Job summary
We are excited to offer an opportunity for a motivated and compassionate individual to join our team as an Activities Coordinator in the Community Hospital setting. In this rewarding role, you will work alongside qualified nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team to support the delivery of engaging and therapeutic activities. Your responsibilities will include planning, developing, and delivering group and one-to-one activity sessions tailored to meet the diverse needs of our patients. Your contribution will be key in supporting patients' recovery, wellbeing, and overall care experience.
Main duties of the job
- Facilitate a range of structured activities, both group and individual, to promote engagement, social interaction, and well-being among patients.
- Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to design and adapt a creative programme that reflects the interests and therapeutic needs of patients.
- Maintain and regularly update a ward-based activity timetable and provide coverage for activity sessions during periods of absence.
- Build positive and motivating relationships with patients to encourage their participation in the activity programme.
- Observe and report patient responses and behaviours to the team and accurately record information in electronic patient records.
- Support qualified staff in delivering therapeutic groups as needed.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further details regarding this post can be found within the 'Activities Coordinator Job Description' attached to this advert.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Further details regarding this post can be found within the 'Activities Coordinator Job Description' attached to this advert.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of general education
- Adequate literacy skills
- NVQ level 2
Desirable
- NVQ level 3 or creative activity therapist (CAT)
Experience
Essential
- Work experience in health care as HCA or Rehab Assistant and having worked with clients in the health care setting, particularly those with dementia or mental health needs.
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Experience as an activity coordinator
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Ability to manage challenging situations
- Must be fluent and articulate in verbal and written communication
- Ability to maintain records
- Ability to organise time and work effectively
- Good timekeeper
- Good practical skills in domestic and creative activities
- Compassionate - exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives (as appropriate) whilst remaining sensitive and empathetic
- Listens to others' views respecting and valuing individual needs
- Professional and patient focused approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members
- Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities
- Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner
- Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team
- Ability to record and retrieve information on paper/electronic records as appropriate
- High standards of written/computing communication skills with the ability to use email and internet
- Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
- High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet
- Compassionate -- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives remaining sensitive and empathetic
- Listens to others' views respecting and valuing individual needs
- Demonstrates a high level of discretion and confidentiality
- Excellent organisational skills ability to manage own time and plan timed activities
- Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Good standard of general education
- Adequate literacy skills
- NVQ level 2
Desirable
- NVQ level 3 or creative activity therapist (CAT)
Experience
Essential
- Work experience in health care as HCA or Rehab Assistant and having worked with clients in the health care setting, particularly those with dementia or mental health needs.
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating groups
- Experience as an activity coordinator
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Ability to manage challenging situations
- Must be fluent and articulate in verbal and written communication
- Ability to maintain records
- Ability to organise time and work effectively
- Good timekeeper
- Good practical skills in domestic and creative activities
- Compassionate - exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives (as appropriate) whilst remaining sensitive and empathetic
- Listens to others' views respecting and valuing individual needs
- Professional and patient focused approach with inspirational skills, acting as a role model to colleagues and junior staff members
- Excellent organisational skills, ability to manage own time and plan timed activities
- Ability to recognise and manage challenging situations in a calm and professional manner
- Able to take instruction and direction and work effectively as part of a team
- Ability to record and retrieve information on paper/electronic records as appropriate
- High standards of written/computing communication skills with the ability to use email and internet
- Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
- High standards of written communication skills with the ability to use email and internet
- Compassionate -- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with staff, patients, carers and relatives remaining sensitive and empathetic
- Listens to others' views respecting and valuing individual needs
- Demonstrates a high level of discretion and confidentiality
- Excellent organisational skills ability to manage own time and plan timed activities
- Must be a car driver with a valid driving licence or have access to transport with appropriate business insurance in order to travel throughout the Trust, to meet the needs of the service.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
