Everyday people with chest, heart and stroke conditions are leaving hospital scared and alone. You can be part of our mission to make sure that there is No Life Half Lived in Scotland.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to be part of stroke education to help impact and improve stroke care.

By joining Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) as the National Stroke Educator you can be the difference between people just surviving and really living.

You will be part of Scotland’s leading charity providing support to people with chest, heart and stroke conditions to live life to the full again. Our Community Health Support Services form a nationwide network of local support groups, nurses, volunteers and one-to-one support teams helping families adjust to life with a heart or lung condition or after a stroke.

As the CHSS National Stroke Educator you will be responsible for planning and delivering online and face to face national education sessions and collaborating with NHS boards and organisations to enhance clinical practice and patient outcomes through education.

All education will be aligned to SSCA Standards of Care (SSCA 2023), National Stroke Improvement Plan (SG 2023) and Progressive Stroke Pathway (SG 2022) guidelines and standards ensuring educational content is based on current evidence and best practice.

You will be part of our experienced professional engagement team who are dedicated to improving healthcare through education, health information and Elearning resources. Some training may be delivered in conjunction with the CHSS Regional Stroke Educators.

We are seeking a passionate and dedicated national stroke educator to join us to deliver high quality stroke education programmes to healthcare professionals across Scotland. This is an autonomous role and, as such, you will be responsible for all aspects of the development and roll out of a national programme of stroke education.

At CHSS, we are committed to supporting continuing professional development (CPD) through funding and training opportunities. As well as support through our Professional Registration Network. This network offers healthcare professionals across the organisation a structured, supportive drop-in environment to help them maintain their professional registration through ongoing learning, reflective practice, and peer support.

If you think this post could be for you, we would love to hear from you.

For informal enquiries about this post please contact Katrina McCormick

Email: katrina.mccormick@chss.org.uk

Full details of this post can be found in the attached National Stroke Educator role profile.

CHSS also supports flexible recruitment through Working Families and we are “Happy to Talk Flexible Working”.

In line with our commitment to safeguarding, this role is subject to a PVG check. CHSS is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a service which is free from unfair and unlawful discrimination. We therefore aim to ensure that no applicant, volunteer or member of staff is unfairly treated on the grounds of offending background.

At Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, we believe lived experience is expertise.

We are on an ambitious journey to make lived experience a golden thread running through everything we do. Not as a one-off consultation. But as a meaningful partnership where people living with chest, heart, stroke and Long Covid conditions help shape decisions, influence priorities and improve services.

That's why we're looking for a passionate and skilled Lived Experience Coordinator to help us build and deliver an exciting new programme of involvement and co-production across the organisation.

If you have experience of co-production, participation, and/or community involvement, and believe in the power of people's experiences to create better services and stronger organisations, we'd love to hear from you.

Why this role matters

Every day, people across Scotland are adapting to life with a chest, heart, stroke or Long Covid condition. Their experiences hold powerful insights about what works, what doesn't, and what needs to change.

As our Lived Experience Coordinator, you will play a leading role in making sure those voices are heard and acted upon. You will help create opportunities for people to influence everything from service design and improvement to strategy, governance and organisational decision making.

Who we're looking for

We're looking for someone who combines strong engagement skills with a genuine belief in the value of lived experience.

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape a developing organisational strategy from the ground up. You'll join a supportive and ambitious team with a clear vision: to ensure people with lived experience are not simply consulted, but are genuine partners in shaping the future of CHSS.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Influence organisational culture and practice.
• Develop innovative approaches to co-production.
• Build partnerships and networks across Scotland.
• Work directly with people whose insight can create meaningful change.
• Contribute to a growing movement for lived experience leadership in health and social care.

In return, CHSS offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Company pension scheme
• Company sick pay
• Life assurance
• Employee wellbeing support
• Flexible working options

Our commitment

CHSS is committed to creating an inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences.

CHSS also supports flexible recruitment through Working Families, and we are “Happy to Talk Flexible Working”.

In line with our commitment to safeguarding, this role is subject to a Basic Disclosure check. CHSS is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a service which is free from unfair and unlawful discrimination. We therefore aim to ensure that no applicant, volunteer or member of staff is unfairly treated on the grounds of offending background.

Together, we can ensure that no life is half lived.

Make a Difference Every Day

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is seeking a compassionate, organised and experienced Advice Line Coordinator to join our advice line team. This is an exciting opportunity to support people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions, as well as their families, carers and healthcare professionals, by providing high-quality information, guidance and support.

This role is primarily home-based, working Monday to Friday 0900 – 1630 hours. Initial training will be delivered in person at our Head Office in Edinburgh, and the successful candidate must be willing and able to travel occasionally throughout Scotland to attend events, meetings and represent Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.

About the Role

As Advice Line Coordinator, you will be responsible for coordinating and delivering our advice line service, supporting people through a range of communication channels including telephone calls, emails, text messages and web referrals

You will respond to enquiries from members of the public, carers and healthcare professionals, providing information, emotional support and practical advice. The role involves assessing individual needs, making referrals to appropriate internal services, signposting to external organisations, and supporting people with a range of wellbeing, advocacy, cost of living and benefits-related enquiries.

You will also recruit, train and manage a team of volunteers who will support service users through telephone and other remote contact methods.

