Development Co-ordinator
– Central/ East England and London
(Three year funded project post)
CONTENTS
1. Letter from Moira Dennison, Head of Support Services
2. Background information
3. Job description and role profile
4. Main terms and conditions of employment
5. How to apply
Dear Applicant
Development Co-ordinator (Central/East England and London)
Thank you for your interest in working with Brain Tumour UK. This is an exciting three - year funded project post with the leading national caring charity providing support for anyone affected by a brain tumour, funding research into better treatments and care and raising awareness about brain tumours amongst everyone who can make a difference. The post covers 12 neuroscience centres based across and area that runs from Norfolk down to Essex, takes in London and then up across the home counties to the catchment area of the Oxford John Radcliffe in the Cotswolds.
Brain Tumour UK is a small and growing charity that works hard to reach out to everyone affected by a brain tumour. Around 16,000 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year. We care about each and every one of them. This is a new post and our first in the English regions.
If you require further information or an informal discussion about the post, please don’t hesitate to ring or email me at:
Tel: 01494 549184
Thank you again for your interest in working with Brain Tumour UK. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Moira Dennison
Head of Support Services
Brain Tumour UK
2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
About Brain Tumour UK
Brain Tumour UK is the leading, caring charity committed to fighting brain tumours by providing support, funding research and raising awareness.
Providing support
Brain Tumour UK has an extensive website full of useful information for patients and carers. We provide personalised support: • with a helpline and telephone chat groups; • by email; • through our busy social networks on Facebook and Twitter; • and through a growing number of support networks.
Funding research
With the support of thousands of generous donors and fundraisers, Brain Tumour UK funds world-class scientific research to improve quality of life for brain tumour patients, identify better treatments and, ultimately, defeat the disease.
Raising awareness
Brain Tumour UK works closely with patients, their families, healthcare professionals, scientists and related organisations to raise awareness amongst key decision-makers, service providers and the wider public, to change things for the better for everyone affected by a brain tumour.
Our organisation
Brain Tumour UK is both a registered charity and incorporated company, with our Chief Executive accountable to a Board of Trustees. We are going through an exciting period of growth and development. Our small but effective team is illustrated below with around 14 full and part-time staff operating mostly from our central office in Latimer, Bucks but with some staff home based. Where possible we seek to build capacity through involving volunteers including brain tumour patients and their families.
Brain Tumour UK is wholly dependent on public donations, sponsorship, charitable grants and legacies.
Our ambitious development plans for the period ahead seek to ensure that Brain Tumour UK continues to be recognised as the leading, caring national charity providing support, funding research and raising awareness, for the benefit of everyone affected by a brain tumour.
For more background information visit our website on www.braintumouruk.org.uk
The post-holder will need to contribute to the charities overall vision and direction working as a key player in a small and friendly team.
The post-holder will be responsible for managing their workload and is expected to act on their own initiative, developing and presenting their own ideas and strategies, helping to create and drive new developments forward.
The Support Services Team
· Run the helpline 9am-5pm Monday to Friday
· Co-ordinate and recruit to Phone Pals and Phone Pals Plus groups
· Answer enquiries by email, webmail and letter
· Co-ordinate the social networking sites
· Link in with existing brain tumour support groups and help establish new user led support networks and other initiatives
· Administer the Denny Care & Relief Fund
· Lead on the development and production of BTUK’s information
· Lead on the planning and delivery of Brain Tumour UK’s annual conference and other related events
· Make links with neuroscience centres, clinical nurse specialists, other charities, the Department of Health and relevant statutory providers in the regions and nations.
Development Co-ordinator – Central/East England and London
(initially a three - year funded development post)
Salary: £29,000 pa
Location: Home based in the area to be covered or willing to relocate
Purpose:
To help develop and be responsible for implementing a three - year plan for London, Central and East for Brain Tumour UK. This will enable the delivery of high quality, effective and impartial support and information services, including a network of self help groups, to help improve the choice and quality of life for brain tumour patients and their families and carers.
Reporting to: Head of Support Services
Responsible for: Volunteers
Key relationships:
· All BTUK staff and volunteers, particularly the Head of Support Services and the team
· Patients and carers
· Co-ordinators of patient support groups
· Healthcare professionals (including specialist nurses at neuroscience hospitals)
· Cancer Networks
· Health and voluntary sector groups and alliances as appropriate
· Project advisory group
Key result areas:
· Work with the Head of Support Services to research, develop and implement a three-year plan for Central and East within BTUK’s Business Plan and Support Services Strategy to enable brain tumour patients and carers to access our services
· Work collaboratively with neuroscience centres and local hospitals inthe area covered, in particular with neuro-oncology nurses, to ensure that patient and carer information and support needs are available to them throughout their brain tumour journeys and treatments.
· Keep informed of relevant health, social care and voluntary sector developments in the area covered and brief relevant staff accordingly.
· Establish and sustain relevant strategic partnerships; identify service gaps and initiatives to assist the development of effective solutions and sustainable services , to meet the needs of people affected by brain tumours,
· Help maximise opportunities to develop BTUK’s portfolio of services in the area covered.
· Follow up referrals from the helpline team, acting as a point of contact in the area covered for brain tumour patients and their carers needing local support.
· Input into the planning and running of the annual conference for patients and carers along with the Head of Support Services, other BTUK staff and volunteers.
· Identify potential patient and carer case studies in the area covered and ensure that information about the patient experience is used to inform decision making and service provision for people affected by brain tumours.
· Represent BTUK in health and voluntary sector networks as appropriate and share the resulting learning internally and externally.
· Establish and work with an advisory group of external/internal representatives to support this development.
