Band 3 Activity Co-ordinator

Poppy Unit are looking to recruit a motivated and enthusiastic Activity Support Worker to provide a range of activities to service users.

You will be an additional asset to the Multi-Disciplinary Team on Poppy Unit, providing essential input into the therapeutic engagement and recovery whilst on the ward.

As a new member of our team, you will be guided through a full induction, training and supervision to help settle you into the role and support you throughout.

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.

You will also need to hold a valid UK driving licence so that patient escorts can be facilitated with the use of the wards care.

Poppy Unit is a 20 bedded acute ward which caters to adults in crisis. The post holder will be expected to provide a range of activities to suite the changing need of our busy environment. They must be forward thinking and flexible to meet the needs of the service, actively encouraging patient engagement, either on or off the ward.

Activity Support Workers work as part of a Poppy's care team to help deliver evidence-based interventions to service users during their time in hospital. 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 either within a group or on a 1:1 basis. You will be required to be creative and utilise your initiative to adapt to each patient through our services to provide this.

The hours of the role will be predominantly antisocial hours, with an expectation that you will work alternate weekends within this and you will be fully supported by the nursing team, there is some flexibility within the shift timings. 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. You will need to be flexible and be able to assist with the Health Care Support Worker ward duties if and when required.

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.

AWP is committed to support and create a positive research and evidence-based environment and culture, which can have a beneficial impact on everyone who works for the organisation and the care we provide to those who use our services.

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.

Key Result Areas

Clinical Practice Objectives

1. The post holder will provide Vocational, Educational and Recreational activities for the service users in the unit and via community access.

2. Organization of activities for all service users to develop and maintain new skills.

3. Carry out regular assessments to establish service user's strengths and needs and by using recognized assessment systems/tools help develop individual care plans.

4. To provide in-house activities for other care staff to use with service users, i.e. puzzles, football, board games etc.

5. To organize trips out for the service users and aid in facilitation of this.

6. 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.

7. Follow written Personal Wellbeing Plans and guidelines, working closely with the service users to promote greater independence, with specific emphasis on developing gains in self-help and coping skills.

8. Enable all service users to be as independent as ability allows and to assist in maintaining their personal care.

9. Monitor the general health of the service users reporting any changes in physical or mental condition.

10. 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.

11. Use appropriate, authorized and agreed communication systems within and outside of the home and attend review meetings as directed.

For more details please review Job Description file attached