Support Worker​/Driver - Ad hoc; Woodfuel Centre CIC

Job Purpose

To support people with mental health issues and/or learning disabilities to experience a working environment and access training/employment. To assist in the production of our products within The Woodfuel Centre and its garden area and support clients in maintaining gardening projects within the local community. To transport people from collection points to their place of work and return at the end of each day, collect goods and deliver them to customers, co‑ordinate the maintenance of our vehicles and participate in the wider work of The Woodfuel Centre and our partner organisation, Blyth Star Enterprises Limited.

Working within The Woodfuel Centre to produce wood fuel products for both retail and wholesale markets, and within the wider day and employment services with our partner organisation Blyth Star Enterprises. Assisting in the provision of support and training to enable people who may have mental health needs or who may be currently unemployed to gain skills, knowledge and confidence. To promote their independence and well‑being, supporting them to obtain or regain the skills to return to work should they choose.

Providing transport to enable people who use our services to access the various activities available. Providing a delivery service to enable the products produced within our various departments to get to market in a timely and cost‑effective manner. To assist in the monitoring and maintenance of vehicles used at The Woodfuel Centre.

• Experience in retail and dealing with the public (essential)
• Ability to operate machinery in a safe manner (essential)
• Basic ability in English and maths (essential)
• A good driving record and full driving licence including D1 (essential)
• Good eyesight and colour vision (preferable)
• Excellent practical driving skills and road safety awareness (essential)
• An enjoyment of driving (preferable)
• The ability to work alone and concentrate (essential)
• The ability to work as part of a team (essential)
• A willingness to be flexible (essential)
• Patience and a polite attitude towards other road users (essential)
• A track record of good customer interface skills (preferable)
• Good spoken and written communication skills (essential)
• A good knowledge of the delivery area (preferable)
• A reasonable level of fitness (essential)
• A basic knowledge of gardening skills to assist with and develop our gardening area and projects within the community (essential)
• The ability to complete record sheets and paperwork (essential)
• Willingness to undertake further training in health & social care as well as trade specific training (essential)
• A non‑judgmental approach to working with people who may experience mental distress (essential)
• To be able to support and encourage others to develop their own skills (essential)

• To work within an already established team, but also to work as part of a number of teams
• To work in collaboration with other professionals ensuring good lines of communication, both written and verbal, thus ensuring a multi‑professional concept of support is delivered to people who use our services
• To communicate effectively with users and carers in promoting an awareness of their individualised action plans
• To communicate with and serve members of the public as appropriate

• Supporting other members of staff in providing advice, guidance and support to people who experience mental ill health, who attend The Woodfuel Centre or its partners as either a day service or an employment training placement
• Meeting the agreed production targets
• Participating in planning and review meetings with Care Managers or other official representatives of funding agencies as appropriate
• Dealing appropriately with customers and members of the public
• Collecting goods from the appropriate department
• Using a forklift truck to load deliveries as appropriate
• Using a forklift truck within The Woodfuel Centre for moving supplies etc.
• Loading the vehicle to match the delivery route
• Planning the route to make sure deliveries are made on time
• Unloading goods at the right addresses
• Collecting signatures and giving…