At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead community cancer awareness and engage volunteers across Herefordshire.
- Company: Community Power, dedicated to improving health access and awareness.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, meaningful work, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Join a passionate team and help create positive change in local communities.
- Why this job: Empower communities and tackle health inequalities while building valuable relationships.
- Qualifications: Experience in community engagement and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
This role seeks an enthusiastic, compassionate and highly motivated officer to lead and expand community-based cancer awareness, screening engagement and volunteer recruitment & activation, and general engagement work across Herefordshire. The incumbent 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.
Key Responsibilities
- 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 and early diagnosis.
- Build trusted relationships with communities facing health inequalities and barriers to NHS access.
- Provide practical support, including GP registration support, signposting and navigation of health services.
- Attend community and employer engagement sessions, including occasional evenings and weekends.
- Support local micro‑campaigns and community‑led awareness activity.
- Work flexibly across projects in response to organisational priorities and funding opportunities.
- Recruit, support and train Volunteer Cancer Champions across Herefordshire.
- Partner with schools, employers, VCSE organisations and deprived communities to engage volunteers.
- Facilitate regular Champion training sessions alongside Community Power colleagues and partners.
- Maintain activity records and reporting systems for Champion engagement and outcomes.
Partnership Working
- Collaborate with GP practices, NHS screening teams, employers, schools, VCSE organisations and community groups.
- Strengthen partnerships to improve access to cancer awareness and screening opportunities.
- Coordinate with regional partners where appropriate.
- Promote partnership approaches that reduce inequalities and build community trust in services.
Healthwatch Herefordshire Support (when required)
- Provide frontline support to the Healthwatch Herefordshire phone line for enquiries.
- Respond professionally and compassionately to public enquiries.
- Accurately log calls, issues and outcomes.
- Escalate safeguarding concerns appropriately.
- Promote opportunities for public involvement and feedback.
Community Meetings & Representation
- Attend Community Action Network (CAN)/local footprint meetings and other partnership forums.
- Promote Community Power projects, training opportunities and Healthwatch involvement opportunities.
- Represent Community Power positively and professionally within partnerships and local networks.
- Support Community Power to raise its profile and strengthen relationships across the county.
Communication & Resources
- Support development of culturally relevant information and engagement resources in varied languages and accessible formats.
- Use a range of communication approaches, including printed materials, WhatsApp engagement and informal community conversations.
- Share accurate, accessible and trauma‑informed health information.
Monitoring, Reporting & Evaluation
- Maintain accurate and timely records of engagement activity and outcomes.
- Contribute to monthly reports and impact monitoring.
- Maintain reporting compliance for Volunteer Health Champion activity.
- Support evaluation and learning to improve programme effectiveness and future funding opportunities.
Person Specification
- Experience of community engagement, outreach or community development work.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to build trust with diverse communities.
- Understanding of health inequalities and barriers to accessing services.
- Ability to work independently and manage a varied workload.
- Confidence facilitating groups and community conversations.
- Reliability, empathy and a compassionate approach.
- Good organisational and record‑keeping skills.
- Willingness to work flexibly, including occasional evenings and weekends.
- Access to transport and ability to travel across Herefordshire.
- Experience working with ethnic minority, migrant or underserved communities.
- Experience supporting volunteers or community champions.
- Knowledge of cancer screening programmes or public health initiatives.
- Experience of partnership working across VCSE and statutory organisations.
- Ability to speak another language, particularly Eastern European languages.
- Lived experience of community advocacy or health inequality.
- Experience of safeguarding and appropriate escalation procedures.
What Success Looks Like
- Increased awareness and confidence around cancer screening within underserved communities.
- Strong and active Volunteer Cancer Champion network across Herefordshire.
- Increased community‑led cancer awareness activity.
- Positive partnership relationships with NHS, employers, schools and VCSE organisations.
- High‑quality community engagement and reporting.
- Strong representation of Community Power within local partnerships and networks.
Community Connector & Engagement Officer in Hereford employer: Community Power
Community Power is an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment in Herefordshire. With a strong focus on community engagement and health awareness, employees benefit from flexible working arrangements, opportunities for professional development, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of underserved communities. Join us to be part of a compassionate team that values collaboration, innovation, and personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Community Connector & Engagement Officer in Hereford
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Community Power.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Community Power.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Community Power.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Community Power. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Community Connector & Engagement Officer in Hereford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Community Power. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Community Connector & Engagement Officer, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Community Power
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Community Power. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
