Community Outreach Coordinator

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Communication and relationships

Build strong relationships with colleagues, service users and the wider community to deliver an effective programme of community activities

Develop strong links in the community to identify and coordinate service users with the most appropriate activity for their needs

Encourage participation in activities, conversations, and initiatives to improve lives of people with life-limiting illnesses

Encourage open conversation and break down the taboos associated with dying, death, loss, and grief

Guide volunteers to support the delivery of project activities

Be confident in the creation and delivery of presentations/training to a wide community audience

Communicate complex or sensitive information in an empathic manner to service users and their Carers/families

Act as a representative and ambassador of the Hospice at external events, maintaining the Hospices high reputation.

Analytical and judgemental skills

Identify needs of service users and recommend appropriate activities and provision within the community

To be able to plan and co-ordinate a range of community activities and identify the support required to make the activities accessible to the community

Assess eligibility of service users and maintain accurate records

Assess risk

Planning and organisational skills

Co-ordinate referrals from internal and external partners

Support Community Outreach Manager with meetings, events, and conferences to bring communities together for information and collaboration

Manage and prioritise own work to ensure the delivery of project outcomes

Monitor the effectiveness of initiatives and evaluate activities

Use spreadsheets and systems to produce reports

Physical skills

Maintain database and spreadsheets recording accurate data and outcomes.

A driving licence or the ability for independent travel is necessary

There may be a need to set rooms up/move tables and chairs

Patient/Client Care

Respond sensitively to the individuals and communities involved in the project, making referrals internally and externally as appropriate

Maintain privacy and dignity of all patients in the delivery of activities, recognising and respecting differences including spiritual and cultural beliefs

Policy and Service Development

Develop project plans and proposals to address identified areas of need

Feedback to Manager on the models of service delivery for best outcomes

Support the Manager in the development of initiatives to meet the needs of individuals and the community

Promote peer support and self-help responses to identified needs

Understand and adhere to Hospice policy and procedures

Financial and Physical Resources

Effective use of Community Outreach budget, dont travel unnecessarily, follow green working practices.

Human Resources

Attend any appropriate training requirements both statutory and mandatory

Required to preserve the confidentiality of any information regarding individuals supported by the project and the business aspects of St Cuthberts Hospice

Information Resources

Raise awareness and promote the Hospice services available to the community

Empower and facilitate individuals and communities to communicate their needs and wishes

Undertake administration associated with community activities and initiatives.

Have a good understanding of Microsoft packages, word, excel, database and power point and public engagement through presentation

Research and Development

Provide monitoring and evaluation reports to support the ongoing development of the Community Outreach project

Conduct periodic reviews of outcomes and satisfaction to provide evidence for continuous improvement

Freedom to Act

Works autonomously with ability to recognise limitations of knowledge, skills, and competencies and to seek guidance from Line Manager when appropriate

EFFORT & ENVIRONMENT

Physical

Light physical effort may be occasionally required (eg to set up rooms ready for meetings).

Lone working in a community setting

Mental

Expected to concentrate for periods of time and adapt to changing work requirements throughout the day.

Work may be varied and unpredictable creating a need to be flexible and adapt accordingly.

Emotional

Occasional exposure to emotional or distressing situations

Working Conditions

Post holder will often work alone and therefore must adhere to the lone working policy.

There will/may be a requirement to work outside of normal office hours.

There will be a requirement for home/remote working however there will be some availability of office space if required.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

All employees have a responsibility in line with information governance to maintain confidentiality and ensure the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998 are applied to patients, clients, staff, volunteers, and Hospice business information, including electronic information. Only information required to fulfil the duties of the role should be accessed by the post holder.

All employees have a responsibility to use electronic systems in a way that preserves the dignity and privacy of people, helps to ensure services of the highest quality, and is compliant with the law and Hospice policies and procedures

Health and Safety

The Hospice will take all reasonably practical steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its employees while at work. Employees will familiarise themselves with the Health and Safety Policy and procedure as well as the fire procedures and ensure a safe working environment for self and others in line with these.

Assesses the safety of the physical environment for groups and in community homes.

Safeguarding

All employees within the Hospice have a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and ensure they are protected from harm.

All employees should make themselves aware of the policies and procedures of safeguarding, take personal responsibility as far as is reasonably practicable, to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, complete statutory and mandatory training and take appropriate action as set out in the Hospices policies and procedures.

Infection Control

All employees have a responsibility to ensure the risk of infection to themselves, colleagues, patients, relatives and visitors is minimised by:

Attending mandatory training and role specific infection prevention education and training

Challenging poor infection prevention and control practices

Ensuring their own compliance with Hospice Infection Prevention and Control policies and procedure.

Equal Opportunities

The Hospice welcomes all persons without regard to race, religion or belief, age, gender re-assignment, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, marriage or civil partnership, physical or mental disability. The Hospice aims to provide services in a manner that enables all members of the community to access them.

Employees must behave in a non-judgemental manner that respects the differing needs and cultures of others.

Note: This post is deemed to require a Disclosure check via the Disclosure and Barring Service. Therefore, it will be necessary before the appointment to contact the DBS to check on any relevant criminal background.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities of the post and the post holder may be requested to carry out duties appropriate to the grade of the post.

The post may change over time to meet organisational/personal requirements, and this job description may be changed after consultation with the post holder

Some Flexibility in the hours worked will be essential at times to meet demands placed on our service.

The post holder shall perform their duties at any other reasonable location to which they may be directed from time to time by the Employer

Person Specification

Special Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel independently
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends to meet the requirements of the role

Desirable

• Ability to drive and access to car

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication skills
• Empathic, approachable, and compassionate
• Understanding of open culture around death, dying, grief and loss
• Understanding and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Ability to work under pressure and manage priorities effectively

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ level 4/Diploma in health and social care, health promotion or related subject
• or
• a NVQ level 4/Community Development qualification

Desirable

• Experience of working with our target populations. People living with life limiting illness, their families, Carers or following a bereavement.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to identify needs of service users and their communities, and to co-ordinate and support the delivery of community activities
• Ability to demonstrate a creative and innovative approach to problem-solving
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships and network with a wide range of individuals and groups
• Ability to work autonomously with an understanding of when to escalate to the appropriate level.
• Excellent verbal, written, IT and communication skills, (Word, Publisher, Power point, Excel or equivalent).
• Presentation skills / Virtual presentation

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working in health/social settings with people with life-limiting illnesses, (including Dementia) their Carers or those recently bereaved
• Experience of planning and co-ordinating meaningful activities
• Experience of working with people on a one-to-one basis providing support
• Experience of delivering presentations or training.
• Experience of collaborative working with external groups
• Experience of maintaining accurate records and report writing
• Experience of lone working

Desirable

• Experience of supporting the planning and delivery of community-led initiatives
• Experience of working in the voluntary sector or of guiding / supporting volunteers
• Familiar with identifying and removing barriers to engagement
• Experience of managing difficult and sensitive situations
• An understanding of our Everything in Place training course

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

St Cuthbert’s Hospice

Address

St. Cuthbert's Hospice

Park House Road

Durham

DH1 3QF

Employer's website

https://www.stcuthbertshospice.com/ (Opens in a new tab)