Wellbeing Community Connector

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Crook; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Wellbeing Community Connector to help develop and implement wellbeing services across a Primary Care Network area. You will engage with local partners, support community wellbeing initiatives and help individuals access a wider range of health resources.

The role involves line management of Wellbeing Practitioners, delivering lifestyle and behaviour change support, and contributing to service improvements while building strong

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 4 / Higher National Certificates (HNC) or 2yrs equivalent experience.
• Health Trainer qualification (City and Guilds Level 3) with core competencies completed.
• Level 2 SCIP Training.
• First Aid Qualification (A).

Responsibilities

• Support Wellbeing for Life Locality Coordinator and Programme Manager in service development and delivery.
• Provide personalised 1:1 and group support for health and wellbeing improvements.
• Line manage Wellbeing Practitioners and supervise / appraise staff as needed.
• Develop community-based activities and strengthen local partnerships within PCN areas.

Skills

Wellbeing knowledge

Behaviour change

Asset Based Community Development

Data confidentiality

Education

NVQ Level 4 / HNC

Health Trainer qualification

Level 2 SCIP Training

First Aid

Job description

Go back County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Wellbeing Community Connector

The closing date is 18 September 2026

TheAdult Wellbeing Services (AWS) are delivered by a partnership between CountyDurham and Darlington NHS Trust (CDDFT) and the Pioneering Care Partnership(PCP) and includes the Wellbeing for Life (WBFL) Service. WBFL is acommissioned service in County Durham based on the principle of Your Wellbeing,your way. Based on the model of behaviour change, the team encourages peopleliving and working across County Durham to take small steps to better health ina way tailored to suit them.

The Community Connector rolewill be aligned to a specific Primary Care Network area (PCN) The post holderand team will support and undertake asset mapping within their allocated PCNarea to ensure a joined-up approach of service development and delivery.

In addition to managing theirown caseload of clients, the post holder will also line manage a team ofWellbeing Practitioners, to develop, support and manage their caseload ofclients providing lifestyle and behaviour change support particularly in the fiveways to wellbeing.

The post holder will liaise with a variety ofpartners, community and voluntary organisations across the PCN area to developa strong relationship network and promoting the wider programme.

Excellent communication skills and localknowledge are essential in order to engage and work with members of the public.Willingness to undertake mandatory and role specific training within aspecified timescale will also be essential.

Main duties of the job

The main role of the WellbeingCommunity Connector will be to support the Wellbeing for Life LocalityCo-ordinator and Adult Wellbeing Services Programme Manager with the overalldevelopment and implementation of the service specifically within their assignedPCN area. The role will support clients with initial strengthening of communityand personal resilience and reduce health and wellbeing inequalities byaddressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing andphysical inactivity, by increasing peoples active involvement with their localcommunities. The post holder will particularly work with people with long termconditions (including support for mental wellbeing), those who are lonely orisolated, or have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing. Essentiallythe role will be about connecting and enabling people to access the range ofsupport they require.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Job responsibilities

The Community Connector rolewill be aligned to a specific Primary Care Network area (Teesdale PCN).

The post holder will engageand work with a wide range of partners and local voluntary and community groupswithin their PCN area, to develop joint wellbeing activities, ensuring thatspecific groups are supported by the service. The post holder and team will applyasset-based community development, engagement and consultation techniques asappropriate within their PCN area, to ensure a joined-up approach to servicedevelopment and delivery.

They will work closely withthe Community Wellbeing Hub and Volunteer Officers to support Wellbeing Hubsand volunteers within their area.

The post holder will liaisewith a variety of partners, community and voluntary organisations across thePCN area to develop a strong relationship network and promoting the widerprogramme.

To work with partners andexisting groups to develop the referral pathways for support.

Excellent communication skillsand local knowledge are essential to engage and work with members of thepublic. Willingness to undertake mandatory and role specific training within aspecified timescale will also be essential.

In addition to managing theirown caseload of clients, the post holder will directly line manage a team ofWellbeing Practitioners, (including carrying out one to one supervisions andappraisals) to develop, support and manage their caseload of clients providinglifestyle and behaviour change support particularly in the five ways towellbeing.

Support clients on a 121 andgroup basis, both face to face and using digital platforms, including socialmedia and video content, to support them through behaviour and lifestyle changeby developing step change action plans and referring to relevant specialistservices.

