Service Coordinator – Safe Spaces (Maternity Cover)

Role Background

Safe Spaces is an innovative, all-age, crisis alternative service, delivered through a unique partnership between BDC Mind and The Cellar Trust and funded by the NHS. We’re here 365 days a year, from 12pm to 2:30am, offering vital support to people across Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven. 

Our mission is simple but powerful: to provide safe, welcoming, non-clinical spaces where people in emotional distress can feel heard, supported, and guided to the next step. Whether it’s through one-to-one support or open-access crisis cafés, we help people feel grounded in moments of crisis—and connected to the right ongoing care.

Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We work closely with trusted partners to deliver support in local communities, and with key services such as NHS crisis teams, hospitals, police and the local authority. Together, we’re building a compassionate, joined-up response to mental health crisis, and playing a vital role in Bradford District and Craven’s Healthy Minds Strategy.

Role Purpose

You will lead a team of Crisis Support Workers to ensure the effective running of the Safe Spaces service. You will also deliver one-to-one crisis support to clients face to face or over the telephone. Safe Spaces is a non-clinical, supportive environment designed to help people in crisis stay safe, work through and understand their feelings, and then help them to access the support they need going forward.​

Service Coordinators are essential for the effectiveness of our service, as they play a pivotal role supervising, inspiring, and connecting with our crisis support workers to ensure the optimal support for our clients.

Role Outcomes

• Provide day to day supervision and support of Crisis Support Workers and relief workers, and ensure the effective running of the service.​
• Lead and manage shifts, including effective handovers, organising rotas/covering absences, lead team meetings and taking responsibility for safeguarding, health and safety and ensuring that organisational policies and procedures are followed and escalated appropriately
• Support the Service Lead in a range of duties including the management of safeguarding concerns, interviewing, reporting, client feedback & engagement, auditing records and any other duties deemed appropriate.
• Assist in risk assessments with multi-disciplinary staff, highlighting any changes in clients’ presentation relevant to their safety plan and feedback accordingly
• Deliver one to one support sessions (face to face, phone, video, instant messaging) to people in mental health crisis in a recovery-focused and person-centered way, including making onward referrals where appropriate
• Manage referrals and book appointments
• Ensure accurate records are kept in a timely manner of all contacts on MYMUP (client management system)​
• Provide mentoring support to colleagues by sharing experience and knowledge gained​
• Commit to training and self-development and to undertake any training required to carry out the duties of the post.​
• Work in accordance with all relevant organisational policies and procedures.
• Perform any other duties relevant to the post, taking a flexible, team-based approach to the role.

Person Specification

BDC Mind is committed to promoting mental health awareness, reducing stigma, and improving the quality of life for people with mental health challenges. We value diversity, inclusion and lived experiences when recruiting our staff and volunteers.

Qualifications

Essential:

• A level 3 or above qualification in a relevant field OR at least 2 years relevant experience

Experience

Essential:

• Experience of working with children, young people or adults in a health, social care or any other relevant setting
• Experience of supporting people in a clear, meaningful and non-judgemental way either via telephone or in person
• Experienced and confident in managing challenging situations and recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns.

Skills and Abilities

Essential:

• Excellent proven communication and organisational skills, including an ability to encourage and engage people in ways to make positive changes in their lives.
• Excellent IT skills, including use of Microsoft Packages
• Ability to work as part of a team and work alone and use own initiative
• Ability to gather relevant information to support and assess risks

Knowledge

Essential:

• Understanding of the key issues within mental health, and the potential challenges that people may face
• Knowledge of other relevant health & social care organisations across the Bradford District & Craven
• Knowledge of risk management and health and safety issues
• Understanding of safeguarding and good practice
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection

Attitude and Personal Attributes 

Essential:

• Healthy and secure personal boundaries
• Committed, passionate and flexible with a can do attitude
• Commitment to supporting people in a person-centred and non-judgemental way
• Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Understanding of and commitment to Mind in Bradford values.

​Other

• Ability and willingness to travel across the district if required