EDINBURGH VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS COUNCIL

2 x Community Activity Mentors

(Fixed term arrangement for twelve months from appointment)

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE

Community Activity Mentor

ACCOUNTABILITY

The post holder will be line managed bythe NHS Lothian Headroom Manager, with support from the EVOC Deputy Director and through her/him would be accountable to the EVOC Management Board.

PURPOSE OF POST

Based within a GP surgery, pharmacy or library, the post holder will liaise with primary care practitioners to identify additional, often Third Sector, activities and services that a patient can be encouraged to access, to improve their lifestyle and life circumstances. Acting as a mentor with patients and bridging primary care with community assets are the key functions of this post.

KEY TASKS

  • Develop relationships with patients/clients of all ages in order to encourage engagement with services
  • Encourage patients to maintain healthy lifestyles
  • Develop and maintain knowledge of other service providers, sharing this information with practice staff and other colleagues
  • Build excellent working relationships with third sector, health and social care services and other local community providers
  • Liaise with patients’ key stakeholders with their full written consent, including GPs, other health practitioners, local service providers and possibly family members or carers
  • Post 1 – Focus on pharmacy and working with businesses on skills transfer to pharmacy counter staff and managers
  • Post 2 – Focus on developing collaborative working between health link-workers, community navigators and related posts across Edinburgh to share good practice.

HOURS OF WORK

Working hours are 35 hours per week. EVOC operates a Time Off in Lieu (TOIL) system and overtime is not paid.

EVOC CONTEXT

Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council’s (EVOC) purpose is to support, promote, develop and represent the Third Sector. We play a key role in supporting pioneering, new and innovative ways of working for Third Sector organisations and community groups that work in Edinburgh. EVOC actively promotes, participates in and contributes to partnership working between the voluntary, public, private and community sectors at a local and national level.

EVOC has set 5 strategic objectives 2012-15. These objectives will be central to all potential developments, team and individual work plans.

  1. Consulting, supporting and representing the Sector
  2. Building the capacity of and developing the Sector
  3. Developing partnership approaches, principles and practice
  4. Providing improved services by supporting and developing our people
  5. Being a high quality, effective and developing organisation

PROJECT CONTEXT

This project is being delivered as a partnership between EVOC and NHS Lothian’s Headroom initiative.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

Specific knowledge and skills required include:

  • An understanding and knowledge of community development theory, principles, policy and practice especially in the context of areas of deprivation experiencing health inequalities;
  • Knowledge of issues in working with people who may be isolated, have long term conditions or are experiencing poor mental health and the third sector organisations that exist to support them;
  • Communication, research and presentation skills (reports, meeting management, presentations etc.);
  • Collaboration and partnership skills;
  • Analytical and evaluation skills;
  • Facilitation and mediation skills;
  • Planning and work management skills.

PLACE OF WORK

The post holder will be based in a variety of locations in South West and East Edinburgh. The work of the project will require travel across the city, for which expenses will be paid.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

In accordance with the conditions for staff set out in the EVOC Staff Handbook. This post will be subject to a PVG check.

SECONDMENTS

Secondments to this post are welcome.

ANNUAL LEAVE

Annual leave entitlement will be a pro-rata calculation based upon the principle of 1FTE for one year is entitled to 25 days annual leave, and ten public holidays.

SALARY

This post is remunerated at EVOC Grade 4, point 30 on the Scottish Joint Council (SJC) salary scaleat £26,497.

PENSION

This post is entitled to join EVOC’s group personal pension scheme operated by Scottish Widows. EVOC contributions are set at 6% of salary and staff members are required to contribute a minimum of 6% as well to this scheme.

SUPERVISION

Regular support and supervision will be provided by the NHS Lothian Headroom Manager, with support from the EVOC Deputy Director.

April 2015