Digital Inclusion Officer

Thurrock Council; Grays; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Flexible working arrangements

Training and professional development

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Thurrock Council is seeking a Digital Inclusion Officer to join the Library Development Team and expand digital inclusion support for residents, starting with sheltered housing complexes.

You will work with local partners across libraries and community venues to promote digital skills, build peer-led initiatives, and sustain a programme over 11 months with flexible and hybrid working.

Qualifications

• Exceptional communications skills with ability to engage diverse communities.
• Good understanding of digital inclusion and its importance for residents.
• Ability to build strong collaborative relationships with community organisations and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Increase capacity of the Library Development Team to expand digital inclusion support.
• Promote local opportunities to residents to learn digital skills and support peer-led groups.
• Collaborate with local partners and council departments to advance community-led initiatives.
• Assist the Senior Engagement Officer: Digital in delivering a sustainable peer-led digital inclusion programme for 11 months.

Skills

Communication skills

Digital inclusion knowledge

Job description

The Library Development Team is responsible for promoting the wide library offer within local communities and libraries, working with adults, families and children.

About the Role

The Digital Inclusion Officer would be a member of the Library Development Team, funded by the Integrated Commissioning Executive, working with Sheltered Housing and Public Health. As a Digital Inclusion Officer, you will be responsible for:

• Increase the capacity of the Library Development Team to expand their current digital inclusion support for residents in Thurrock. The job initially focusing on those from Thurrock's sheltered housing complexes. The aim is to develop peer-led digital inclusion support resulting in further peer-based support groups within community venues such as sheltered housing and libraries.
• To promote local opportunities to residents to learn digital skills (including online opportunities such as Learn my Way) undertaken in small groups and to support residents to gain and maintain skills through to the initiation of peer-based self-sustaining Internet clubs in the community.
• Collaborate with local partners and other council departments to take forward community led initiatives.
• To assist the Senior Engagement Officer: Digital with continuing to deliver a sustainable peer-led digital inclusion programme within Sheltered Housing Complexes and the local community over a period of 11 months.

The previous post holder has been in the role for 11 months and the successor would build upon their accomplishments.

What We're Looking For

To succeed in this role you will need to demonstrate exceptional communications skills, have an understanding and appreciation of the importance of digital inclusion for all and be able to build strong collaborative relationships with community organisations and stakeholders. Technical expertise of technology is not required - just an understanding and a passion to encourage the sharing of knowledge and skills with regards to digital devices.

Why Thurrock?

Working at Thurrock Council gives you the opportunity to join an organisation that is changing at pace, one where you can make a real difference to the lives of the people we serve. Thurrock Council is moving towards a new community leadership approach which involves linking with local partners and communities as we shape our improvement for the years ahead. This is an exciting time to join us, to shape the future success of our changing organisation and to have a positive influence on our borough. Our location Thurrock is located on the north bank of the river Thames. Our urban centres are a vibrant mix of established towns and new young communities, with a diverse and growing population of around 160,000 residents. We are an emerging cultural and arts centre, home to the production centre for the Royal Opera House and the National Skills Academy for Creative and Cultural Skills. We have excellent retail and leisure opportunities, including Lakeside Shopping Centre, country parks, forests, and marshes. Thurrock is just half an hour journey away from the centre of London by train and well connected by road.

Staff benefits

We offer lots of staff benefits, including a generous annual leave entitlement and hybrid working. We champion flexible working and job share applications are welcome. Further information can be found here.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Thurrock Council is committed to equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident Employer, disabled people will be offered an interview where they meet all essential criteria on the person specification. We serve a diverse community where people are different yet equal. Diversity underpins everything we do. For further information about Thurrock Council please visit our website.

DBS Check

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) is required for this role. You must be able to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings and be able to travel independently and efficiently between library locations, community venues and partner organisations across Thurrock, including transporting digital equipment where required.

Benefits of Working with Us

At Thurrock Council, we value our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities (where applicable)
• Ongoing training and professional development
• Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
• Staff discounts and local offers
• A supportive and inclusive working environment