Breathing Better Coordinator in Belfast

Responsible To: Breathing Better Project Lead

Hours Per Week: 35 hours per week

Location: Home Based/NI wide

Salary: NJC pt 17 - £31,022 PA

Contract: Full Time (Project-funded fixed term for 3 years)

The Role

Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke (NICHS) is the leading provider of care and support services to people and carers affected by chest, heart and stroke illnesses. We are seeking an experienced Coordinator to coordinate and support delivery of our Breathing Better programme, ensuring it is community-led, strengths-based and focused on early intervention for people who experience poverty, disadvantage or discrimination. The postholder will coordinate the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of Breathing Better activities across Northern Ireland, aligned to NICHS's Care Services Strategy and the Strengthening Communities programme of The National Lottery Community Fund. The role will support efforts to reduce health inequalities and improve people's physical health, mental health and wellbeing through accessible respiratory support, self-management and community connection. Building strong relationships with communities, the voluntary and community sector, and Health and Social Care partners will be central to this role. You will support internal colleagues and external stakeholders to co-design delivery, maximise reach to those most affected by inequality, and contribute to robust monitoring, evaluation and learning that meets funder requirements.

Main Responsibilities

• Programme and Project Delivery
• Coordinate delivery of the Breathing Better project in line with agreed outcomes, budget, timescales and The National Lottery Community Fund requirements.
• Ensure delivery is community-led, strengths-based and accessible, with a clear focus on early intervention and tackling health inequalities.
• Maintain and coordinate detailed project plans, risk logs and delivery schedules, escalating issues and helping ensure resources are in place to meet targets.
• Coordinate high-quality respiratory support and self-management activities (for example education sessions, signposting, and community-based support) in line with NICHS quality standards.
• Work in partnership with Health and Social Care colleagues and community organisations to agree referral pathways, reporting processes and joined-up support for participants.
• Community-led Development and Partnerships
• Engage communities to identify needs, barriers and strengths, ensuring people affected by poverty, disadvantage or discrimination shape project design and delivery.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with community, voluntary and statutory organisations to strengthen local connections and reduce duplication.
• Plan and facilitate engagement events, advisory groups and co-design sessions, using feedback to drive continuous improvement.
• Support implementation of the stakeholder engagement approach, maintaining effective communication, involvement and feedback with internal teams, community partners, Health and Social Care colleagues, funders and people with lived experience.
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Reporting
• Implement proportionate monitoring systems to evidence outcomes, with a focus on reducing health inequalities and improving physical health, mental health and wellbeing.
• Collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data, ensuring confidentiality, informed consent and good information governance.
• Contribute to high-quality narrative and financial reporting for NICHS leadership and The National Lottery Community Fund, including learning and continuous improvement actions.
• People and Volunteer Support
• Help recruit, train, coordinate and support volunteers where applicable, ensuring meaningful roles, clear boundaries and recognition.
• Ensure appropriate safeguarding, health and safety, and risk management arrangements are in place for all delivery settings and activities.
• Ensure NICHS policies and procedures are implemented and adhered to, including equality, data protection and lone working where relevant.
• Support reflective practice and learning, using evidence and participant feedback to improve delivery and demonstrate impact.
• Ensure activities promote self-management and secondary prevention, helping participants build confidence, knowledge and skills to manage their respiratory condition.
• Contribute to service and operational planning, ensuring Breathing Better aligns with NICHS strategy and supports wider organisational objectives.
• Maintain high standards of quality and participant experience, ensuring delivery is inclusive, trauma-informed where appropriate, and culturally sensitive.
• Governance, Finance and Communications
• Maintain clear project records and contribute to governance updates, funder returns, audits and internal reporting requirements.
• Support compliance with funding conditions, NICHS policies, delegated authority and relevant regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate timely communications about Breathing Better activities, achievements and learning with participants, partners, colleagues and the funder.
• Work with NICHS communications colleagues to develop accurate, accessible and inclusive project materials, case studies and updates, securing appropriate consent where required.
• Represent the programme at relevant internal and external meetings and provide clear updates on progress, risks, issues and next steps.

Person Specification

• Essential
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Educated to A Level and minimum of 2 years experience of delivering support services to people with long terms conditions or disability
• Or a minimum of 4 years experience of delivering support services to people with long terms conditions or disability
• Proven experience coordinating projects, services or community-based activities and maintaining delivery plans, records and schedules.
• Proven experience engaging people and communities, including those affected by health inequalities, poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with colleagues, volunteers and external partners.
• Ability to collect, organise and interpret quantitative and qualitative information and contribute to clear reports.
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and escalate risks appropriately.
• Desirable
• Experience in health, social care, public health or the voluntary and community sector.
• Knowledge of respiratory conditions, self-management approaches or secondary prevention.
• Experience supporting volunteers, co-design activity, monitoring and evaluation, or externally funded projects.

Professional Standards, Values and Expectations

The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a commitment to NICHS values and to improving outcomes for people living with respiratory conditions, and to uphold the organisation's standards and policies in relation to safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection, equality, diversity and inclusive practice.

SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Annual Leave: The post-holder will be entitled to 25 days annual leave. This is exclusive of 10 bank and public holidays. The annual leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March.
• Pension: Organisations contributory pension scheme (% employee Contribution will be matched by % employer contribution)
• Car Mileage: The post-holder will be reimbursed for any business mileage under the Car Mileage Scheme.
• Health Scheme: You will be eligible to join the health scheme provided by the organisation.
• Death in Service: You will be eligible to join the death in service scheme provided by the organisation.
• References: All offers of employment are subject to two satisfactory written references.