Band 3 Activity Coordinator - Devizes

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

Job summary

A mental health organization seeks a compassionate and resilient Activity Coordinator for the Bluebell Unit. Responsibilities include coordinating activities for service users in crisis and working closely with the multidisciplinary team to promote engagement and independence. The role requires flexibility in working hours and a commitment to enhancing service user experience. Ideal for those passionate about mental health care and community involvement.

Qualifications

• Previous experience working with acute mental health problems is required.
• Good organizational skills and time management abilities.
• Experience providing activities to service users.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and administer the ward's program of interpersonal engagement.
• Provide vocational, educational, and recreational activities for service users.
• Organize community access trips for service users.

Skills

Organizational skills

Compassion

Resilience

Enthusiasm

Job description

We are looking to recruit compassionate, resilient and enthusiastic Activity Coordinator within our 4 bedded place of safety. Bluebell Unit offers a place of safety to adults and children brought in by police on S135 or S136 of the Mental Health Act. Bluebell is a 24 hour, fast paced and dynamic service catering to the specific needs of a wide variety of presentations and personalities whilst in crisis. On Bluebell Unit, we are looking for highly motivated Activity Coordinator to join the experienced friendly team.

We are very proud of our service user/carer involvement in the development of our services.

Recent feedback includes:

"Every single member of staff without exception was kind, caring, highly skilled, boundaried and very professional in the performance of their duties"

"The kindness I received since arrival has made me feel safe and cared for".

The current working staff group recent feedback regarding working on Bluebell includes:

"Bluebell Unit is a great place to work because the team is so friendly and supportive, it a safe and secure team. The nursing team are supported to take a lead and are always given guidance and support from management".

"When working on Bluebell Unit, there is never a dull moment, no two shifts are the same. You have great job satisfaction when you see the patients get better"

Main duties of the job

The Activity Coordinator work as part of the wider MDT and help to deliver evidence-based interventions to service users in crisis. 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 detainee through our services to provide this.

The hours of the role are flexible working around the needs of the ward, there is an expectation that you will be required to working in the evenings and the occasional weekend, within this and you will be fully supported by the nursing team. We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic individual who is able to promote relevant and interesting activities on the unit to aid the Safeward Initiative and continue improvements to maintain a reduction in restrictive practice. You will need to be flexible and be able to assist with the Health Care Support Worker ward duties if and when required.

About us

We are AWP (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust)a diverse organisation with over 5,000 dedicated staff providing inpatient and community-based mental health care.

We provide services from a range of locations to approximately 1.8 million people living in Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES), Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, across the county of Wiltshire and in parts of Dorset.

Our outstanding people promote mental health and wellbeing. The expertise and resources within AWP are dedicated to a person-centred approach for those who use our services and for all employees. We recognise that happy and fulfilled employees give better care.

At AWP we actively encourage applicants from all backgrounds; we are particularly keen to encourage applications from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, those with disabilities and from the LGBTQ+ community. We want people to bring their unique blend of experiences, backgrounds, perspectives and knowledge to AWP, as diversity makes us stronger.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Practice

• The post holder will provide Vocational, Educational and Recreational activities for the service users in the unit and via community access.
• Organization of activities for all service users to develop and maintain new skills.
• To provide in-house activities for other care staff to use with service users, i.e. puzzles, football, board games etc.
• To organize trips out for the service users.
• As a member of the support team, help to create a safe, educational and therapeutic environment based on the needs of the individuals and ensuring that their rights, dignity and personal privacy are maintained at all times.
• Follow written care plans and guidelines, working closely with the service users to promote greater independence.
• Monitor the general health of the service users reporting any changes in physical or mental condition.
• To encourage and assist the service users to participate in a wide range of activities using local facilities wherever possible, thus developing positive contacts with the local community.

Education & Health Promotion

• To keep up to date with changing practices and attend relevant training appropriate to the role as directed. Promote positive attitudes towards mental health. This will include:
• a) Attend regular statutory training and updates.
• b) Participate in appraisal and supervision processes from identified Team Leader.
• c) Contribute to the learning environment of staff undergoing training and new team members as directed.
• d) Maintain Health and Safety in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
• e) Work to the Clinical, Personnel and other Policies and Procedures of AWP Trust.

Finance and Workforce

• To play a role in making best use of available workforce resources based on agreed staffing models and contributing to provision of best care possible.
• Follow Trust and Service Policies relating to the security of the building/clients, to ensure safe practice and protection of clients, staff, visitors and members of the general public.
• Play a part in the service provision that is both safe and therapeutic within span of knowledge.
• Contribute to the development of other support staff.
• Effective time management

Record Keeping and Administration

• To maintain standards of record keeping and associated administration in accordance with AWP Trust Policy and local joint arrangements and professional guidelines. This will include:
• The upkeep of contemporaneous, chronological and accurate mental health records in accordance with relevant NMC Guidelines and Trust Policy.
• Work under the direction of Essence of Care lead.
• Contribute to the achievement of Controls Assurance Standards relating to Records Management within their span of control.

Practice Development & Clinical Audit

• To participate with support of registered nurse to clinical audit and comply with activity as outlined in The Essence of Care.

Person Specification

Application

• Previous experience of working with people who have acute mental health problems
• Good organisational skills and time management ability
• Previous experience of providing activities to service users with acute mental health problems.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

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