Health Skills Mentor

Health Skills Mentor (14552)

Can you help us develop an outstanding service for young people across West Sussex?

Do you have a passion to support young people to take ownership of their own health and wellbeing?

My Independence, My Health, My Life Poject are seeking to recruit a part-time (18 hours a week) Health Skill Mentors who share our commitment and vision to develop an outstanding service which embeds Barnardo's basis and values in all we do. These posts sit within the "My Independence, My Health, My Life" Project which is a new service that launched on 1st July 2022 and supports young people aged 14-25 years old with a disability or learning difficulty across West Sussex.

My Independence, My Health, My Life Project offers:

• A 4-week on-line youth group program delivered on a half termly basis across the year. Each on-line session is up to 2.5 hours long dependent on theme and will include cooking a healthy evening meal. The programme will have a health skills focus aimed at developing young people's emotional health, physical health and wellbeing. Themes will include healthy eating, physical exercise, positive mind management, personal hygiene, healthy relationships and how to access local medical care.
• A monthly online cookery class to support healthy eating
• During school holidays the service will provide 2 x face to face health skills/well-being workshops. The content can vary depending on the needs of young people, but will include a range of the areas above.
• The service supports up to 16 young people per group for face to face in community.
• For children/young people with more complex needs who struggle to engage online the Health Skill Mentors will hold a caseload of up to 5 young people at a time, to support them to develop independent health skills, via a face-to-face based 1-1 support provision.

Health Skill Mentors will provide virtual support, working collaboratively and with a strengths-based approach to support children and young people to improve their health, emotional wellbeing and resilience.

Barnardo's is a busy and positive place to work. Every day is different and the Health Skill Mentors will have a critical role within our team.

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have knowledge of health and wellbeing, and experience of supporting children and young people in knowing how to implement strategies to manage and take ownership of their own health and wellbeing.
• Have a range of project work skills and abilities including experience and knowledge of using online platforms such as zoom/teams
• Demonstrate the ability to engage and communicate with both children, young people and their families;
• Have good organisational, numeracy, and literacy skills;
• Demonstrate empathy, patience, and an open and flexible approach to working with children and young people;
• Have experience of delivering one-to-one/group work with children and young people and take a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach to your work;
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of safeguarding procedures;
• Share our commitment to providing an outstanding service and embedding Barnardo's basis and values within all we do.

The role will be primarily home based however flexibility to travel around West Sussex, to provide services is required. In light of the travel that maybe required, access to a vehicle a valid driving licence will be beneficial.

My Indpendence, My health, My Life Project's session can take place between 5-7.30pm, a part of this role will be evening work.

Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.

Barnardo's offer their staff regular supervision and give all colleagues access to at least three learning days a year. Barnardo's University (BU) facilitate a range of opportunities which will be available through B-learning online and the BU prospectus. However, staff can use this time in a way that works for them - for instance to spend a day shadowing another team.

Barnardo's employees can also access a range of benefits, including:

• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time employees is 26 days per annum, increasing to 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata.
• Option to purchase up to 5 additional days of annual leave
• Pension Scheme: Barnardo's offers a 4% or 6% matched contribution to our Group Personal Pension. For those that pay into the pension they will be provided with death in service cover of 4 times annual earnings
• Access to an Employee Assistance Program
• Offers from major high-street brands
• Discounts on cinema tickets
• Discounts on holidays
• A cycle-to-work scheme

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described. If you do have any questions relating to this role, Rosie Calmiano, Team Manager on .

Barnardo's offers a hybrid working model covered under our Work from Anywhere' Framework, therefore vacancies advertised with this as an opportunity are open for applicants to either work from home or any location within the UK, including Barnardo's Hub/Office that is a reasonable distance from your home address.

Flexibility

Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.

About Barnardo's

At Barnardo's we believe in children - no matter who they are, what they have done or what they have been through. Please read about our basis and values following the link below. You will be asked questions relating to them as part of the recruitment process for this role.

Barnardo's is committed to having a diverse and inclusive workforce for staff and volunteers. We actively encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within Barnardo's.