In person peer support project assistant

ROLE SUMMARY

This part-time fixed-term role supports the coordination, administration and local outreach for Long Covid Support’s in-person peer support work.

The Project Assistant will help maintain two already established groups in Chester & Birmingham, support evaluation and reporting, and research areas where future peer support could meet unmet need.

This is a new role, which has grown from successful IPPS projects established over the last 12 months for which the administrative requirements have continued to grow.

This role supports the IPPS Lead with the administration and coordination needed to maintain established in-person peer support groups and explore opportunities for future groups in areas of unmet need.

This role would suit someone who is highly organised, confident working remotely, and able to manage a small number of regular tasks reliably, within limited monthly hours.

The postholder will need to balance independent working with regular communication with the IPPS Lead.

This role may involve direct engagement with individuals, including those who may be vulnerable.

In person peer support team members must work within agreed role boundaries at all times and must not provide counselling, therapy, medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, casework or regulated advocacy unless separately authorised and appropriately qualified under an agreed framework.

Any safeguarding concerns must be raised as soon as reasonably practicable in line with the charity’s safeguarding procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

General project administration and support

Work with the IPPS lead to deliver the project day-to-day, including

• Updating the Eventbrite page as needed
• Coordinate the production of flyers and digital visuals
• Distribute flyers and digital visuals through relevant local channels, including community groups, GP practices, councils and pharmacies and social media
• Work with the wider charity team to ensure the website stays up to date
• Provide materials for the quarterly newsletter as required
• Research and Scoping
• Identify and scope areas with high prevalence and need for Long Covid support to inform funding applications.
• Assess existing support networks and identify relevant community channels, including social media, VCSE sectors, GP practices, councils and pharmacies, local MPs and councillors to support local outreach and promotion.
• Assessment of Resources and Gaps
• Map existing long covid groups, networks, and links to the charity’s current support offerings.
• Identify gaps and opportunities where peer support groups could add value e. g. decommissioning of NHS services.
• Under instruction from the Support workstream lead and IPPS lead, develop and implement plans to engage existing support groups and bring them under the charity umbrella.
• Evaluation and Reporting
• Use existing evaluation tools to measure impact and effectiveness – ONS4 responses, feedback questionnaires, and qualitative feedback such as quotes.
• Produce short summary reports on group activity, reach, learning and impact.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Ability to handle participant and community information sensitively, follow relevant charity policies and procedures, and maintain appropriate boundaries when supporting peer support activity.
• Competent using Microsoft Office.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating short to medium-term projects.
• Background in peer support or community health initiatives.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• An independent worker, able to hit the ground running and make an impact quickly.
• Someone happy to take initiative, ask questions and make this role their own.

Desirable

• Knowledge of Long Covid or experience working in long-term health conditions.
• Understanding of health and the VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) sectors.
• Competent utilising Eventbrite, Mailchimp and various social media platforms.
• Familiarity with evaluation tools and reporting processes.
• SHARED VALUES

We recognise and value the different skills, experiences, and perspectives that all of our contractors and volunteers bring to the charity.

Everyone is asked to work in line with the following shared values, which reflect how we support one another and the communities we serve:

• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Respect for confidentiality and the sensitive nature of the information we hold
• A non-judgmental and empathetic approach to working with others
• A commitment to the charity’s safeguarding principles

ABOUT US

Long Covid UK is a national charity set up by and for people living with or affected by Long Covid.

Our mission is to reduce the impact of Long Covid and improve the lives of all those affected by driving long-term, systemic change.

We do this by offering community support and working to ensure people with lived experience of Long Covid are meaningfully involved in the processes and decisions which affect their lives, from research to public policy.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your CV and your answers to the below question in no more than 1000 words.

Your application will not be considered if you do not provide answers to these questions.

Long Covid UK welcomes applications from people with lived experience of Long Covid and from candidates with experience supporting health, disability or community-based projects.

• What interests you about this role and supporting people living with Long Covid?
• Please provide an example of a project or piece of work that you have been involved in, where you have helped organise, coordinate and completed admin tasks independently.
• If Long Covid UK was to expand the IPPS project to another area of the country, how would you explore and research the viability of this?