Community Connector & Engagement Officer

Community Connector & Engagement Officer

Employer: Community Power

Location: 6 St Peter’s Square, Hereford, HR1 2PG

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £28,200 p.a.

Contract: permanent

Reports to: Operations Manager

Community Power is seeking an enthusiastic, compassionate and highly motivated Community Connector & Engagement Officer to lead and expand community-based cancer awareness, screening engagement and volunteer recruitment & activation and general engagement work with communities across Herefordshire. This work will contribute to Healthwatch Herefordshire projects and Community Power Projects.

One of the key programmes is our Cancer programme. The aim is to improve cancer awareness, early diagnosis and screening uptake amongst communities experiencing the greatest health inequalities and barriers to access, including (but not limited to) Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, migrant agricultural workers, farming communities, deprived communities and underserved groups.

The postholder will build trusted relationships within communities, reduce fear and stigma around cancer and screening, and support people to access appropriate NHS services and preventative support. Alongside direct outreach work, the role will coordinate and support a growing network of Volunteer Cancer Champions, helping local people become confident advocates for cancer awareness within their own communities.

The role will also contribute to wider Community Power and Healthwatch Herefordshire activity including public engagement, community partnership development, telephone support services and attendance at strategic and neighbourhood meetings.

• Deliver cancer awareness outreach sessions in community venues, workplaces, schools, faith settings and local events.
• Gather Community Insight, lived experience and feedback.
• Support culturally sensitive conversations around cancer screening, prevention and early diagnosis.
• Build trusted relationships with communities facing health inequalities and barriers to NHS access.
• Provide practical support including: appointment guidance, GP registration support, signposting, interpreter awareness, navigation of health services.
• Attend community and employer engagement sessions, including occasional evenings and weekends where required.
• Support local micro-campaigns and community-led awareness activity.
• Work flexibly across projects in response to organisational priorities and funding opportunities.

• Recruit, support, train and develop Volunteer Cancer Champions across Herefordshire.
• Work with partners including schools, employers, VCSE organisations and communities experiencing deprivation to identify and engage volunteers.
• Support delivery of monthly Cancer Champion training sessions alongside Community Power colleagues and partners.
• Facilitate regular Champion Health Champion support and check‑in sessions and develop the Community Health Champions.
• Support, encourage and coordinate community‑led awareness, engagement and health improvement activities.
• Maintain activity records and reporting systems relating to Champion engagement and activity outcomes.

• Work collaboratively with GP practices, NHS screening teams, employers, schools, VCSE organisations and community groups.
• Strengthen partnerships that improve access to cancer awareness and screening opportunities.
• Coordinate with counterparts and regional partners where appropriate.
• Promote partnership approaches that reduce inequalities and improve community trust in services.

• Provide frontline support to the Healthwatch Herefordshire phone line for enquiries.
• Respond professionally and compassionately to public enquiries.
• Accurately log calls & enquiries, issues and outcomes.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately and within required timescales.
• Promote opportunities for public involvement and feedback.

• Attend Community Action Network (CAN)/local footprint meetings and other partnership forums on behalf of Community Power.
• Promote Community Power…