Freelance Therapeutic Service Coordinator Job Share - Hove, United Kingdom - Sensing Friends

Description

Who we are

Sensing Friends is a charity providing eco-therapeutic peer support groups and counselling for young people experiencing sensory needs who are vulnerable to isolation, low self esteem and social exclusion.

We are a unique organisation that works within nature in a creative and engaging way to help young people connect with each other and themselves.

We define a sensory need broadly.

A sensory need can be physical, such as visual or hearing impairment, neurological, autism for example, or the effects of psychological trauma such as PTSD.

All our services are free at the point of access.

We are currently seeking to hire a part-time Therapeutic Service Coordinator with a therapeutic background in working with young people and ideally, although not essential, people who also have lived experience of sensory needs.

Our work is largely based within nature and places an emphasis on the power of the natural world and creativity to facilitate therapeutic healing.

We also provide weekly online peer support groups, music groups, storytelling and online counselling.

We have an egalitarian code of practice that we hope is empowering for all who engage within Sensing Friends. Our code of practice upholds transparency and inclusion for all, at all times.

We have a non hierarchical pay structure, a low distance power culture and welcome slow ways of working.

We hope to recruit someone open to working flexibly as part of
a job share with the current Therapeutic Service Coordinator, alternating between working alongside them for one month and then leading the service whilst they step back for a month.

There will also be the option to do this yourself. We believe having space from work is important for self-care and a good work/life balance.

We are funded by the Big Lottery.

With this funding we are able to help young people from
8 to 25 years old, with physical, neurological and psychological sensory needs who live in Sussex.

The role

Salary:
£18.66 per hour.


Working hours:
An average of 7.5 hours per week. The exact blend of hours to be negotiated in agreement between us. This will be discussed further in the interview.


Contract type:6 month probation period. This role is currently funded for 5 years.


Place of work:
Remote with in-person meetings on an ad-hoc basis.

We will require two references and an up-to-date DBS or be willing to complete one. In addition to this, proof of counselling qualifications, insurance and professional membership will need to be provided.


Staff Team

The staff team at Sensing Friends consists of the Therapeutic Service Coordinator, Admin Lead, a Musician, Group Workers and Young People Counsellors.

Job Title:
TherapeuticService Coordinator


Working with:
Current Therapeutic Service Coordinator and Admin Lead.


Summary of Duties

To work alongside the current Therapeutic Service Coordinator and Admin Lead to coordinate services at Sensing Friends, to lead on a new Young Person's Involvement Strategy, evaluation, reporting and fundraising, including exploring new funding streams.

You will also be involved in supporting Sensing Friends staff to deliver services.


Main tasks

• Involvement in the planning of Sensing Friends therapeutic and nontherapeutic events and current new services.
• Writing funding proposals, monitoring and evaluation of services and reporting to Funders and Trustees with support from the current Therapeutic Service Coordinator and Admin Lead.
• Payment of invoices and management of accounts with support from the current Therapeutic Service Coordinator.
• Supporting the Admin Lead re: insurances, DBS checks and all legal matters relating to Sensing Friends.
• Involvement in promoting Sensing Friends services.
• Managing group registers, emergency details and risk assessments.
• Reviewing, updating and developing new policies.
• Liaising with parents/ SENCO's and external referrers of young people and relevant team members.
• Developing new services involving identifying and developing creative and innovative ways of setting up appropriate alternative therapeutic services for the young people we support.
• Developing a Young People Involvement Strategy, involving creative ways of consulting young people on their views regarding Sensing Friends services and future services.
• Ability to lead and partake in some handson involvement within the delivery of the services such as conducting initial assessments and/or facilitating some therapeutic group work.
• Fundraising and exploring other income streams.
• Building relationships with other organisations/charities in Sussex to collaborate with for referrals and to exchange training.
• Involvement in recruitment when needed.
• Coordinating running of the allotment, keeping allotment policies up to date and liaising with allotment owners.
• Facilitating monthly individual check in's with team members.
• Responding to safeguarding concerns, alongside the c