Community Engagement and Co-production lead

The Community Engagement and Coproduction Lead will work to improve access to mental health services across Gloucestershire by developing strong relationships with community organisations, voluntary groups, and people with lived experience of mental illness. You will play a key role in facilitating coproduction forums to identify community needs, enhance service delivery, and promote partnership working across the voluntary, community, and social enterprise (VCSE) sector. This role champions lived experience and grassroots involvement to influence service development, working closely with key stakeholders including NHS, local authorities, and community groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Engage with local communities to identify mental health needs and develop solutions in collaboration with service users and community organisations.

• Organise and lead four local forums to bring together VCSE and statutory organisations, focusing on improving mental health support pathways.

• Facilitate coproduction activities with people with lived experience, ensuring their input shapes service improvements.

• Collaborate with health, social care, and voluntary sector partners through Locality Community Partnerships to align mental health support services.

• Champion equality and diversity by reaching out to underserved groups and ensuring inclusive engagement.

• Attend local community meetings, gathering and sharing insights to improve service provision.

• Promote Rethink Mental Illness’ services and enhance access to a variety of wellbeing pathways for individuals.

• Attend meetings or events outside of standard working hours, including occasional weekend or evening commitments., * Passion: Leading the way to improve quality of life for people severely affected by mental illness.

• Commitment: Providing ongoing support to people in need.

• Openness: Transparent in all work with beneficiaries, partners, and the public.

• Hope: Offering hope for better mental health outcomes.

• Expertise: Using knowledge to provide practical support.

• Understanding: Ensuring people with lived experience are central to all we do.

• Equity: Promoting fairness and justice for all, ensuring inclusivity.

General Duties

• Ensure compliance with Data Protection and Information Governance policies.

• Adhere to Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies, reporting any concerns promptly.

• Participate in regular supervision, appraisals, and training.

• Work in accordance with Rethink’s national policies and local procedures.

• Undertake other reasonable duties as required by the line manager.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Forms).

• Experience working with people from diverse backgrounds, including those with lived experience of mental illness.

• Strong communication, organisation, and facilitation skills, with experience in leading meetings and coproduction activities.

• Confidence in building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including community organisations and statutory bodies.

• A flexible and inclusive approach to work, with the ability to manage tasks independently and respond to challenges positively.

• Understanding of the barriers faced by individuals with serious mental illness and experience in supporting them to influence change.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in mental health support services or within the health and social care sector.

• Knowledge of citizen participation and involvement approaches.

This role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on mental health support within Gloucestershire, by working directly with communities and championing coproduction to ensure services meet local needs.

*Appointments will be at the minimum of the band**

We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

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Caring for our people.

We offer a wide range of support. Some of our benefits include:

• PULSE: our recognition, rewards, wellbeing, and benefits platform. Providing access to thousands of discounts and benefits including cashback; reloadable cards; savings etc. As well as being able to thank colleagues and nominate them for awards.

• Wagestream: gives you instant access to up to 50% of your pay. Also provides a library of expert tools, tips and articles plus, helps you start building a rainy-day pot straight from your salary.

• Wellbeing support: our Wellbeing hub gives physical, emotional, and mental health support. We also have a BUPA Employee Assistance Programme with access to appointments.

• Taking time for you: we work flexibly -you get to choose where you work, managing your own diary. We have generous annual leave, starting at 25 rising to 30 days, plus bank holidays, as well as your birthday off. We also offer the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave.

• Planning for the future: We have a contributory pension scheme.

• Structured Corporate Induction: Onboarding you into the Charity supporting your wellbeing along the way.

• £300 when you introduce a Friend: receive up to £300 when you introduce a friend or family member.