Band 3 Activities Coordinator - Bristol

Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust; Bristol; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A mental health service provider in Bristol seeks a motivated Activities Coordinator to join their team. The role involves planning and facilitating activities aimed at enhancing the well-being of patients in an acute mental health ward. Key responsibilities include collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, observing patient needs to tailor activities, and creating a welcoming environment. Candidates should possess creativity, flexibility, and compassion to effectively engage service users and promote active participation in a therapeutic setting.

Qualifications

• Experience working with diverse populations in a healthcare setting.
• Ability to facilitate engaging group activities.
• Strong observation and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate activities for individuals and groups.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to tailor activities.
• Maintain an inclusive and welcoming environment for service users.

Skills

Creativity

Flexibility

Compassion

Job description

Job overview

We are looking for highly motivated Activities Coordinator to join our friendly team. Oakwood is a mixed acute mental health ward currently based at Southmead Hospital, with aims to move to Callington Road Hospital towards the end of 2026.

The Activities Coordinator will work as part of the wider MDT and help to deliver evidence-based interventions to service users in the acute phase of their illness. They have a particular focus on meaningful activity and therapeutic engagement. In this role, you will coordinate and administrate the ward’s program of interpersonal engagement by focusing on structured, meaningful activity. You will be required to be creative and utilise your initiative to adapt to each service user through our services to provide this.Flexibility, compassion, and creativity are key in this role.

The exact working pattern can be negotiated, however you will be required to work at least 4 weekend days per month (one per week or alternate full weekends), and evenings. The proposed shift time will be 13:00-21:00, but flexibilities can be considered.

We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual who is able to promote relevant and interesting activities on the unit to aid the Safewards Initiative and continue improvements to maintain a reduction in restrictive practice.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan and facilitate groups or individual activities.
• Promote participation and encourage patient input in activity planning.
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to tailor activities to patient needs.
• Maintain and update the Activities Board with upcoming sessions.
• Record attendance, feedback, and any significant observations on the Rio progress notes.
• Manage and maintain inventory of activity supplies.
• Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all service users.

Understanding Patient Needs / Interest:

• Observe behaviour and engage in conversations to understand preferences (Conversations are very helpful to understand how to meet them at the point of their needs).
• Adjust activities to suit present day energy levels, patient attention spans, and preference.
• Consult with nurses, occupational therapists, and other staff to identify patient needs.
• Be mindful of safety assessments, be mindful of individual care plans.