people's lives while working for an organization that values care, empowerment, and continuous learning. Embrace the opportunity to grow and contribute to a vital service in the community.

Benefits

Season Ticket Loans

NHS Discounts for Staff

Excellent Training Facilities

Buying and Selling Annual Leave Scheme

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

Flexible Working Options

Qualifications

• Experience in mental health and excellent problem-solving skills required.
• NVQ Level 3 or relevant experience is essential.

Responsibilities

• Assist in delivering recreational activities under guidance of an OT.
• Work with patients individually and in groups to promote engagement.

Skills

Problem Solving

Communication

Organisational Skills

Experience with Mental Health

Education

NVQ Level 3

Previous NHS Experience

Job description

EPUT provides community health, mental health and learning disability services to support more than 3.2 million people living across Bedfordshire, Essex and Suffolk. Also:

• We are among the largest employers in the East of England region, with more than 10,000 staff working across more than 200 sites.
• We run the COVID-19 vaccination programme across mid and south Essex and Suffolk and north east Essex.

EPUT was formed on 1 April 2017 following the merger of North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (NEP) and South Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (SEPT). A new leadership team was established at the Trust in 2020.

Our vision and values

Our Vision

“To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care”.

Our Purpose

“We care for people every day. What we do together, matters”.

Our Values

• We Care
• We Empower

Our strategic objectives

• We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.
• We will enable each other to be the best that we can.
• We will work together with our partners to make our services better.
• We will help our communities to thrive.

Our services

• Mental Health Services
• Community Health Services
• Learning Disabilities Services
• Social Care

Job overview

Under the guidance of a registered Occupational Therapist (OT), 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 may also be required to work some early evenings and weekends.

Main duties of the job

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.

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who share our Trust values of Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

• Season Ticket Loans
• NHS discounts for staff
• Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
• Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
• The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
• Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
• Day One Flexible Employer

The Trust supports and actively encourages flexible working for all employees. We offer many options and you are encouraged to ask the recruiting manager what is possible for this role. If appointed, you will have the opportunity to apply for a flexible working request from the first day of your employment.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To liaise with Occupational Therapy staff and the therapies team 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 Occupational Therapy and Nursing staff.
• To liaise with the wider multi-disciplinary team, including nursing, psychiatry, physiotherapy and dietetics in order to encourage collaboration with the therapeutic timetable.
• To look for opportunities to add volunteers to the group programme and provide guidance and support for volunteers to enable them to deliver activities effectively.
• 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.

Person specification

Education/Qualifications

• NVQ level 3 or previous relevant experience
• Previous experience of working in the NHS

Skills/Experience

• Experience of working with people with mental health problems

Please note - staff who are formally at risk within the organisation will be given priority in securing alternative employment.

Important Professional References

Make sure that as a part of your application you have professional references with business contract information covering your last three year employment history. We are unable to accept personal or character references.

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 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.

If you would like to book a Covid vaccination or would like more information please contact us by emailing [e-mail] .

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.

Come and work at EPUT and make a difference in people’s lives.