Job Title:Advocacy & Information Officer – Paediatric and Adult (two year contract)

Location:Oxford – The John Radcliffe Hospital

Department:Campaigns, Care and Information

Responsible to:MDUK – Head of Clinical Development

Supported andDr David Hilton-Jones, Consultant Neurologist and Dr Saleel Sponsored by: Chandratre Consultant Paediatric Neurologist – The John Radcliffe Hospital

Responsible for:No direct reports but will supervise volunteers (peer support advisors, advocacy ambassadors)

Main purpose of job:

The OxfordAdvocacy and Information Officer will join a team that makes a real difference to the lives of people with muscle-wasting conditions living in Oxford and the peripheral areas.

This role will be primarily supporting both the adult and paediatric serviceswhich are based at the John Radcliffe Hospital. The post holder will be employed by Muscular Dystrophy UK, and hold an honorary contractat theJohn Radcliffe Hospital.The post holder will work with the Oxford Neuromuscular MDT, statutory organisations, clinicians, social and health professionals to ensure that people with muscle-wasting conditions get the care and support they need.

As a charity, we are now contacted by more families than ever before. Given this increase in numbers, the post holder will take leadership of welcoming new families to the charity in Oxford, working with all MDUK charity departments to do so.

Main areas of responsibility:

  1. DevelopMDUKsupport services locally, in order to reach more individuals and families living with muscle-wasting conditions in Oxfordshire accessing the Oxford centre as their tertiary neuromuscular centre
  2. Support the development of the charity’s advocacy and welfare service in Oxfordshire, by taking on individual advocacy cases – predominantly triaged by the adult and paediatric care advisors
  3. Manage, lead, and organisesmall support groups, events engaging and supporting families and individuals living with muscle wasting conditions
  4. Support clinical team to organise teaching/training events for professionals, and community teams.
  5. Recruit individuals living with the condition to become ‘Advocacy Ambassadors’; offering peer-to-peer advice and support

Main areas of responsibility:

  1. DevelopMDUK support services locally, in order to reach more individuals and families living with muscle-wasting conditions in Oxfordshire; accessing the Oxford centre as their tertiary neuromuscular centre
  • Deliver services which increase the number of people with muscle-wasting conditions supported and known to the charity, as well as the health professionals who work with them. This will involve making contact with new and existing supporters, updating them of the activities and functioning of the charity and provide any assistance or support that the charity is able to offer.
  • Proactively identify ways to engage with new individuals and families who make contact with the charity, providing a local contact point for resources and information from the charity. Working across the Care, Information and Campaigns teams as well as other MDUK departments to make this effective.

2Support the development of the charity’s advocacy and welfare service in Oxfordshire, by taking on individual advocacy cases, predominantly triaged by the adult and paediatric care advisors;

  • As part of Muscular Dystrophy UK’s Advocacy Service, taking on advocacy cases by supporting individuals and families to overcome difficulties in accessing services and benefits which they need, either solely or in conjunction with neuromuscular care advisors; providing home visits, support at tribunals and other necessary support.
  • Attend local clinics where indicated by the MDT, including but not limited to paediatric, adult, new and follow up clinics. Working closely with care advisors, specialist nurses, therapists, rehabilitation teams and clinicians.
  • Support clinical teams in outreach clinics across the region as indicated by the MDT.
  • If appropriate, to arrange regular advice sessions for people affected by muscle wasting conditions to answer questions on, for example, welfare entitlements, equipment provision, housing issues by writing supporting letters, liaising with social/welfare organisations and offering other advocacy support.
  • Outreach support – working with the care advisors to provide outreach support including visits in the community (depending on direction from the care advisors, case and required input), and attend tribunals to represent patients
  • Ensure Muscular Dystrophy UK material is up to date in muscle centres and clinics

3Manage, lead, and organisesmall support groups and events,engaging and supporting families and individuals living with muscle wasting conditions

  • Organise small support groups and events, engaging and supporting individuals and families living with muscle conditions.
  • Organise small location specific support group events and condition specific events. These could evolve into small geographically based support groups.
  • Organise support networks for hard to reach communities empowering individuals in the group to lead and organise future events.
  • Assist the clinical teams in organising group self management classes / events which could be condition specific or generic depending on the work need of the population as indicated by clinical teams from the centre.
  • Running workshops on benefit and welfare changes; advocacy information and support.
  • Arranging speakers from local community health and social care teams; on a range of issues such as disabled facilities grants and welfare changes.

4Support clinical team to organise teaching/training events for professionals, and community teams.

  • With direction from clinical teams, plan and organise teaching days in the community, to improve understanding of neuromuscular conditions and providing information about the support that MDUK are able to provide patients and clinicians.

5Recruit people living with the condition to become ‘Advocacy Ambassadors’; offering peer-to-peer advice and support

  • Identify, inspire and recruitpeople with neuromuscular conditions and family members who will offer peer-to-peer support to others living with similar conditions.
  • Support Ambassadors with opportunities for training, peer support with ambassadors from other regions; link with MDUK pro bono law firm in London to provide training where required.

Other:

  • To behave in accordance with the Charity’s values at all times
  • To behave in accordance with the hospital trusts values where honorary contracts are held
  • To prepareprogress reports for line manager and others as agreed
  • To attend monthly supervision sessions, team and project meetings as required
  • To undertake any other such tasks as requested by the line manager.

Education

A professional qualification in a care profession such as Nursing,
Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, etc. /

Essential

Good standard of Education to degree level /

Essential

Experience

Some experience of casework, advocacy and promoting the rights of individuals /

Essential

Good understanding of policy issues relating to disability and NHS commissioning /

Desirable

Good understanding of current changes to welfare /

Desirable

Experience of training and/or group facilitation and public speaking /

Desirable

Some experience of working in partnership with other groups /

Essential

Knowledge of neuromuscular conditions /

Desirable

Knowledge of Data Protection and also relevant aspects of Health & Safety legislation /

Essential

Skills and Personal Qualities

Understanding of the issues and the needs of people with disabilities
/

Essential

Strong telephone skills – negotiation and understanding skills /

Essential

Able to represent the Charity in a professional manner at all times
/

Essential

IT literate (MS Office preferable) including an understanding of relationship databases and their use in information management
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Essential

Good analytical skills and numerate /

Essential

Very good written and verbal communication skills
/

Essential

Able to work as an effective member of a team /

Essential

Able to carry out office administration tasks as part of role /

Essential

Very good organisational and time management skills
/

Essential

Professional conduct at all times with a positive and flexible attitude
/

Essential

Organisational skills - The ability to manage own time and tasks effectively. Taking an approach that is results orientated and systematic making you personally effective in managing own workload.
/

Essential

Team work - The ability to accept responsibility for own area of work, identifying critical elements and working in a pro-active/solution focused way to achieve.
/

Essential

Communication - The ability to represent Muscular Dystrophy UK effectively and professionally. Produces clear and effective communications appropriate to the audience, utilising the most appropriate channel and in keeping with brand guidelines.
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Essential

Self Development - The ability to constantly challenge and improve self and others demonstrating ambition for self and charity to achieve goals.
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Essential

Able to offer appropriate emotional support to adults and children
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Desirable

Details

Hours – 35per week
Holidays – 25 days

Evening and weekend activities involved – time off in lieu to be taken

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