Voluntary Action Angus (VAA) have an exciting new employment opportunity working in partnership with Macmillan cancer support, Angus Council and Angus Health and Social care Partnership. Voluntary Action Angus is expanding our existing Social Prescribing service with advertising this new opportunity to further our reach into the community of Angus.

VAA are looking to recruit an Improving the Cancer journey Social Prescriber to cover the whole of Angus on a three year fixed term contract.

To deliver social prescribing in Arbroath taking additional responsibility for connecting with wider VAA Locality workers, third sector and strategic partner opportunities, and connecting GP practices with community based opportunities which help improve well-being.

Key Responsibilities:

The role will involve supporting personal options and choice for patients to help improve well-being , referring patients to comprehensive social care services, taking referrals and ensuring that you target groups and communities most in need and helping them to live a healthier, happier life. This is a very stimulating role that will allow you to work with a wide range of people such as GP’s Statutory partners such as Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and voluntary organisations and will also include patients with:

• one or more long-term conditions
• In need of support with improving mental well being
• who may endure loneliness or isolation
• experience poverty and inequalities which may be a determinant to poor health.
• Have concerns about drug and alcohol issues.
• who have complex social needs which affect their well-being

Person Specification

Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provider person-centred support in a non-judgmental way.
• Ability to provide a culturally sensitive service, supporting people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity.
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from diverse communities
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, verbally in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies, and stakeholders.
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals.
• Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer peopleback to other health professionals/agencies. Be aware of when the person’s needs are beyond thescope of the link worker role. E.g. when there is a need for a qualified health practitioner’s input.
• Ability to work from an asset-based approach building on existing community and personal assets.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and promote collaborative practice with all colleagues.
• Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies (including VCSE organisations and community groups). Able to work with others to reduce hierarchies and find creative solutions to community issues.
• Can demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and ability to work well under pressure.
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative (including when under pressure and meeting deadlines).
• High level of written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative.
• Understanding the needs of small volunteer-led community groups and an ability to support their development.
• Ability to provide motivational coaching to support people’s behavior change.
• Knowledge, and ability to work to, policies and procedures including confidentiality, safeguarding, long working, information governance and health and safety.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable commitment to professional personal development
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience
• Experience of working in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health /health improvement (including unpaid work.
• Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work).
• Experience of supporting their mental health, within a paid or unpaid informal capacity.
• Experience of working with the VCSE sector in paid or unpaid capacity including with volunteers or small groups.
• Experience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services.
• Experience of partnership /collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
• Knowledge of personalised care approach
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carers.
• Knowledge of community development approaches
• Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Knowledge of I.T. systems, including ability to use word-processing skills, email and internet to create simple plans and reports (eg word, powerpoint, excel).
• Knowledge pf VCSE and community services in the locality.
• Knowledge of the HHS workings including Primary Care.

Other

• Is PVG Scheme Registered

• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands
• Access to own transport and an ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis including to visit people in their own homes.

Operational Development and Duties

1. To devise and implement an effective pathway for patients, addressing their holistic and non-medical needs. Principally, this will be devised with VAA locality workers, locality locator and other partners.
2. To ensure that a process of ‘soft handover’ is completed with each patient including an initial assessment that includes:
   1. Risk assessment
   2. An agreed action plan, assisting and encouraging clients to make their own decisions and choices.
   3. Conducting reviews with patients to ensure useful and sustainable benefits have been achieved.
3. To develop and promote Social Prescribing and wider community involvement and participation in the Social Prescribing Project.
4. To process and update monitoring information for clients including updating the Locality Locator.
5. To produce monthly and quarterly reports in line with contractual agreements through VAA’s Appraisd system.
6. To ensure that end-of-programme evaluations and reports are produced as required for internal and external purposes where appropriate.
7. To participate in training, learning and development as determined by the line manager and SP steering group.
8. To market and represent the SP Project widely at all levels to ensure maximum awareness of the service.

Other Duties

1. To ensure adherence to, and implementation of, all relevant legislation and VAA and GP practices policies.
2. To participate in ongoing supervision and appraisals including relevant VAA internal reporting systems.
3. To attend meetings of the Health Centres in Angus and participate in MDT activity as required.
4. To create and maintain good working relations with HSCI members, staff, colleagues and clients.
5. To operate Health and Safety at Work procedures.
6. To carry out any other reasonable duties required by the VAA Manager.
7. To provide details of outcome activity to partners including the (LIG)

This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and may include any other duties and responsibilities as may be determined in consultation with the jobholder. It is not intended to be rigid or inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.

