JOB DESCRIPTION

Community Development Worker (Edinburgh and Lothians)

Action on Depression

Reports to: / Chief Executive Officer, Action on Depression
Based at: / 21 – 23 Hill Street, Edinburgh EH2 3JP although post-holder will be expected to travel across the Lothian region
Hours: / 25 hours per week. Hours will be agreed with your line manager. Flexible place of work.
Some evening and weekend work is required.
Salary: / £24,296 per annum ( pro rata ) plus 5% non-contributory pension

Scope:

Action on Depression represents over 800,000 people in Scotland who are affected by depression and anxiety, by providing information and support services. We also campaign on behalf of all those living with the condition and undertake research into the causes and treatments available.

Action on Depression delivers a range of person centred services which include peer support groups, e-mail information service, depression awareness raising, a supported on-line “Living life to the Full Interactive” (LLTTFi) programme, and life-skills courses (where local workers are funded).

NHS Lothian has a Service Level Agreement with a number of Service Providers ( including Action on Depression ). This expires on March 31st 2016.

The role

The Community Development Worker (Edinburgh and Lothians) plays a key part in delivering NHS Lothian - Action on Depression’s community work in the area. The role has been developed to build local capacity for supporting people aged 18+ with mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety in the area.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Service delivery

·  To deliver a range of self-help, recovery focussed training courses to adults experiencing low mood and depression using a range of delivery options including group-work and 1-1 work remotely by telephone.

·  To train staff and volunteers from local community organisations in the delivery of a range of self-help training courses and to provide ongoing mentoring and support.

·  To support the development of new and existing local Peer support self-help groups.

·  To raise awareness of depression for people experiencing low mood and depression and those living and working with those affected by depression

·  To promote both Action on Depression’s national support services (on-line self-help programme, information services, publications and websites) and local support services available to adults in the area.

·  To have a key local presence at relevant events and key local working forums.

·  To work in partnership with key providers to support and enhance local efforts in addressing the mental health needs of people across the area.

·  To collect and collate data for both evaluation of service delivery and monitoring AoD outcomes to be used for service development and assist with the preparation of regular progress reports for funding bodies and the AoD Board.

·  To actively fundraise to support the ongoing work of AoD both locally and nationally.

Service development

·  To support the Chief Executive Officer with the development of additional training approaches as the service develops.

Management

·  To recruit, train and support a pool of regional volunteers to assist with all function of the organisation, including for example the delivery of new forms of training, fundraising, awareness raising and promotion of AoD services generally and the setting up and running of local self-help support groups, as agreed in the ongoing discussions with the

Chief Executive Officer

General

·  To work in a co-operative, team-focused and constructive manner with the other Community Development Worker, and other colleagues in AoD.

·  To contribute positively and creatively to the regular discussion of work priorities and work plans with the Chief Executive Officer, and also with the other members of the Community Development Team, to fulfil the role as effectively as possible.

·  To fulfil the various administrative aspects of the role as effectively as possible, for example in terms of annual leave recording, expenses etc.

·  To uphold in practical and positive ways the values, priorities and ethics of Action on Depression.

·  To complete any other duties that may be reasonably required, as identified in the ongoing support and supervision meetings.

·  Please note that the post will require frequent travel throughout the Lothian region.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: Chief Executive ; AoD Board ; Community Development ; members of AoD team ; subgroup members; Volunteers and users of services.

External: NHS Lothian representatives ; NHS Lothian and other Stakeholders ; national and NHS Lothian local project team leaders ; partnership agencies across the community, voluntary and statutory sector in Lothians ; EVOC.

DEVELOPMENT WORKER - PERSON SPECIFICATION

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE / Essential / Desirable criteria
Facilitation and training skills, with proven experience of delivering training / ESSENTIAL
Demonstrable experience of working with people from vulnerable and excluded groups, which may include people with mental health problems / ESSENTIAL
Experience of varied partnership working, particularly in delivering projects and services / ESSENTIAL
Experience of working with the media to promote key messages / DESIRABLE
Experience of data collection, collation and report writing / DESIRABLE
Training / education or other relevant professional qualification / DESIRABLE
Willingness to undertake further training and continuing professional development / ESSENTIAL
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Excellent verbal and written communication skills / ESSENTIAL
Good IT skills and ability to be self-sufficient in standard IT systems / ESSENTIAL
Ability to enthuse and enable others / ESSENTIAL
Proven ability to use own initiative to meet deadlines and prioritise a busy workload / ESSENTIAL
Willingness to deliver direct support to clients as new opportunities arise / ESSENTIAL
EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge and understanding of the issues for people affected by Depression and common mental health problems, particularly for younger adults / ESSENTIAL
An awareness of the principles of community engagement and community development / DESIRABLE
An understanding of the value of self-help approaches in managing Depression, and an ability to commit to the core principles of CBT self-help / DESIRABLE
An understanding of the importance of confidentiality / ESSENTIAL
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Co-operative team player with practical “can do” attitude incorporating a flexible approach / ESSENTIAL
Self-motivated, dynamic and able to work without close supervision, along with a willingness to use support available / ESSENTIAL
Approachable with excellent listening skills, tact and ability to offer support and encouragement to people in a non-judgemental manner / ESSENTIAL
Demonstrable commitment to the principles of equality and diversity and the advancement of the mental health agenda / ESSENTIAL
The post holder must be prepared to work outside office hours as some evening and weekend work will be required. / ESSENTIAL

Job advert

Action on Depression, the Scotland wide charity supporting people affected by depression, wishes to appoint a Community Development Worker for NHS Lothian area. This is an opportunity to work across the Lothians, as part of a small team, to support and help people affected by depression. The role has been developed to build local capacity for supporting people aged 18+ with mild to moderate depression and/or anxiety in the area.

The post holder will contribute significantly to the future direction and success of the charity at a time of great potential change in provision in the field of mental health, and at a challenging time for third sector organisations.

The successful CDW will be appointed initially until 31st March 2016. The person will be based in our office in central Edinburgh. The post is for 25 hours per week, on days agreed with the CE of the organisation.

Salary is £ 24,296 per annum, pro rata , with a 5% employer contribution to a pension.

Applicants should apply to

Action on Depression

CDW

21 - 23 Hill Street

Edinburgh

EH2 3JP

Or by e mail to

With heading AOD CDW

Applications should be in the form of a letter addressing the key points in the person specification and job description, and should include a CV.

The closing date for applications is Friday 8th June.

Interviews for successful applicants will take place in Edinburgh later in June 2015

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