Age UK Hertfordshire

(Registered Charity No. 1116662)

Job Description

Job Title / Healthwise Countywide Coordinator
Department / Operations
Location / Based at Clitheroe Health and Wellbeing Centre
Hours / 21 hours per week, worked over 3 days
Salary / £21,728 per annum (FTE)
Funding / Fixed-term until 9th December 2015, with the possibility of an extension, subject to funding
Reports to / Healthwise Countywide Team Leader
Responsible for / Healthwise Volunteers
Benefits/ entitlements / Contributory Pension Scheme
Health Cash Plan after six months service
Travel expenses at 40p per mile are paid for the use of your car insured for business purposes in the course of your work. It does not include travel from home to normal place of work.

Main purpose of the post:

·  To deliver a new community based project for older people who have mild to moderate depression and/or have been newly diagnosed with dementia – services include healthy eating sessions, physical activity sessions, digital inclusion sessions and socialisation. Ensuring access for older people including those living in rural areas of the county. Services will be provided at the older person home or in a group setting using a variety of different community venues.

·  The primary aim of this project is to improve mental, physical well-being and socialisation. This will be achieved through the dissemination of healthy living and healthy eating information and advice and encouragement to participate in activities which promote physical and mental wellbeing and prevent social isolation. It will also be achieved through socialisation and digital inclusion.

Responsibilities/ Duties / Tasks

·  Set up and facilitate weekly exercise, nutrition and/or activity groups or one-to-one sessions for service users across one half of the county including rural areas. Groups to run at a variety of local community venues to ensure accessibility to all older communities.

·  Set up and facilitate weekly digital inclusion and or social activity groups or one-to-one sessions for service users across one half of the county including rural areas. Groups to run at a variety of local community venues to ensure accessibility to all older communities.

·  To set-up and support Healthwise Countywide groups to self-facilitate their groups and continue meeting after their 10 support sessions (facilitated by a Healthwise Countywide member of staff) have ended.

·  To book facilitators to support sessions as required budget permitting and with agreement of Team Leader

·  Recruit and supervise volunteers who will be trained to work with service user groups, service users at home and within their local community.

·  Partake in regular supervision, including peer group support, and arrange training sessions for volunteers.

·  Meet and assess prospective service users to ascertain their needs and preferences – including cultural and ethnic needs.

·  Personally introduce volunteers to service users/ groups and ensure compatibility.

·  With other project workers, promote volunteering throughout the district by using the media, attending public events and generally raising the profile of Age UK Hertfordshire and participate in national campaigns e.g. Your Rights Week, Volunteers Week, Age UK Week.

·  Help service users’ access mainstream and community services and activities which promote well-being and social inclusion.

·  Keep computer records/ client database up to date and provide quarterly reports and monthly statistics to Team Leader

·  Actively engage service users in the development of the project and to communicate regularly with service users and volunteers to obtain feedback. Observe and record outcomes for service users using SOUL (soft outcome monitoring tool).

·  To achieve targets as agreed with Team Leader

·  Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with colleagues to ensure effective team working.

·  To partake in the Healthwise Countywide steering group – quarterly meetings

·  Attend and participate in Age UK Hertfordshire meetings and attend other meetings as requested by line manager.

·  To partake in conferences, presentations and agreed with line manager

·  To attend training, supervision sessions and appraisals as required

·  Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with mental health, health and social care professionals to develop an integrated support process for older people

·  To implement Joint Working Partnerships with organisations referring into Healthwise Countywide

·  To adhere to and implement AUKH health and safety policy and procedures, (within the area of responsibility), ensuring all practices and procedures are undertaken in accordance with a healthy and safe working environment and that all volunteers for whom you may be responsible are aware of their responsibilities in respect of their role, monitoring data and recommending action as required

·  To comply with Data Protection regulations ensuring that all information about service users remains confidential

·  Work within Age UK Hertfordshire’s policies and procedures and current legislation for volunteer based projects – including confidentiality; working within professional boundaries; data protection etc.

·  To work with the Team Leader to ensure the long-term sustainability of the project

·  Undertake any other duties as required by the Team Leader

‘In addition to the duties and responsibilities list, the job holder is required to perform other duties assigned by the line manager from time to time which are commensurate with capability and status’.

Additional Information

Confidentiality: Attention is drawn to the confidential aspects of this job and personal responsibility and liability under the Data Protection Act 1998. Matters of confidential nature, including information relating to clients or staff, must not under any circumstances be divulged to any unauthorised person.

Health & Safety: The post holder is required to take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of other people who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work and to ensure that statutory regulations, policies and codes of practice and departmental safety rules are adhered to.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement: We believe that equality for all is a basic human right and actively oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. We celebrate the diversity of society and are striving to promote and reflect that diversity within this organisation.

DBS: ENHANCED CHECK

ID BADGE: REQUIRED

APPOINTMENT OF THIS POSITION IS SUBJECT TO SATISFACTORY REFERENCES.

Healthwise Countywide Coordinator 1