The organisation

Community Southwark is the umbrella body for the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) in Southwark. Our members are not for profit groups and organisations operating in Southwark. We support charities, community groups and individuals through capacity building, networks, and volunteering. 

We are proud to host Healthwatch Southwark (HWS) and support its work in connecting individuals and community groups to Health and Social Care Providers, ensuring their voices are heard and able to influence change.

The Role 

This role is at the heart of engaging with communities to support local people to access Health and Social Care, and make sure their voices are heard so that services can improve.

This is an exciting time to join us with a strong Advisory Board, a stable local authority contract, and a clear purpose - to use the authority and position of Healthwatch to support historically under-represented communities in Southwark to make change.

We welcome applications from all sectors and experience levels. We particularly encourage applications from disabled, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people and people from the LGBTQ+ communities.

Job Description

Principal Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1. Build relationships with historically under-represented communities

2. Gather and present feedback about health and social care services

3. Promote HWS in the community

4. Support people with signposting

1. Build relationships with historically under-represented communities

·         Proactively reaching out to communities, using methods such as stalls, community group visits, signposting sessions, and presentations.

·         Maintain a calendar of community events, attending one to two events or activities per week.

·         Map and draw on local Voluntary and Community Sector groups and their networks, working closely with Community Southwark colleagues.

·         With the support of the team, lead on organising public events to gather public opinion and to make known the views of service users to decision makers.

2. Gather and present feedback about health and social care services

·         Keep clear records of engagement and signposting. Listen to communities, record conversations, and gather feedback.

·         Work with HWS colleagues to represent feedback in ways which work best for communities.

·         Support the Research Officer to design and deliver project-based engagement activities (surveys, interviews, focus groups etc.) in line with the needs and experiences of the relevant group(s) of people.

·         Recruit appropriate local residents, patients and service users to contribute their views to engagement projects. Build appropriate collaborations with Voluntary and Community groups to expand project reach.

·         Represent HWS at appropriate meetings and committees with local providers and commissioners, deploying evidence-based, community focused insights to influence decisions. This will include occasional presentation of reports, and commentary on other organisation’s engagement plans.

3. Promote Healthwatch Southwark in the community

·         Engage the public using printed and online materials and build a strong HWS brand. This will include contributing copy appropriate to different audiences across HWS communication channels, structuring and uploading website content, and helping to develop and deliver digital and print engagement.

·         Accurately maintain and improve the HWS membership database, enabling effective targeted outreach.

4. Support people with signposting

·         Alongside the rest of the team, react to requests for information on health and social care services from all sections of the local population, signposting people to support to access services and resolve difficulties, and supporting them to make informed choices.

·         Develop the signposting directory and materials, including through building relationships with and knowledge of other local services and organisations.

·         On occasion, comment on public communications from commissioners and providers, promoting clarity and usefulness.

General

·         To support Community Southwark’s and Healthwatch Southwark’s mission, vision, values and strategic objectives.

·         To undertake other tasks from time to time and as appropriate, that may be required by the Community Southwark CEO in line with the goals of the organisation.

·         To work within all of Community Southwark’s and Healthwatch Southwark’s policies.

·         To perform five days (pro rata) consultancy on behalf of the organisation.  

Changes

This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted.  It is the practice of the organisation to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This would be conducted in consultation with you through your Support & Supervision sessions.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Needed                                                 

• Track record of successfully engaging communities in a proactive, sensitive, and supportive manner.

• Excellent networking, presentation and communication skills.

• Passion for quality public health and care services and strong appreciation for the role of patient and public voice in achieving this.

• Experience of organising engaging events.

• Reliable and highly organised, with ability to flexibly and efficiently manage varied and rapidly changing tasks,

• High levels of initiative and a proactive, constructive, and transparent approach to challenges and opportunities.

Benefits

·       30 days annual leave (exclusive of public/bank holidays) per annum; pro-rata for part-time employees.  

·       2 Volunteering Days per annum (pro-rata for part-time employees) 

·       £530 annual training allowance.  

·       Pension – Employer contribution: 5% 

·       Cycle to Work Scheme.  

·       Flexi-time 

·       Enhanced maternity and paternity pay 

·       Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential helpline for personal or professional concerns)