· Set up and develop appropriate evaluation and monitoring processes against agreed quality standards, targets and budgets, providing a monthly management report.
· Ensure information, databases and patient records are maintained confidentially and safely.
· Identify roles for volunteers to assist in service delivery with emphasis on user involvement and recruit, train, support and supervise those volunteers. Represent the charity at events in the area covered where appropriate.
· Perform all duties in accordance with BTUK’s policies and procedures
· Undertake other tasks as appropriate to the role.
Competencies:
· Improving service delivery
· Focusing on outcomes
· Building and maintaining relationships
· Communications and influencing
· Planning and prioritisation
· Problem solving and decision making
· Dealing with change
· Learning and development
Development Co-ordinator Central/East England and London -Person Specification
Knowledge and
Understanding / Degree level or equivalent qualifications
Understanding of the NHS in health care provision and current issues
Understanding of the impact that a terminal diagnosis has on the people affected / Nursing, health or social care qualification
Knowledge of a range of neurological disorders and cancer.
Knowledge of brain tumours and related issues
Training in counselling
Experience / Track record of developing and providing patient/ carer support and services and/or user involvement in health, social or medical care settings
Developing groups including facilitation and management
Working with people who may be distressed, angry or anxious
Working in a person centred way as a team member
Working remotely / Experience of working with people affected by neurological disorders and/or people affected by brain tumours and/or people with disabilities
Working with volunteers including recruitment, support and supervision
Volunteering
Working for a small charity
Working with BAME groups in a health environment
Skills and abilities / Organised, self starter and capable of taking initiative
Sensitive approach and ability to empathise with the client group
Empathy with the aims, objectives and activities of BTUK
High level influencing skills and the ability to build relationships with a wide variety of individuals and groups
Excellent communication skills -written and oral including public speaking and presentations
The ability to liaise with health care professionals and patients and carers in an accessible and culturally appropriate way.
A commitment to empowering patients
Self reliant and confident IT user including internet, email, databases, spreadsheets and MS Office
Ability to work well under pressure
Commitment to continuing personal and professional development
Ability to grasp, retain, interpret and communicate complex medical and other information
Special Conditions / Own car and current driving licence
Ability and willingness to travel around the area, occasionally to the offices in Latimer and to work occasionally outside normal office hours
Living or be prepared to locate within the designated area of the post
4. MAIN TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
The purpose of this information is solely to provide prospective candidates with details relating to the post. It may not be construed as an offer of employment, nor does it form a part of the contract of employment or the job description.
Position in Organisation:
The post holder will play a key role within our small but growing staff team and will report directly to the Head of Support.
Location:
This post will be located at home and the post holder will be required to visit/work at other locations with travel across the area to be covered and occasionally elsewhere in the UK with reimbursement of expenses incurred.
Hours of work: Full-time, 35 hours a week, normally 9am – 5pm
References:
Any offer of employment and start date will be subject to the receipt of two professional references deemed satisfactory by Brain Tumour UK - one of which will be from your current employer.
Salary
£29,000 pa for a 35 hour per week.
Pension Scheme:
Brain Tumour UK does not currently operate a pension scheme. However we are planning to introduce one in the future and will make information available on this in due course.
Probationary Period:
This post is subject to a six-month probationary period followed by a performance review; on satisfactory completion of the probation period, appointments are confirmed in writing.
Notice period:
One week during the six-month probationary period. Two months after completion of the probationary period.
Hours of Work:
Full-time 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, but working will be flexible and may include some evening and weekend duties.
Holiday Entitlement:
The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December and the annual leave entitlement for the first year of full-time employment is 25 days rising to 28 days after 3 years and 30 days after 5 years, plus statutory public holidays.
Retirement Age:
Brain Tumour UK operates a flexible retirement policy that enables you to choose the time you wish to retire after you have reached 65 years.
Personal Development and Training:
Brain Tumour UK is committed where possible and practicable, to supporting the training and personal development of staff, volunteers and trustees to enable effective fulfilment of personal and team objectives. A yearly performance review for staff members seeks to identify individual development needs and options.
Health and Safety
All staff are expected to observe the Health and Safety at Work Regulations as set out by Brain Tumour UK in accordance with statutory requirements.
Equal Opportunities
Brain Tumour UK is committed to equal opportunities and appoints on merit. We welcome applicants from all sections of society regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, marital status, age, religion and community background.
5. HOW TO APPLY
To apply, please complete and submit the separate application and monitoring forms including a supporting statement of no more than two pages outlining how you meet the Job Description and Person Specification. Please also attach a Curriculum Vitae with further details of your employment history and qualifications.
Your application form should include the names, positions, organisations and telephone and email contact numbers for two referees including one from your current or recent employer.
Please ensure that you have included your work, home and telephone contact numbers and email addresses where requested. Applications should be made by email, fax or post and must be received by. Interviews are scheduled to take place
Please either email your full application to , fax to 01494 765209 or post to:
Anne Rodgers
Brain Tumour UK
Tower House
Latimer Park
Chesham HP5 1TU
Recruitment Process
Equal opportunity forms will be removed before the selection process. Data from them will be used to ensure that recruitment procedures are consistent with Brain Tumour UK’s Equal Opportunities policy.
All enquiries and applications will be treated in complete confidence. Should you decide to make a formal application, Brain Tumour UK will email receipt of your completed application form and let you know if you have been shortlisted for interview. If no further correspondence from us is received within 3 weeks of the closing date you must assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Timetable
Closing date: 5pm 3 June 2011
Interviews: Provisionally 17 June 2011 in Cambridge
The Brain Tumour UK website is www.braintumouruk.org.uk
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