Call for Applications: Mental Health Professional in Residence, Sefton Libraries.

Call for Applications:

Mental Health Professional in Residence, Sefton Libraries 

We’re looking for a qualified mental health professional to work with us on an 18-month Arts Council England funded action research project exploring how libraries can better support community wellbeing. You’ll help us to understand what’s already working, strengthen our approach, and co-design a new strand of work on men’s mental health.

You might be an OT, counsellor or similar, with experience outside clinical settings and a real interest in early intervention and prevention, creativity and community. You’ll work alongside librarians, artists and local partners to build confidence, share insight, evaluate and shape practice.

Freelance contract @ 75 days/1 day per week    Fee £15,000

Submit your application by: Friday 28 November, 6pm.

Introduction 

Health & Wellbeing is one of the core Universal Library Offers, alongside Reading, Culture and Creativity, Information and Digital, and Children and Young People. Sefton Libraries deliver this offer locally, recognising libraries as trusted civic spaces where people can access information, activities and connections that support their mental health and wellbeing.

We are about to begin an action research project that is designed to increase our impact in Early Intervention and Prevention,  responding to priority areas identified with partners and local residents: perinatal mental health, men’s mental health, and bereavement support.

Sefton Libraries already deliver a wide range of non-clinical health and wellbeing activity, including:

• Grief Gatherings supporting people experiencing loss.
• Weekly creative  play sessions for families with babies and toddlers, with strong impact on maternal wellbeing.
• Nature-based activity such as gardening clubs, forest bathing, and beekeeping in library gardens.
• Movement for wellbeing
• Shared Reading sessions and bibliotherapy collections helping people process experience through books and discussion. 

This role will help us to evaluate and strengthen the mental health value of this existing work, and co-design and pilot a dedicated strand of activity to support men’s mental health.

Scope of Work

Assessment and Evaluation

• Review our existing library activity and its contribution to mental health outcomes.
• Consult with staff, partners and community members; observe sessions.
• Produce recommendations for strengthening outcomes and improving delivery.
• Feed into programme evaluation, contributing evidence, case studies and reflective notes.
• Produce a short paper at the end of the project, summarising learning for libraries and partners.

Men’s Mental Health

• Work with staff, volunteers, partners and people with lived experience to co-design a men’s mental health programme of activity.
• Support delivery of this strand, ensuring safe, inclusive practice

Support and Capacity Building

• Contribute to reflective practice sessions for library staff and artist, and help the team to build confidence in supporting community wellbeing within their role.
• Share signposting information and simple self-help tools and guidance that can be sustained beyond the project.

Person Specification

This opportunity will suit a qualified mental health professional who is collaborative, reflective and community-minded. You may be an OT, counsellor or similar, with experience outside strictly clinical settings. You will be curious about how everyday places support mental health, confident in your professional grounding, and motivated to work alongside staff, artists and partners to build safe, inclusive practice.

Essential

• Recognised mental health qualification (eg Occupational Therapy, counselling, psychology, or similar relevant qualification).
• Demonstrable experience in community-based mental health work.
• Understanding of non-clinical preventative and early-intervention approaches.
• Understanding of co-production methods and ability to work collaboratively with staff and participants.
• Experience of partnership working with health and community organisations.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience of delivering men’s mental health work.
• Familiarity with action research or evaluation in community health settings.

To Apply

Interested freelance practitioners (or organisations/secondments) should submit:

• A short expression of interest outlining relevant qualifications, experience and approach (max. 2 pages).
• A CV or other evidence of track record
• Names of two people from whom we may request a reference.

For the attention of Lesley Davies: Lesley.Davies@sefton.gov.uk

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: Friday 28th November 6pm

Interviews will be offered:  9th and 12th December

We welcome applications from all backgrounds including people who experience racism, D/deaf and Disabled people, people who identify as being LGBTQIA+ and others of any age who share our values of inclusivity and access. We recruit using Access First and Positive Action principles. 

We want to make our application process as accessible as possible.  

If you have any particular access requirements or if you need these details in a different format please email hello@ruleofthrees.co.uk and we will do everything possible to assist you. If you have any questions about the role or would like an informal chat about applying, please also contact us on this address.

Further Information for Applicants

The Mental Health Worker in Residence will be contracted by Sefton Libraries and work as part of a multidisciplinary project team, working alongside librarians, artists, producers and partners. 

They will report to the Libraries Development Manager/Project Manager.

They will work flexibly in our libraries, with a desk space provided at Crosby Library. Some remote working is possible. Days can be arranged flexibly, with the expectation of a regular presence in our libraries.

The contract fee is up to £15,000 inclusive of travel.  Reasonable agreed project-related expenses will be reimbursed separately in line with Sefton Council policy. A budget for activities is available and will be managed by the Project Manager.

This is not a counselling role and the focus is on advisory, evaluative and co-development work, with light-touch wellbeing support for staff through reflection and signposting. Applicants should ensure they have appropriate ongoing professional supervision through their own professional body. Sefton Libraries’ safeguarding policies and procedures will apply to all activity

More about us

Sefton Libraries is a contemporary library service whose delivery goes “beyond the book”, delivering varied community engagement & support. We provide a comprehensive Library & Information Service in Sefton’s 6 townships, attracting 54k active users & over 800k visits per year. Through an offer which is bespoke to the needs of our local communities, in areas of highest deprivation & low arts engagement, from Bootle’s docklands to the seaside town of Southport, we play a key role in making Sefton a healthier, safer, socially & economically better place to live. Guided by Libraries Connected Universal offers, & through ambitious reader development & heritage projects, we create quality interactions that support the most vulnerable, & facilitate confident, resilient communities, instilling a sense of place that encourages local pride. 

Rule of Threes Arts is a community arts organisation that brings together “local wisdom & radical practice” to increase public enjoyment of the arts, support communities to express themselves & build stronger community bonds through socially-engaged artistic work of the highest quality. Working with extraordinary artists locally, nationally & internationally, we are recognised as a trusted cultural partner.  

Together we produce a programme of creative and cultural events called  At The Library. 

Our shared mission is to increase access, ambition, cohesion & wellbeing through ambitious arts programmes in Sefton Libraries. Our work together has transformed perceptions, proving that the library can be creative, innovative & relevant, responsive, risk-taking & surprising.  

We support artists to make their best work in ways that improve local outcomes & help people recognise their creative potential, overcome barriers to access & actively participate in cultural life. 

You can find out more here:  https://www.atthelibrary.co.uk/

and here https://www.instagram.com/seftonlibraries/

This role and the programme it supports is funded by Arts Council England