Please Note: The interview panel reserves the right to enhance desirable criteria at shortlisting stage depending on the number of applications received.

To deliver social prescribing in localities in Angus taking additional responsibility for connecting with wider VAA Locality workers third sector and strategic partner opportunities and connecting GP practices with community based opportunities which help improve wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities:

The role will involve supporting personal options and choice for patients to help improve wellbeing , referring patients to comprehensive social care services, taking referrals and ensuring that you target groups and communities most in need and helping them to live a healthier, happier life.

This is a very stimulating role that will allow you to work with a wide range of people such as GP’s Statutory partners such as Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and voluntary organisations and will also include patients with:

• one or more long-term conditions in need of support with improving mental well being
• who may endure loneliness or isolation
• experience poverty and inequalities which may be a determinant to poor health.
• have concerns about drug and alcohol issues
• who have complex social needs which affect their well-being

Key Responsibilities

Development of a dynamic Marketing Strategy. This is a key part of the organisation’s sustainability plan and an area of business which is currently underdeveloped. You will work closely with the management team to engage with customers, external partners and other stakeholders to raise the profile of VAA through effective marketing, website and social media communication.

About you

You will be keen to play a part in making a real and lasting difference to the lives of people living across Angus by contributing to the sustainability of VAA. You will bring either significant experience of work in this field or hold a relevant qualification. Most importantly you will bring enthusiasm, creativity and flexibility to this role.

Key Tasks

As a key member of the Team you will be given a broad set of responsibilities including:

• Marketing strategy
• Development of the VAA website and social media presence
• Events and thematic campaigns e.g. Volunteers week
• Creation of all VAA leaflets and marketing materials

Purpose: To take forward community and volunteering development as the VAA locality worker within a specific geography. As a locality development worker you will be expected to work at strategic and operational level and take forward the strategic decision making of VAA within locality partnership settings. More specifically post holders are expected to develop a competence in the following areas of work;

• Young people and volunteering- working with schools, communities and voluntary orgs to develop further the saltire awards and accredited qualification outcomes.
• To build a capacity of voluntary organisations, volunteering groups and aspiring social enterprises.
• To work in partnership with Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and Community Planning Partnership (CPP) developments at a senior level.
• To develop local empowerment opportunities through meaningful community engagement approaches with local communities, organisations and volunteer movements.
• To promote and develop local volunteering including my street volunteering, and build buoyant volunteering cultures where all people are inspired to volunteer.
• To facilitate and co-facilitate volunteer management and volunteer skills training.
• To facilitate Voluntary Action Forums.
• Support Social prescribers within the area by making links and feeding back.
• Build Community assets and opportunities.
• Help support the start-up of organisations by helping with constitutions and organisations support.
• Work in partnership with our HSCP and CPP colleagues.
• Support volunteering by promotion, identify opportunities and matching individuals.
• Small community group support PVG, Governance etc.
• Make links with local health workers in order to identify other opportunities through locality locator and other means to prevent people being placed on care packages.
• Working with communities and voluntary organisations to promote Saltire and accredited qualification outcomes.
• Build capacity of volunteering groups and aspiring Social Enterprises first point of contact.
• Facilitate and co -facilitate volunteer management and skills training.
• Engage with communities and groups to establish needs and wants in order to promote preventive work around mental health and wellbeing.

This list is not exhausted you may be required to carry out other duties, and also you may be required to work in the evenings and at weekends.

This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and may include any other duties and responsibilities as may be determined in consultation with the jobholder. It is not intended to be rigid or inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.

Please Note: The interview panel reserves the right to enhance desirable criteria at short- listing stage depending on the number of applications received.

Voluntary Action Angus (VAA) delivers the Third Sector Interface service in Angus, a national contract from the Scottish Government. Its core functions include a fundamental role in Social Enterprise development and inspiring entrepreneurship. Voluntary Action Angus are currently recruiting a Social Enterprise Officer to join our team, please see the attached job description and work plan to find out more.

