Hearing Dog Partnership Advisor

This Partnership Advisor post sits in the Partnership Support Team at Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, covering the Borders, East, North East and Highlands. The work centres on person-centred wellbeing and risk planning, regular visits, and support through retirement and bereavement, plus building local networks of partnerships and volunteers. Travel across a wide territory and occasional overnight stays are part of the job, and the post requires a DBS check.

A full UK driving licence and BSL Level 2 or above are needed.

• Give long-term, person-centred advice, guidance and wellbeing planning to partnerships in an allocated region
• Manage a caseload with in-person visits quarterly after the first six months, plus tailored support
• Develop and implement partnership support and wellbeing plans with robust risk management
• Support new partnerships' integration into the community with monthly support in their first six months
• Lead retirement and bereavement pathways, including planning, emotional support and signposting to Hearing Link Services
• Provide behavioural guidance and targeted interventions to keep partnerships healthy
• Organise community events and run peer-based programmes and support groups for partnerships and volunteers
• Work with internal teams, volunteers and external agencies to remove barriers and improve outcomes
• Provide timely emergency cover and practical assistance in the territory, with ad hoc support to neighbouring counties
• Use root cause analysis and early intervention to manage breakdowns, returns, cases and alerts
• Carry out annual assessments of each partnership's performance, wellbeing and accreditation compliance
• Keep partnership records accurate and current, and capture and share impactful stories

• BSL Level 2 or above with strong Deaf awareness

• Up-to-date knowledge of canine training, behaviour reinforcement and canine wellbeing
• Monitoring and evaluating a dog's task performance and addressing lapses
• Understanding of person-centred support across the partnership lifecycle
• Knowledge of HR policies, GDPR, equality legislation and ADI standards
• Strong listening skills, emotional intelligence and compassion with vulnerable people or those who are grieving
• Solution-focused problem-solving, conflict resolution, coaching and mentoring

• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across the territory and to centres
• DBS check, with disclosure of all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands

• Clear communication adapted to different audiences
• Time management and organisation across multiple partnerships and initiatives
• Root cause analysis and working with teams on sustainable solutions
• Trust-based relationship building with partnerships, volunteers and stakeholders
• Cross-functional collaboration with colleagues across departments

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Death in Service payment
• Annual leave enhancements for long service, plus a day off for your birthday
• Defined contribution group personal pension plan
• Enhanced sick pay and enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Eye care and hearing tests
• Learning and development opportunities
• Discounts at Hearing Dog gift shops and a Pet Dog Policy