Parents and Communities Together (PACT)

PACT is a pioneering early intervention community organising project that started in Camberwell and Walworth in 2013 to support maternal mental health and early years development. We run a variety of weekly groups that provide a fun space for babies/under 5’s to play and a safe environment for parents to build a network of support, learn together and share their experiences.

PACT’s priority goals:

• To improve parental mental health and wellbeing of families

• Develop authentic parent leaders and experts with lived experience so that we strengthen and promote a parent-led model of working

• Improve access to services and support for PACT families to push for better life outcomes

• Develop financial resilience, stability, and sustainability for PACT

See our website for more information: www.pact-citizens.org

Purpose

South London Listens (SLL) was a collaboration between South London Citizens, PACT, local authorities, and Mental Health Trusts and involved listening to over 6000 people throughout the pandemic to help prevent a mental ill-health crisis.  It resulted in commitments on four priority areas including parental mental health.

The role of the Parent Organiser is to develop, co-produce and deliver a 12-month pilot project training Parent Leaders who can support the wellbeing and mental health of other parents in their communities. The Parent Organiser will develop and mentor a group of Parent Experts who can support the design and delivery of a course on parent-lead approaches to mental health support in the community. Parent Experts will support other institutions and community groups to develop and run parent groups with a focus on relationship-building and peer support. The role will work with parents from PACT, Parent Power, South London Citizens member institutions and other organisations.

Key Responsibilities

• Co-produce a Parent Leader training course and materials

• Market and recruit parents to participate in the training from PACT, Parent Power, South London Citizens member institutions and other organisations in Southwark

• Deliver the parent leadership training to at least 30 parents

• Provide relevant materials, information, and tools for Parent Leaders to offer peer support

• Provide regular mentoring opportunities for Parent Leaders

• Identify and harness the passion, skill, and interests of parents around the issue of mental health to develop them as leaders to take action and engage in the Parent Leadership training

• Support the spread and replication of the PACT models of working with parents to benefit families further afield

• Listen to parents’ experiences and in partnership with South London Citizens enable those parents to help lead on change on areas of injustice

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will be passionate about parental mental health, proactive and flexible with excellent communication skills and the ability to engage diverse members of the community and coordinate projects.

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential

Qualifications

• Evidence of further and continuing study including a possible professional qualification (D)

Experience

• Relevant lived experience (D)

• Track record of successful community organising (E)

• Experience of setting up and coordinating a project (E)

• Experience of developing the leadership and skills of project participants (E)

• Experience co-producing projects (D)

Key Skills and Knowledge

• Able to run workshops and develop people (E)

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E)

• Ability to inspire, motivate and lead people from diverse backgrounds (E)

• Proficient in use of MS Office package (E)

• Able to collect info\data and write reports (E)

• Able to work independently and as part of a team (E)

• Ability to speak other languages (D)

Approach

• A passion for working with families of young children from and across different cultures

• A passion for organising people to make change and make a positive contribution within their communities (E)

• A passion for justice (E)

• Enjoys working in dynamic and diverse teams (E)

• Willingness to work within accountable relationships (E)

• Self-motivated and adaptable (E)

Parents are at the heart of all our PACT activities and as such this is a role that could fit around family and childcare commitments. The job holder needs some flexibility in their working hours as some activities may take place in evenings and/or weekends.

Citizens UK is committed to being an inclusive employer. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates to represent the communities we work in. 

Interviews will be held on 7th February between 9.30 - 3.00

Contact and Information

If you have any questions or would like to book a brief conversation about the role please contact layla.meerloo@citizensuk.org