At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and deliver engaging activities for older residents, promoting wellbeing and social connection.
- Company: Join Morden College, a historic charity dedicated to supporting older people in vibrant communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, staff discounts, life insurance, and more!
- Other info: Flexible hours and opportunities for personal growth in a supportive environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while fostering a sense of community and belonging.
- Qualifications: Experience with older people and a passion for person-centred care are essential.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 30000 £ per year.
About us
- We’re
- Morden
College: an almshouse charity with a proud history of providing homes, support, and care for older people in south-east London for over 300 years.
Today, we’re building on that legacy with a clear and ambitious strategy focused on enabling our residents to live as independently, safely, and meaningfully as possible.
We aim to create thriving communities where every person feels known, valued, and supported.
We provide almshouse accommodation and care services to over 250 older people across two sites in Blackheath and Beckenham, including our care home.
Our vibrant and diverse resident community enjoys a wide range of events and activities, and each site offers welcoming spaces for socialising, including bars and Café 19 at the award-winning John Morden Centre.
At the heart of everything we do is a commitment to dignity, purpose, and inclusion.
We actively combat loneliness, challenge ageism, and promote healthy ageing.
As part of the Morden College team, you’ll help foster social connection and contribute to a community where both residents and staff can thrive.
We embrace equity, diversity, and technology to deliver sustainable, high-quality services that make a lasting difference.
Job Purpose
The Activities Coordinator plays a key role in enhancing the quality of life of residents by developing and delivering a diverse, engaging, and person-centred wellbeing programme.
The postholder will support residents to maintain a sense of purpose, independence, belonging, and fulfilment by providing meaningful activities tailored to their interests, abilities, and life experiences.
The role requires an individual who is creative, compassionate, and organised, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
The Activities Coordinator will promote dignity, choice, inclusion, and positive risk-taking, supporting residents to live fulfilling lives while maintaining their wellbeing and independence.
- Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Resident Wellbeing and Engagement
- Develop, coordinate, and deliver a varied programme of meaningful activities that reflect residents' interests, preferences, cultural backgrounds, and abilities.
- Involve residents in planning and evaluating activities to ensure programmes remain engaging, inclusive, and person-centred.
- Promote opportunities that encourage social interaction, independence, confidence, and participation.
- Support residents to attend and engage in activities, offering encouragement and assistance where required.
- Use residents' life histories, hobbies, and experiences to inform individual and group activity planning.
- Provide companionship, emotional support, and reassurance to residents who may be anxious, isolated, confused, or distressed.
- Accompany residents on walks, outings, and community visits where appropriate.
- Work collaboratively with care staff to ensure wellbeing activities complement individual care plans and support holistic care delivery.
- Programme Planning and Delivery
- Plan, organise, and facilitate a wide range of activities including recreational, therapeutic, educational, social, cultural, and intergenerational events.
- Produce and distribute a monthly wellbeing programme in accessible formats.
- Research and develop partnerships with local organisations, community groups, entertainers, schools, volunteers, and guest speakers.
- Support special events, celebrations, themed activities, and seasonal programmes throughout the year.
- Ensure all activities are delivered safely and are appropriately risk assessed.
- Record Keeping and Administration
- Maintain accurate and timely records of resident participation, engagement, and outcomes using electronic care systems, including Nourish.
- Upload photographs and activity updates in line with consent requirements and organisational policies.
- Maintain activity schedules, attendance records, and evaluation information to demonstrate service effectiveness.
- Ensure resident information and records are managed confidentially and in accordance with GDPR requirements.
- Communication and Team Working
- Build effective relationships with residents, relatives, colleagues, volunteers, and external partners.
- Communicate openly and professionally to ensure positive working relationships across the organisation.
- Participate in team meetings, supervision sessions, training events, and organisational activities as required.
- Support volunteers and external visitors involved in activity provision, ensuring they are welcomed, briefed, and supported appropriately.
- Safeguarding, Compliance and Quality
- Promote and safeguard the welfare, rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all residents.
- Understand and fulfil responsibilities relating to adult safeguarding, whistleblowing, and incident reporting procedures.
- Adhere to organisational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements, including Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.
- Comply with all statutory requirements relating to Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Infection Prevention and Control, Food Safety, Manual Handling, and Equality and Diversity.
- Take responsibility for personal health and safety and contribute to maintaining a safe environment for residents, visitors, and colleagues.
- General Responsibilities
- Maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and information security at all times.
- Demonstrate professionalism and act as a positive ambassador for Morden College.
- Foster a culture of inclusion, kindness, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
- Undertake all mandatory training and participate in ongoing learning and development opportunities.
- Participate fully in performance reviews, supervision, and appraisal processes.
- Achieve agreed performance objectives and maintain professional standards.
- Comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR, and all organisational policies and procedures.
- Undertake any other duties that are reasonably commensurate with the level and responsibilities of the role.
Skills, Qualifications and Experience
Essential Skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to build positive relationships with residents, relatives and colleagues.
- Good organisational and time management skills.
- Ability to plan, coordinate and deliver a varied programme of meaningful activities.
- Basic IT skills for recording activities and maintaining documentation.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Essential Qualifications
- Good standard of literacy and numeracy.
- Relevant qualification in Health & Social Care, Activities Coordination, Dementia Care
Essential Criteria
- Experience of working with older people, including those living with dementia.
- Understanding of person-centred care and wellbeing principles.
- Ability to motivate and engage residents with varying needs and abilities.
- Flexible approach to working hours, including occasional weekends and events.
- Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion.
Desirable Criteria
- Previous experience in an Activities Coordinator or Wellbeing role within a care setting.
- Knowledge of dementia-friendly activities and reminiscence work.
- Experience of organising community events and working with volunteers.
Benefits
- Morden College offers a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:
- 25 days annual leave
- 40% Staff Discount at Café 19
- Simply Health Cash Plan
- EAP: We Care
- 20 days sick pay
- Life Insurance 2x Salary
- Free on-site parking
- Electric Vehicle Charging
- Eye Health
- Pension
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Activities Coordinator in Blackheath employer: Morden College
Morden College is an exceptional employer dedicated to enhancing the lives of older people in south-east London through a vibrant and inclusive community. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, we offer generous benefits such as 25 days annual leave, a comprehensive health plan, and opportunities for professional growth within a supportive environment. Join us in making a meaningful impact while enjoying a collaborative work culture that values dignity, purpose, and inclusion.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Activities Coordinator in Blackheath
✨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 Morden College.
✨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 Morden College!
✨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 Morden College, 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 Morden College 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 Activities Coordinator in Blackheath
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 Morden College:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Morden College! 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 Morden College
✨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.