Men and Fathers’ Community Wellbeing Worker

Organisation: The MindKind Projects CIC / Men’s Wellbeing Alliance

Location: The MindKind Wellbeing Centre and community locations across Walsall

Salary: £15.00 per hour

Contract: Temporary, self-employed fixed-term contract

Contract period: Until January 2027, with a view to extension

Hours: Approximately 14 hours per week, with some flexibility required for evening and occasional weekend activities

Responsible to: Programme Lead

About The MindKind Projects CIC

The MindKind Projects CIC is a community-based organisation working to improve mental health, wellbeing and social connection within communities across Walsall.

We provide accessible, culturally responsive and community-led activities, including mentoring, peer support, wellbeing groups, community events, training, volunteering and routes into wider professional support.

The Men’s Wellbeing Alliance is a cross-organisational alliance co-founded by The MindKind Projects, MettaMinds and Walsall FC Foundation, with over 15 organisational members. The MWA mission is to support more men in Walsall to access wellbeing provision and activities in spaces they trust.

Purpose of the role

The Temporary Men and Fathers’ Community Wellbeing Worker will engage, mentor and support men and fathers through one-to-one support, peer groups, wellbeing activities and community-based projects.

The postholder will help create safe and trusted spaces where men can talk honestly, build positive relationships, participate in meaningful activities and access appropriate support.

The role will work across several MindKind projects, with a particular focus on:

• Mentoring and practical one-to-one support.
• Men’s and fathers’ peer-support groups.
• Men’s wellbeing and social activities.
• Community engagement and participant recruitment.
• Supporting the Men’s Wellbeing Alliance mission.
• Providing flexible support across MindKind projects and activities.

Main responsibilities

Mentoring and individual support

• Develop positive, professional and trusting relationships with men and fathers.
• Provide time-limited one-to-one mentoring and wellbeing support.
• Help participants identify their strengths, needs, goals and next steps.
• Support participants with confidence, motivation, social connection and engagement in their community.
• Provide practical information and signposting to relevant health, mental health, family, housing, financial, employment and community services.
• Recognise when someone requires specialist or urgent support and follow the appropriate referral, safeguarding and escalation procedures.
• Maintain clear professional boundaries and avoid creating dependency.

Peer-support groups and activities

• Help plan, promote and facilitate peer-support groups for men and fathers.
• Create welcoming spaces in which men feel able to speak openly about their experiences.
• Encourage respectful discussion, mutual support and positive relationships between participants.
• Support activities addressing issues such as isolation, anxiety, confidence, fatherhood, relationships, identity, societal pressures, purpose and emotional wellbeing.
• Help organise social, practical, creative, physical and community-based activities.
• Encourage participants to contribute ideas and become involved in designing and delivering activities.
• Identify men who may be interested in progressing into volunteering, peer-support or community leadership roles.

Community engagement

• Build relationships with men from different backgrounds and communities across Walsall.
• Promote activities through community outreach, existing groups, events, partner organisations and informal networks.
• Speak with potential participants in a warm, respectful and non-judgemental manner.
• Follow up appropriate referrals and support new participants to attend their first activity.
• Help reduce practical, cultural and emotional barriers that may prevent men from accessing support.
• Represent MindKind positively at community events, meetings and outreach activities.

Men’s Wellbeing Alliance support

• Contribute to appropriate Men’s Wellbeing Alliance activities, forums, events and engagement work.
• Support the recruitment and development of male volunteers, ambassadors and community contributors.
• Help promote men’s wellbeing activities and available support across Walsall.
• Gather feedback from men about local needs, barriers and gaps in support.
• Support partnership activities and maintain positive working relationships with community organisations and professionals.

Recording and evaluation

• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records of contacts, sessions, referrals and outcomes.
• Record attendance, demographic information and participant progress using MindKind’s systems.
• Gather feedback, wellbeing measures, case studies and examples of change where appropriate.
• Contribute to project monitoring reports and help demonstrate the difference activities have made.
• Handle personal information in accordance with data-protection requirements and organisational policies.

