Job Description
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKER (BME Mental Health) (Full time)
JOB TITLE: Community Development Worker (BME Mental Health)
Working Age Adults (aged 25 – 65 years)
LOCATION: Wellness Centre, Whitgift Centre, First Floor, Unit 1040
56a Mitcham Road Croydon CR0 3RG
REPORTING TO: The Chief Executive of Croydon BME Forum
SALARY £28,560
HOURS OF WORK 37.5 hours per week
Purpose of the post:
- To work at the strategic level, influencing the structure and delivery of mental health services, raising awareness of BME Mental health issues and supporting the development of culturally appropriate mental health services.
- To work in partnership with statutory providers, independent organisations, Faith leaders and communities to promote social inclusion and positive mental wellbeing for members of the Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities of Croydon and reduce inequalities in mental health service experience and outcomes.
- Section 5 (2) (d) of the Race Relations Act 1976 applies.
Main duties and responsibilities:
Commit to achieving the key aims of the Community Development Worker (CDW) Mental Health Project by:
- Building capacity in the voluntary and community sector.
- Supporting the development of health and social care services for BME communities.
- Improving access to services for BME communities.
- Bringing about positive change in access, experience and outcomes for BME Communities in relation to Mental Health service.
Strategic work
- Review policies, procedures, strategies and action plans of external organisations and make recommendations for development.
- Present information to those working at a senior level in the local authority and NHS in a variety of formats – from summary reports to presentations.
- Represent BME communities and advocate needs at local and regional strategic meetings.
- Actively support local initiatives around social inclusion, community cohesion, equality and diversity, and wellbeing.
Capacity Building
- Support BME organisations to engage locally, regionally and nationally to help them: raise awareness about BME issues; develop solutions; identify and access resources to strengthen engagement.
- Support BME organisations within and across boroughs to better understand and articulate local issues and represent those issues to appropriate persons and agencies.
- Offer capacity building support and signposting to voluntary and community sector organisations by helping them to build their systems, structures and people, including guidance on making funding applications; so that they are better able to identify and meet their own needs.
Service Development
- Communicate the mental health needs of BME communities in a way that leads to a process of change and improvement in services.
- Work with commissioners as advocate on behalf of local BME communities to ensure appropriate services.
- Support local groups and networks so they can be partners in developing and service providers on BME issues, including cultural awareness and other related, identified training needs.
- Collaborate with partners – from strategic to operational – to ensure appropriate and meaningful representation of BME issues and for performance tracking against these issues.
- Support Commissioners in identifying and developing appropriate services for BME communities.
- Participate in the planning and development of new and existing health and social care services to improve the mental health and wellbeing of BME communities.
Access
- Engage with community leaders and build networking opportunities between leaders and mental health service providers.
- Carry out focus groups and workshops with local community groups in order to better understand their mental health and wellbeing needs.
- Improve and reinforce relations between communities and statutory organisations.
- Support and empower communities to identify and communicate their needs to commissioners through effective consultations and service user representation and the planning and development stage.
- Facilitate and participate in health promotion events and activities with local communities.
Common Expectations:
- To undertake training deemed appropriate to the post.
- To work in accordance with the Croydon BME Forum policies (equal opportunities, health and safety, Financial Controls, etc.).
- To ensure a high standard of services and engagement at all times.
- To participate in planning and other meetings as required and show a willingness to share information and knowledge.
- Liaise and work in partnership with a range of local, regional and national partners to promote the objects of the Croydon BME Forum and Off The Record and the CDW Project.
- Establish, maintain and update records, databases, mailing lists, information and filing systems as required.
- Assist with the preparation of monitoring reports, including the Annual Report.
- The post-holder will be expected to attend and or represent the CDW Project at meetings with outside groups or agencies where appropriate and to report back to Croydon BME Forum, Off The Record. This could occasionally involve working outside normal office hours for which time off in lieu (TOIL) will be given.
- Participate in any other reasonable duties which may be negotiated with the Chief Executives and Board of Croydon BME Forum.
Additional Tasks & Responsibilities Relevant to Specific Posts
Working Age Adults (25 - 65 years)
- To support the development and provision of integrated services, uniting opportunities in improved health, social care, housing, income, work and leisure, to meet the mental health needs of BME working age adults in contact with the criminal justice system.
- To review and identify gaps in mental health services, to develop culturally appropriate initiatives to improve access, support, treatment and care for BME working age adults.
- To provide support, training and advice on BME issues, to statutory and voluntary services.
- To provide information and support to BME working age adults to help increase knowledge, develop leadership and confidence in shaping local mental health services.
- To raise awareness of, the role of community development workers, amongst the local BME communities.
REVIEW ARRANGEMENTS:
This Job Description reflects the requirements of the post at this point in time. However, it is likely to change over time and the Chief Executives and Boards of Croydon BME Forum and Off The Record will consult with the post holder as and when changes are required.
Job Type: Full-time
Salary: £28,560.00 per year
Schedule:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Croydon: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Experience:
- Mental Health: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: One location
Application deadline: 14/04/2023
Reference ID: Mental Health Community Development Worker