Project Officer

Charity & Volunteering Support, Health, Medical, Mental Health

Beyond Barriers: A study of volunteering in Health & Social Care

Reports to: Project Manager

Hours: Full-time, 39 hours per week

Location: This role supports project activity across Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Allows for some home working.

This post is fixed term until 31st October 2026 and funded by the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action, Strategic Grant Fund.

Job Purpose

· To explore barriers to volunteering within Health and Social Care supported living settings for people with learning disabilities.

· To support qualitative and quantitative data collection and data analysis.

· To work in close partnership with Skills & Volunteering Cymru (SVC) to achieve the aims and objectives of the Beyond Barriers Project.

· To co-produce a framework for embedding volunteering within learning disability Health and Social Care services.

· To produce recommendations and disseminate project learning for the benefit of Innovate Trust and other organisations within the field.

· To proactively engage with funder networking groups and relevant external forums.

Main Responsibilities and Duties

2. Supporting people with learning disabilities

3. Partnership Working

4. Administrative Tasks

5. Organisational Duties

6. Personal Practice & Development Key Duties:

· To design data collection measures such as surveys and standardised interviews for different audiences.

· To collect qualitative and quantitative data from paid staff and people with learning disabilities using a variety of measures.

· To measure the impact of the SVC Volunteer Befriender scheme on wellbeing and assess its financial benefit.

· To produce easy read resources for people with learning disabilities so that they can fully participate in the project.

· To work with SVC and the Assistant Project Officer to collate and analyse data.

· To identify and address any gaps in data collection.

· To draw conclusions from the data set, relevant to the aims and objectives of the project.

· To carry out data collection in adherence with safeguarding policy and GDPR.

· To closely follow the project plan and deliver to deadlines.

Supporting people with learning disabilities

· To ensure that people with learning disabilities have a clear understanding of the project and the purpose of data collection.

· To promote a positive image of people with disabilities, mental health problems and people on the autism spectrum.

· To uphold person centred values in own working practice, tailoring support to individual participants.

· To make adaptations to working practices as needed to suit participant level of understanding and methods of communication.

· To document the positive impact of the project on people with learning disabilities.

· To ensure people with learning disabilities have a voice within the project and are able to provide feedback regarding their experiences.

· To work with participants to address behaviours of concern, involving others within the participant\’s support system as appropriate to resolve issues.

Partnership Working

· To work in close partnership with Skills and Volunteering Cymru to achieve the aims and objectives of the Beyond Barriers project.

· To work in partnership with colleagues in the Skills and Wellbeing department to foster a strong sense of team work and ensure that the Beyond Barriers project and wider department’s aims are being met.

· To work in partnership with other internal departments within Innovate Trust, such as Community Living Services, to achieve the requirements of the project.

· To positively engage in meetings, forums and events run by the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action.

· To engage and share learning with key organisations identified within the project bid such as Helpforce Cymru.

· To liaise with families, advocates, support workers and carers to effectively advertise the project and provide a consistent approach that meets individual needs.

Administrative Tasks

· To maintain accurate records relating to individuals who engage on the project.

· To oversee the provision of participation incentives such as vouchers and certificates.

· To use project management systems agreed between Innovate Trust and SVC.

· To produce guidelines for utilising volunteers in supported accommodation settings, for external organisations.

· To support dissemination of project learning within the third sector.

· To store all project data in centralised electronic folders which are available to your line manager.

· To have a clear understanding of the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action’s grant terms and conditions.

· To record participant outcomes, including soft skill development within project databases.

· To send a summary of project progression against targets to your line-manager as requested.

· To provide content for Innovate Trust\’s website and social media pages.

· To produce content for project reports as required by your line-manager.

· To engage with Innovate Trust’s Insight app and Volunteering Hub.

· To complete risk assessments for project activity and engage in risk assessment reviews as requested by your line manager.

Organisational Duties

· To act as a role model to project participants, other members of staff and volunteers and encourage them to act likewise.

· To have an awareness of and comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ensuring the principles are embedded in working practice.

· To promote health, safety, well-being and security in the workplace, adhering to Innovate Trust\’s Health and Safety policy and the Health and Safety at Work Act.

· To risk assess project activities for which you are taking a lead, share these with the department and store in a location that is accessible to your line-manager.

· To review completed risk assessments every 3 months, after a significant change, or when requested to by your line-manager and make any necessary adjustments.

· To respect and maintain the confidentiality of information for participants, staff, volunteers and the organisation.

· To have awareness and comply with all Innovate Trust\’s internal policies and procedures.

· To contribute to internal and external monitoring and review processes, as requested by your line-manager.

· To contribute to team meetings and collaborate closely with your colleagues.

· To regularly review project processes, making adjustments as needed and fully involving project participants and volunteers with this process.

· To promote a positive image of the project, its participants, funder and Innovate Trust as a whole.

· To promote equal opportunities for the project client group, to respect diversity, different cultures and values.

· To widely promote the project and champion the use of volunteers within Health and Social Care.

Personal Practice and Development

· To prepare for and engage in supervision, appraisal and performance reviews as required, accepting and learning from constructive feedback.

· To attend and participate in training as directed by your line-manager.

· To promptly notify your Line Manager of any concerns regarding participants, volunteers or the project.

· To work in a professional manner at all times.

The preceding duties are neither exhaustive nor exclusive and you may be required to carry out other duties that are deemed necessary and reasonably fall within the scope of this post. All Staff should be aware that although they may be appointed to a specific service, scheme or development they must be willing to undertake similar duties in other INNOVATE TRUST’S services either on a temporary or permanent basis. (All staff will be fully consulted about any proposed changes).

Recruit3 is developed in Wales in association with WCVA (Registered charity 218093, Company limited by guarantee 425299) and The Big Issue Cymru (Co Registration No 3049322)

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