Duration: 1 month - Summer 2024 (Exact Dates are Flexible according to Dancer Availability).
Work Pattern: Flexible 3 days a week with some weekend days.
Background:
KYN offers an elevated approach to older adult care. Our homes prioritise individualised journeys built around the needs and interests of our residents, in beautiful surroundings, with life-enriching practices.
The promotion of physical activity is an essential pillar of care, and we offer an embedded programme which includes yoga and Pilates, seated sports, and movement and music sessions. Residents also have the opportunity to work one-to one with a dedicated physiotherapist.
We would like to further expand our offering and work with a Dancer in Residence, to develop creative and innovative approaches to movement, which help residents find the joy in gentle exercise, without the pressure of a formal rehabilitation session. Our aim with this project is to increase confidence to participate in physical activity and promote a culture which places value in small moments of movement every day.
Responsibilities:
- The Dancer in Residence will be expected to undertake the following duties:
- Ongoing consultation with residents to ascertain their interests and preferences
- Consultation with KYN’s designated physio
- Group dance and movement sessions
- One-to-one sessions for those who are unable to, or do not feel confident to, participate in group activities
- Carer training sessions which incorporate new movement exercises
- Monitoring and evaluation of activity
- Risk Assessments for the activities being delivered.
Post Project, the Dancer will deliver:
- An end-of-project evaluation
- The development of materials which enable the continuation of the project, post-residency by the care team. This aspect can be delivered after the month’s main block of work.
Support Offered by KYN to the Dancer in Residence:
- A KYN induction and an onboarding and training process
- Consultation with KYN’s dedicated Physiotherapist
- Consultation with KYN’s Head of Dementia
- Ongoing support from the Life Enrichment team at both Head Office and Home level
- Assistance with the development on an Evaluation framework
- All group dance activities will have support from a member of the Life Enrichment team and care staff.
Key Requirements and Specification:
The Dancer in Residence must have strong technical dance skills and a creative practice. They should be an excellent communicator, able to engage and motivate older adults with a variety of abilities, to participate in Dance activity.
We are open to applications from across all disciplines of dance.
Essential Criteria:
- Dance degree or equivalent training
- Demonstrable experience planning and leading dance sessions using a range of strategies that will enable progression in residents’ skills, confidence, and ability
- Strong verbal communication skills, that engage participants in dance
- An approachable manner and the capacity to relate to and communicate with people of different backgrounds, abilities and experiences
- An understanding of, and commitment to, inclusion, access, and equality of opportunity
- Adherence to all policies and procedures relating to Safeguarding and Protection, and Health and Safety in the workplace.
Desirable Criteria:
- Teaching qualification in dance
- Experience with older adults and/or vulnerable groups.
Requirements to Work:
To ensure the Dancer in Residence can work autonomously across the home; before commencing work, they will be required to undertake and evidence:
- An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS).
- Completion of a KYN induction and basic statutory and mandatory training, to ensure Safeguarding and Protection, and Health and Safety in the workplace.
Fee:
The £4,000 project fee includes: planning, delivery of activity, evaluation, production of resource materials and mandatory induction and training.