Aspirations Coach

Aspirations Coach, Support Worker, Social Care Workers, General Social Care Workers, Mental Health Worker, Mental Health Service, GCSI, Activity Coordinator, Contract, Medway**Aspirations Coach
Job description**
An Aspirations Coach is required by an independent mental health charity that delivers the 'Aspirations' programme with Porchlight; to assist people with common mental health problems who wish to engage in the labour market or with their local community. Tohelp people improve their overall well-being while also assisting those who have been out of work or school to return to work and education.
Programme activity will include:

- Stakeholder engagement
- Access and assessment
- Action planning
- Employment advice
- Emotional and mental wellbeing support
- Psycho-education
- Transitioning into employment
- Preparing for Work Activities
- Referrals to delivery partners

**Scope of the job**
With a knowledge of employment programmes, common mental health problems, service user empowerment, and working to targets. You will be responsible for the facilitation of various elements of the programme, ensuring that the activities; signposting, assessments,and goal planning, always have the individuals interests and recovery at the core.
Based in Medway you will be working closely with other team members, service users and other partner organisations. You will also work closely with the other external stakeholders including employment agencies, mental health service providers, local communitygroups and health organisations, along with education and training establishments for the benefit of the programme and its beneficiaries.
**Key Responsibilities**
- To deliver various elements of their programme to achieve the agreed targets, showing a commitment to empowerment and recovery.
- To create and execute SMART action plans with participants to move toward their goals.
- To work with participants for between three and six months to achieve a well-defined goal that moves them closer to, or in to, employment
- To utilize referral pathways and liaise with referral partners
- To support the development of relationships with local employers
- To work with other employment projects, relevant health and social care agencies and education and training providers etc.
- To produce and input records, monitoring data and other programme related information where required
- To work with the programme coordinator to ensure development and promotion of the programme
- To undertake other duties that may from time to time be necessary, that are compatible with the nature and grade of this post.

**General Duties**
- To attend and contribute to meetings, training and other events as required.
- To attend and contribute to the supervision and appraisal process.
- To work within a framework which:

- Abides by all the policies nd, including Equal Opportunities, Confidentiality and Health and Safety.
- Promotes Social Inclusion, Empowerment, Well-being and the Recovery Model
- Respects, encourages and builds on individual clients’ coping strategies, skills and autonomy.
- Maintains good liaison with any other outside agencies as is necessary
- Promotes good joint working, links and cross-referral with all colleagues.
- To travel to meetings which may require the need to work unsociable hours e.g. attending evening or weekend meetings.
- To adhere to relevant legal and statutory requirements including the General Data Protection Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
- A flexible and adaptable approach recognising that the duties in this role may change and develop according to need.

**Essential Skills**:

- Knowledge and understanding of mental health issues and the impact these have on employment and training
- An awareness and understanding of how people can move forward with their lives
- A non-judgemental attitude to mental health service users
- An empowering and positive attitude to mental health service users
- Ability to work within a team
- Experience of liaising effectively with internal and external stakeholders, and across different sectors
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
- An understanding of the need for strong professional boundaries
- Proactive and flexible approach to problem solving
- Good organisation skills
- Excellent IT skills to be able to use MS Office packages
- Able to work on own initiative
- Car driver/owner
- Flexibility to adapt, and versatility, in response to changing circumstances and opportunities arising around the programme

**The following are not essential but desirable**:

- An understanding of peer support methodology
- Excellent organisational skills
- Experience of working in the supported employment field and engaging with employers
- Experience of facilitating activities with groups

**Vacancy Information**:

- Location: Medway
- Salary range: £23,579.00 per annum
- Job type: Contract
- Job Section: Social Services
- Working Hours: Full time 37 hours per week
- Reference: AB182
- Contact: Alison Bradley