User and Carer Involvement (UCI)

07929 666598

info@userandcarer.co.uk

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"a Disabled People's Organisation ensuring Users and their Carers have a voice..."

Vacancies

JOB TITLE
Development worker – Hens’ Dens and Men’s Mental Health and Wellbeing in the
Stewartary & West of Dumfries and Galloway

 

Hours:  35 hours a week

 

Length of
contract: End of March 2024 fixed contract with possible extension dependant on
funding

 

Pay scale: £12.00
per hour £21,840

 

UCI

We want people
with learning disabilities, learning difficulties and/or Autism to live life to
the fullest, regardless of any obstacle’s society might place in their way.

Our vision is of a
society in which people with additional needs have equal access to
opportunities, allowing them to be safe, resilient, and happy with a sense of
belonging, purpose and fulfilment.  

We support people
to get where they want to be in life.  We
provide opportunities to explore things they may otherwise not have had
exposure to (combating poverty of aspiration). We support them to develop the
skills they will need to fully embrace those experiences (increasing
confidence, resilience, and leadership).

 

The Hen’ Den and
men’s wellbeing groups

The Hens’ Den and
men’s wellbeing group were established to provide a brave space for vulnerable men
and women with additional support needs.
The women and men in the groups have experienced a range of traumas
including, being subject to abuse and/or domestic violence, having children
removed and homelessness. Many struggle to maintain healthy relationships and
low self-worth is a common trait. Some are so hurt from past trauma that they
struggle to trust and lack skills to make friends.

The group gives
the men and women a safe space to  make
healthy relationships; develop skills; build their resilience; and enable them
to take on leadership roles.

The current group
in Dumfries, meet face-to-face once a week.
Under the direction of the groups a four-weekly schedule is has
developed:

 

Wk1 – Coffee and
catch up

 

Wk2 – Life skills
training (first aid, food safety, DIY etc)

 

Wk3 – Sharing
their own hobby activities and experiencing new ones (e.g. gardening, drawing
etc)

 

Wk4 – Invited
speakers (sexual health, citizens advice, legal aid etc)

 

Each session is
two hours.  They have an online chat
group that enables them to keep in touch with each other.

 

Main tasks

The member of
staff will establish a brave space/s for vulnerable men and women with additional
learning support needs in Castle Douglas, Newtown Stewart, and Stranraer. The
men and women in the group have experienced a range of traumas including, being
subject to abuse and/or domestic violence, having children removed and
homelessness. Many struggle to maintain healthy relationships and low
self-worth is a common trait. Some are so hurt from past trauma that they
struggle to trust and lack skills to make friends. On top of this, men and
women are struggling with the increases in the cost of living and need support
with budgeting, healthy eating, manging daily living in a cost-effective way.

 

The group will
give men and women safe spaces to: make healthy relationships; develop skills;
build their resilience; and enable them to take on leadership roles.

The member of
staff will facilitate the sessions, very much under the direction of the men
and women. This will include:

 

·
setting up sessions

·
ordering materials

·
booking rooms

·
contacting speakers

 

They will also:

 

·
develop Easy Read materials

·
support the online chat

·
recruit and support volunteers

·
maintain agency partnerships

·
Update and maintain information and session notes

 

Most importantly,
the staff member will support the men and women to take on responsibilities
that will ultimately enable them to run the group themselves.

There is also an
additional element of organisational administration with this post. Duties
include social media input and monitoring, designing, and producing flyers and
other promotional materials, preparing for events and associated tasks.

 

Skills and
qualities we are looking for

·
Understanding and empathy

·
Good listener

·
Good facilitation skills

·
Commination skills, both written and spoken

·
Understanding of the issues faced by vulnerable women in the community.

·
Computer literacy

·
Creative thinking

·
Excellent Organisational Skills

 

This post is
restricted to female applicants only, under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality
Act 2010. The successful applicant will be required to join the PVG
scheme.

 

Application
process

Please submit an
up-to-date C.V. and covering letter to info@userandcarer.co.uk

Closing date 01.06.2023