Renfrewshire is committed to finding ways of reducing inequalities and improving quality of life for our diverse ethnic communities, through systemic change and cultural understanding.

IN-Ren (Integration Network Renfrewshire) is a forum acting to ensure that ethnically diverse communities’ voices are being heard and involved in local services and decisions.

The IN-Ren Network Facilitator (funded by The National Lottery Community Fund) will:

• support improvement and change through awareness of, and access to, services available to the ethnically diverse communities of Renfrewshire

• support the promotion and awareness of a wide range of programmes, developed and delivered by IN-Ren members, aimed at reducing barriers to employment, health and cultural activity

• support community cohesion by supporting cultural programmes including events and campaigns

• further develop the membership of the Integration Network for Renfrewshire (IN-Ren)

The IN-Ren Network Facilitator will support an approach that includes a commitment to developing strong, sustained advocacy by empowering participants to act as local advocates themselves, and their growing communities.

The IN-Ren Network Facilitator will be aware of the need to empower participants to build well-resourced structures that have confidence, skills, and trusted relationships with local statutory partners at their core.

The Community Officer post will drive forward work in relation to preventing harm from tobacco, second-hand smoke and vaping, across Renfrewshire.

The post will have a targeted focus on early years, children and families, therefore focussing on groups identified as most at risk of harm.

The Community Officer will work with local community and third sector organisations to increase knowledge around the harms of tobacco, second-hand smoke and vaping, as well as providing support to access to local Quit Your Way Services which offer free stop-smoking support across Renfrewshire. The Quit Your Way team provide a friendly, knowledgeable and dedicated face-to-face, telephone or online support to individuals throughout their quit journey.

The Officer will share resources and services from within the Renfrewshire HSCP and NHS GGC to a range of network partners.

They will deliver awareness campaigns around the prevention of harm from tobacco, second-hand smoke and vaping, engage with community groups and collaborate with local organisations to promote healthier choices.

The Community Officer will increase capacity by working in partnership with community organisations to upskill staff on how to effectively share knowledge around the harms associated with tobacco, second-hand smoke and vaping, increase staff confidence in signposting on to relevant Quit Your Way Services and ensure that work feeds into relevant Tobacco and Vaping strategy via the Health Improvement Team.

The Officer will be a part of Engage’s Community and Voluntary Action (CAVA) Team and will be encouraged to link with other team members throughout the project to promote across existing networks and agendas.

The Officer will work closely with Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement Team and will be based 0.5 days a week within their office space at Linwood Health Centre to ensure collaborative working. Renfrewshire HSCP Health Improvement Team will provide professional support for the post holder throughout.