Engagement and Outreach Officer | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; England; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is looking for an Engagement and Outreach Officer to raise awareness of AAA screening in the community. This role focuses on engaging with underserved populations, promoting health equity, and supporting the health and well-being of local communities. The ideal candidate will have strong communication and community engagement skills. Opportunities for professional development are provided.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Access to healthcare benefits

Qualifications

• Experience in community outreach and engagement activities.
• Ability to engage with diverse communities and groups.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Increase visibility of AAA Screening Programme.
• Promote screening uptake among underserved populations.
• Organise and evaluate outreach events.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders to address health inequalities.

Skills

Community Engagement

Communication Skills

Event Planning

Public Speaking

Analytical Skills

Team Collaboration

Social Media Proficiency

Job description

Overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Engagement and Outreach Officer to join the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme. In this role, you will work with the local community to raise awareness of the importance of AAA screening, particularly among men approaching the age of 65 when they are invited for screening. A key focus will be engaging with groups where inequalities and low uptake exist, helping to promote participation and reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture, which can be life‑threatening.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with partners to increase visibility of the AAA Screening Programme across all sectors.
• Raise awareness of the importance of screening and promote uptake.
• Support GPs across screening boundaries to achieve programme targets.
• Target hard‑to‑reach groups to improve participation.
• Focus on underserved communities and seldom‑heard groups, including:
  • People with learning disabilities
  • Patients in areas of greater deprivation
  • Non‑responders
• Collaborate closely with the Programme Manager on outreach and engagement activities.
• Work alongside the Trust’s Communications and Engagement team.
• Plan and organise engagement events to promote screening.
• Build and maintain relationships with public and stakeholder organisations.
• Contribute to wider communications and engagement initiatives to strengthen awareness and uptake.
• Engage in new and established strategies to ensure service equality across diverse patient groups, focusing on hard‑to‑reach communities.
• Strengthen and expand links with underserved groups, proactively promoting the importance of regular screening.
• Liaise with local authorities, the BLMK Integrated Care Board, and third‑sector organisations to address inequalities and develop a team of “screening champions.”
• Collaborate with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Communications Team to use social media, develop a BLMK AAA Screening website, and produce localised literature.
• Undertake, analyse, and report on annual patient satisfaction and experience surveys.
• Conduct ongoing health equity audits and implement screening inequalities action plans.
• Organise, deliver, and evaluate outreach and engagement sessions.
• Develop outreach and marketing strategies to promote health and engagement in the AAA screening programme.
• Identify and act on new engagement opportunities.
• Create clear, engaging content for online, print, and other channels in line with Trust guidelines.
• Lead newsletters, campaigns, and event communications.
• Support programme communications planning and delivery across GPs, third‑sector, and health organisations.
• Exercise autonomy in decision‑making, deferring to senior managers when required.
• Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to support activities and events.

About the Trust

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high‑performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region, you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Job Information

All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job. This advert closes on Friday 5 Dec 2025.

Equality and Diversity

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust’s core values. We achieve this by using values‑based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.