Job summary
- Main area
- North Kent Directorate, Community MH Services - Recovery College
- Grade
- Band 3
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (The post will cover Canterbury and Thanet localities)
- Hours
- Part time - 7.5 hours per week (working days to be agreed with successful applicant)
- Job ref
- 380-NK198
- Employer
- Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Post available covers Canterbury and Thanet
- Town
- Post available covers Canterbury and Thanet
- Salary
- £24,625 - £25,674 per annum pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/05/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Recovery College Facilitator
Band 3
The CQC rates us as an Outstanding organisation for Caring with an overall rating of Good
Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) offer a range of ongoing benefits to our valued workforce across the Trust. From an active health and wellbeing programme to regular recognition events, we work hard to provide varied benefits that make a difference to your work-life balance.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you.
Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
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Job overview
Band 3 Facilitator - Recovery College - Canterbury and Thanet locality Post
7.5hrs/week
The Recovery & Wellbeing College provides health & wellbeing related educational courses, free of charge, in supportive and accessible learning environments. Through safe and welcoming learning spaces, we can make sense of our own experiences and learn how to take care of ourselves and others. By recognising everyone’s resourcefulness, talents and skills people become experts in their own health & wellbeing, make informed choices and move forward with what matters most to them in their life.
Recovery College activities across Kent & Medway are now a fundamental and vital part of the Mental Health System. Hence we are recruiting to these Facilitator positions in order to increase capacity and diversity in Recovery College learning activities.
You can find out more about our Recovery College work here https://www.kmpt.nhs.uk/about-us/recovery-and-wellbeing-college/
Please read through the full job description and person specification to see if this role is a good fit with your skills, knowledge, experience and aspirations.
Main duties of the job
This role broadly involves;
- Co-facilitating Recovery College courses and workshops for Recovery College Students to support them in their own recovery and in relation to their own aspirations.
- To bring empathy and understanding into all interactions with Recovery College Students by sharing lived experience, empathy, compassion and hope.
- To model /mentor a recovery process and demonstrate coping skills, empowering Recovery College Students to actively participate in their own recovery journey.
- To provide health and wellbeing learning experiences which empower individuals in managing their own health & wellbeing. This may include understanding specific diagnoses, making sense of personal experiences, connecting with others in positive ways, self-care, creativity, healthy eating, resilience, employment aspirations, life goals and leisure pursuits.
- To embed Recovery values and strengths based language in all aspects of Recovery College provision.
- To provide opportunities for individual Recovery College Students to direct their own recovery journey, via virtual learning spaces online.
For more information, please contact Robyn Stratton on 07557 485148
Working for our organisation
Come and work with us in the Garden of England where we combine exceptional professional development opportunities with a tremendous quality of life.
We are Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT), providing mental health, learning disability and specialist services, serving 1.8 million people in Kent and Medway, as well as specialist services for adults in Sussex and Surrey. We are rated Good overall by the CQC.
Each year we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 people in the community.
We are proud to employ over 3,800 people from 66 nationalities, and to serve an increasingly diverse range of communities across rural and urban areas.
You will be joining friendly, passionate colleagues, rich in their diversity, who are committed to providing excellent care to our service users and their loved ones.
The nature of our work attracts kindness and compassion as standard and everyone from our cleaners and porters to the chief executive and chairman are recognised as playing a vital role in providing an exemplary service.
Our strategy
Our mission is what we set out to do every day
We deliver brilliant care through brilliant people
Our vision is where we want to be in the future
To provide outstanding care and to work in partnership to deliver this in the right place, for every service user, every time.
Check out our recruitment videos Recruitment - YouTube
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The main purpose of this role is to co-design and co-facilitate Recovery College (RC) workshops and courses, in safe learning spaces and via strengths based approaches in community venues.
By promoting meaningful activity and sharing lived expertise, facilitators enable Recovery College students to connect, make sense of their own experiences and recognise their own strengths and skills.
Facilitators provide new opportunities for RC students to identify aspects of life that give meaning, hope, value and purpose.
Facilitators recognise that each individual’s recovery journey is unique and deeply personal process and therefore RC students will each have knowledge, skills and experience.
This shared learning environment will enrich the content of workshops and courses and the experience of those present.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
- Co-facilitating Recovery College courses and workshops for Recovery College Students and supporting them in their own recovery and in relation to their own aspirations as part of the multi-disciplinary team.
- To bring empathy and understanding into all interactions with Recovery College Students by sharing lived experience, empathy, compassion and hope.
- To model /mentor a recovery process and demonstrate coping skills, empowering Recovery College Students to actively participate in their own recovery journey.
- To provide health and wellbeing learning spaces to empower individuals in managing their own mental health. This may include understanding specific diagnoses, making sense of personal experiences, connecting with others in positive ways, self-care, creativity, healthy eating, resilience, employment aspirations, life goals and leisure pursuits.
- To embed Recovery values and strengths based language in all aspects of Recovery College provision.
- To provide opportunities for individual Recovery College Students to direct their own recovery journey, via face to face provision, virtual learning, or a mix of both.
- To positively promote recovery by making links with community resources and supporting Recovery College Students to access them e.g. in relation to training, education, employment, community living and leisure etc.
- To support the team in promoting the role of Recovery College and to raise awareness of what recovery means, contributing to any local & national research and evaluation of this work.
