Job Description

This post is fixed term until 31st July 2026 and part funded by Dwr Cymru.

Job Purpose

To deliver a varied and engaging programme of conservation, wild-life monitoring and wellbeing activities within the Thaw River catchment area for adults with learning disabilities.

To design and deliver a programme of educational sessions to teach project participants about environmental issues, biodiversity and their own wellbeing.

To support project participants to develop their skills and improve their wellbeing, embedding these two objectives within all project activities.

To work in close partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Countryside Team and other external partners to ensure that project outcomes are met.

To work with Skills & Volunteering Cymru (SVC) to recruit community volunteers to work alongside and support adults with learning disabilities.

To work in close partnership with colleagues in the Skills and Wellbeing team, as well as other departments across Innovate Trust to achieve positive outcomes and depth of experience for project participants.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

1.

Supporting Project Participants

2.

Supporting Project Volunteers

3.

Partnership Working

4.

Administrative Tasks

5.

Organisational Duties

6.

Personal Practice & Development

Key Duties:

Supporting Project Participants

To promote a positive image of adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems and adults on the autism spectrum.

To uphold person centred values in own working practice, tailoring support to individual participants.

To facilitate activities which enable participants to take part in environmental conservation work and wildlife monitoring initiative within the Thaw River catchment area.

To facilitate in-person activities which support participants to learn about conservation, biodiversity and the natural world.

To design and deliver a programme of educational sessions to support participants to learn about environmental issues and wellbeing in nature.

To ensure project activities encourage soft skill development and improve wellbeing.

To contribute to developing the independence of adults with learning disabilities.

To evaluate and make adaptations to activities as needed, to suit level of understanding and methods of communication.

To record participant soft skill developments in a way that is person centred, acknowledges the skills participants already have, and captures the meaningfulness of distance travelled by participants.

To support participants to reflect on their soft skills development and what these changes mean to them as individuals.

To ensure participants are involved in project design and delivery and are given opportunities to share their feedback.

To work with participants to address behaviours of concern, involving others within the participant's support system as appropriate to resolve issues.

To support participants to move on to further opportunities at the close of the Restore the Thaw project.

Supporting Project Volunteers

To work in partnership with Skills and Volunteering Cymru to recruit volunteers from the community to support adults with learning disabilities on project activities.

To follow SVC and Innovate Trust's volunteer recruitment procedures and adhere to related safeguarding guidance.

To devise a structured plan for utilising volunteers within the Restore the Thaw project and support all volunteers to understand and fulfil their role.

To facilitate training that provides volunteers with an understanding of how to effectively support adults with learning disabilities within the context of Restore the Thaw.

To provide regular guidance and support to volunteers, as well as formal supervision sessions.

To provide opportunities for volunteers to lead activities and play a role in project development.

Partnership Working

To work in partnership with other Project Officers in the Skills and Wellbeing department to foster a strong sense of team work and ensure that the department's aims are being met.

To work in partnership with other internal departments within Innovate Trust, seeking to link services which are complementary to one another in order to offer participants a broad range of experiences and opportunities to develop.

To work in close partnership with the Vale of Glamorgan Countryside Team in order to facilitate a seasonal programme of work which allows participants to contribute to management of green spaces throughout the Thaw River catchment area.

To work with other external organisations to create a varied programme of engaging one-off events.

To work in partnership with SVC to effectively recruit community volunteers to the project.

To liaise with families, advocates, support workers and carers to effectively advertise the project and provide a consistent approach that meets individual needs.

Administrative Tasks

To maintain accurate records relating to those engaged on the project e.g. participant and volunteer personal information, conservation initiatives carried out and hours contributed to the project.

To store all project data in electronic folders which are available to the project line manager.

To be aware of the information required by Dwr Cymru to evidence project performance, and to collect information as per these requirements.

To record participant and volunteer outcomes, including soft skill development and improvement in wellbeing, collating information within project databases and the soft skills toolkit.

To send a summary of project progression against targets to your line-manager as requested.

To regularly update the project social media pages and provide content for Innovate Trust's website and social media pages.

To produce qualitative content for project reports as required by your line-manager.

To engage with Innovate Trust's Insight app and Volunteering Hub.

Organisational Duties

To act as a role model to project participants, other members of staff and volunteers and encourage them to act likewise.

To have an awareness of and comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring the principles are embedded in working practice.

To promote health, safety, well-being and security in the workplace, adhering to Innovate Trust's Health and Safety policy and the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To risk assess all Restore the Thaw activities, share these with the department and store in a location that is accessible to your line-manager.

To review completed risk assessments every 3 months, after a significant change, or when requested to by your line-manager and make any necessary adjustments.

To respect and maintain the confidentiality of information for participants, staff, volunteers and the organisation.

To have awareness and comply with all Innovate Trust's internal policies and procedures.

To contribute to internal and external monitoring and review processes, as requested by your line-manager.

To contribute to team meetings and support the other Project Officers in the Skills and Wellbeing team.

To regularly review project processes, making adjustments to improve and develop the service as needed and fully involving project participants and volunteers with this process.

To promote a positive image of the project, its participants, funder and Innovate Trust as a whole.

To promote equal opportunities for the project client group, to respect diversity, different cultures and values.

Personal Practice and Development

To prepare for and engage in supervision, appraisal and performance reviews as required, accepting and learning from constructive feedback.

To attend and participate in training as directed by your line-manager.

To promptly notify your Line Manager of any concerns regarding participants, volunteers or the project.

To work in a professional manner at all times.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract

Pay: 25,081.06-27,646.16 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Company pension Cycle to work scheme Referral programme Sick pay
Work Location: In person