Reports To: Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Team Leader

Direct Reports: Volunteers

Location: Community venues across Hampshire and Southampton (locality-based deployment to minimise travel)

Hours: 24 or 30 hours per week

Salary: 26,905 to £29,560 per annum full time (pro rata for part time hours) - Solent Mind Band C

Contract: Permanent

Purpose:

To deliver high-quality, person-centred Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) groups for people living with mild to moderate dementia, ensuring safe, inclusive and dementia-informed practice across multiple community locations. The post holder will co-facilitate 14-week closed CST programmes, support referral triage and onboarding, record outcomes, and work in close partnership with carers, Memory Assessment Services (MAS), Older People’s Community Mental Health Teams (OPCMHTs) and other referrers.

Key Duties

Co-facilitate CST groups (typically 8–12 participants) in line with the CST model and service handbook, alongside a second practitioner and a trained volunteer.

Deliver structured yet flexible sessions (45–60 minutes) using dementia-inclusive communication, sensory supports and differentiated prompts to meet varying cognitive and communication needs.

Maintain continuity by supporting the same cohort for the full 14-week cycle wherever possible, building rapport and psychological safety.

Undertake pre-group contact within agreed timeframes, including suitability calls and a faceto-face pre-course review/venue orientation where required.

Contribute to rota planning and provide duty cover via the shared inbox/phone as scheduled: responding to enquiries, processing referrals, booking individuals into appropriate cohorts and coordinating reasonable adjustments.

Maintain accurate, timely and confidential records in the service CRM (e.g., referral status, attendance, outcomes, incidents/complaints, adjustments, equality information where appropriate and consented).

Collect and record baseline and end-of-programme outcomes and feedback (adapted for accessibility), supporting service evaluation and monthly reporting requirements.

Promote participation and retention: provide clear information, reminders, and practical support (e.g., transport/wayfinding information) to reduce DNAs and withdrawals.

Work collaboratively with carers/families, offering brief check-ins/signposting at agreed touchpoints (start/mid/discharge) and escalating concerns appropriately.

Identify, assess and manage risks dynamically during sessions (e.g., distress, behavioural change, wandering, physical health concerns), applying de-escalation and dignity-preserving approaches.

Recognise, record and escalate safeguarding concerns immediately in line with Solent Mind policy and local multi-agency procedures; seek advice from the Team Leader/Designated Safeguarding Leads as required.

Liaise with referrers and MDT partners (MAS/OPCMHTs, social prescribers, Adult Social Care and VCSE partners) to share relevant information (with consent and/or lawful basis) supporting safe participation and continuity of care.

Support and supervise session volunteers in practice: clarify roles, provide briefing/ debriefing, and contribute to volunteer wellbeing and development.

Contribute to quality assurance: participate in supervision, reflective practice, peer observation and fidelity checks; implement learning and service improvements.

Ensure venues are safe, dementia-friendly and accessible: complete venue checks, room set-up, and dynamic safety checks; report and resolve hazards/issues.

Represent the service professionally within the community and across partner pathways, supporting awareness-raising and equitable access.

Health, safety, safeguarding and information governance

Work within Solent Mind policies for safeguarding adults, mental capacity, health and safety, lone working and incident reporting.

Maintain professional boundaries and uphold confidentiality in line with GDPR and organisational information governance requirements.

Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others; report hazards, accidents and near misses promptly.

Attend mandatory training and follow procedures for emergency response and escalation

General:

Adhere to the aims, values, policies and procedures of Solent Mind, particularly safeguarding and health & safety.

This list is non exhaustive and other duties may be required to meet the needs of Solent Mind

PERSON SPECIFICATION Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) Practitioner

Requirement	Essential or Desirable
Qualifications/Education/Training:	Essential Desirable
Educated to a minimum level 2 standard or extensive relevant experience Accredited CST training (or willingness to complete within the first months of
employment). Qualification in health, social care, psychology, occupational therapy, nursing, counselling
or a related field (or equivalent experience). Experience:	Desirable
Experience of supporting people living with dementia and/or older adults with cognitive impairment, in a community, health or social care setting. Experience of supporting or supervising volunteers.	Essential Desirable
Knowledge/Skills/Competencies:	Essential
Demonstrable skills in group facilitation and engaging people with varying communication needs.	Essential
Ability to deliver person-centred support and make reasonable adjustments to enable inclusion and accessibility.	Essential
Good understanding of safeguarding adults and ability to recognise and escalate concerns appropriately.
Strong communication skills, including the ability to build rapport with participants, carers and professionals.	Essential
Ability to manage challenging situations calmly (e.g., distress, disorientation, behavioural change) and apply de-escalation techniques.	Essential
Ability to maintain accurate records and using IT systems/CRM for case management and reporting.	Essential
Ability to work independently across multiple community locations and as part of a flexible locality-based team.	Essential
Knowledge of the CST evidence base, dementia pathways and local referral systems (MAS/OPCMHTs).	Desirable
Understanding of outcome measurement tools used in dementia services (e.g., cognition and quality of life measures).	Desirable
Other:
Commitment to Solent Mind's values	Essential
Commitment to Solent Mind's Equal Opportunities and Diversity and Inclusion Policies	Essential
Willingness to undergo a relevant DBS Check if required	Essential
Willingness to travel across Hampshire/Southampton as required and full UK Driving License.	Essential
Willingness to work on Saturdays as service need.	Essential
Ability to work flexible hours if required	Desirable