This post will help create a buoyant culture of Social Enterprise, building on progressive partnership working and entrepreneurship throughout the county.

Leading on the strategic development as an employee of Voluntary Action Angus as the Third Sector Interface (TSI) the post-holder will help deliver on a local and national ambition helping to re balance the local economy.

The post holder will also be the principal strategic officer for advancing social enterprise at policy level supporting the Angus Social Enterprise Partnership and the continued development Angus Social Enterprise Network. As a member of Voluntary Action Angus Leadership team this post requires an individual with good leadership skills, experience of working in a social enterprise development setting or knowledge of partnership working. The post holder will also help TSI and social economic development across the Tayside area.

Employer: Voluntary Action Angus, 5-7 The Cross, Forfar DD8 1BX

To deliver social prescribing in localities in Angus taking additional responsibility for connecting with wider VAA Locality workers third sector and strategic partner opportunities and connecting GP practices with community based opportunities which help improve wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities:

The role will involve supporting personal options and choice for patients to help improve wellbeing , referring patients to comprehensive social care services, taking referrals and ensuring that you target groups and communities most in need and helping them to live a healthier, happier life.

This is a very stimulating role that will allow you to work with a wide range of people such as GP’s Statutory partners such as Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Community Planning Partnership (CPP) and voluntary organisations and will also include patients with:

• one or more long-term conditions in need of support with improving mental well being
• who may endure loneliness or isolation
• experience poverty and inequalities which may be a determinant to poor health.
• have concerns about drug and alcohol issues
• who have complex social needs which affect their well-being

Person Specification

Personal Qualities and Attributes

• Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provider person-centres support in a non-judgemental way
• Ability to provide a culturally sensitive service, supporting people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from diverse communities
• Ability to communicate effectively and clearly, verbally in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies, stakeholders
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies. Be aware of when the person’s needs are beyond the scope of the link worker role. Eg when there is a need for a qualified health practitioner input
• Ability to work from an asset-based approach building on existing community and personal assets
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships and promote collaborative practice with all colleagues
• Commitment to collaborative working with all local agencies (including VCSE organisations and community groups). Able to work with others to reduce hierarchies and find creative solutions to community issues
• Can demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative (including when under pressure and meeting deadlines)
• High level of written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or own initiative
• Understanding the needs of small volunteer-led community groups and an ability to support their development
• Ability to provide motivational coaching to support people’s behaviour change
• Knowledge, and ability to work to, policies and procedures including confidentiality, safeguarding, long working, information governance and health and safety

Qualifications

• Demonstrable commitment to professional personal development
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience

Experience

• Experience of working in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health /health improvement (including unpaid work
• Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role (including unpaid work)
• Experience of supporting their mental health, within a paid or unpaid informal capacity
• Experience of working with the VCSE sector in paid or unpaid capacity including with volunteers or small groups
• Experience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services
• Experience of partnership /collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations
• Knowledge of personalised care approach
• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities, individuals, their families and carers
• Knowledge of community development approaches
• Understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion
• Knowledge of I.T. systems, including ability to use word-processing skills, email and internet to create simple plans and reports (eg word, powerpoint, excel)
• Knowledge of VCSE and community services in the locality
• Knowledge of the HHS workings including Primary Care

Other

• Is PVG Scheme Registered
• Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands
• Access to own transport and an ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis including to visit people in their own homes

Operational Development and Duties

1. To devise and implement an effective pathway for patients, addressing their holistic and non-medical needs. Principally, this will be devised with VAA locality workers, locality locator and other partners.
2. To ensure that a process of ‘soft handover’ is completed with each patient including: an initial assessment that includes:
   1. risk assessment
   2. an agreed action plan, assisting and encouraging clients to make their own decisions and choices
   3. conducting reviews with patients to ensure useful and sustainable benefits have been achieved
3. To develop and promote Social Prescribing and wider community involvement and participation in the Social Prescribing Project
4. To process and update monitoring information for clients including updating the Locality Locator
5. To produce monthly and quarterly reports in line with contractual agreements through VAA’s Appraised system
6. To ensure that end-of-programme evaluations and reports are produced as required for internal and external purposes where appropriate
7. To participate in training, learning and development as determined by the line manager and SP steering group
8. To market and represent the SP Project widely at all levels to ensure maximum awareness of the service

Other Duties

1. To ensure adherence to, and implementation of, all relevant legislation and VAA and GP practices policies
2. To participate in ongoing supervision and appraisals including relevant VAA internal reporting systems
3. To attend meetings of the Health Centres in Angus and participate in MDT activity as required
4. To create and maintain good working relations with HSCI members, staff, colleagues and clients
5. To operate Health and Safety at Work procedures
6. To carry out any other reasonable duties required by the VAA Manager
7. Work as a member of a team with senior workers, healthcare practitioners, GPs and partner agencies.

