Social Connections Officer
- NHS
- Full Time
- Leamington Spa
- 27170.85 a year
Job Description
Job summary
This is an exciting new role that will play a key part in reducing social isolation and loneliness among older people across Coventry and Warwickshire by helping to create meaningful social connections.
The successful candidate will be a confident relationship-builder with excellent communication and organisational skills, passionate about supporting older people to lead connected, independent and fulfilling lives.
We are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Main duties of the job
As part of a small, dedicated team, you will work closely with older people, volunteers, local communities and other key stakeholders to support the delivery, promotion and development of the befriending service and wider social connections initiatives.
Staff benefits include:
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Blue Light Discount Card
- Age UK Discount Portal
- Tickets for Good
- 27 days annual leave + Bank Holidays (Pro Rata)
About us
We're a local charity working in the community to support older people, their families and carers.
We want everyone to be able to love later life.
Job responsibilities
Summary of Post: The purpose of this role is to is reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people across Coventry and Warwickshire by enabling meaningful social connections.
The post holder will support the delivery, promotion and development of the befriending service and wider social connections initiative, working collaboratively with clients, volunteers, community organisations and key stakeholders to strengthen community networks, enhance client wellbeing, and create opportunities for older people to stay connected, active, independent and engaged in later life.
Location: Regular weekly presence at our Leamington office with travel throughout Coventry & Warwickshire.
Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Plan, organise and deliver a variety of events and activities for socially isolated older people across Coventry & Warwickshire, ensuring any contractual obligations and organisational objectives are met.
2. Promote events and activities through a variety of channels including social media and community networks, as well as support with the wider promotion of the befriending service, social connections initiatives and volunteer recruitment and retention activities.
3. Develop and maintain strong relationships with local organisations, businesses and community groups, identifying opportunities for collaborative partnerships and fund raising.
4. Support the Team leader in identifying, developing and delivering new referral pathways and outreach initiatives to reach and engage with isolated older people, as well as actively contributing to the continuous development of the befriending service.
5. Maintain regular contact with clients awaiting a befriending match, identifying any changes in level of need or additional support requirements.
6. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local community activities and internal services to support individuals build social networks or access appropriate support.
7. Assist the Administrators where required with client assessments and matches and volunteer screenings and inductions.
8. Gain appropriate consents and accurately record on the CRM database client and volunteer personal data, interactions, attendance records and outcomes.
9. Actively seek client and volunteer feedback to support service improvement, monitor satisfaction levels and complete case studies.
10. Represent the charity at community forums and networking events.
11. Conduct risk assessments where required in clients homes or venues, ensuring safety and suitability.
12. Promptly report any concerns regarding a clients safety or welfare to the line manager or designated safeguarding lead.
13. To adhere to all relevant organisation policies and procedures with particular reference to health & safety, safeguarding and GDPR.
14. To undertake appropriate training and personal development as required for the role.
15. To portray a positive image of the organisation both internally and externally.
16. To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably required, consistent with the nature and grade of the post.
All staff have an individual responsibility to comply with the organisations policies and practices.
A regular DBS check is a requirement of this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Desirable
- Good general education typically including Maths and English GCSE at grades C or equivalent.
Experience
Essential
- Experience of organising events, community activities and/or working with local communities.
- Proven ability to engage effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including service users in a front-facing role.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to quickly build rapport.
- Strong organisational and time management skills.
- Full driving licence with access to own transport and ability to travel across Coventry & Warwickshire.
- Self-motivated and the ability to work using own initiative.
- Team player.
- Empathetic & non-judgemental.
- Commitment to equality of opportunity.
Desirable
- An understanding of the challenges facing older/vulnerable people.
- Awareness of Health & Safety & Safeguarding principles.
- Promoting events or services and creating marketing material, including via social media.
- Good IT skills, including experience with CRM systems and Microsoft packages including Word and Outlook.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details
Employer name
Age UK Coventry and Warwickshire
Address
8 Clemens Street
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV31 2DL
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/coventryandwarwickshire/ (Opens in a new tab)
