Senior Group Facilitator

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There's a place for you at CNWL. We're passionate about delivering first class patient centred, safe and effective care. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people. We're always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust.

Main area Senior Group Facilitator Grade NHS AfC: Band 5. Contract 3 months (Fixed Term Contract until 31/03/2026 with a possible extension). Hours: Full time - 37.5 hours per week. Job ref: 333-D-AD-0581.

Site: Arch, Old Bank House, Town Uxbridge. Salary: £35,763 - £43,466 per annum inclusive HCAS (pro rated if part time). Closing date: 19/12/:59. Interview date: 09/01/2026.

Job overview

Fixed Term Contract until 31/03/2026 with a possible extension.

The Senior Group Facilitator is a fast paced, highly rewarding, service user facing role integral to the smooth running and holistic offer of care and treatment to service users using the ARCH Hillingdon service.

You will need to be creative and possess determination to continually improve and adapt the offers of therapeutic, recovery and skill based groups in order to promote recovery and independence among our service users.

Main duties of the job

Communication and clinical responsibilities: the post holder will be responsible for the development and maintenance of facilitating groups in the context of a drug and alcohol substance misuse service. The post holder will also be responsible for completing some independent clinical work, such as initial assessments.

We are looking for a person who can use their own creative skills alongside our resources (art and craft materials, food, gardening, music, exercise and other resources) to engage service users and support them on their recovery journey. The aim of the role is to provide group interventions, using recovery principles, to improve the service users' quality of life and to support them to do the things they want to do and live the life they want to lead. The post holder will receive regular supervision by the Team Manager and opportunities for training through CNWL Learning & Development and the Recovery and Wellbeing College. Staff are also encouraged to develop their skills through reflection and learning.

Person specification Education and qualifications

• 5 GCSEs at A C

Previous experience (paid/unpaid relevant to job)

• Experience in facilitating groups and individual activities.
• Experience of working within a team.
• Experience of working with a multi cultural environment.
• Previous experience of working in a substance use setting.
• Voluntary experience.
• Provision of activities in health services.
• Teaching experience.
• Experience of facilitating groups.

Skills & knowledge

• Ability to demonstrate knowledge of personal recovery principles and values.
• Evidence of good interpersonal skills and an ability to form peer relationships with service users and carers.
• Interviewing skills.
• High level communication skills (written, verbal and IT).
• Ability to communicate on all levels and to a broad scope of individuals, both internally and externally to the Trust.
• Ability to act calmly and to respond in a professional manner to distress, disturbance and unpredictability.
• Ability to see solutions rather than problems.
• Good marketing and presentation skills.
• Ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to help empower others.
• An understanding of the needs and difficulties of people with mental health problems and other disabilities.
• Ability to work independently, flexibly, reliably and consistently with guidance.
• Ability to challenge issues in relation to stigma, low expectations and discriminatory practice in an effective manner.
• Ability to demonstrate practical skills to provide support with daily living activities.
• Emotional intelligence and reflectivity with ability to work effectively with others to bring about change in a complex and dynamic organisation.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the needs of adolescents with mental health problems.
• Working knowledge of the principles of coproduction.
• Understanding of issues related to supporting families.

Other

• A preparedness to work flexible hours through prior arrangement as the needs of the job dictate (e.g. some evenings & weekends).
• Ability to travel between locations using own or public transport.
• An ability to interact with staff from all disciplines.
• An ability to interact with people with mental health problems / disabilities.
• An ability to act calmly in emergencies and to respond in a professional manner to stressful and challenging behaviour.
• An interest in working with young people and their families using different clinical approaches.
• Car driver.

Numeracy & Literacy

• High level of written literacy and numeracy.
• IT skills including Word and PowerPoint.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users. As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working in our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.