Cooking Support Volunteer

Job description

Job summary

Russell Clinic is our rehabilitation and recovery ward in Exeter, providing intensive treatment to help people recover from an episode of severe mental illness. Our focus is on assisting people with complex psychosis in their journey towards recovery, using a wide range of rehabilitation resources.

Our aim is to help patients with all aspects of their recovery, including their mental, emotional and psychological wellbeing, physical health, daily activities and vocational rehabilitation.

We strongly believe in working collaboratively with patients to help them build a meaningful and satisfying life.

A member of staff leads a daily cooking class while patients take on various prep, cooking, and clean-up tasks in a kitchen environment. Your role will be to support patients in their various tasks, building up their skills and confidence by assisting where necessary. Jointly with our staff, you will supervise the kitchen and cooking progress of all participants and contribute to a positive community feeling while our patients learn how to cook and use a kitchen.

Our patients can either join guided cooking club sessions or cook individually with 1-1 staff supervision. They can be withdrawn, struggle with task initiation, and struggle to take initiative, so we need enthusiastic, compassionate volunteers who are comfortable making conversation and have the patience to support quieter individuals to join in and be present in the activity.

Main duties of the job

• Join in with the cooking activity so patients dont feel overlooked.
• Ensure all participants are engaged in some ways and be ready to prompt people into action.
• Assist patients with their task when they look stuck or unsure empower them to do it rather than doing it for them.
• Notify the leading staff member of any challenges.
• Engage participants in conversation/socially where appropriate.
• Feed back to staff how the session went from your perspective.
• Support kitchen clean-up.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Job description

Job responsibilities

• Join in with the cooking activity so patients dont feel overlooked.
• Ensure all participants are engaged in some ways and be ready to prompt people into action.
• Assist patients with their task when they look stuck or unsure empower them to do it rather than doing it for them.
• Notify the leading staff member of any challenges.
• Engage participants in conversation/socially where appropriate.
• Feed back to staff how the session went from your perspective.
• Support kitchen clean-up.

Job description
Job responsibilities

• Join in with the cooking activity so patients dont feel overlooked.
• Ensure all participants are engaged in some ways and be ready to prompt people into action.
• Assist patients with their task when they look stuck or unsure empower them to do it rather than doing it for them.
• Notify the leading staff member of any challenges.
• Engage participants in conversation/socially where appropriate.
• Feed back to staff how the session went from your perspective.
• Support kitchen clean-up.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Confident kitchen user who is comfortable with basic cooking techniques that the average person would use to feed themselves.
• Great communication skills, including with individuals who may hesitate to participate.
• Patient, compassionate, and encouraging demeanour.
• Reliability and willingness to follow guidance.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
• Know own boundaries and maintain boundaries with patients as instructed. Seek information and support from ward staff where required.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a kitchen or a proficient hobby cook.
• Good knowledge around nutrition (health).
• Creative in the use of basic, accessible ingredients to make meals.

Person Specification
Experience

Essential

• Confident kitchen user who is comfortable with basic cooking techniques that the average person would use to feed themselves.
• Great communication skills, including with individuals who may hesitate to participate.
• Patient, compassionate, and encouraging demeanour.
• Reliability and willingness to follow guidance.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality.
• Know own boundaries and maintain boundaries with patients as instructed. Seek information and support from ward staff where required.

Desirable

• Previous experience in a kitchen or a proficient hobby cook.
• Good knowledge around nutrition (health).
• Creative in the use of basic, accessible ingredients to make meals.

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Address

Russell Clinic

Wonford House

Dryden Road

Exeter

Devon

EX2 5AF

United Kingdom

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