At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with the community to promote mental health and build supportive partnerships.
- Company: Mind in West Essex, a local charity dedicated to mental health.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, flexible hours, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to inclusivity and mental wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives while connecting with your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in community work or mental health support is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 13.04 - 13.04 £ per hour.
Reporting to: Community Engagement and Partnerships Lead
Normal Place of Work: Harlow office base, with regular travel across Harlow & Epping Forest and occasional travel across West Essex
Pay: £13.04 per hour
The organisation Mind in West Essex is a local, independent mental health charity. We affiliate to Mind (the National Association for Mental Health), a charity with which we share common values and principles. We want West Essex to be a place where everyone can experience good mental health, feel connected to their community, access the support they need to live well, and feel hopeful about the future. We embrace diversity and understand that being an inclusive organisation, recognising different perspectives, will enable us to provide excellent services. We are committed to ensuring all our employees are treated fairly and equitably at work and promoting equity in physical and mental health for all.
About the Role: As a Community Engagement and Partnerships worker, you will connect directly with local people and organisations to build a supportive, mentally healthy community across Harlow & Epping Forest.
- Community Outreach: Listen to local people to understand their mental health and wellbeing needs.
- Partnership Development: Build meaningful relationships with local organisations to promote open conversations about mental health and expand access to support.
- Community Events: Help organise and represent Mind at local community events.
- Growing Our Network: Build our network of local supporters and contribute to our regular supporter newsletter.
- Income Generation & Fundraiser Support: Identify local fundraising opportunities and support individuals fundraising for Mind in West Essex.
- Frontline Support: Provide accessible information, emotional support, and practical guidance directly to members of the public.
Key Task Areas and Responsibilities:
- Community Outreach: Create inclusive, accessible outreach activities for the general public and specific groups (such as veterans, parents, and men). Build and maintain a strong knowledge of local mental health services and community resources. Identify local community needs using our mental health toolkit model and tailor initiatives to meet those needs. Assist with the day-to-day running of our community spaces.
- Partnership Development: Research, identify, and reach out to potential community partners who share our values and aims. Attend networking events, conferences, and community gatherings to build positive working relationships. Deliver engaging short presentations about Mind in West Essex and our services. Explore opportunities to offer mental health awareness training to partners so they can better support their communities. Build relationships with local businesses to explore sponsorships, donations, and joint initiatives. Identify and connect with potential major donors, individual supporters, and local influencers. Work with volunteers and community groups to plan events and campaigns. Provide volunteers and local organisations with promotional materials, coordinating with our Communications Officer. Identify and respond to local fundraising and commercial income opportunities. Offer warm, practical support to individuals fundraising on behalf of Mind in West Essex.
- Frontline Support: Offer immediate, compassionate support to individuals in distress, including de-escalation, emotional support, coping tools, and signposting to relevant emergency or mental health services. Work directly with members of the public through planned or drop-in sessions to help them achieve practical goals that improve their mental health. Advocate on behalf of individuals when needed, within agreed guidance and boundaries.
To keep abreast of internal and external developments and respond accordingly. To undertake other duties that may be necessary as directed by the Lead that are compatible with nature and grade of post. To adhere to relevant legal and statutory requirements including the Data Protection Act (always ensuring an appropriate level of confidentiality), Health and Safety at Work Act (always ensuring H&S of own and others) and any other relevant/charity law.
Understanding of service delivery in a health or social care setting:
- Relevant training in counseling, social work, occupational therapy, or mental health nursing
- Commitment to continuous professional development
- Understanding of the mental health recovery model
- Understanding of trauma-informed and person-centered approaches to care
- Understanding of how social factors affect physical, mental, and emotional health
- Understanding of key legislation and policies (Data Protection/GDPR, Safeguarding Adults, Mental Capacity Act, Mental Health Act)
- Knowledge of working within safeguarding, confidentiality, and equality frameworks
- Aware of mental health service provision and challenges
- Practical understanding of mental health conditions
- Experience working with adults who have care or support needs
- Experience in line management or coordinating people
- A calm, empathetic approach when managing difficult or stressful situations
- Excellent workload management and prioritisation skills
- Ability to meaningfully involve service users and carers in all aspects of their support
- Ability to build strong networks with local community groups and partners
- Confident speaking in public and representing the organisation at events
- Ability to plan and facilitate wellbeing activities and make full use of community spaces
- Creative, flexible, and proactive approach to supporting individuals
- Ability to identify personal learning needs and request relevant training
- Ability to work as part of a team and to work on your own initiative
- Good IT skills (Microsoft Word/Excel, G Suite, and CRM databases)
- Flexibility to travel and work outside standard office hours if required
- Strong local connection to Harlow and Epping Forest
Community Engagement and Partnerships Worker in Harlow employer: Mind in West Essex
Mind in West Essex provides a supportive work environment with opportunities for professional growth and development. Employees are engaged in meaningful work that positively impacts the mental health of children and families. The organization emphasizes a whole-school approach to mental health, fostering collaboration with educational settings.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Engagement and Partnerships Worker in Harlow
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Mind in West Essex.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Mind in West Essex!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Mind in West Essex, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Mind in West Essex or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Community Engagement and Partnerships Worker in Harlow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Mind in West Essex:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Mind in West Essex! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mind in West Essex
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
