Hours 35 hours per week (or job share considered)
Contract Permanent
Reports to System Change and Networks Service Lead
Job details
Help us realise our vision of creating a healthy, happy,sustainable and thriving society for all peopleby joining us as a Community Involvement Practitioner. If you are compassionate, hopeful and dedicated and bring the drive to make a difference, we need your help to create the change we’d like to see.At its heart, this role is about connecting with people and being relatable.
The Community Involvement Practitioner will work as part of The Hive at Improving Lives, a collaborative and relationship-based approach that brings people, communities and services together around what matters most to an individual.
The Hive is about making better use of the support, strengths and opportunities that already exist, helping different services work together rather than expecting people to navigate complex services on their own.
You will provide practical, person-centred support to people experiencing difficult circumstances and interconnected challenges, helping them move from crisis towards greater stability, confidence, connection and resilience.
You will offer a consistent and trusted point of contact, taking time to understand the whole person rather than focusing on a single issue or service. Working alongside an individual, you will identify strengths, priorities and aspirations, co-produce a personalised plan and help call in help by bringing together the right support from health, housing, social care, advice, community and voluntary sector services.
A key part of The Hive approach is that services organise themselves around the person, rather than the person having to navigate the system.
By developing this ‘Team Around Me’ approach, advocacy, community connection and strong partnership relationships, the Practitioner will help coordinate joined-up action, reduce repeated storytelling and identify gaps or barriers that may be preventing someone from moving forward and getting the help they need.
The role will also focus on connection beyond formal services, recognising the importance of relationships, community, activities, interests and local opportunities in helping people to thrive.
Alongside direct work with individuals, the Practitioner will also play an important role in co-production and system learning.
They will capture themes from what they hear and learn from people’s living experiences, frontline practice and partnership working, ensuring that people’s experiences do not simply improve their own support but help shape how services develop and improve.
This learning will be fed back into Improving Lives Plymouth and partner organisations to support reflective practice, identify recurring barriers within services and contribute to improving service delivery for everyone.
Working as a Specialist in an Integrated Service
At Improving Lives Plymouth, we recognise that people’s lives do not fit neatly into service boxes. People may be navigating housing insecurity, poor health, poverty, caring responsibilities, loneliness, trauma, discrimination or barriers to accessing support at the same time.
This role brings relational approaches and the ability to ‘call in’ help from services while working as part of a wider integrated team.
You will not be expected to be an expert in every service area but will develop a broad understanding of Improving Lives Plymouth and partner services so that people can access the right support when they need it without unnecessary handovers.
You will be supported in your role, and complex or specialist matters will be referred or escalated appropriately. Induction, training, reflective practice, regular 1-2-1s and continuing professional development will support you to build knowledge, skills and confidence over time.
We are particularly keen to hear from people who may share the lived experiences of those we support (including but not limited to: housing insecurity, poor health, recovery, poverty, caring responsibilities, loneliness, trauma, discrimination or barriers to accessing support) and can then bring this life experience and perspective to our work.
You don’t need to meet every requirement to apply for this role. We value transferable skills, fresh perspectives and a willingness to learn. If you’d like to chat through the opportunity, ask any questions before applying, or require any adjustments, please call Deb Atter on 07305 007997.
This role is funded by the UK Government as part of the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
To comply with data protection law, Improving Lives Plymouth will only collect, process, and securely store your CV, cover letter, and any supporting materials to evaluate your suitability for employment or volunteering opportunities. We will treat your application details as confidential. Further details about our data handling and retention periods can be found in our privacy policy.
Community Involvement Practitioner in Plymouth employer: Improving Lives Plymouth
Improving Lives Plymouth is an exceptional employer that prioritises the wellbeing of its staff and the community. With a strong focus on personal development, employees benefit from comprehensive training and growth opportunities while working in a supportive, collaborative environment. Located in the heart of Plymouth, the organisation fosters a culture of inclusivity and compassion, making it a rewarding place to contribute to meaningful change in people's lives.
