Nature Nurtures Programme Co-ordinator (part-time)

Job Summary

Job Title: Nature Nurtures Programme Co-ordinator

Location: Leatherhead

Hours: 18hrs per week

Salary: £14,740 (pro rata)

Holidays: 25 days a year (pro rata)

Term: 12-month contract

This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, and the successful completion of a probationary period.

Closing Date for Applications: 8 December 2024

Role Description

The person we are looking for will be required to co-ordinate the Nature Nurtures project across Surrey Downs. We are looking for an enthusiastic person who enjoys taking part in outdoor activities such as gardening and walking.

This project has been funded by the Mental Health Investment Fund for one year and will build on the programme that was originally funded by Green Social Prescribing funding. A number of nature-based activities have been planned for the programme, both on-line and face-to-face. There will be some partnership working with St Mark’s Church at Great Tattenham’ s, Surrey, who partnered MFT in the application.

The successful candidate will be required to work alongside the full-time area Co-ordinators and the Volunteer Co-ordinator to ensure that activities are supported and promoted in each area of Surrey Downs. Local venues for activities may need to be sourced so that clients do not have to travel far to take part.

The role will include arranging activities, booking venues, completing risk assessments, promoting the service and activities, and managing registers and attendances. The successful candidate will also need to work within a budget when accessing resources and staffing.

They will also be responsible for ensuring that activities are adequately staffed and will work with the Activities Co-ordinator to find appropriate staff when necessary, ensuring all facilitator requirements are met.

It may be necessary to facilitate some activities to ensure groups can run.

MFT delivers its programmes using both face to face and virtual platforms.

Responsibilities

To co-ordinate the Nature Nurtures Project by:

• Arranging a programme of activities.
• Promote activities.
• Sourcing and booking venues.
• Sourcing facilitators and volunteers and ensuring they meet MFT criteria.
• Risk Assessing all activities.
• Sourcing relevant resources.
• Working with a budget.
• To facilitate some activities as needed.
• Keeping registers and reporting attendance for recording on Halo.
• Gathering client feedback and evaluating activities.
• Working with the Team Manager on final reporting.
• To be able to assess risk on a daily basis and react accordingly.
• To motivate people attending groups and activities
• To promote “if you don’t do it, it doesn’t happen” attitude.
• To work with volunteers helping out with groups and activities.
• To work with the team of professionals and communicate well with colleagues working from different locations.
• To maintain databases and undertake any other administrative duties.
• To work collaboratively with other departments.

This is not an exhaustive list of the duties that may need to be undertaken. It may be necessary to undertake other duties in order to fulfil the objectives of the charity.

Key Responsibilities

(All MFT Staff)

• As part of a staff team, to engage with clients using services provided by MFT.
• To work with staff, clients, and volunteers to maintain a safe, respectful, and pleasant environment for everyone using the service.
• To support and encourage clients to participate in mainstream activities in the community (such as education, sports, leisure, faith, employment)
• To work and actively implement all operational policies and procedures.
• To become familiar with relevant aspects of the day-to-day operations of MFT (including resources and equipment).
• To remain faithful to, and to practise, the highest possible degree of user involvement.
• To be accountable to the Team Manager for all activities undertaken as part of the MFT programme.
• To take part in regular supervision meetings.
• To maintain the highest professional standards.
• To maintain appropriate, professional boundaries with clients, complying with MFT policies and procedure.
• To always act in the best interest of the organisation, our clients, Management Board and associates.

To achieve the objectives of this role, the post-holder must have the people accessing Mary Frances Trust’s services needs at the fore at all times and use the agreed set of values and skills to underpin their day-to-day work.

Person specification

Qualifications

Commitment to undertake continuing professional development.

Experience 

• Experience of working directly with vulnerable adults (preferably with mental ill-health).
• Experience of working within the health & social care sector.
• Experience of working in outdoor activities.

Values

The post-holder must at all times work to the values and principles of Mary Frances Trust including demonstrating their commitment to the recovery model through their working practice and follow the policies and procedures of the organisation.

Skills/ knowledge

• A demonstrable understanding of the needs of vulnerable groups.
• Knowledge of Mental Health sector and relating issues.
• Good communication skills (oral and written)
• Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of the team.
• Excellent organisational skills and ‘can-do’ attitude.
• Ability to prioritise work effectively.
• Ability to keep accurate records and collate data.
• IT literate in MS Office, Excel, Virtual Platforms, Social Media and Networks.
• Ability to build and sustain strong working relationships with volunteers and clients.
• A driving licence is desirable, however candidates without a driving licence will be invited to demonstrate how they could fulfil the requirements of the role without one.
• Flexibility.
• Understanding of Equality & Diversity issues
• Proactive attitude
• Willing to learn new skills.
• Competencies in dealing with complex situations.
• To demonstrate a clear understanding of professional boundaries.

