Mental Health Foundation Job Description & Person Specification

Project Manager

(part-time – 3-4 days a week)

SITUATE Project August 2019

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About the Mental Health Foundation Our vision is a world with good mental health for all.

Our mission is to help people to thrive through understanding, protecting and sustaining their mental health.

Our values are set out in terms of our broad social values, which underpin our mission, and our business values that govern the way in which we aim to work. Our core values are:

knowledgeable passionate practical courageous innovative.

The Mental Health Foundation is the UK’s charity for everyone’s mental health. With prevention at the heart of what we do, we aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems, so that people and communities can thrive.

We deliver and run ground-breaking mental health programmes, giving us the expertise to share what works.

We help by offering straightforward information and tools for everyone. We produce authoritative reports and evidence used by government and the

media. We influence policymakers and advocate for change.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk www.twitter.com/mentalhealth www.facebook.com/mentalhealthfoundationwww.instagram.com/mentalhealthfoundation

Mental Health Foundation - Employment BenefitsPension (non-contributory)

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The Mental Health Foundation considers it is important to encourage people to save for their retirement and as such provides staff with an 8% contribution as part of auto-enrolment from three months service. After successful completion of a probation period this contribution increases to 10% non-contributory.Employee assistance programmeAt times staff members may face and need help with a variety of issues throughout their lives and, as part of the commitment to staff members, the Foundation provides an independent and confidential counselling and information telephone service. Support is available on a range of issues including legal, financial, emotional, health issues and work-related concerns.Wellbeing daysStaff may take up to three days per annum for their personal mental health needs.Annual leaveStaff receive 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after five years' service.Christmas leaveStaff will receive an additional three days leave at Christmas when the office closes between Christmas Day and re-opens after New Year’s Day. This is in addition to the annual leave entitlement.Life assurance schemeStaff will receive death-in-service life cover at four times their annual salary.Also available following a qualifying period:Family friendly leaveEnhanced maternity pay is in place of six weeks full pay, 20 weeks half pay + SMP, and 26 weeks at SMP only. Flexible working/work-life balanceThe right to request flexible working is available to all employees. There are a number of different flexible working arrangements available throughout the organisation, which can be arranged by mutual consent.Season ticket loanInterest free loans are available to purchase season tickets for the journey between home and work. Cycle to work scheme The Cycle to Work scheme is a UK Government tax exemption initiative introduced to promote healthier journeys to work and to reduce environmental pollution. Employees will be able to purchase a bike of a value of up to £1,111 tax free.

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How to applyTo apply please send your completed application form, CV and an equal opportunity monitoring form by 9am on Friday 20th September to: vacancies@mentalhealth.org.uk

The selection process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Thursday 2nd October 2019

Location: The interview will be held at the Mental Health Foundation offices by London Bridge station:

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Mental Health Foundation, Colechurch House, 1 London Bridge Walk, London SE1 2SX

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Job DescriptionJob Title: Project Manager, SITUATE Project Reporting to: Programme Lead - Families, Children & Young People Department: Research, Policy & Programmes – Families, Children & Young PeopleJob Location: LondonHours: 3 days per week (with potential for extension to 4 days per week)Salary: Grade C level 5 - £33,143- £34,429 p.a. pro rata. Appointments will be made on the first point of the scale as London weighting of £1,642.50 pro rata will be applied to the salary in November 2019. Contract Length: 24 months Main purpose of the job To project manage the SITUATE Project which is funded by a grant from the Office for Students. The SITUATE project aims to produce a sustainable, best practice model for the higher education sector in partnership with the University of Sussex, and in collaboration with local colleges and relevant services. The Mental Health Foundation project team will be responsible for ensuring that each strand of the project is integrated into the key intervention of peer-led education. There are four strands to the SITUATE project:

Enable peer-led psychoeducation (classroom-based and via social media) for students facing transitions about social and personal vulnerabilities and protective factors for mental health and wellbeing

Enable students facing life transitions to build peer support networks to protect against the possibility that those who are most vulnerable will be unable to act upon the information provided through peer-led psychoeducation

Provide psychoeducation to key university staff about the vulnerabilities of students facing life transitions, and how best to support these students

Support the development of institutional change within the university that embeds and sustains best-practice approaches to student mental health and wellbeing.

The project will promote positive mental health and wellbeing at key educational transitions: from pre-university to university and between years at university. The project will focus on prevention and early intervention. The key intervention will be a mental health peer education training programme delivered by older students to younger students at stages of transition. All activities programmes will be informed by students, supported by a dedicated social media campaign, and complemented by student-led initiatives on campus.

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Comprehensive student engagement and co-production will inform the development and implementation of interventions to improve student induction, enhance staff training and improve university course materials and teaching. To ensure a whole provider approach, key university staff will also receive mental health training. Principal tasks and responsibilities:

Operational Work with the Foundation’s Programmes Lead for Families, Children & Young People to develop and deliver the SITUATE project, which aims to produce a sustainable, best practice model that promotes positive mental health and wellbeing at key transitions into Higher Education.

▪ Oversee the recruitment of participants and their continued engagement throughout the project

▪ Liaise with the University of Sussex and other educational bodies to promote the project and recruit students.

▪ Liaise with project partners to arrange venues, transport and refreshments for workshops and training.

▪ Facilitate co-production workshops and delivery of training for students and university staff.

▪ To observe confidentiality in all matters relating to group participants consistent with organisational policies and legislation and report any safeguarding issues promptly and appropriately.

