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Open Position 

Support Worker

For its Arts on Prescription service, Creative Alternatives
St Helens, Merseyside, UK (locally based role)

1-year contract, starting September 2022
Potential ongoing extension subject to funding

About Creative Alternatives

Creative Alternatives is an arts-based social prescribing service which operates in the borough of St Helens, Merseyside, UK. Creative Alternatives has successfully delivered ‘arts on prescription’ activity since 2006.

The service offers a range of creative activities to adults experiencing mild to moderate depression, stress or anxiety. The service is funded by St Helens Council’s Public Health Service and forms part of the ‘Cultural Hubs – Arts in Libraries’ Programme for the borough and is subject to annual contract renewal with the local council. The programme operates established referral systems with local GP surgeries, St Helens Wellbeing Service, community mental health teams and NHS Psychological services referring clients to the service. Clients are also able to self-refer into the programme.

Creative Alternatives provides its clients with free arts and wellbeing activities at a number of venues throughout St Helens. We take a person-centred approach and our creative programme encompasses themes and projects which encourage confidence, independence and self-expression.

More details can be found at creativealternatives.org.uk

About Alef Trust

The Alef Trust is an international non-profit organisation active in the field of transformative education and community development, focusing in the areas of consciousness studies, spirituality and transpersonal psychology as well as applied arts. We are inspired by a vision that emphasises whole-person education, integrating mind, body and soul for the betterment of our world.

In all our work we aim to foster wellbeing & health, cultural self-expression & inclusivity, ecological sustainability, and compassionate service to the world. Whilst being rooted in academic excellence, all our programmes encourage personal and professional growth through multiple ways of knowing, embracing creative, spiritual and somatic practices alongside intellectual study.

 

The Support Worker role

We are now looking for a Support Worker to join our core team. We are open to applications from applied artists and health/social care professionals with substantial experience of working with vulnerable adults in arts & health and/or community settings. The Support Worker will join a small core team and will jointly plan, administrate, and deliver client support across our programme, working both remotely (from a home office) and in various locations across the borough of St Helens. We are looking for someone who lives locally or who can readily travel to St Helens in order to support the delivery creative workshops, attend meetings and networking events etc. Additionally, we expect the person to be able to deliver some work from home via their computer, which will include some creative online sessions and meetings.

The post of Support Worker is designed to act as support to the Project Coordinator who leads on the project’s output, including the coordination and evaluation of core workshops, events and outings. The post holder will also work jointly with the Project Coordinator on all referral activity. The post holder will ensure that all programme outputs reflect the targets specified by St Helens Council.

Contract period: September 2022 – August 2023 (with potential for ongoing extension subject to funding)

Work Arrangement

The Support Worker will be appointed on a freelance basis and will be expected to work from their own home office as well as on site in the borough of St Helens. We expect the Support Worker to have their own office setup with computer equipment and software, as well as good internet access. 

This commission is freelance and it is expected to amount to a total of 60 days (5 days per month) in the contract period. The contract holder will be expected to work regular but flexible hours each week (approximately 10 hours per week), in accordance with the demands of the commission. The post holder must be available to work weekly on either a Thursday and/or a Friday (the CA core delivery days) and a few additional hours across the week to meet the needs of the programme. The post holder will be able to take time off around major holiday times coinciding largely with Christmas and summer holidays when the programme is less busy, but this must be planned with the Project Coordinator.

Fees will be paid on a monthly basis upon receipt of invoices. Travel and other commission related expenses within St Helens are paid in addition to the commission fee.

The Support Worker must have £5 million professional indemnity and £10 million public liability insurance, as well as up-to-date enhanced DBS clearance.

Honorarium: £6,300 for 60 days across the year (daily rate: 7.5 hours @ £105)

Scope of the role

The Support Worker’s responsibilities are to support the following activities on the hybrid local and online CA programme:

Programme Management & Administration:
  • Maintenance of project referral literature
  • Programme planning & delivery (e.g. delivery of taster sessions, welcome meetings)
  • Team communication (e.g. attend team meetings)
  • Maintain a personal budget sheet to monitor expenses related to the post
Programme Marketing:
  • Network with referral agencies & health, social care & arts organisations
  • Deliver community taster sessions & publicity activities
  • Contribute to the Cultural Hubs blog
  • Contribute to the Creative Alternatives website, social media & newsletters
Referrals & Client Liaison:
  • Act as point of contact for referrals when the Project Coordinator is unavailable
  • Maintain & develop relationships with referral agents
  • Support taster assessment workshops
  • Provide telephone support for clients
  • Visit core workshops when time allows
  • Make relevant signposting information available to clients
Outings & special events (for local delivery):
  • Support outings
  • Take bookings & maintain bookings document
  • Attend, register attendance, take photographs, support clients
Evaluation:
  • Support the compilation of programme evaluation, using specified data acquisition tools, and compile reports for Alef Trust, as specified by St Helens Council
Essential Skills, Attributes & Knowledge:
  • Experience in delivering and organising (arts-related) social prescribing activities
  • Experience of working with, and an understanding of, vulnerable adults with mental ill health
  • An alignment with the ethos and vision of Creative Alternatives
  • Excellent communication skills and an empathic and sensitive approach to engaging with vulnerable clients
  • Ability to maintain a calm attitude under pressure, for example when dealing with challenging and stressful situations
  • An understanding of the UK health and social care sector
  • An understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection issues
  • Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage own workload and prioritise effectively
  • Ability to work well with other team members and a flexible approach when needed
  • An ability to work from home and online with full office setup and good IT skills, including MS Office and Google Suite
  • A creative, enthusiastic and motivated ‘can-do’ approach, bringing the whole of you to work!
Desirable:
  • Able to drive, with access to own car
  • Good knowledge of mental health/arts/community organisations & services in the St Helens area

How to apply

The Alef Trust is committed to creating and sustaining a fully inclusive culture. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities.

Please apply via email and include your CV and a letter of application, sharing with us why you wish to apply for the post and what you would bring to our Creative Alternatives service.

Please include the names of two referees with your application whom we can contact during the application process. 

Your letter of application and CV should be sent to: Nick Theo (nick.theo@aleftrust.org)

The closing date for the return of completed applications is Friday, 5th August 2022.

Interviews will be held via Zoom on 19th August 2022.

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