The Scottish Government is promoting social prescribing as a way of reducing or mitigating health inequalities. Social prescribing links people attending GP or other primary care services with local, often non-clinical, community resources.

Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership (CSHSCP) has a Strategic Commissioning Plan that focuses on prevention and early intervention and reducing social isolation and loneliness. Investment in the Community Link Worker (CLW) programme in the Partnership area is aligned to the strategic planning, and we are now seeking a new Community Link Worker to join the team in Clackmannanshire.

The Community Link Worker will be fully integrated in day-to-day work of the practice staff to inform and provide community connections to service users; will be supported by the CTSI/ SVE; and will work with local volunteer Community Health Champions.

The Community Links Workers will help people to access the wide range of local support provided by Third Sector organisations, helping them to reconnect and understand how they can improve and sustain their own health and wellbeing.

A key part of our strategy focuses on recruiting volunteers of all ages and backgrounds and matching them to appropriate organisations and opportunities.

This exciting and pivotal role raises awareness of the volunteering opportunities in the Scottish Borders, drives the development of individual volunteer capacity, skills and capabilities, and engages with volunteer-involving organisations to ensure that there are opportunities for volunteers. The role also involves encouraging third party organisations, schools, local businesses and employers to promote the benefits of volunteering and encourage corporate volunteering.

Strong communication, networking, project management skills and good understanding of volunteers and volunteering are essential for success in this role.

Do you have previous experience of working in a social enterprise role? Are you interested in working in the community and voluntary sector? If so, then we would love to hear from you!

About the role

Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) is the Third Sector Interface (TSI) and a respected and highly valued support organisation for the community and voluntary sector (CVS) in North Lanarkshire.

For more information about the role, please see the JD and Person Specification attached in the job listing.

VANL is a supportive employer and provides good benefits including:

• 25 days annual leave pro rata (increasing up to 27 days after 5 years, 29 days after 8 years and 30 days after 10 years) and two special leave days for birthday and Xmas shopping
• 12 public holidays pro rata.
• 6% employer’s contribution and minimum 3% employee contribution
• Flexible working arrangements regarding hours and home-based working

We are looking for a colleague passionate about supporting collaboration, developing capacity and highlighting the role and impact of the third sector in nurturing and developing local economies and enterprise. You will provide oversight and leadership of our work across the building of strong local economies, development of local enterprise and cross-portoflio working for a wellbeing economy, developing relationships with local anchor organisations like the local authority and South of Scotland Enterprise, with communities and across our sector.

Develop and deliver plans to support capacity building for third sector organisations across Dumfries and Galloway in areas of economic development and enterprise.

Ensure the provision of resources and advice for the sector on key themes of policy, practice, research and the further development of an economy and enterprise online hub.

Oversee the coordination and support of the Social Enterprise Dumfries and Galloway (SEDG) network.

Develop and manage relationships and partnership working with a variety of organisations to support the role of, and capacity within, the third sector, including the role of the sector and communities in economic investment and development decisions.

With partners, support the understanding of Community Wealth Building, the importance of local economies and the role of social enterprises.

Promote shared learning about Community Wealth Building and how we explore the pillars of CWB to benefit local people and place, working alongside CLES and SoSE.

Ensure the appropriate allocation of resources to maximise impact, including through high quality tools, advice and routes to signposting to sources of expert help so that our advice for the sector is consistent and of high quality.