Community Engagement and Action Officer

Are you looking for a new role where you can help change lives?

If you have a passion for working with local communities and would like to be part of a growing campaign to reduce health inequalities, then this is the role for you.

We are seeking a passionate individual within our exciting and innovative Community Health Catalyst programme – an evolving initiative dedicated to reducing health inequalities for local people.

Working in specific geographic areas in Medway and Swale, you will have the opportunity to manage this project with a team of two Community Activators to engage, encourage and energise local people to get involved with the programme and to support them through the process to achieve their best possible outcomes.

The successful candidates will be dynamic, flexible, committed to offering accessible and inclusive support and have a passion for co-development through working alongside communities and people from all walks of life.

You’ll be joining a vibrant and successful team with shared values and a clear mission.

Hours: 30 hours a week
Salary: £34,400 (pro-rata) annually
Contract Fixed term until August 2024
Based at: MVA, 5a New Road Avenue, Chatham , ME4 6BB
Closing date: Midday 14th June, 2023
Interviews: 20th June at the above location

For an informal discussion about this post please contact Jane Howard, CEO on 01634 812850, mobile 07885 578370 or email using the apply button.

Please apply with a CV, and a letter of application (no longer than 2 sides of A4) that demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the Person Specification contained within the Job Description; please outline your relevant experience. Failure to do this may result in your application not being successful.

Job Description
Post title: Community Engagement and Action Officer
Hours of work: 30 hours weekly, flexible hours to be agreed (some evening and weekend working may be required)
Salary: £34,400 (pro-rata) annually
Contract: Fixed term until August 2024 (upon completion of a satisfactory 3 month probation period)

Responsible to: Programmes Director
Location: Based at Medway Voluntary Action, Chatham; currently hybrid working following satisfactory probationary period

Follow this link to download the full role description: https://cdn2.assets-servd.host/bewildered-zebra/production/Documents/Engagement-and-Action-Officer-fixed-term.pdf

Aims

To deliver the exciting and innovative Community Health Catalyst programme in two specific geographic areas in Medway and Swale.

With the support of locally based Community Activators and VCS Infrastructure organisations, deliver listening activities and co-develop with local people a ‘Local Asset Signposting and Solutions Plan’ to empower them to achieve their best possible outcomes.

We are looking for a driven, motivated and organised individual, with a passion for working with local communities and who would like to be part of a growing campaign to reduce health inequalities.

The successful candidate will be dynamic and flexible and committed to co-development and design through working alongside communities and people from all walks of life.

Responsibilities

Activation

• Support and monitor Community Activators’ delivery of engagement and recruitment activities in their target geographic areas.
• Be a positive role model who supports the team to build good rapport with people within our target geographic areas - especially those who are currently disengaged, inactive or from marginalised communities.
• Ensure community activation objectives/targets are being met by Community Activators.
• Responsible for supporting the implementation of the community health catalyst strategy on the ground.

Listening

• Liaise with local Health decision makers and securing their commitment and appropriate resource to be actively involved in the engagement process (‘You said, we did’)
• Work with health decision makers to develop the research documents and models
• Undertake a range of engagement and listening activities (e.g. focus groups, interviews, interactive community listening) with the support of the Community Activators.
• Record, collate and share a summary of the listening with Health decision makers
• Based on what has been identified and learned from the listening activities, work in partnership to create a ‘Local Asset Signposting and Solutions Plan’.
• Identify and recruit VCS groups to deliver Focus Group sessions through their own networks to support programme listening aims. Connect VCS groups to relevant training (for quality assurance) and payment scheme available through the programme.
• Support Community Activators to identify and remove individual barriers to local people participating in engagement and listening activities. Approve any expense claims in relation to this.

Action

• Work with VCS infrastructure organisations, health stakeholders and the wider VCS to develop ‘Local Asset Signposting and Solutions Plans’ (a list of possible actions/support that local people can pursue to impact on what they have identified as the most important issues for them during listening activities).
• Deliver the ‘Local Asset Signposting and Solutions Plan’ to local people and, with the support of Community Activators, encourage and empower them to participate in the opportunities offered.
• Support Community Activators to identify and remove individual barriers to local people participating in the ‘Local Asset Signposting and Solutions Plan’. Approve any expense claims in relation to this and approve any VCS payments required for individuals to access clubs/activities etc.
• Identify and support local people and VCS groups to co-develop community chest activities and apply for the available funding to support these.
• Manage the allocation of the community chest funding pot.
• Liaise with health stakeholders to deliver feedback sessions to local people in relation to actions arising based on their feedback during listening and engagement activities.
• Support local residents to measure the impact that activities/initiatives are having on their communities.
• Support residents to access any other relevant community start up training as required.
Quality assurance, monitoring and reporting

1. Ensure quality assurance checks are undertaken in relation to activities and events delivered through the programme.
2. Collate and report on participant’s outcome monitoring assessments/surveys.
3. Maintain records in line with programme requirements and key performance indicator criteria.
4. Monitor programme budget in line with MVA guidelines.
5. Create reports as required by funders.

General

1. Line management of Community Activators.
2. Work with the your wider Community Health Catalyst team and hosting organisations to maximise opportunities to meet outcomes and optimise efficiency and effectiveness.
3. To work within the framework defined by the MVA Equal Opportunities, Safeguarding and Health and Safety Policies.
4. To attend support and supervision sessions with your line manager.
5. To attend training relevant to the role and agreed with your line manager.
6. To perform additional duties that fall within the scope of your role as delegated by your line manager or the Chief Executive.