At a Glance
- Tasks: Engage with communities, gather insights, and promote meaningful change.
- Company: Join Rethink Mental Illness, a champion of community voices.
- Benefits: Flexible part-time hours, impactful work, and a supportive team.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in people's lives and shape local services.
- Qualifications: Lived experience in mental health and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 29918 - 36566 £ per year.
Location: Field Based Across South Derbyshire
Contract: Permanent Part Time, around 9 hours a week
Salary: £6311.55
Reporting to: Community Voice Network Facilitator
DBS Check: Enhanced
Driving Licence Required: Yes, with access to a vehicle and Business Insurance
Make sure community voices are heard and acted upon. At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe that people with lived experience are experts in their own lives. We're looking for a passionate and compassionate Community Listener to help ensure that local people shape the services, support and decisions that affect them. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Together Derbyshire programme and work directly with residents, community groups and people with lived and living experience of loneliness, isolation and mental health challenges. You'll spend time out in communities, listening to people's experiences, gathering insights, supporting engagement activities and helping turn community voices into meaningful change.
What will you be doing?
- As a Community Listener, you'll build trusted relationships with people across Derbyshire and create opportunities for them to share what matters most to them.
- Engage with local residents, community groups and Experts by Experience.
- Reach out to underrepresented and seldom-heard communities.
- Gather stories, experiences, feedback and ideas for change.
- Support community forums, listening events and engagement activities.
- Help ensure people with lived and caring experience influence local priorities and service development.
- Contribute to community insight reports and briefings.
- Promote inclusive, accessible and meaningful participation.
- Work alongside partner organisations and local stakeholders to strengthen community connections.
Who are we looking for?
We're interested in who you are as much as what you've done. You'll bring:
- Personal lived, living or caring experience relevant to mental health, loneliness or isolation.
- Experience of community engagement, participation or involvement activities.
- Excellent listening and communication skills.
- The ability to build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds.
- A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Confidence gathering and presenting community insights.
- An understanding of co-production, community development or asset-based approaches.
- A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
It would be great if you also have:
- Experience supporting vulnerable or underrepresented groups.
- Knowledge of local voluntary, community, NHS or council services.
- Understanding of loneliness, wellbeing, social isolation or public health.
- Additional community language skills.
Why join Rethink Mental Illness?
At Rethink, people are at the heart of everything we do. We know that real change happens when communities are listened to, valued and involved in decisions that affect their lives. When you join us, you'll be part of a team that:
- Champions lived experience.
- Values diversity and inclusion.
- Supports learning and development.
- Encourages innovation and collaboration.
- Makes a genuine difference in communities every day.
Our work is guided by our CARES values: Connect. Accountable. Respect. Evolve. Success. We welcome applications from everyone. We are committed to building a diverse workforce and particularly encourage applications from people with lived experience of mental illness, carers, people from ethnic minority communities, LGBTQ+ people and disabled people. If you're passionate about listening, connecting with people and making sure community voices lead to meaningful change, we'd love to hear from you. If you have any questions or want more information, feel free to email tammy.chambers@rethink.org.
Apply today and help shape a better future for communities across Derbyshire.
Community Listener (South Derbyshire) employer: Rethink Mental Illness
As a Service Manager at our Wells location, you will be part of a dedicated team committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred housing support for adults with mental health needs. We pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work culture that encourages professional growth and development, offering opportunities for training and advancement within the organisation. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the community while enjoying a flexible part-time schedule and a competitive salary.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Listener (South Derbyshire)
✨Get Involved in Community Events
Dive headfirst into community events and social work fairs in your area. These are great opportunities to connect with potential employers like Rethink Mental Illness, grab some insider info, and showcase your passion for social work. Plus, meeting people face-to-face can really make you stand out!
✨Join Social Work Networks
Tap into social work networks and online communities, like local charities and organisations. Engaging in discussions or volunteering can help you build a strong reputation and could lead to part-time roles just like the one at Rethink Mental Illness. The connections you make could be the key to landing your next opportunity!
✨Make Your Passion Shine
When approaching part-time roles, be sure to highlight your passion for social issues in conversations and informal chats. Bring your experiences to life through storytelling – this can resonate well with organisations looking for someone who genuinely cares about making a difference!
✨Keep an Eye on Local Job Boards
Part-time roles in social work might not always be advertised in the usual places. Keep checking local job boards or community centres for openings, and don't hesitate to apply directly through Rethink Mental Illness's website – we love seeing proactive candidates who take the initiative!
We think you need these skills to ace Community Listener (South Derbyshire)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let your passion for social work shine through. Talk about why you're drawn to this field and how you've been involved in community service or support roles. We want to see your commitment and the heart you bring to the table!
Highlight Relevant Experience:Make sure to spotlight any hands-on experience you have! Whether it's internships, volunteering, or relevant coursework, detail how your past experiences relate to the role at Rethink Mental Illness. We love seeing candidates who have practical skills and a real understanding of social issues.
Certificates and Training Matter:If you've got any relevant certifications or training specific to social work (like safeguarding training or counselling qualifications), don’t forget to include these in your CV! These details can set you apart and show us you’re serious about your professional development.
Be Flexible with Your Availability:Since this is a part-time role, explain your availability clearly in your application. Let us know when you can start and how many hours you’re looking to work. Being upfront about your schedule will help us see how you fit into the team at Rethink Mental Illness.
How to prepare for a job interview at Rethink Mental Illness
✨Show Your Passion for Helping Others
In social work, it's all about your commitment to making a difference. Be ready to share specific experiences that highlight your passion for helping others, whether that's through volunteering, placements, or personal stories. We want to see that genuine drive during your chat with Rethink Mental Illness.
✨Know Your Social Work Theories
You might be quizzed on social work theories or models that inform your practice, like the person-in-environment approach. Brush up on these concepts and be prepared to discuss how you'd apply them in a practical setting. This could be a game changer in your interview for a Community Listener (South Derbyshire) at Rethink Mental Illness.
✨Flexibility and Availability are Key
As you're going for a part-time role, highlight your flexibility and how it would fit with the organisation's needs. Have examples ready that demonstrate your availability for various shifts or urgent situations—that's just gold for a social work role.
✨Prepare for a Situation-Based Discussion
Expect scenario-based questions where you'll need to demonstrate how you'd handle specific situations with clients or stakeholders. Think of a couple of real-life scenarios you've encountered and articulate your thought process. This will show Rethink Mental Illness that you're ready to hit the ground running in the Community Listener (South Derbyshire) role.
