Support Network Coordinator (Midlands and South West)

Support Network Coordinator (Midlands and SW)

25hrs per week (0.67 full time equivalent)

Home-based flexible working with travel

Purpose:

Are you adept at bringing people together, inspiring positive action, and passionate about making a difference to people affected by pulmonary fibrosis (PF)? In this vital role you will network, listen and learn, connect and facilitate across your region; bringing people and resources together to drive change. Your work will strengthen a vital network of support to really improve the lives of people affected by PF across the SW and Midlands.

Key stakeholders: Families living with pulmonary fibrosis (PF) Health and care professionals and bodies, APF staff and volunteers Organisers and other members involved in running support groups.

Reporting to: Regional partnerships manager

You will:

1. Extend our reach to the widest range of people with PF and family in the region

• Build mutually supportive partnerships with healthcare professionals and support groups, nurturing systematic referrals to APF wherever possible
• Coordinate outreach to priority clinics and groups with the support of volunteers, especially to those most in need or underserved groups
• Plan and deliver or support regional events to bring stakeholders together, hear the voices of people affected by PF, raise awareness, educate and reach new people, in partnership with colleagues
• Ensure a regular flow of news, stories and images, and that APF information about your region is up-to-date and accurate, including on the APF database, website, magazine and social media, so that more people know about support available

2. Build relationships and networks to work in partnership with and nurture a thriving, comprehensive PF support group network in the region so that everyone affected by PF in the regions has access to high quality support

• Work to address gaps in provision by bringing people together to set up new groups (often healthcare professionals and/or people affected by PF)
• Work to develop and improve support groups through supporting their planning, sharing good practice and nurturing peer support between groups
• Identify potential volunteers and support them to learn about and take up opportunities within APF and support groups

3. Build relationships and networks to work in partnership with key health and care professionals and bodies in the region to enable people affected by PF to access the best possible care and support from the NHS, APF and other relevant providers

• Work to address priority gaps/challenges in provision through influencing at a local/regional level on priority issues in partnership with the Policy and Public Affairs lead, Services leaders, and support groups. Sharing good practice, policy, evidence and being driven by the voices of people affected by PF.

4. Help join the dots between the regions and nationally organised functions of APF for maximum impact on the lives of people affected by PF:

• Use your relationships and networks to understand the key issues for people with PF in the region, sharing this insight to inform the wider work of APF to make it as relevant as possible (information, education, policy and campaigns, volunteering development, communications and research)
• Use resources and partnerships within (and beyond) APF to help address priority needs in the regions, for example to guide and resource support groups, regional campaigns around access to healthcare, education, information, volunteering support, research.
• Support the overall success of our work for example by contributing to planning and strategy development, funding applications, supporting fundraising, monitoring and evaluating APF’s work in your region and ensuring work is on target and on budget

Person Specification

Essential criteria

1. Excellent people skills: able to build rapport, coach and influence 1-2-1 and in groups
2. Able to connect with a wide range of people from a wide range of backgrounds
3. Passionate about tackling health inequality
4. Adept at building strong partnerships and networks (particularly with NHS)
5. Experience of support groups and/or working with volunteers (ideally in a health context)
6. Collaborative in your work with colleagues and partners, able to bring people along with you to achieve your aims and support theirs
7. A highly effective communicator both orally and in writing
8. Excellent facilitation and presentation skills, working with groups and speaking in public to motivate and inspire others
9. An understanding of the many challenges facing patients and carers living with pulmonary fibrosis (personal experience of PF is very helpful but not essential)
10. Confident IT skills for a modern digital workplace, remote working and databases
11. Highly organised in your work, able to plan and manage a range of priorities and drive your own workload
12. Able to work flexibly; can drive and regularly travel across your region, and occasionally elsewhere in the UK, including occasional weekends and evenings
13. Willingness to learn and to use support to manage the challenges of working with people going through very difficult times in their lives

Highly desirable criteria

    14. Experience of co-creation and/or building/supporting networks

    15. An understanding of data protection, safeguarding and fundraising standards

Diversity

Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis strives to be an organisation of equity and inclusion. Pulmonary Fibrosis does not discriminate. Our team should reflect the diverse communities we exist to support. We warmly welcome applications from all candidates irrespective of age, disability, race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), sex, pregnancy or maternity, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, religion or belief, or marital or civil partnership status.

Terms of Appointment

Contract: Permanent, part-time, 25 hours per week (0.67 full-time equivalent)

Salary Band: £31,000 to £35,000 for full-time equivalent (depending on experience)

Pension: Automatic enrolment to workplace pension, where APF contributes 3%, unless already an active member of a qualifying workplace pension.

Holiday: 25 days per holiday year plus bank holidays and additional discretionary days for the Christmas/New Year break (increases with length of service at 3 and 5 years). Salary sacrifice to buy or sell annual leave. All pro-rated

Location: Remote within Midlands & SW area (laptop provided), with extensive travel across the region and quarterly travel to head office in Peterborough, plus potential occasional travel elsewhere for conferences etc. Hybrid working options available.

Hours: Normal hours are 9.00am to 5.30pm with flexibility to maintain a good work/life balance.

Other benefits:

• Flexible hours
• Option to take ‘time off in lieu’ for extra hours worked.
• Discounted gym membership
• Free membership of our Employee Assistance Package
• Individual training budget

Probationary and notice of termination periods: You will have an initial six-month probationary period during which notice is 1 week on both sides and then extending to two months thereafter.