Title: Community Networker -Suffolk Wellbeing Service

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Community Networker -Suffolk Wellbeing Service

Marginalised and Disadvantaged Communities

Location: Suffolk

Responsible to: Lead Community Development Worker

Hours:18.5 hour per week

Role Summary

To reduce and eliminate health inequalities in mental health, and support marginalised communities in promoting good mental health. The post holder will work towards ensuring that all mental health services in Suffolk are fully inclusive and competent to work to increase the confidence of marginalised and disadvantaged communities in accessing mental health services (across both specialist and primary care settings). The Community Networkers will work in partnership with the Suffolk Wellbeing Service and Community Development Team promoting active inclusion into community mental health support groups and services ensuring they are fully accessible.The post holder will also work to priorities as set by the Suffolk Wellbeing Service, and report regularly on progress and specific outcomes

Jobs at this level will:

• Work flexibly and creatively to deliver a strong outcomes focused service that achieves a high level of positive impact for those who use the service

• Positively influence and build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders to ensure that impact is achieved for individuals/groups of people we work with locally and nationally

• Require expert knowledge and understanding of their subject area

• Introduce innovative solutions to problems both internal and external to VoiceAbility

• Provide technical and professional information to a range of stakeholders

• Be responsible for a range of issues/activities requiring investigation to resolve

• Contribute to technical planning and have an understanding of the implications of predicted developments within the business discipline

• Provide feedback to the Service Manager (including sharing success stories and suggestions for improvement) to help shape future business strategy and give credibility/strength to VoiceAbility’s capability to influence

Key Role Competencies (as defined by VoiceAbility’s competency matrix):

(Competencies listed are core to the role requirements however are not limited to)

ACCOUNTABILITIES - The following accountabilities will apply to this role.

1. Responsible for delivering a high quality, efficient and effective Community Development service to marginalised communities in Suffolk, ensuring a consistently high standard is maintained and delivered in an empowering framework.

2.Champion the use of the Community Development service and the user’s voice in all activities, involving and consulting with service users and carers from marginalised communities in the planning, design and delivery of the Suffolk Wellbeing Service and other local services.

3. Provide effective support, advice and guidance to existing local community and voluntary groups in order to enhance partnership working in developing mental health services for hard to reach or disadvantaged groups in the community and promote the equality agenda.

4.Ensure strong relationship management of existing partners and stakeholders, including Suffolk Wellbeing Service and representatives from statutory services, to improve access to, and support the development of appropriate mental health services for marginalised and disadvantaged groups or communities.

5. Maintain appropriate records/paperwork including promotion of monitoring processes, to support and achieve and effective and efficient community development service

6.Be mindful of the budget set for the provision of the service and operate within the culture of cost awareness/savings/cost control, introducing efficiencies where appropriate.

7.Assist the Service Manager in developing new networks and relationshipsthat are inclusive of marginalised communities and disadvantaged groups, and targeting specific work in support of our strategic plan, linking in with local, regional and National Development frameworks.

8.Participate in various activities,including capacity building and facilitating training and development opportunities,to support the winning of new work/maintaining current income streams

9.Link in with other equality and diversity leads and Community Development Workers, at a local, regional and national level to identify equality in mental health services best practice. Implement opportunities for innovation, which leads to improved service and performance of VoiceAbility’s objectives. Share learning with colleagues so efficiencies can be introduced across the organisation (be an internal champion).

10.Live and breathe VoiceAbility’s valuesthrough own behaviourand by inspiring/guiding others in the way we work; challenge inequalities in mental health services for disadvantaged communities and address existing discrimination whilst ensuring a process of reflective learning for organisations.

11. Be proactive with own personal development.

All Job Descriptions and Accountabilities shall be subject to periodic review.

person specification – COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORKER Suffolk Wellbeing ServiceMarginalised and Disadvantaged Communities

Job Description – CDW – Sept 2012