Wellbeing Facilitator Application

Recruiting Freelance Wellbeing Facilitators (WBF) Cymru 

Do you work in or have a good understanding of the TV and Film industry or a related creative sector?
Are you empathetic?
Are you passionate about supporting others?
Are you a good mediator?
Do you wish to be part of the move towards a happier healthier TV, Film and creative industry?

If so, we are recruiting 6 new Freelance WBFs and this role may be of interest to you..

How to Apply?

Please complete the application form in the link below and send your CV to:   cultcymru@bectu.org.uk  (Please ensure that you have read the detailed Job Description and Person Spec. below prior to applying).
(If you have any queries regarding the role or the process please send an email to the above address). 

Application Deadline:                                     Wednesday: 14.06.23 @ 12.00

Interviews Expected to Take Place:                 Week commencing: 19.06.23

Modular Training Expected to Take place:       Early July 

** APPLICATION NOW CLOSED** 

The Well Being Facilitator Cymru Partnership & Role
Following a successful pilot in the screen industry in 2022/23 CULT Cymru and 6ft from the Spotlight are working in partnership with Creative Wales, employers and other stakeholders in continuing rolling out this exciting role of a Freelance WellBeing Facilitator (WBF) in screen and looking at options for applying the role to the wider creative sector including music and live events.    

We are looking for six individuals who are passionate about mental health and want to engender more equal and positive working environments to train as WBFs.  We need a diverse range of Freelancers to join our team and these include individuals from Global Majority backgrounds, males, disabled people, those that identify as LGBTQ+ and Welsh speakers. 

Context
Poor mental health has been recognised as a serious problem across the creative industries well before the pandemic. In February 2020, the Film and TV Charity in its research ‘The Looking Class’ reported that of the 9,000 respondents 87% had presented with a mental health problem compared to 65% UK wide, 24% had self harmed compared to 7% UK wide and 55% had contemplated taking their own lives compared to 20% UK wide. 
The-Looking-Glass-Final-Report-Final.pdf (filmtvcharity.org.uk)

Bournemouth University’s Research ‘State of Play’ sponsored by Bectu, 2021 reported that poor working practices – long, unsocial hours; a culture of bullying; lack of support in training and progression, lack of training for managers were cited as some of the key problems facing the screen industry. 93% of respondents had either experienced or witnessed bullying and 68% had considered leaving the industry (even prior to the pandemic this was 55%)! 70% of those with management/supervision responsibilities hadn’t received any management training. 
New report details the need for new management practices in Unscripted TV | Bectu

The creative unions believe that there needs to be a cultural change in Wales’ creative industries to ensure that our workplaces are safe, inclusive and fair where all creative workers are empowered to reach their full potential.   If you would like to join us on this journey and want to be part of the change, please read on.

The aim of the Freelance WBF is to: 

  • Provide information and support to producers and heads of department on how to prevent stress, mental health issues and bullying and harassment enabling them to meet their legal duty of care to the workforce
  • Robustly support all crew and cast with challenges including stress, mental health, bullying, harassment and discrimination. 

There is no guarantee of work once trained.  Freelancer WBF could be engaged as a WBF part time on a large scale production or on several smaller productions.  

These people will need to be empathetic and passionate about supporting others as well as being able to demonstrate excellent mediation, verbal and written communication skills.  They also need to be confident in using IT packages such as email, simple spreadsheets and Whatsapp.

The aim is to deliver training in early July, predominantly online via Zoom.  We encourage applications from all backgrounds in particular those from under represented groups. We aim to roll-out delivery of the role as soon as possible after training, however this isn’t guaranteed.  Once assigned to a production you will be allocated a mentor who will work closely with you on your first production.  

WBFs and 6ft From the Spotlight – How it works
6FFS will act as an agent for the Freelance/self-employed WBFs ensuring that they are fully covered under 6FT From the Spotlight’s insurance policy.  Additionally, all contracts will be managed by the 6FFS team and payments will be made via 6FFS.  The daily rate for WBFs is currently £260 p/day.  

