Outdoor Learning Coordinator: Adult Groups

Purpose of Role

This role is responsible for our day service for adults who have learning disabilities / difficulties, mental health problems, addiction issues or who are neurodiverse. We currently offer group sessions three days a week, with some people attending twice a week. Full day sessions run from 9am-3pm and include a shared lunch. Our service is open-ended, several people have attended for over a decade and others have returned after a break. Some service users attend with a support worker. Activities include: helping with farming tasks and interacting with animals; walks and time outdoors exploring different habitats; arts, crafts and cooking. Most service users pay for sessions, and grant funding covers additional costs.

Salary and benefits: £29,835 FTE (£18,697 pro rata). 3% employer pension contribution. 32 days annual leave including bank holidays (20 days pro rata).

Hours: 23.5 hours per week (current working pattern is Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) Some flexibility over hours is possible.

Job description

Group work

• Create and deliver a programme of farming and nature-based activities appropriate to service users’ abilities and interests, across both our sites.
• Build relationships with, and understand the individual goals, preferences and needs of service users.
• Ensure all service users are engaged and involved in activities.
• Listen to, and proactively engage in conversation with service users, including at lunchtimes.
• Collect feedback from service users to inform the development of the service, and for use in funding applications. Take appropriate photographs of activities.
• Cover other team members’ sessions when required.
• Prepare equipment and spaces as required for sessions.

Safeguarding and health & safety

• Report all safeguarding issues in line with organisational policies.
• Ensure individual risk assessments for service users are up-to-date and implemented.
• Follow organisational risk assessments and health & safety policies at all times.
• Carry out dynamic risk assessments and adapt sessions to individual circumstances / weather conditions etc.
• Ensure service users are wearing appropriate clothing, have appropriate equipment, and that the Farm Cook is aware of their dietary requirements.

Marketing, liaison and administration

• Maintain telephone contact with service users and their families / carers around the timing of sessions, holidays etc.
• Liaise with the Administrator to ensure invoices are issued.
• Maintain service user numbers by promoting the service to other charities, social services, colleges etc.
• Process referrals to the service, completing appropriate paperwork and contributing to an ongoing, positive relationship between Susan’s Farm and referrers.
• Maintain up-to-date records and registers on an online system.
• Work alongside occasional volunteers, occupational therapy students and others who are on placement in the service.
• Support the preparation of funding applications.

Site maintenance and farming support

• Contribute to keeping indoor and outdoor areas clean, tidy and secure (put away equipment, sweep floors and paths, load dishwasher, lock up etc.)
• Work with the Farming Lead to identify and organise appropriate farming tasks for groups.
• With groups or individually as required:
• Feed cats and chickens, clean out chicken shed when needed, collect and box eggs
• Walk through livestock at both sites to check the health of sheep and cattle
• In winter, feed cattle and sheep at both sites.