Key Responsibilities

• Respond professionally, empathetically and effectively to enquiries received by telephone, email and text message.
• Provide information, support and guidance to people affected by chest, heart and stroke conditions.
• Assess individual needs and make appropriate referrals to Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland services and programmes.
• Signpost callers and service users to relevant external organisations, statutory services and support agencies.
• Support service users with wellbeing concerns and provide information relating to welfare benefits, advocacy services and cost of living support.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with NHS Scotland professionals, community organisations and partner agencies.
• Recruit, train, support and supervise volunteers who assist with service delivery.
• Monitor volunteer activity and ensure a consistently high-quality service.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records in line with organisational policies and data protection requirements.
• Represent Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland at events and meetings as required.

About You

Applicants must have the legal right to work in Scotland and be resident in the UK at the time of appointment. Unfortunately, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is unable to provide visa sponsorship and cannot consider applications from candidates requiring sponsorship to work in the UK

Essential

• Experience working in a telephone-based advice line, helpline, customer support or care coordination role.
• Experience managing enquiries across multiple communication channels, including telephone, email and messaging services.
• A good understanding of NHS Scotland and Social Care Services, pathways and referral processes.
• Excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
• Experience supporting members of the public, carers and/or vulnerable individuals.
• Confidence in assessing needs and identifying appropriate support options.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience recruiting, training and supporting volunteers and/or staff.
• Good IT skills and the ability to maintain accurate records and case notes.
• Ability to work independently in a home-based environment.

Desirable

• Knowledge or experience of chest, heart and stroke conditions.
• Experience working within the charity, health or social care sectors.
• Basic understanding of welfare benefits, advocacy services, cost of living and wellbeing support.
• Experience working collaboratively with healthcare professionals and external agencies.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to attend in-person training at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland's Head Office in Edinburgh.
• Willingness and ability to travel occasionally throughout Scotland to attend events, meetings and stakeholder engagements.
• Access to a suitable home-working environment.

What You'll Bring

You will be empathetic, proactive and committed to delivering outstanding support to people affected by long-term health conditions. You will have the confidence to manage complex enquiries, work collaboratively with colleagues and partners, and motivate volunteers to deliver excellent service to those who need our support.

Join us and help ensure that nobody in Scotland must face chest, heart or stroke conditions alone.

Everyday people with chest, heart, stroke and Long Covid conditions are leaving the hospital scared and alone. You can be part of our mission to make sure that there is no life half lived in Scotland.

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is looking for an experienced and motivated Advice Line Clinical Lead Practitioner to provide strong leadership for our Clinical Advice Line Team, supporting people affected by chest, heart, stroke, Long Covid conditions and Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA).

This is an exciting opportunity for a registered healthcare professional to combine clinical leadership, people management and service development, ensuring high-quality, person-centred care while driving performance,

continuous improvement and delivery of organisational priorities.

About the Role:

Reporting to the Deputy Head of Service Delivery (Triage, Clinical & Support Line Operations), you will lead a team of clinical practitioners delivering telephone and video-based clinical case management and support services.

You will be responsible for clinical governance, service quality, workforce performance and achievement of service KPIs.

You will use performance data, service user feedback and quality outcomes to drive improvement and support strategic service development. The role will also provide leadership and operational support to the Stroke Nurse Team in the

absence of the Stroke Nurse Lead.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, develop and support the Clinical Advice Line Team.
• Deliver agreed KPIs, quality standards and service outcomes.
• Monitor performance, caseloads and service capacity.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and coaching.
• Lead quality assurance, audit and continuous improvement activity.
• Ensure effective risk management, safeguarding and clinical governance.
• Support recruitment, performance management and workforce planning.
• Contribute to organisational strategy and service development.
• Build effective relationships with NHS and third-sector partners.
• Support the Stroke Nurse Team during periods of leadership absence

About You:

Applicants must be resident in the UK, have the legal right to work in the UK, and possess a good understanding of Scotland's health and social care landscape. Unfortunately, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland is unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Essential:

• UK-recognised first-level Nursing qualification with current NMC registration, or UK-recognised Allied Health Professional qualification with current HCPC registration.
• Significant post-registration clinical experience.
• Proven experience leading and managing clinical teams.
• Experience delivering services against KPIs, quality standards and organisational objectives.
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, safeguarding and quality improvement.
• Experience using performance data to inform decision-making and service improvement.
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a home-based environment.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting people affected by chest, heart, stroke or Long Covid conditions.
• Leadership or management qualification.
• Experience in service redesign, quality improvement or change management.
• Experience managing budgets and resources.

What You'll Bring:

You will be an experienced clinical leader with the ability to motivate and develop others, deliver against organisational priorities and maintain a strong focus on quality, performance and person-centred care. Most importantly, you will share our ambition that there should be No Life Half Lived for people living with chest, heart, stroke and Long Covid conditions.

Join us and help shape and lead life-changing clinical services across Scotland.

We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with a clinical qualification and registered with a UK Clinical Body (such as NMC, HCPC) and have demonstrable experience in a management role. A robust knowledge of one or more of our conditions is essential. Management/Leadership qualification desirable but not essential.

CHSS employees enjoy a variety of organizational benefits including Company pension scheme, generous holiday allowance, company sick pay, employee welfare support and life assurance.

CHSS also supports flexible recruitment through Working Families, and we are “Happy to Talk Flexible Working”.

In line with our commitment to safeguarding, this role is subject to a PVG check. CHSS is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a service which is free from unfair and unlawful discrimination. We therefore aim to ensure that no applicant, volunteer or member of staff is unfairly treated on the grounds of offending background.