Community Engagement Manager

• An opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of thousands|An excellent and impactful role working on community engagement

About Our Client

This role will be focused on addressing gaps in provision, knowledge and confidence with organisations / groups about the positive power of physical activity to support positive mental health across Somerset focusing on addressing inequalities in community service provision. The role will deliver on the strategic aims of the Open Mental Health (OMH) Partnership and through this the Sport England ‘Uniting the Movement’ and the Somerset Moves Strategies. Addressing inequalities of access to mental health support, using physical activity as the gateway to engage and support people with their mental health, but also embedding physical activity within the mental health infrastructure will be key.

The role is part of a new and exciting collaborative project within Open Mental Health and will work closely to develop meaningful relationships with a diverse range of partners. The post holder will work to build connections with communities, groups, local institutions and local community and faith leaders in order to facilitate improved access to mental health services for underserved communities using physical activity as the engagement tool.

Job Description

Summary of Responsibilities and Key Duties of the Job

• Building connections between communities and Open Mental Health partner organisations. Spark

Somerset will be a key partner for this work and have overall responsibility for programme management

and feedback, to continue to learn and develop the service to gain meaningful impact and reduce

inequalities of access to mental health support in the community. More info here.

• Supporting the development of thriving mental health ‘eco-systems’ within our localities, working in

partnership with local groups and communities. Developing meaningful relationships with a diverse

range of partners locally and nationally, particularly where physical activity is not their primary purpose

supporting embedding appropriate physical activity into their environments.

• Encouraging and supporting community groups to access physical activity interventions through

workforce development, use of community instructors and resources and through connecting providers

and organisations up to benefit their members and participants mental health.

• Gathering intelligence that would support the continued development of Open Mental Health,

identifying gaps in provision and examples of good practice that could be replicated. To share insight

and learning within and outside of our eco system to support the use of physical activity within

community mental health services focusing on those sectors of the population whose voices are heard

less often.

• Supporting people from within targeted communities to access the core Open Mental Health offers and

the Open Mental Health small grants to help embed and sustain physical activity interventions for

positive mental health.

• Co-producing bespoke new peer roles or other community-based roles that support the emotional

wellbeing and mental health needs of underserved communities and support their training and

development.

• Identifying and providing support to volunteers and champions/ambassadors from identified

communities who will undertake specific work within their own communities, tackling stigma, building

further connections with Open Mental Health, developing and embedding the five ways to wellbeing

approach and building legacy to the work.

• Work closely with the other project staff, in Spark Somerset or the wider OMH locality teams,

collaborating with them to develop resources and initiatives that embed physical activity as part of the

intervention, support tools and/or learning.

• Prepare regular reports, in line with organisational procedures, for both SASP and the Programme

Manager within Spark Somerset to share with the SASP Board and funders. To represent SASP and/or

Open Mental Health at committees and meetings locally, regionally and nationally, where appropriate

to the role.

• Promote and publicise the project using social media, events and through developing links with

stakeholders

Community Engagement Manager (Physical Activity)

• Undertake any other duties and participate in projects commensurate with the nature and grading of

this post or at the direction of the line manager

The Successful Applicant

Please visit https://www.sasp.co.uk/jobs/8374 and download the Job Description for more information

What’s On Offer

Please visit https://www.sasp.co.uk/jobs/8374 and download the Job Description for more information

Contact: Sam Coleman

Quote job ref: JN-032022-5288466