St Helena Hospice

Safe Harbour Community Connector

The closing date is 09 November 2025

Job summary

The Community Connector plays a vital role in advancing the Safe Harbour service and ensuring equitable access to end-of-life care.

Main duties of the job

Champion the Safe Harbour mission by improving access to hospice and palliative care for underserved groups, including individuals with learning disabilities, members of the traveller community, people experiencing homelessness, unpaid carers, BAME and LGBTQ+ communities, and those affected by mental health challenges, substance use, socio-economic disadvantage, and neurodiversity.

Identify and cultivate a network of community assets, resources, and partnerships to support inclusive service delivery.

Actively engage with local groups, service providers, and members of the public to raise awareness of hospice services and promote understanding of end-of-life care options.

Collaborate with Safe Harbour communities to co-design and deliver meaningful events, activities, and projects that reflect their needs and values.

Provide tailored support to patients and families from marginalised backgrounds, helping them navigate services and access compassionate, culturally sensitive care.

Contribute to the delivery and development of the Compassionate Companions service, offering compassionate conversations around end-of-life planning to individuals at the end of life.

About us

Here at St Helena, we believe that everyone living with an incurable illness has the right to live and die with choice, compassion and dignity. Families deserve to be cared for and anyone coping with loss should be supported through their grief.

Our vision is to create a community where everyone knows that as the end of their story draws near, they will be cared for and die where they choose to be; where loved ones have the opportunity to make the most of life together, surrounded by people who care and support one another.

Since we opened in 1985, this belief drives us to provide the best end of life care and bereavement support to everyone in north east Essex, not just today but for years to come.

Since we opened in 1985, this belief drives us to provide the best end of life care and bereavement support to everyone in north east Essex, not just today but for years to come.

Details

Date posted

29 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£28,000 to £30,000 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0423-25-0017

Job locations

Myland Hall

Barncroft Close

Colchester

Essex

CO4 9JU


Job description

Job responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Community Connector may vary depending on current projects and organisational priorities. Key areas of focus include:

Community engagement:

To contribute to developing an evidence base that demonstrates the requirements for services that underserved populations require as part of the Safe Harbour team.

Foster meaningful relationships with marginalised communities through active participation in local events and initiatives.

Promote awareness of hospice services by attending public events, delivering presentations, and running outreach campaigns.

Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based community groups and activities, documenting outcomes and insights.

Patient and family care:

Conduct visits with patients and families in their home or mutually agreed location to facilitate future planning conversations and provide signposting to relevant services.

Provide signposting support to family carers, helping them access relevant resources and assistance.

To keep accurate patient and carer records.

Assist in the coordination and support of hospice volunteers.

Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings to advocate for patient-centred care and service integration.

General responsibilities:

Travel independently, in own car to patient homes and various community locations.

Build a network of contacts across professional and voluntary sectors and maintain database of local services.

To develop a network of professional and voluntary sector contacts and database of services

Represent Safe Harbour at internal and external meetings, forums, and networking events.

Contribute to St Helenas Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) group and support internal awareness initiatives.

Assist with the preparation of funding applications and gather impact evidence for reporting to funders.

Support the delivery of training courses and educational sessions.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Community Connector may vary depending on current projects and organisational priorities. Key areas of focus include:

Community engagement:

To contribute to developing an evidence base that demonstrates the requirements for services that underserved populations require as part of the Safe Harbour team.

Foster meaningful relationships with marginalised communities through active participation in local events and initiatives.

Promote awareness of hospice services by attending public events, delivering presentations, and running outreach campaigns.

Design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based community groups and activities, documenting outcomes and insights.

Patient and family care:

Conduct visits with patients and families in their home or mutually agreed location to facilitate future planning conversations and provide signposting to relevant services.

Provide signposting support to family carers, helping them access relevant resources and assistance.

To keep accurate patient and carer records.

Assist in the coordination and support of hospice volunteers.

Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings to advocate for patient-centred care and service integration.

General responsibilities:

Travel independently, in own car to patient homes and various community locations.

Build a network of contacts across professional and voluntary sectors and maintain database of local services.

To develop a network of professional and voluntary sector contacts and database of services

Represent Safe Harbour at internal and external meetings, forums, and networking events.

Contribute to St Helenas Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) group and support internal awareness initiatives.

Assist with the preparation of funding applications and gather impact evidence for reporting to funders.

Support the delivery of training courses and educational sessions.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience working in health and social care.
  • Experience working with socially-economically deprived and vulnerable people.
  • Experience running groups or activities.

Desirable

  • Experience in palliative care.
  • Experience handling complex family dynamics.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Able to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Able to show initiative in finding out about services to support patients and families.
  • Ability to liaise with health, social care professionals, and voluntary organisations in a constructive way.
  • Basic understanding of health and social care services.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Able to think creatively and take initiative.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • Basic IT skills.
  • Ability to keep accurate records.
  • Basic knowledge of safeguarding.

Desirable

  • A good understanding of the services provided for local patients and families.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Full drivers license and use of a car

Desirable

  • Health and social care related qualification
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience working in health and social care.
  • Experience working with socially-economically deprived and vulnerable people.
  • Experience running groups or activities.

Desirable

  • Experience in palliative care.
  • Experience handling complex family dynamics.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Able to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders.
  • Able to show initiative in finding out about services to support patients and families.
  • Ability to liaise with health, social care professionals, and voluntary organisations in a constructive way.
  • Basic understanding of health and social care services.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Able to think creatively and take initiative.
  • Good organisational skills.
  • Basic IT skills.
  • Ability to keep accurate records.
  • Basic knowledge of safeguarding.

Desirable

  • A good understanding of the services provided for local patients and families.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Full drivers license and use of a car

Desirable

  • Health and social care related qualification

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 Helena Hospice

Address

Myland Hall

Barncroft Close

Colchester

Essex

CO4 9JU


Employer's website

https://www.sthelena.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

St Helena Hospice

Address

Myland Hall

Barncroft Close

Colchester

Essex

CO4 9JU


Employer's website

https://www.sthelena.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Sherri mounteney

recruitment@sthelena.org.uk

Details

Date posted

29 October 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£28,000 to £30,000 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0423-25-0017

Job locations

Myland Hall

Barncroft Close

Colchester

Essex

CO4 9JU


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