Community Connector

Salary: £26,000

Hours: 37.5 Hours

Location: West Midlands

Accountable to: Head of Social Prescribing

Contract: Fixed Term 12 month contract with possibility to extend

Benefits:

· 22 days holiday per annum plus 8 public holidays; rising to 24 days per annum after five years continuous service.

· Recently enhanced company pension contribution

· Enhanced company sickness policy

JOB PURPOSE:

The role will work as part of the ‘Commonwealth Active Communities’ project, that aims to use the 2022 Commonwealth Games as a catalyst to inspire people to lead a more active lifestyle. A key element of the role(s) will be to build connections with local people and community organisations to develop understanding of the factors that can influence local opportunities for people to be physically active and support a healthier lifestyle. The role(s) will work closely with a range of partners to maximise the breadth of local assets available, with a particular focus on local spaces and places, including parks and the canal network, to improve and develop activities and events that provide local people with the opportunity to move more and be physically active.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSBILITIES

To carry out regular engagement with people living in specified areas, developing an understanding of existing barriers and motivations to adopting an active lifestyle, using the findings to inform the Commonwealth Active Communities programme and shape ongoing and future delivery.
To identify and build relationships with a diverse range local community organisation e.g., faith leaders & social prescribers alongside wider stakeholders to generate ideas, become advocates and highlight existing community-led interventions that will support the development and delivery of activities that are meaningful to local people.
Provide advice, information and practical support to increase the quality, quantity and sustainability of local community organisation’s active lifestyles offer.
To build relationships and networks between local community organisations to increase the connectivity, range and reduce duplication in the offer of active lifestyle opportunities.
Connect individuals and families to community resources, practical help, group activities and volunteering opportunities to meet health needs and increase social participation.
To activate green, grey and blue space to get people active, contributing to better local places to live and bring people together.
To promote opportunities to encourage people to be active, providing ongoing support to local community organisations to raise awareness and accessibility of local services that support active lifestyles.
Promote the Activation Volunteer Academy to partners and advocate and identify opportunities to recruit local people as Commonwealth Active Community Champions.
Build understanding of local partners strategies, programmes and structures e.g., Social Prescribing work.
Develop a local action plan, involving communities and local services working together at all stages of planning cycle, from identifying needs and agreeing priorities, through to implementation and evaluation.
Share learning across the CAC Community Connector network, Black Country CAC Community Connector lead and CAC Steering group and other learning partners to build shared understanding of the challenges to being active and how we can collectively deliver future services. Support the external evaluation of the Black Country Commonwealth Active Communities programme.

ABOUT YOU

Technical

Significant experience of working with the voluntary and community sector at all levels, including staff, volunteers, trustees and management committees.
Experience of building the capacity of voluntary and community organisations, with a focus on active lifestyle provision.
Knowledge of active lifestyle barriers and motivators and methods of overcoming barriers and maximising motivations to increase community activity.
Knowledge of the wider determinants of health in relation to active lifestyle barriers.
Experience of developing and delivery effective training sessions to a varied audience in community settings.
Experience of developing successful partnerships and networks, by bringing individuals and organisations together.
Experience of successful engagement with communities, to consult on needs and to motivate to engage in local projects and programmes.

General

Experience of building positive relationships.
Excellent communication orally, face to face, and in writing with ability to motivate and influence through communications.
Experience in delivering community-based activity.
Ability to effectively prioritise work and meet agreed deadlines.
Ability to work independently or as part of a team.
Good computer literacy including Microsoft Office software.
The post is subject to satisfactory completion of DBS checks, satisfactory references and proof of eligibility to work in the UK
Valid driving licence as your work will require you to reach locations not easily reached by public transport. Access to a vehicle is essential.

Equal Opportunities

As an equal opportunities employer, Health Exchange and Living Well Taking Control are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Health Exchange or Living Well Taking Control.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: £26,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension

Schedule:

Monday to Friday

Ability to commute/relocate:

West Midlands: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

Do you have experience within the voluntary and community sector?

Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 10/08/2023

Apply here!