Once training has been completed 6FFS will work with CULT Cymru and partners to secure contracts on productions in Wales. Contracts will be allocated to WBFs dependent on their specific commitments and availability and the requirements of the production. Most contracts are part time ranging from between 1-3 days per week.  If there is sufficient suitable work available WBFs can work on more than one contract at a time.

Trained WBFs will receive ongoing mentoring and support and undertake regular mandatory supervision sessions with the 6FFS team. Additionally, WBF’s will be encouraged to attend a regular peer supervision group to build a community of active WBFs disseminating best practice and offering a network of support to one another.  

Training to be a Facilitator
The training costs will be covered by CULT Cymru but your time to undertake the training will be unpaid.  Delivery will be on a modular basis equivalent of 5-6 days via Zoom.  The topics covered are:

Mental Health First Aid, Wales (via CULT Cymru)
I-Act Managing Mental Health
Mental Health & the Law
Mental Health Risk Assessments
Sustainable Resilience
Psychological Safety
Foundational Coaching Skills 
Bullying, Harassment & Discrimination 
Safeguarding Crew and Contributors
Role of Trade Unions (a session with officers from the Creative Unions)

All WBFs will have access to free additional training/CPD (Continual Professional Development) via 6ft from.. and CULT Cymru.

WellBeing Facilitator – Job Description and Person Specification

Please note this is a very comprehensive Job Description and Person Specification, we hope that you find it useful.

6ft From the Spotlight have developed a new role called the WellBeing Facilitator.  A WBF is a third party, highly trained presence on location whose role is to support a production to maintain best employment practice, drive high performance levels, de-escalate challenging situations and advise on mental health risk. The result? The sustainable and ethical delivery of outstanding creative content.

CULT Cymru, 6FFS and partners are looking for individuals who are passionate about bringing about change in Wales’ screen sector & wider creative sector to ensure that it is safe, inclusive and fair where creative workers are empowered to reach their full potential that will in turn lead to improved recruitment, retention and productivity within the industry. 

All applicants must be committed to undertaking a paid role as a Freelance WBF in Wales once trained (although there is no guarantee of regular paid work).

The WBF will:

Be a visible and easily identifiable presence on location

  • Will be present on location on a regular basis, 
  • Contact details and hours will be clearly communicated to all workers 

Act as a first point of contact for any worker who:

  • Is experiencing bullying or harassment 
  • Is experiencing discrimination
  • Has witnessed bullying, harassment or discrimination
  • Is experiencing mental illness or stress
  • Is experiencing difficulties at work or in their personal lives
  • Has any concerns about their own or that of any other worker

Propose and implement preventive measures to help the producers meet their duty of care

  • Conduct mental health and stress risk assessments based on the specific production hazards.
  • Identify crew and cast with existing conditions.
  • Offer guidance to the line manager and / or Producer in supporting workers return to work.

Promote wellbeing and mental health support. This may include:

  • Creating quiet spaces
  • Organising events
  • Identifying and signposting to training courses
  • Providing/signposting information, resources, and education around wellbeing, Equality Diversity and Inclusion, and mental health
  • Offering non-judgemental supportive listening 
  • Support workers in finding longer term sources of support

Promote anti-bullying and harassment, including through 

  • Identifying training needs and referring these needs on to CULT Cymru & 6ft from the Spotlight and sign-posting to existing training where appropriate.
  • Identifying and responding to incidents of bullying and harassment using non-judgemental supportive listening, de-escalation, and mediation skills.
  • Recommending individuals seek the support of the appropriate trade union where cases of bullying and harassment are identified.  
  • Developing and implementing early interventions in cases of bullying and harassment, cooperatively with all individuals involved. 
  • Active interventions to ensure the safety of all individuals including listening, signposting, safeguarding, mediating between crew and managers, reasonable adjustments.   
  • Identifying causes of bullying and harassment and where possible intervening to reduce impact on both accusers and accused. 

