At Help for Heroes, we believe those who serve our country deserve support when they are wounded. Every day, men and women have to leave their career in the Armed Forces as a result of physical or psychological wounds; their lives changed forever. We help them, and those still serving, to recover and get on with their lives.
And who are we you’re wondering? We are experts and beginners. Generalists and specialists. Ordinary people with an extraordinary passion towards making a positive change to the lives of our veterans (and having fun while doing it).
As One Team we share a philosophy – I.C.A.R.E. It’s the way we walk and talk, the way we interact with others and how we approach everything we do. We are: Innovative – Collaborative – Authentic – Resourceful – Energetic.
We have an incredible opportunity for a Sport Practitioner, based within the South region, to join our Sport, Activity & Fellowship Team. Please see below for more information on what just might be your future role. This is a community delivery and field-based position with an element of home working and travel across the following regions:
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Greater London, Surrey, Berkshire, Wiltshire, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, Dorset, Kent, Isle of Wight
Job Purpose
- Working within the wider Recovery Activities Team, and with the guidance of the Activity and Wellbeing Lead, you will facilitate the delivery of multi-sports programmes for veterans living with injury, disability or health conditions. These programmes will offer quality sporting opportunities through which veterans can meet their personal recovery goals. By contributing to individual ability to build and maintain good levels of health, fitness and overall wellbeing, the role will help sustain recovery goals and support quality of life within the communities in which veterans live.
- Using an asset, strengths-based approach, the Activity and Wellbeing Practitioner will nurture and harness the veteran’s confidence, competence, skills and knowledge by continuously promoting interest, participation and where desired, performance in sport, as a tool for individual recovery and wellness.
Accountabilities
- Accountable for the delivery of safe and effective programmes. The role forms part of the Sport, Activity and Fellowship Community function within the Recovery directorate, with overall leadership provided by the Head of Service
- Utilising the power of sport, the post holder will be responsible for ensuring the most positive beneficiary experience, within the resources available, with particular attention to accessibility of services and adaptive sport to support achievement of the charity’s ‘fair deal’ outcomes; being physically and mentally well, feeling connected (safe and secure) and leading a productive life.
- Responsible for developing opportunities with local, regional and national partners to widen the delivery of sporting activity bespoke to localities and veteran needs. Opportunities involving the wider community will complement this work.
- Post holder will ensure Sports recovery activities will be available for those with an identified recovery need where sport can be part of the solution. This might involve the veteran taking part in sport for a range of focused purposes including; recreation and social interaction with peers and family members, competing at different levels, returning to fitness and/or improving skills. Staff will work to empower veterans to actively participate in managing their own recovery.
- The post holder will work cross functionally.
Main Responsibilities
- To identify, coordinate, facilitate and promote sports, recreational and health-initiated activities that directly support an individual’s recovery and/or their return to an active and independent life, as far as possible.
- Develop menus of quality assured and standardized opportunities with wide reach, offering pathways for further engagement, skills development, regional and national competition, linking to community clubs and local sporting opportunities.
- Continually work to improve participation in sports for recovery, developing provision in a wide range of localities including community venues and digital channels.
- To enhance inclusivity within sports recovery activities, ensuring beneficiaries with disabilities and circumstances making it harder to access opportunities, are more aware of, and able to, access opportunities available to them.
- Extend the reach of provision, for example using outreach and community hubs where available, actively seeking out to new beneficiaries in new localities and those hardest to reach.
- Removing barriers to participation, promoting personal, social and community development within sports recovery for beneficiaries, providing relevant regional offers in tandem with wider community sports offers.
- Provide timely and accurate sports recovery information to veterans, promoting informed recovery choices and aspiration achievement.
- Develop and maintain constructive professional relationships within Help for Heroes Recovery services, the wider charity, across all sectors and other relevant agencies in order to deliver a programme of activities, ranging from grass roots to performance based.
- Attend a range of meetings, networks and community groups to co-ordinate ideas and effective partnership working with sports clubs, local service providers, facility operators, National Governing Bodies, Local Authorities and relevant sector agencies.
- Undertake on the ground research to support the development of services and evidence of need
- Ensuring risk assessment and quality management protocols are followed, with support from the Activity and Wellbeing Lead and the National Sports Recovery Manager.
- Adhering to governance principles, best practice, benchmarking and legal requirements to maintain safe working practices.
- Where appropriate, work with National Governing Bodies for specific sports in relation to Help for Heroes clubs and in support of our regional and national events.
- Monitor, record and collate evidence on the impact of sports activities on recovery journeys.
- Recognising the needs and complexity of some beneficiaries, work within safeguarding and case management informed practice, making internal referrals when appropriate
- Participate in the development of MDT meetings and case conferencing where needed
- Support for Help for Heroes authorised volunteers and peer facilitators involved in Sports Recovery activities.
- Support activities and events, encouraging wider family members to be involved where appropriate.
Essential Qualifications
- A range of relevant NGB sporting/coaching and/or outdoor educational qualifications – Level 3
- Current First Aid Certificate, including defibrillator training, (charity would support if needed)
Essential Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Proven track record in the delivery of safe and effective sports activities to improve general health, develop physical fitness and to achieve recovery outcomes.
- Ability to communicate effectively (empathise) with wounded, injured and sick service users and their families,
- Ability to liaise with beneficiaries and a wide range of internal and external contacts, and cross sector organisations to increase opportunities and positive outcomes for beneficiaries
- An effective decision maker employing good reasoning and judgement skills, capable of taking independent action when undertaking duties remotely from others and reporting back to the Activity and Wellbeing Regional Lead and others as required.
- Initiative and creativity to contribute to the development of a quality, sustainable service offer.
- Competent in the use of computers, particularly, Microsoft Office 365 and Teams
- Front facing direct delivery
- Sector experience – sports/charity/military
- Ability to work effectively as part of a dispersed team
Desirable Knowledge, Skills & Experience
- Understanding of the Recovery ethos
- Demonstrable knowledge and experience in the use and delivery of sport and outdoor education to achieve recovery progression and quality of life outcomes.
- Experience in the facilitation and delivery of activities and Disability Sports
- Experience of facilitating beneficiary involvement and co- production
- D1E Drivers Licence
Key Competencies & Behaviours
- Demonstrates the ability to build rapport quickly
- Displays a positive, empathetic, patient, polite and friendly manner
- Understanding of professional boundaries and how these shape effective working relationships with beneficiaries
- Practical understanding of the safeguarding needs of beneficiaries
- Manages challenging situations in a calm and appropriate manner, even when under pressure
- Displays the highest levels of integrity, confidentiality and commitment, understands levels of accountability
- Well organised, responds quickly to changing demands and demonstrates strong skills in prioritisation and time management
- Work within a range of environments, locations and working cultures, adapting personal style accordingly
- Capable of delivering activities with minimal direction
- Attention to quality and detail in all aspects of work
- Demonstrates an ability to work as part of a team and be a flexible team player
- Demonstrates self-motivation
- Communicate in a professional and friendly manner
- An ability to inspire and convey the power of sport
- A capacity to be innovative in working with others
- A capacity to embrace the organisation ethos and the process of recovery and move on progression
- Flexible regards hours of work, including routine out of hours/ evening and occasional weekends in line with beneficiary needs and the charity’s relevant policies
- There is frequent contact with agencies and groups across the region. Therefore, travel within a working day is to be expected. Absence from home overnight is unlikely but may be required on occasion.
For more information and to apply please go to:
