First Community Health and Care

Communication & Engagement Officer

The closing date is 03 August 2025

Job summary

Neighbourhood navigation (social prescribing) is an exciting NEW service for East Surrey enabling GPs, nurses, other health and care and social professionals to refer or recommend people into a range of local, non-clinical community-based services across the Joy platform.

The Engagement role will form a key part of a new team delivering this new service. We would love to hear from you if you are a passionate, organised, and community-minded individual, with a strong background in community development. You will bring proven experience of engaging with underrepresented or priority groups alongside the confidence to attend meetings to promote the service and build trusted relationships with diverse stakeholders.

We would love to hear from you if you are skilled in juggling your workload, you will be comfortable managing competing deadlines while maintaining high standards and attention to detail. You will have excellent communication skills and engage partners remotely and in person.

Main duties of the job

The comms and engagement officer will engage and build relationships with a range of local stakeholders across East Surrey promoting the key benefits of the service. You will also work closely and build relationships with the local neighbourhoods and Primary Care networks (PCNs) and be the main point of contact for enquiries and development of the Joy marketplace.

You will meet and communicate with a wide variety of local groups to understand what services they provide and encourage them to sign up to the Joy marketplace to support referrals.

Work with our Communications team and provide regular service updates.

About us

Do you want to be part of an organisation that was rated best provider of NHS care to work for nationwide? (2023 staff survey results)

First Community is a staff owned social enterprise rated Good by CQC, which delivers NHS community services across east Surrey and parts of West Sussex. We are looking for individuals who share our values First-rate care, First-rate people, First-rate value.

First Community is a great place to work, everyone has a voice and is supported to develop their career to its full potential. We offer all our staff: NHS terms and conditions, high quality training and development opportunities, flexible working to enable a good work life balance, an inclusive and friendly work environment, an NHS pension, flexible retirement options and various employee benefits.

Please talk to us before applying or at interview about the flexibility you need. We may not be able to meet your needs exactly, but we do promise to fully consider your request and meet your needs where possible. Please note, flexible working options may vary depending on the role.

At First Community we welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. We ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments.

Sustainability is integral to First Community achieving the NHS Net Zero target.

Details

Date posted

17 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year +5% HCAS per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B9078-FC1047

Job locations

First Community Health & Care

Kings Mill Lane

Redhill

RH1 5JY


Job description

Job responsibilities

To support and promote the development and delivery of the East Surrey Neighbourhood Navigation (social prescribing service) and the digital Joy platform. The Joy platform allows health professionals to access preventative care options for patients that will lead to a better, long term health outcome for people. The service will be aligned and integrated with the five East Surrey neighbourhoods and the local health and wellbeing networks.

Raise the profile and awareness of the service and Joy with local groups, services and partners within East Surrey and integrate and the local neighbourhoods. Understand the needs of the wider population and the assets within the local communities. Engage and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the system and link into the local support networks. Provide regular service updates on the wider benefits of the service.

The new service will be working in partnership with key stakeholders in East Surrey including GP practices, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Growing Health together, Local Authorities, Voluntary Community and social Enterprises (VCSE), Ageing well steering group, East Surrey Place, local community providers and Community link workers.

Facilitating conversations with wider Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) to share contributions, expertise and knowledge that social prescribers bring and supporting shared decision making.

When completing your application please refer to both the Application Guide and full Job Description & Person Specification - these can be found under supporting documents.

Job description

Job responsibilities

To support and promote the development and delivery of the East Surrey Neighbourhood Navigation (social prescribing service) and the digital Joy platform. The Joy platform allows health professionals to access preventative care options for patients that will lead to a better, long term health outcome for people. The service will be aligned and integrated with the five East Surrey neighbourhoods and the local health and wellbeing networks.

Raise the profile and awareness of the service and Joy with local groups, services and partners within East Surrey and integrate and the local neighbourhoods. Understand the needs of the wider population and the assets within the local communities. Engage and maintain relationships with key stakeholders across the system and link into the local support networks. Provide regular service updates on the wider benefits of the service.

The new service will be working in partnership with key stakeholders in East Surrey including GP practices, Primary Care Networks (PCNs), Growing Health together, Local Authorities, Voluntary Community and social Enterprises (VCSE), Ageing well steering group, East Surrey Place, local community providers and Community link workers.

Facilitating conversations with wider Integrated Neighbourhood Team (INT) to share contributions, expertise and knowledge that social prescribers bring and supporting shared decision making.

When completing your application please refer to both the Application Guide and full Job Description & Person Specification - these can be found under supporting documents.

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent people and communication skills.
  • Able to communicate clearly and engage with and influence people and networks at all levels.
  • Able to work with and understand the diverse range of community partners across East Surrey.
  • Understanding of local population health data.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills.
  • Ability to work to deadlines often with changing and competing priorities.
  • Attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Excellent listening and interpersonal skills.
  • Commitment to shared decision making when working with individuals.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Desirable

  • Maintaining effective working relations at all levels.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within social prescribing, voluntary/community sector, primary care, public health or health promotion.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to A Level or equivalent, or you have relevant experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good understanding of health and wellbeing issues, health inequalities, wider determinants of health and social prescribing.
  • Good Understanding of the local communities and networks covered by this service (East Surrey).
  • Ability to manage varying workloads and prioritise tasks.
  • Good IT and administrative skills e.g., Microsoft Office, databases and web platforms.
  • Full driving licence and access to a car.

Desirable

  • A good understanding of social media and web-based channels.
  • Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team.
  • Flexible, adaptable, and creative.
Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent people and communication skills.
  • Able to communicate clearly and engage with and influence people and networks at all levels.
  • Able to work with and understand the diverse range of community partners across East Surrey.
  • Understanding of local population health data.
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills.
  • Ability to work to deadlines often with changing and competing priorities.
  • Attention to detail and accuracy.
  • Excellent listening and interpersonal skills.
  • Commitment to shared decision making when working with individuals.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Desirable

  • Maintaining effective working relations at all levels.

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working within social prescribing, voluntary/community sector, primary care, public health or health promotion.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Educated to A Level or equivalent, or you have relevant experience

Knowledge

Essential

  • Good understanding of health and wellbeing issues, health inequalities, wider determinants of health and social prescribing.
  • Good Understanding of the local communities and networks covered by this service (East Surrey).
  • Ability to manage varying workloads and prioritise tasks.
  • Good IT and administrative skills e.g., Microsoft Office, databases and web platforms.
  • Full driving licence and access to a car.

Desirable

  • A good understanding of social media and web-based channels.
  • Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team.
  • Flexible, adaptable, and creative.

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

First Community Health and Care

Address

First Community Health & Care

Kings Mill Lane

Redhill

RH1 5JY


Employer's website

https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

First Community Health and Care

Address

First Community Health & Care

Kings Mill Lane

Redhill

RH1 5JY


Employer's website

https://www.firstcommunityhealthcare.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Service Manager - Transformation

Kate Kent

k.kent@nhs.net

07866219703

Details

Date posted

17 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 4

Salary

£27,485 to £30,162 a year +5% HCAS per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

B9078-FC1047

Job locations

First Community Health & Care

Kings Mill Lane

Redhill

RH1 5JY


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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