Community Connector

Fixed-term contract until October 2027.

Responsible for:

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.

Job Summary:

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 Minds 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.

Key Duties include:

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 escalate 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 peoples 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 confidentiality

Strong commitment to empowering mental health service users and their recovery

Experience and Skills:

Ability 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

What we offer you:

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

This role description is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities but indicates the key responsibilities for the role.

The closing date for this vacancy is Wednesday 14th October 12:00pm.

Depending on the volume of applications we may close the advert for this vacancy earlier.