Job Description
Engagement Officer
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB PURPOSE
To contribute to delivering the Healthwatch Doncaster strategy by involving citizens and communities in having their say about health and social care services. Working with and supporting volunteers to take part in this work.
To seek out the views of patients, service users and the public on matters relating to Health and Social care in Doncaster
Develop and maintain meaningful relationships with external partners (including voluntary sector and statutory sector) and promote the voice and experiences of Doncaster people to drive improvement in health and social care services.
Contribute to the development of reports and briefings to support this work
.
MAIN DUTIES
You will be expected to:
- Build links and relationships in local communities to enable Healthwatch to hear the experiences of many people including those who are heard the least.
- Plan and deliver specific engagement activities with volunteers (e.g. focus groups, workshops, group discussions, attending events/meetings in the community, running stalls, and undertaking surveys).
- Adapt to changing environments and to deliver activities in a range of innovative formats including online and face to face to activities.
- Actively seek upcoming local community events and make sure HWD has a presence.
- Provide or signpost people to information to help them understand their choices about the health and social care services they receive and could receive.
- Collect and record information gathered from local people, keep records of activities in line with agreed Healthwatch recording systems/procedures and produce reports as needed.
- Build relationships within NHS and care services to facilitate engagement work.
- Provide cover for the Healthwatch information service as required – responding to individual questions relating to health and social care from the public.
- Develop and maintain an understanding of local health and social care services.
- Support Healthwatch communications and promotion work.
- Work collaboratively with the team to ensure coordinated activity.
- Use a range of appropriate social media to promote the work of Healthwatch.
- Contribute to the engagement plan developed in conjunction with the COO and other Engagement Officer(s).
- Raise the profile of Healthwatch Doncaster with stakeholders including the general public.
- Take part in meetings and communicate relevant information to the team.
GENERAL DUTIES
Applicable to all Healthwatch employees to provide the best service and most effective team:
- Undertake administrative tasks as appropriate.
- Answer the office telephone and respond to the general emails.
- Contribute to the Annual report.
- Supply content for, and post on social media where required, updates for the website and social media channels.
- Contribute to the newsletter.
- Act as an ambassador for and positively promote HW at events and meetings.
- Cover other team members’ duties during absences.
- Participate in HW organisational activities as appropriate.
- Participate in training and development opportunities.
- Act in a professional manner in accordance with all HW policies, procedures and Code of Conduct
- Other duties as may be required from time to time within the general scope of the post.
This is not a final and complete statement of the duties attached to this post which may be amended from time to time in accordance with the changing needs of Healthwatch Doncaster
The job description forms part of the contract of employment.
SUMMARY OF TERMS & CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
Salary: £21,000 - £25,000 (dependant on experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
The post will include occasional evening & weekend work, for which time off in lieu will be given.
Responsible to: Chief Operating Officer
Responsible for: n/a
Pension:
3 % employer contribution and compulsory employee contribution (5%) subject to Auto-enrolment requirements
Health: Westfield Health Benefit
Holidays: 6.8 weeks holiday entitlement, including allowance for bank holidays
Contract: Permanent
Location: 8d Cavendish Court, South Parade, Doncaster, DN1 2DJ
Person Specification - Engagement Officer
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
- Good level of general education
- Experience of production of reports.
- Experience of working with volunteers.
- Knowledge of good practice in working with volunteers.
- Experience of presenting information to a range of different stakeholders.
- Record of accomplishment of having effectively engaged with groups and the general public.
- Experience in the application of various communication platforms.
- Experience of working to project plans, targets and outcomes.
- Experience of devising and running community events.
- Experience of different methods of community engagement.
- Ability to present information in a variety of formats depending on audience.
- Ability to think analytically and critically to ask relevant questions and look below the surface.
- Experience of networking and negotiation skills.
- Written communication skills: ability to write in plain English to produce different types of documents.
- Planning and time management skills – enabling you to co-ordinate input from different people into pieces of work within set timeframes and plan multiple pieces of work simultaneously.
- Skills in effective communication with people with varying communication needs.
- Ability to form and maintain good working relationships and relate to a wide range of people.
- Excellent IT skills including use of Microsoft Office – Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Zoom.
- Ability to work on your own initiative to achieve outcomes for Healthwatch, delivering your parts of the work plan.
- Commitment to equal access to quality services for all.
- Work experience in statutory health/social care sector or relevant voluntary organisations.
- Record of accomplishment of having effectively engaged with patients/service users/carers/communities.
- Experience of direct work with or empowerment of service users/carers/patients/communities.
- Good understanding of the needs and challenges faced by diverse and excluded communities.
- Experience of different methods of community engagement particularly in reaching those who are least heard
- Commitment to working in partnership with service users, carers, patients and the community.
- Committed to good practice in equality & diversity matters.
- Awareness of the importance of GDPR compliance.
- Willingness to be flexible about working hours.
- Current driving licence with access to vehicle to enable travel around the Borough to carry out duties.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £21,000.00-£25,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Private medical insurance
Schedule:
- Monday to Friday
- Weekend availability
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Doncaster: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work Location: In person
Application deadline: 21/04/2023