Safeguarding and professional practice

• Follow MindKind’s safeguarding, confidentiality, lone-working, health and safety and data-protection procedures.
• Respond appropriately to concerns relating to abuse, neglect, exploitation, self-harm or risk to others.
• Immediately report safeguarding and serious welfare concerns through the correct organisational route.
• Work within the limits of the role and seek guidance when a situation requires professional, clinical or statutory intervention.
• Participate in regular supervision and use supervision to reflect on challenging situations.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with participants, volunteers and partner organisations.

Person Specification

Essential experience

Applicants must have experience in at least one relevant or closely related area, including:

• Education or higher education.
• Health or mental health services.
• Social care or family support.
• Youth, community or voluntary-sector work.
• Mentoring, coaching or pastoral support.
• Peer-support or group-based provision.
• Employment, housing, advice or community outreach services.
• Another adjacent role involving direct support, engagement or relationship-building with people.

Essential knowledge and abilities

The successful applicant will be able to:

• Build trusting relationships with men and fathers from a range of backgrounds.
• Listen carefully and respond without judgement.
• Support people without trying to act as a counsellor, clinician or social worker where this is outside the scope of the role.
• Facilitate or contribute confidently to group discussions and activities.
• Communicate sensitively about mental health, relationships, fatherhood and personal difficulties.
• Maintain confidentiality while understanding when information must be shared because of safeguarding or serious risk.
• Maintain clear and consistent professional boundaries.
• Work independently while seeking support appropriately.
• Organise activities and manage competing responsibilities.
• Keep accurate written and electronic records.
• Work constructively as part of a small and flexible team.
• Work respectfully with people from different cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Use basic digital systems, email and Microsoft Office or similar software.
• Work occasional evenings or weekends when required.

Personal qualities

We are looking for someone who is:

• Warm, approachable and reliable.
• Emotionally mature and able to remain calm in difficult situations.
• Respectful, patient and non-judgemental.
• Proactive and willing to take responsibility.
• Flexible and comfortable working across different projects.
• Able to balance compassion with clear boundaries.
• Committed to equality, inclusion and community-led working.
• Willing to learn, reflect and respond positively to supervision and feedback.

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience supporting men, fathers or male peer groups.
• Experience facilitating groups or structured activities.
• Understanding of the issues affecting men’s mental health and help-seeking.
• Knowledge of communities and services within Walsall.
• Mental Health First Aid, suicide-prevention, safeguarding or trauma-informed-practice training.
• A relevant qualification in health, education, social care, youth work, community development, counselling skills or a related subject.
• Experience collecting outcomes, feedback or monitoring information.
• A driving licence and access to transport.

Occupational requirement

The principal duties of this role involve providing direct support to men and fathers, facilitating male-only peer-support spaces and supporting sensitive discussions relating to men’s mental health, relationships, fatherhood, identity and personal experiences.

Because of the nature and context of this work, and the need to protect participants’ privacy, dignity, engagement and ability to speak openly, being male is an occupational requirement for this post.

This requirement is applied under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010.

Additional requirements

Appointment will be subject to:

• Satisfactory references.
• Evidence of the right to work in the United Kingdom.
• An appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check where the duties of the role are eligible for one.
• Completion of MindKind’s induction and mandatory training.
• Agreement to follow all MindKind policies and professional standards.

Equality and inclusion

The MindKind Projects CIC values the diversity of the communities we serve. Except for the specific occupational requirement relating to sex for this post, applicants will be considered fairly and will not be disadvantaged because of any protected characteristic.

Reasonable adjustments will be made throughout the recruitment process and employment for disabled applicants and employees.

Application:
Please email hello@themindkindprojects.com with the role in the subject line with your:

· CV (max 2 pages)
· Supporting statement (max 2 pages) showing how you meet the role requirements
· Optional (but welcome): a short video (max 2 mins) on why you want to join The MindKind Projects/MWA and what motivates you to apply for this role.

We are actively recruiting for this role and the post will close once a suitable candidate has been appointed. We therefore encourage early applications.