▪ Work with the Univeristy of Sussex to agree the evaluation methodology through a co-production process.

▪ Outreach to local educational instituations and representing the project at internal and external events in a range of creative ways.

▪ Support the project steering group and organise project management meetings.

▪ Promote the project and explore a peer education approach with university partners and local colleges in order to ensure the sustainability and scalability of the model beyond the project.

o Support the development of a self-sustaining licencing model for the SITUATE peer education model.

▪ Actively recruit peer educators from the Univeristy of Sussex to engage with co-production and peer-led education.

▪ Work with the MHF Communications team and students to co-produce and disseminate a social media camaign to generate wider student interest and engagement with the project.

▪ Work with the Grants team to compile financial and project data for reporting to the OfS and partners.

o Monitor the delivery of work by the Foundation and partners against project timescales and budget.

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o Monitor the project budget monthly against Management Accounts and advise Programme Lead of variances, if any.

▪ Support the project evaluation working closely with the University of Sussex research teams.

▪ To keep up to date with new evidence and information about the challenges, risks and protective factors encountered by students during key periods of transition in their lives.

General ▪ To promote and support the achievement of the Foundation’s mission, goals

and values. ▪ Act as a positive ambassador for the Foundation in all opportunities.▪ Maintain a high standard of probity in professional, personnel and financial

matters, maintaining good relations with colleagues and external partners and to act in accordance with the Foundation’s code of conduct, safeguarding policies, and other relevant organisational policies.

▪ Uphold and promote the Foundation’s commitment to equality and diversity and the value of lived experience.

▪ Work closely with the Foundation’s Safeguarding Lead and the nominated Safeguarding representative of the London Borough of Southwark to ensure the highest standard of safeguarding for all participants in the project.

▪ Ensure that the relevant policies including safeguarding, working with external partners, and partnership agreements inform project development and delivery of the project plan and its products.

▪ Work alongside the Foundation’s Comms and Media Team where necessary.▪ Undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required.

Key relationships▪ Line management by the Programme Lead and support the SITUATE project

team in the University of Sussex, where applicable. ▪ Internally to support the development of the Foundation’s activities in this

area of work▪ Guidance on strategic and operational issues will be provided by the wider

SITUATE steering group.▪ Close working relationship with the University of Sussex to ensure all

operational issues relating to the project are timely and well organised.▪ Close working relationship with partners and collaboration with local

education institutions and relevant services.

This Job Description is not contractual and is liable to change over time

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Person SpecificationProject Manager – SITUATE ProjectEssential CriteriaExperience

▪ Project management and organisational skills including project planning, costing, prioritisation and time management.

▪ Strong experience of successfully working with partners.▪ Experience of co-production in the development and delivery of a project.▪ Good experience of effective budget management. ▪ Strong experience of successfully delivering projects in a relevant field.▪ Experience of working in partnership and co-production, preferably in the field of

mental health and/or education.▪ Experience of developing and delivering accessible and engaging training in the field

of mental health and/or education.

Skills and Abilities▪ Ability to engage easily with students and the wider professional and educational

institutions that support them. ▪ Ability to work adaptively and creatively to resolve challenges. ▪ Evidence of effective communication skills, including confident use of social media

platforms, written and spoken, and ability to appropriately adapt for a wide range of audiences.

▪ Proven ability to work collaboratively within a team and also with a degree of independence.

▪ Ability to provide concise briefings, written and spoken, to senior management and stakeholders.

▪ To work in a positive way across a range of teams.▪ Strong commitment to the issue of mental health and commitment to respecting

diversity in all its forms.▪ Ability to apply and share new learning effectively.▪ Good ambassadorial skills to represent the Foundation.▪ Demonstrable ability to create innovative solutions to challenges that may arise in

project delivery.▪ Evidence of effective project management skills to achieve operational goals and

priorities.▪ Demonstrable relationship development and management skills with a wide range

of stakeholders and partners.

Knowledge▪ Understanding of the impact of life transitions and change on mental health, and

knowledge of risk and protective factors that commonly impact student mental 9

health. ▪ Knowledge of the challenges in the lives of children and young people in post-16

education.▪ Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures and an ability to react

appropriately and consult with the relevant professionals when a safeguarding concern arises.

▪ Knowledge of appropriate ways to seek the views and knowledge of stakeholder groups.

Desirable Criteria▪ Experience of supporting complex partnerships.▪ Experience of working in the higher education sector or other formal post-16

educational setting.▪ Degree or equivalent qualification or significant project management experience.▪ Knowledge of the range of mental health and other support services that young

people can access, including university-based support.▪ Strong analytical skills and knowledge of evaluation methods.

REQUIREMENTS OF ALL ROLES AT THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

▪Willingness to work flexibly to meet the reasonable needs of the Mental Health Foundation

▪Commitment to working in accordance with the Mental Health Foundation’s values▪Prepared on occasions to work unsocial hours▪Self-sufficient in use of information and communications technology▪Ability to self-manage a full and varied workload.

COMPETENCIES FOR WORKING AT THE MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION

We expect all employees to be able to use these competences to a high level in their roles. During the recruitment process, at interview stage, we look for evidence of all these competencies.

▪ Expertise, knowledge and analysis▪ Communication, influencing and promotion▪ Relationships and partnership working▪ Service focused▪ Business aware▪ Strategic thinking and decision making▪ Leadership▪ Adaptability and personal responsibility▪ Innovative and creative▪ Committed to personal development

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