Engagement Practitioner

Northpoint Wellbeing; Halifax; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional mental health service provider in Halifax is seeking an Engagement Practitioner to lead community engagement initiatives aimed at improving emotional wellbeing services for children and young people. The ideal candidate will work closely with stakeholders to design inclusive engagement plans, analyze data, and report on findings to enhance service effectiveness. This role offers the opportunity to drive change in the mental health system.

Qualifications

• Ability to analyze data and identify communities at risk of health inequalities.
• Experience in designing and implementing community engagement strategies.
• Effective communication skills with diverse communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning and delivery of meaningful community engagement.
• Produce comprehensive reports with findings and recommendations.
• Deliver engagement sessions using varied methods in accessible venues.

Job description

Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join our Calderdale team at a pivotal moment and shape services that matter. As our new Engagement Practitioner, you'll have the chance to shape this role from the ground up, enjoying a high level of autonomy while working closely with a passionate and supportive team.

In this role, you'll lead the planning and delivery of meaningful community engagement to influence how emotional wellbeing and mental health services are designed for children and young people. Through this Core 20 Plus 5 funded project, you'll dive into data and stakeholder insights to uncover who is and isn't accessing services, and why. You'll connect with youth forums, schools, and community groups to build an inclusive engagement plan, and you'll be out in the community gathering views through workshops, surveys, and events.

Supporting local health priorities and Open Minds strategic priorities, your work will culminate in a report with recommendations to improve service accessibility and effectiveness, particularly for communities experiencing health inequalities. This will drive real change, helping make services more accessible and effective for those who need them most.

The aim is to ensure that lived experiences shapes future service development, helping to remove barriers and create a more equitable support system for children, young people, and families.

Responsibilities

Project Planning and Preparation

• Develop a detailed engagement project plan aligned with strategic milestones.
• Analyse existing datasets to identify communities at risk of health inequalities.
• Map relevant service user groups, forums, and community networks across Calderdale.
• Collaborate with stakeholders and forums to understand barriers to access and test engagement approaches.

Engagement Strategy Development

• Design an inclusive engagement plan targeting underserved communities.
• Identify effective communication methods and co-production activities.
• Work with internal teams to share insights and good practice across platforms.

Community Engagement Delivery

• Schedule and deliver approximately 8 engagement sessions per week.
• Use varied engagement methods (e.g. focus groups, surveys, workshops) in accessible community venues across Calderdale.
• Collect and analyse evaluation data to measure impact.
• Travel as required (a full driving licence and access to a car would be of benefit).

Reporting and Recommendations

• Produce a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations.
• Present outcomes to stakeholders, including commissioners and community groups.
• Support development of a sustainability and exit strategy.

Legacy and Capacity Building

• Organise end-of-project events to share progress and next steps.
• Help commissioners and services develop pledges to act on recommendations.
• Share tools, resources, and lessons learned to support ongoing engagement (e.g. via the Northpoint SharePoint, website, Open Minds and Northpoint peer learning).
• Contribute to a theory of change to track long-term impact.

About Northpoint

Northpoint is an established regional provider of children, young people, and adult's mental health services. Our vision is a world that supports good mental health for all. Our purpose is to deliver effective mental health support, and to improve the mental health system in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. Our values are to be professional, responsive, collaborative, and transparent.