Information technology

Proficient in Microsoft Word, use of email, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.

Circumstances

Occasional evening and weekend work may be required, with time off in lieu available.

General
Ability to travel and work flexibly.

Equal Opportunities Statement
We acknowledge the unique contribution that all MFT employees and clients can bring to our organisation in terms of their culture, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital status, nationality, age, religion or belief, physical disability, history of mental health or other characteristics.

All appointments and promotions are based on merit and no job applicant or employee will be treated unfairly or discriminated against. All staff have equal access to staff development. Any member of staff who breaches this policy may be subject of grievance and/or disciplinary procedures.

Please note 
This job description may be varied from time to time as agreed by the post holder and line manager.

Safer Recruitment

We are committed to following Safer Recruitment practices to ensure the safeguarding of the whole community we serve, from members of the public and clients using our services, to our staff, volunteers, partners, and external facilitators.

This post is – ‘Exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974).

All successful candidates will be required to undertake Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks as well as reference checks.  These will be a condition of any offer of employment being made.

All candidates must disclose both ‘spent’ and ‘unspent’ cautions and convictions on application – other than ‘protected’ cautions and convictions which have qualified for filtering.

Disclosure should be included in a separate covering letter on application, marked ‘Confidential’.

Please note that, in all roles, a criminal record is not an automatic exclusion and will be judged on a case-by-case basis.

Guidance on Filtering: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-filtering-guidance/dbs-filtering-guide#:~:text=Filtering%20is%20the%20term%20we,known%20as%20’protected’%20offences.

About Us

Mary Frances Trust (MFT) is a Charitable Company established in 1994 by carers, people accessing mental health services and professionals to support people experiencing mental health problems. It is a non-medical service set up to address the social consequences of mental ill-health on the lives and well-being of mental health service users.

Our Vision

We believe anyone experiencing any kind of mental or emotional health issues should feel confident to ask for help, receive appropriate support for as long as they need, and be inspired to develop the skills that will help them to restore and maintain their own wellbeing over the long term so they can lead a fulfilling life.

Our Mission

Work alongside people experiencing any kind of emotional or mental health issues for as long as they need and inspire them to develop the skills that will help them to restore and maintain their emotional wellbeing.

Involve people with lived experience of mental health issues at every level of the organisation so together we can design, deliver, monitor, and review our services and ensure they respond to their changing needs.

Consistently challenge stigma attached to mental illness and raise awareness of the importance of looking after your mental wellbeing.

Lead and co-ordinate the development and delivery of first-class, voluntary mental health services in Surrey.

Maintain sufficient funding streams to be able to provide person-centred services to people experiencing any kind of emotional or mental health issues.

Our Values

Inspiring

We believe that everyone can lead a fulfilling life and achieve their goals and full potential. We encourage people to recognise and use their own strengths and resources. We inspire people to develop the skills that will empower them to become experts at managing their own mental wellbeing.  To accompany people on this journey, we offer personal, tailored support to help them regain a sense of hope and control.

Inclusive

The people we support aren’t passive recipient of our services and are not being “done to”. Through our commitment to Co-Production, we involve people with mental health lived experience in every aspect of our organisation, including the design, delivery, monitoring, review and evaluation of our services.

We believe in the power of connection. We encourage the people we support to fully participate in their local communities. As an organisation, we also strive to be part of and reflect the diverse population we serve.

Agile

We live in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment, so we’re always ready to adapt and innovate to meet the evolving needs of the local communities we serve. We are an integral part of a wider mental health system and are dedicated to providing easy access first-class mental health support by working in partnership and collaboration.

Respectful

We work hard to establish mutual honest and trustworthy relationships. We actively listen and treat people we support with the same kindness and respect as we do our staff and volunteers. We strive to be an organisation where people feel safe and that they belong.

How to apply

To apply for this role, please fill in our Online Application Form (button below) where you’ll be able to upload your CV and covering letter (in which you’ll explain how you feel your experience is suitable for the role). Thank you!

If you are encountering any difficulties applying for the position, please email Emma our Administration and Communications Assistant, at: emmal@maryfrancestrust.org.uk.

Apply now

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