Outdoor Learning Coordinator: Adult Groups

About Susan's Farm

Susan’s Farm is a small educational charity running day services for adults, young people and children through an organic livestock farm near Carlisle, Cumbria. Our vision is that people’s lives are transformed by working together in purposeful outdoor activity so they can reach their full potential. We run educational visits for schools, an alternative provision service for young people who struggle with secondary school, and group sessions for adults. Our livestock consists of a small herd of Longhorn cattle, a flock of sheep, chickens, and two farm cats. We are certified organic to Soil Association standards, and sell our own organic beef and lamb, and organic produce from other local suppliers direct to customers.

Purpose of Role

We are looking for an Outdoor Learning Coordinator to join the team, to deliver our day service for adults who have learning disabilities / difficulties, mental health problems, addiction issues or who are neurodiverse. We currently offer group sessions three days a week, with some people attending twice a week. Full day sessions run from 9am-3pm and include a shared lunch. Our service is open-ended, several people have attended for over a decade and others have returned after a break. Some service users attend with a support worker. Activities include: helping with farming tasks and interacting with animals; walks and time outdoors exploring different habitats; arts, crafts and cooking. Most service users pay for sessions, and grant funding covers additional costs.

Salary and benefits: £29,835 FTE (£18,697 pro rata). 3% employer pension contribution. 32 days annual leave including bank holidays (20 days pro rata).

Hours: 23.5 hours per week (current working pattern is Tuesday, Thursday, Friday) Some flexibility over hours is possible.

Job description

Group work

• Create and deliver a programme of farming and nature-based activities appropriate to service users' abilities and interests, across both our sites.
• Build relationships with, and understand the individual goals, preferences and needs of service users.
• Ensure all service users are engaged and involved in activities.
• Listen to, and proactively engage in conversation with service users, including at lunchtimes.
• Collect feedback from service users to inform the development of the service, and for use in funding applications. Take appropriate photographs of activities.
• Cover other team members' sessions when required.
• Prepare equipment and spaces as required for sessions.

Safeguarding and health & safety

• Report all safeguarding issues in line with organisational policies.
• Ensure individual risk assessments for service users are up-to-date and implemented.
• Follow organisational risk assessments and health & safety policies at all times.
• Carry out dynamic risk assessments and adapt sessions to individual circumstances / weather conditions etc.
• Ensure service users are wearing appropriate clothing, have appropriate equipment, and that the Farm Cook is aware of their dietary requirements.

Marketing, liaison and administration

• Maintain telephone contact with service users and their families / carers around the timing of sessions, holidays etc.
• Liaise with the Administrator to ensure invoices are issued.
• Maintain service user numbers by promoting the service to other charities, social services, colleges etc.
• Process referrals to the service, completing appropriate paperwork and contributing to an ongoing, positive relationship between Susan's Farm and referrers.
• Maintain up-to-date records and registers on an online system.
• Work alongside occasional volunteers, occupational therapy students and others who are on placement in the service.
• Support the preparation of funding applications.

Site maintenance and farming support

• Contribute to keeping indoor and outdoor areas clean, tidy and secure (put away equipment, sweep floors and paths, load dishwasher, lock up etc.)
• Work with the Farming Lead to identify and organise appropriate farming tasks for groups.
• With groups or individually as required:
• Feed cats and chickens, clean out chicken shed when needed, collect and box eggs
• Walk through livestock at both sites to check the health of sheep and cattle
• In winter, feed cattle and sheep at both sites.