- Developing a range of relevant skills including sharing own personal recovery experience in courses and workshops, to give hope and support Recovery College Students in their recovery.
- To adopt a flexible and participative approach to innovation and change within the team.
- To maintain confidentiality at all times in line with Trust policy and adhere to Trust and Partnership Organisation/Venue Statutory Health & Safety requirements.
- To assist in providing a safe and caring learning environment.
- To maintain and update training as required. To undertake any other duties as may be assigned or delegated from the line manager or other senior KMPT staff.
RESPONSIBILITY:
Disciplines
Act as a positive role model for colleagues and others in relation to professional and personal conduct and practice at all times.
Recovery College Students
- To establish and maintain effective liaison/communication with Recovery College Students, ensuring that Recovery College Student’s feedback indicates the service is responsive to their needs and is a positive experience.
- Support individuals within the service to engage in community activities and supportive, strengths based learning opportunities.
Recovery College Team
- To contribute to the safe and effective function of Recovery College.
- Undertake team based responsibilities and team roles, including active involvement during times of service development and improvement.
- Actively participate in team meetings, operational reviews and reflective practice.
- Implement policies and procedures as directed by the trust/service director.
- Ensure that any activities undertaken are delivered as planned and in accordance with health and safety legislation and local policies and protocols.
Partnership Organisations & Venues
- To liaise directly with representatives of any local venues used and ensure positive and professional relationships and communications are maintained at all times.
ENVIRONMENT:
- On a weekly basis provide health & wellbeing learning facilitation, either in local venues, virtually or a mixture of both.
- Support and encourage independence, individual learning journeys and personal insight and understanding.
- Facilitate and co-facilitate health & wellbeing courses and workshops as required.
- Participate in regular supervision with line manager.
- Support Recovery College learning support volunteers.
- Participate and contribute within team meetings, personal supervision, individual yearly appraisal and the setting of personal development goals within the job.
- Provide accurate and up-to-date oral/written reports on the Recovery College provision (attendance etc) when required.
- Undertake all mandatory and additional training as identified by line manager.
- Access and update all KMPT employee systems as required.
- Communicate in a professional and appropriate way at all times with all stakeholders via all platforms (email, text, phone, social media)
KNOWLEDGE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
(See Person Spec for additional Details)
Essential
- BTec/City &Guilds/NVQ level 2 in health and social care OR equivalent experience with evidence of transferable skills.
- Knowledge, experience and understanding of Recovery College practice and ethos.
- Knowledge, experience and understanding of the value of meaningful co-production.
- Lived/Close relational experience of health challenges/diagnoses/service use and willingness to constructively share own experiences when appropriate.
- Experience of working with people who are experiencing health challenges.
- Good written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable
- Teaching/Facilitating qualification.
- Experience in the use of Virtual Learning Spaces (Zoom/Microsoft Teams etc)
- Ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner via own transport/public transport.
- Good IT skills, including WORD, Outlook, Powerpoint and the ability to use KMPT tech based systems.
Job Requirements
- Demonstrate an ability to work as a team member as well as autonomously.
- Working with a diverse team, recovery college students and external partnership groups and stakeholders.
- Balancing all aspects of the job role.
- Being flexible and responsive to competing demands.
- Engage in planning meetings/discussions to negotiate a balanced facilitation role, which supports you as a team member, as well as providing a high quality service.
Personal Qualities
- Highly motivated, progressive, innovative, respectful, open, team player, solution focussed and a willingness to make a positive difference to the experience of others.
- Flexibility to change, adapt and innovate.
JOB SUMMARY:
The post holder will work within a multi-disciplinary team to facilitate learning to support Recovery College Students in their own recovery journey. The post holder will need to be flexible and adaptable whilst focusing on recovery and a nurturing, strengths based educational approach to service delivery.
This role will require an individual who is passionate about providing the highest standard of Recovery College provision, can demonstrate empathy and hope through sharing their own lived experience, whilst appreciating the unique perspective and context of other people’s journeys too.
COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
The post holder will work with the Recovery College team, as well as working with other agencies, specifically in relation to Recovery College delivery. The post holder will be expected to develop and maintain excellent working relationships.
Please see job description for full details.
Person specification
Knowledge & Skills
Essential criteria
- BTec/City &Guilds/NVQ level 2 in health and social care OR equivalent experience with evidence of transferable skills.
- Comprehensive understanding of and commitment to recovery ethos and self-management principles
- Ability to teach and facilitate subjects related to recovery and self-management
- Ability to use own lived experience/close relational experience constructively and appropriately in the development and facilitation of courses
Desirable criteria
- IT Skills, word, powerpoint, outlook
- Ability to travel to various locations via own transport or public transport
- Facilitator Training and/or education provision qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Personal/close relational experience of health & wellbeing recovery
- Current experience and evidence of using lived/close relational experience in a work/voluntary capacity
Desirable criteria
- Working in 3rd Sector and/or health & wellbeing provider organisations
- Working in an educational establishment/ organisation
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Robyn Stratton
- Job title
- Operational Lead for Recovery College
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 07557485148
- Additional information
You can find out more information about Recovery College via our webpage (link above).
You are encouraged to attend one of our Introduction to Recovery College Sessions and you are also welcome to enrol and attend any courses where we have spaces. This will help you to gain a good understanding of Recovery College and may help you in your application and interview if you are shortlisted.
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