This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and may include any other duties and responsibilities as may be determined in consultation with the jobholder. It is not intended to be rigid or inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works.

Please Note: The interview panel reserves the right to enhance desirable criteria at short- listing stage depending on the number of applications received.

Employer: Voluntary Action Angus, 5-7 The Cross, Forfar DD8 1BX

Responsible to: Voluntary Action Angus and Project Working Group

Purposes of the job

• Recruit and train Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteers
• To improve the support provided by trained Breast Buddies to breastfeeding mothers in Angus at breastfeeding groups via social media pages
• Support and Supervise up to 50 volunteers to deliver peer support
• To promote breastfeeding friendly environments in local communities.
• To improve mother satisfaction with breastfeeding support and experience
• To ensure equality of opportunity, fairness and diversity in all aspects of work
• Implement good child protection practice in all areas of work
• To establish a programme of initial contact to breastfeeding mums
• To encourage a culture of actively promoting Breast Buddies by health care professionals.

Main Responsibilities

Project Implementation

• Undertaking work as delegated by the Manager and the project working group
• Providing ongoing and effective support to Breast Buddies including attendance at peer support groups
• Implementing and developing as appropriate (in collaboration with the project working group) the recruitment and training of Breast Buddies
• Take responsibility for liaising with midwives, health visitors, breastfeeding support workers and family nurses to ensure effective coordination of the project, including ensuring that ongoing effective and consistent support is available to breastfeeding mothers and peer supporters.
• Supporting the implementation and review of relevant policies and procedures
• Contributing to required administration, monitoring, financial systems and project outcomes with the support of the project working group
• Promoting the work and development of the project at a local level
• To ensure data collection tools are understood and completed by Breast Buddies

Working in Partnership

• Ensuring effective liaison with midwives at Arbroath Infirmary Maternity Unit and local health visitors
• Networking appropriately within the community
• Work collaboratively with the project team

The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role and responsibilities of the post as detailed above.

Purpose: to take forward community and volunteering development as the VAA locality worker within a specific geography. As a locality development worker you will be expected to work at strategic and operational level and take forward the strategic decision making of VAA within locality partnership settings. More specifically post holders are expected to develop a competence in the following areas of work;

• Young people and volunteering- working with schools, communities and voluntary orgs to develop further the saltire awards and accredited qualification outcomes.

• To build a capacity of voluntary organisations, volunteering groups and aspiring social enterprises.

• To work in partnership with Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and Community Planning Partnership (CPP) developments at a senior level.

• To develop local empowerment opportunities through meaningful community engagement approaches with local communities, organisations and volunteer movements.

• To promote and develop local volunteering including my street volunteering, and build buoyant volunteering cultures where all people are inspired to volunteer.

• To facilitate and co-facilitate volunteer management and volunteer skills training.

• To facilitate Volunteer Manager Forums.

• Support Social prescribers within the area by making links and feeding back.

• Build Community assets and opportunities.

• Help support the start-up of organisations by helping with constitutions and organisations support.

• Work in partnership with our HSCP and CPP colleagues.

• Support volunteering by promotion, identify opportunities and matching individuals.

• Small community group support PVG, Governance etc.

• Make links with local health workers in order to identify other opportunities through locality locator and other means to prevent people being placed on care packages.

• Working with communities and voluntary organisations to promote Saltire and accredited qualification outcomes.

• Build capacity of volunteering groups and aspiring Social Enterprises first point of contact.

• Facilitate and co -facilitate volunteer management and skills training.

• Engage with communities and groups to establish needs and wants in order to promote preventive work around mental health and wellbeing.

This list is not exhaustive you may be required to carry out other duties, and also you may be required to work in the evenings and at weekends.