Advocating the wellbeing of the workers. This may include:

  • Actively ensuring that production policies and procedures are adhered to.
  • Using monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the production meets a range of industry standard policies i.e. the BFI Anti Bullying and Harassment framework standards, Bectu Dignity at Work Campaign, Prospect members guide to harassment, Equity members Bullying and Harassment Guidance. 
  • Offering support and guidance to managers in implementing policies and procedures appropriately. 
  • Offering support and guidance to managers in well-being friendly scheduling.
  • Ensuring that in the case of disagreements all parties receive appropriate support, advice, and representation. 
  • Ensuring that the rights of all workers, including accusers and accused, are respected. 
  • Work with line managers and producers to make reasonable adjustments where necessary. 
  • Recommend individuals seek the support of the appropriate trade union where infringements on workers’ rights are identified. 

Managing Mental Health and Safety

  • Responding to instances of mental health crisis.
  • Offering initial support and working with the individual to find sources of longer-term support.
  • Offering support to bystanders and witnesses. 
  • Engaging with and offering support to Mental Health First Aiders

Safeguarding of adults. This includes cast and crew, contributors, or any other person associated with the production

  • Identifying individuals who may be at risk and in need of safeguarding. 
  • Working with the individual, and where appropriate a guardian, to identify their needs and ensure their safety and wellbeing. 
  • Ensuring that safeguarding incidents are reported in accordance with the relevant Policies and Procedures. 

Record keeping

  • Maintaining a comprehensive and confidential online diary of incidents and actions using the template provided.
  • Write reports for any high level incidents which could include bullying and harassment or mental health incidents.
  • Contribute to any post project written reports, evaluations and debriefs.

Supervision and Guidance

  • Stay in regular (minimum weekly) and transparent contact with 6FFS supervisor/back up team.
  • Attend a monthly peer supervision group to discuss approaches, pool collective wisdom and receive support as necessary.    
  • Attend all continuous professional development training blocks at mutually convenient times.  

General

  • Adhere to 6FT from the Spotlight’s diversity and inclusion policy and uphold company values at all times
  • Be an ambassador for 6FT From the Spotlight and CULT Cymru and behave professionally at all times 
  • Maintain warm and collegiate relationships with colleagues, clients and partners

Person Specification – Minimum Requirements

  • Undertake the 6FT From the Spotlight mandatory WBF training programme. 
  • Empathetic and keen to pro-actively support people. 
  • Demonstrable experience of people management/supervision or responsibility for others within a team in the film and tv industry or a related sector.
  • Ability to win respect and trust amongst a range of groups and maintain effective, warm and collegiate working relationships with colleagues, clients and stakeholders.
  • Excellent communication and mediation skills and the ability to deal with a broad range of individuals and organisations within the film and TV industry or a related sector.
  • Excellent diplomacy skills, sensitive to a wide range of contexts and able to respond with emotional intelligence.
  • Excellent communication skills both verbal and written with ability to liaise effectively with colleagues, clients, partners and service providers.
  • Excellent organisational skills and ability to schedule time effectively. 
  • Ability to prioritise a range of tasks and communicate this effectively.  
  • Ability to work independently and collegiately with your 6FT From the Spotlight Supervisor and back up team.
  • Understanding of and sensitive to the complexities of the film and tv sector or a related industry.
  • Understanding and commitment to the promotion of good Mental Health and (training will be provided).
  • Demonstrable commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion and its practical application in the work environment.
  • Commitment to continuous professional development. 
  • Proficient user of IT software e.g. Microsoft Office – Word and ideally in Excel and Google Drive etc. (training can be provided in specific packages where required).Kind regards,On behalf of the CULT Cymru & 6ft from the Spotlight Teams:Siân Gale Michelle WhiteSkills & Development Manager Co-DirectorCULT Cymru/bectu                                  6ft from the Spotlight