We’re looking for a dedicated Community Development Officer to join our team!
Purpose of the Role
The Community Development Officer (CDO Mental Health) will work directly with our Mental Health Care Navigator (MHCN). The role of the CDO is to reduce health inequalities by addressing the wider determinants of health, such as debt, poor housing, and physical inactivity, by working in partnership with Voluntary, Community, Faith, and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations to increase the local community offer available to address such needs.
The CDO will identify and support existing community organisations and groups to be accessible and sustainable. Ensuring that our Mental Health Care Navigator based in a secondary setting has a wide range of quality services that meet the needs of service users. The CDO will identify and support existing organisations to be accessible and sustainable and help people to start new community groups where gaps have been identified and develop an ‘Alliance of Mental Health Support’ for providers within the VCFSE sector.
The post holder will be located within One Knowsley and work closely with the Mental Health Care Navigator who is co-located in Merseycare Community Mental Health services some of the week.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
• Work to establish an ‘Alliance of Community Mental Health Support Providers’, to include VCFSE organisations whose primary purpose is not mental health but provides support for wider determinants to enable a holistic approach to support. To employ an assertive outreach and flexible approach as and when necessary to increase levels of engagement.
• To liaise with all appropriate statutory and non-statutory agencies as required in relation to the service user’s needs and the project aims.
• To identify risk issues and implement and evaluate risk management plans according to policy and procedure.
• Build relationships with One Knowsley colleagues and key staff in primary and secondary care becoming part of the wider system, giving information and feedback on Mental Health Project.
• Be proactive in developing strong links with all local agencies to enable the MHCN to make community-based referrals, recognising what the MHCN needs to be confident in the service to make appropriate referrals.
• Work in partnership with all local agencies to raise awareness of project and how partnership working can reduce pressure on statutory services, improve health outcomes and enable a holistic approach to care.
• Provide referral agencies with regular updates about training for their staff and how to access information.
• Seek regular feedback about the quality of the Care Navigator and impact of the project on the referral agencies.
• Be proactive in encouraging self-referrals and connecting with all local communities, particularly those communities that statutory agencies may find hard to reach.
Download the full job pack, including person specification: Community Development Officer Job Pack April 24
If you feel you have the attitudes, skills and experience to work with us to deliver our vision, send your C.V. plus a personal statement – clearly indicating how you meet the person and role specification, to Debbie.Bennett@oneknowsley.org by midnight on Sunday 21st April 2024
Applicants shortlisted for interview will be notified by close of play on Monday 22nd April 2024
Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 30th April 2024
