Community Connectors

Age UK Bath & North East Somerset; Bath; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

A local charitable organization in Bath is seeking Community Connectors to engage with older individuals and their families, assessing well-being needs and connecting them to appropriate services. The role includes distributing essential supplies post-hospital stay and managing a small group of volunteers. Ideal candidates should have strong communication skills and experience in community work, aiming to empower older adults in their recovery and wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience in community work or health and social care.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of well-being needs of older people.

Responsibilities

• Engage with clients to assess their well-being needs.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals for interventions.
• Distribute HELP packs for hospital returnees.

Skills

Empowerment of older people

Collaboration with healthcare professionals

Data collection and recording

Community engagement

Job description

Age UK Bath & North East Somerset is a charity that supports people to age well. Our aim is to empower older people to live confidently, be heard, be celebrated, and have access to the right support for happy, healthy, and fulfilled lives.

We work in partnership with older people and other like-minded organisations to influence change in our community, promoting a more inclusive, non-discriminatory culture that enables everyone to age positively. We offer a range of inclusive, high-quality services and enriching opportunities that meet genuine needs and demand in the community.

Our focus is on putting older people at the centre of everything we do, challenging age discrimination and shaping the local community. We work in partnership with others to influence decision-making and change public attitudes towards ageing. We also provide accurate information and practical support to improve wellbeing, delivering supportive services that promote health, happiness, connection, and fulfilment among older people.

Age UK Bath & North East Somerset is looking for Community Connectors who will be responsible for engaging with people, their families and staff members to identify their wellbeing needs and connect them with relevant support services within the Community Wellbeing Hub network. In addition, the role will be responsible for the distribution of HELP packs to enable people to return home after a hospital stay with 3 days’ worth of food and supplies. You will visit patients on the wards and triage referrals for commissioned hospital discharge services including Age UK’s home from hospital service. The Community Connectors will oversee and support a small group of volunteer Connectors based in the Atrium @ Royal United Hospital, Bath.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively engage with people, their families, and staff members to identify their wellbeing needs and connect them with relevant support services within the Community Wellbeing Hub network.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals, community services and other agencies to develop and deliver appropriate interventions to support patients' wellbeing.
• Attend team meetings to provide updates on the progress of the Community Wellbeing Hub @ The Hospital initiative.
• Work with Age UK Banes Senior Leads to ensure that the initiative is running effectively and efficiently, identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Support the implementation of the Ward Checklist, maintaining engagement with ward staff and other discharge commissioned services.
• Collect and record data relating to the initiative, ensuring that all information is stored securely and confidentially.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with relevant stakeholders, including community groups, healthcare professionals and other agencies.
• Manage the distribution of HELP packs to enable people to return home after a hospital stay with 3 days’ worth of food and supplies.
• Oversee and support a small group of Volunteer Connectors, providing training and guidance to ensure that they can effectively support patients and their families.
• Keep up to date with best practice and national policy developments, particularly in relation to Social Prescribing.
• Any other function suitable for the role.

COMPETENCIES

• Empowerment: We believe in empowering older people to live their lives on their own terms, with dignity, respect, and independence.
  Inclusion: We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive community, where everyone can participate and contribute. We challenge ageism wherever we find it, and work to promote positive images of aging.
• Collaboration: We believe in working collaboratively with others, to create positive change and achieve our shared goals.
• Quality: We are committed to delivering high-quality services that meet the needs of our community, and to continuously improving our practices and processes.
• Accountability: We are accountable to our community, our funders, and our stakeholders, and we are committed to being transparent and responsible in our actions.