Community Connector

Northamptonshire Mind; United States; Remote; USD 29,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

31 days leave per year

Company sick pay

Induction and ongoing supervision

Job summary

Northamptonshire Mind is seeking a Community Connector to engage Global Majority communities, identify individuals in need of support, and link them to local mental health resources. The role involves building a network of Mental Health Ambassador volunteers and delivering outreach workshops.

You will partner with local agencies, ensure safeguarding, and maintain records while promoting inclusive access to services across Northamptonshire.

Qualifications

• Experience in community outreach or working with diverse community groups.
• Ability to recruit, train and develop volunteers.
• Strong communication, listening and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify individuals in need of support within Global Majority communities and connect them to local resources.
• Develop and train Mental Health Ambassador volunteers to provide peer support.
• Collaborate with agencies across Northamptonshire to meet local needs.
• Ensure compliance with Quality Standards, safeguarding and GDPR.
• Lead community engagement events and training to raise awareness.
• Record and report on service activity using client management systems.

Skills

Active listening

Empathy

Volunteer recruitment

Project management

Group facilitation

Communication (oral & written)

GDPR / safeguarding

Tools

Record management systems

SWEMWBS / monitoring tools

Job description

Enhancing mental health outcomes in targeted Global Majority communities. Serving as crucial links between community members and mental health services and resources, working with Mental Health Ambassador volunteers to identify individuals in need of support and connecting them to appropriate local resources.,

• Identifying individuals in need of support at an early stage. Embedded within the Global Majority community, the Community Connector will identify signs of mental health challenges and provide initial support, facilitating timely intervention and assistance. As well as support in accessing primary care and community mental health teams. Reduce the stigma associated with mental health within Global Majority communities through education, outreach efforts, and community workshops.
• Develop a network of community Mental Health Ambassador volunteers and train them to provide support to people suffering with their mental health and who often do not know what support is available locally or how to access it.
• Work in partnership with other agencies in delivering services to people to ascertain and respond to local needs across Northampton, Corby and Wellingborough.
• To ensure Northamptonshire Mind's Quality Standards are maintained, and that all Health & Safety legislation is implemented and followed, and all policies and procedures of Northamptonshire Mind are adhered to.
• Take part in proactive partnership working, networking and outreach work through the delivery of community engagement events and training to enhance the public profile Northamptonshire Mind undertakes in local global Majority communities.
• Recruit a diverse range of Mental Health Ambassador volunteers who have a range of lived experience, are from within Global Majority communities and underrepresented communities who are most affected by health inequalities.
• Develop and facilitate bespoke 'bite size' information / training Sessions for the recruited Mental Health Ambassador volunteers, covering e.g. mental health awareness, active listening and responding, safeguarding, equality and diversity and a good knowledge of local services.
• To connect people to their local communities and groups and services within them. Activities may include: Social interaction (e.g. lunch club, befriending, hobbies) Physical activity (e.g. walking, gardening, team sports) Peer support (group activity, support sessions) Creative or cultural activity (art, drama, music etc.)
• Actively safeguard and risk assess all individuals that access the service and elevate to appropriate professionals and other services where medical intervention or formal mental health assessment and support is required.
• To use current client record management systems, to record, monitor, evaluate and review effectiveness of services. This will include monitoring tools such as SWEMWBS, feedback forms and providing verbal and/or written reports to the Community Services Manager and completing monitoring reports within specified timeframes. To be responsible for ensuring all records are accurate and up to date.
• Adhere to safeguarding, risk management, risk assessment and lone working policies and procedures as required by the role.
• Maintain high levels of awareness in relation to the health and safety of yourself, colleagues, and the individuals we support.
• Complete training and qualifications identified as necessary for the role, taking responsibility for own continual professional development.
• Utilise supervision and appraisals as an opportunity to clarify role, expectations, and to give and receive feedback.
• Carry out any other duties which fall within the broad spirit, scope and purpose of this job description which may be deemed necessary
• Expectations: All staff are expected to embody our mission, values, and competencies. This includes the expectation that they will.
• Show passion for what Northamptonshire Mind does and the changes we are making for people with mental health problems
• Work collaboratively across teams, services, locations, and organisations.
• Stand up for what they believe is best and trust in themselves and each other.
• Be open to others, ourselves and show a commitment to learning.
• Demonstrate organisational awareness and see the bigger picture while working towards objectives.
• Communicate effectively, ensuring their messages are understood and that they strive to understand others.
• Value diversity and treat others with respect, show sensitivity towards differences, promoting and encouraging diversity, building on people's skills and talents to enhance our work.
• Take responsibility for their decisions.
• Be prepared to work flexibly according to business need e.g. hot desking, home working
• Always maintain an appropriate level of confidentialityAbility to recruit, train and develop volunteers as individuals and as a group
• Ability to project manage
• Ability to deliver group work and activities
• Ability to provide 1-1 support
• Ability to motivate service users by providing guidance and encouragement
• Ability to listen effectively and communicate at all levels (written and orally)
• Ability to demonstrate empathy, compassion, and patience
• Ability to create innovative solutions to help empower service users
• Ability to form positive therapeutic relationships with service users
• Ability to acknowledge diversity and promote anti-discriminatory practice/equal opportunities
• Ability to act calmly in emergencies and to respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging behaviors
• Ability to motivate and enthuse others, and facilitate stimulating activities
• Ability to pay attention to detail and follow instruction
• Ability to record and maintain accurate records for monitoring/review purposes and adhere to GDPR
• Full and part time roles available, flexible working and job share opportunities.
• 31 days leave per year including public holidays, rising to 33 days after 5 years' service, pro rata for part time employees.
• Comprehensive service-specific induction and ongoing regular supervision, on the job training both internal and external, and development.
• Company sick pay