To carry out serviceevaluations in line with the project plan and learning from best practice.

To develop new services /activities for the community based on identified need.

To support the Wellbeing forLife Locality Coordinator and Adult Wellbeing Services Programme Manager in thedevelopment and implementation of the service specifically, but notexclusively, within their assigned PCN area.

To support staff in thedevelopment and management of their caseloads, providing support and qualitymonitoring to all aspects of their roles.

To support staff to developnew activities / groups for the community based on identified health need.

Provide personalised supportto individuals, their families and carers to take control of their health andwellbeing, live independently and improve their health outcomes. Developtrusting relationships by giving people time and focus on what matters to me.

To manage and prioritise yourown caseload, in accordance with the needs, priorities and any urgent supportrequired by individuals on the caseload.

Alongside other members of theAdult Wellbeing Services teams, work collaboratively with all local partners tocontribute towards supporting the local VCSE organisations and community groupsto become sustainable and that community assets are nurtured, through sharingintelligence regarding any gaps or problems identified in local provision withcommissioners and local authorities.

To source a holistic packageof support to assist the development of skills and knowledge and in particularassisting individuals to progress and achieve their health goals.

To signpost or referindividual clients to a range of health improvement lifestyle intervention,primary and secondary care services and voluntary and community support.

To deliver Mini Healthcheckswith 1:1 clients and groups as an engagement tool in line with locally agreedstandardised quality assured protocols and practice.

To apply solution focusedproblem solving to deal with the wider determinants of health and lifestyleissues including healthy eating, physical activity, smoking and alcohol.

To demonstrate innovative andcreative practice to engage with vulnerable and or disadvantaged groups andutilise support from the volunteers in engaging with communities.

To promote the micro grantprogramme assisting with form completion and setting up of local grant panels.

To be responsible for datamanagement of clients including inputting information onto databases andcreating reports.

To work flexibly as part ofthe team and to provide cover for colleagues as required maintainingappropriate staffing levels across the wider programme.

There is a requirement to workflexibly including some weekends and evenings depending on service need.

To audit and maintainresources, stock and equipment levels.

To contribute to knowledgesharing and learning before, during and after projects, and to the developmentof a culture that helps colleagues become confident in using the appropriatetechnology and develop skills.

To undertake any training anddevelopment deemed appropriate by your line manager.

To promote activities,including managing events and publicity campaigns

Person Specification

Special Skills & Knowledge

• A substantial understanding of the factors affecting both physical and mental and wellbeing. (I)
• A substantial understanding of the challenges faced by those with poor health literacy and the ability to support individuals to develop appropriate skills. (I)
• A good understanding of behaviour change models. (I)
• A professional and pleasant manner with the ability to negotiate changes with a wide range of people and at all levels whilst actively promoting the 5 ways to wellbeing.(I)
• A good understanding of Asset Based Community Development Approach and experience of applying the tools. (A)
• Ability to handle sensitive data with confidentiality. (A)
• Ability to work as an effective ambassador with distinct groups / populations and the ability to evidence your success in reaching the client group and effectively supporting behaviour change.
• Ability to act upon own initiative, respond to changing situations. (A)
• Very good organisational and time management skills. (A)
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and listening skills.
• Very good, sound IT skills with experience in a range of Office packages. (A)
• Knowledge of community development approaches
• Good report writing skills, with the ability to collate, analyse and present data clearly and concisely
• Experience of multi sector working. (A)

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 4 / Higher National Certificates (HNC) or 2yrs equivalent experience.
• Able to demonstrate substantial overall topic based training covering a range of wellbeing and lifestyle disciplines, including mental wellbeing
• Health Trainer qualification (City and Guilds Level 3) with core competencies completed. (A)
• Level 2 SCIP Training
• First Aid Qualification (A)

Special Requirements

• The ability to regularly travel independently across County Durham within the working day. (A)
• Flexibility and ability to work outside normal hours including evenings and weekends. (A)

Experience

• Substantial experience of working in the community or voluntary sector. (A)
• Substantial experience of Asset Based Community Development Approach and experience of applying the tools. (A)
• Very good experience of evaluating projects or services, using a range of techniques. (A)
• Very good experience of working within a team. (I)
• Good experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of settings
• Experience of working with volunteers and assisting them to develop. (A)
• Experience of delivering health awareness campaigns.
• Experience of line managing staff or volunteers, undertaking supervision and appraisals

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer name

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust