We are looking for two Development Officers who are passionate, motivated and enthusiastic individuals to take up an exciting new role to help us develop and shape the work Versus Arthritis does in local communities. Working as part of a small team of staff and volunteers based in Argyll & Bute, you will take a lead role in delivering our pilot project - Together Versus Arthritis – Keeping Connected in Argyll & Bute.

Our pilot in Argyll & Bute has been awarded funding via the National Lottery Communities Fund (NLCF) and together we aim to reach more people with arthritis, create new local peer-support groups, deliver self-management information and support, gather new insight, and raise awareness around arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions and link to and develop local community networks.

The Development Officers will be responsible for working with existing partners and volunteers and looking to develop and support new local networks of people, professionals, and organisations - building strong, lasting relationships within the community, people with arthritis, current and future volunteers, community and voluntary organisations, researchers and health and social care partners. This includes working closely with other teams to identify, recruit, train, and support volunteers to support this work.

You will also work alongside colleagues working in the other UK pilot sites, supported by our services team and the central Together Versus Arthritis project team.

What we are looking for

To be successful in the role, you will be committed to Versus Arthritis values and behaviours and have relevant experience and demonstrable ability:

Experience of community development approaches including co-production and co-design and involving people with lived experience in decision making.

Develop and support a regular network forum with your Local Touchpoint volunteers offering a “Community of Practice” approach.

Knowledge of self-management and how to support people to actively manage their wellbeing through development of sustainable local opportunities for people to come together, in person and online.

Benefits: Read more about what we offer

Travel:Frequent travel across specified areas in Argyll & Bute, some travel to Versus Arthritis offices in Glasgow and England as required.

We are looking for a Development Officer who is a passionate, motivated and enthusiastic individual, to take up this role to help us develop and shape the work Versus Arthritis does in local communities. Working as part of a small team, Senior Area Coordinator, full time Development Officer and volunteers based in Argyll & Bute, you will take a lead role in delivering our pilot project - Together Versus Arthritis – Keeping Connected in Argyll & Bute.

Our pilot in Argyll & Bute has been awarded funding via the National Lottery Communities Fund (NLCF) and together we aim to reach more people with arthritis, create new local peer-support groups, deliver self-management information and support, gather new insight, and raise awareness around arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions and link to and develop local community networks.

The Development Officer will be responsible for working with existing partners and volunteers and looking to develop and support new local networks of people, professionals, and organisations - building strong, lasting relationships within the community, people with arthritis, current and future volunteers, community and voluntary organisations, researchers and health and social care partners. This includes working closely with other teams to identify, recruit, train, and support volunteers to support this work. Although this role is across Argyll & Bute this Development Officer will have specific responsibilities for Cowal, Bute, Helensburgh & Lomond areas.

You will also work alongside colleagues working in the other UK pilot sites, supported by our services team and the central Together Versus Arthritis project team.

Benefits: Read more about what we offer

Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and we welcome candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We want our employees, volunteers and trustees to represent the broad diversity of the communities of which we are a part.

Summary

We are recruiting for our award-winning Young People and Families Service. This role will deliver our one-to-one clinic work embedded in the multidisciplinary team at Glasgow Royal Children’s Hospital as well as our peer support self-management events alongside our team of youth volunteers.

About the role

We are looking for dynamic, creative, innovative team players to join our Young People and Families Service in Scotland. The role will be based in Glasgow but will support service delivery across Scotland and the UK.

As a Young People & Families Worker you will work with colleagues, partners, health care professionals, schools, volunteers, families, and most importantly young people to co-plan, deliver and evaluate a high quality, holistic support offer locally and nationally.

Using a community development/youth work approach you’ll put children and young people at the centre of decisions about their journey. Using youth accessible approaches, you will help young people build their confidence, make friends, and achieve their personal goals. This will be achieved by providing one-to-one support, creating peer networks and working with volunteers to co-deliver self-management activities on a variety of topics from sleep management to self-advocacy.

You’ll also co-design an exciting programme of social events, youth voice opportunities, digital content, and residential events. You will act as the bridge between young people, their families, and professionals –especially in health care settings where you will play a unique role working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to meet a range of needs in a relatable and youth friendly style as young people learn to live well with their condition. You will support young people during the pivotal transition from paediatric to adult services and life, making sure it is a time of empowerment and growth.

Key requirements

Essential:

• Experience of working within the third and/or public sector, preferably within the fields of youth/community development work and/or health and social care - with a passion for improving the lives of young people.
• Understanding the importance of self-management and experience of delivering interventions to people living with long-term conditions. Experience of taking a person-centred approach when providing support.
• Experience of using a community development/youth work approach to co-design and deliver a quality service/project that is inclusive, inspiring and makes a difference. Engaging colleagues, funders, supporters and partners to make it happen.
• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding and safe working policies and procedures.
• Experience of basic project skills, including supporting evaluation work, writing reports, developing project proposals and managing activity budgets.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and evidence of good relationship management with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Good IT skills; thorough working knowledge of MS Office Suite especially Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Digital working skills including experience of using databases.
• Sound organisational and time management skills and the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Understanding of the importance of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• Willingness to travel across the UK as required to attend meetings and events with a willingness to attend occasional weekend events and meetings.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
• Understanding of the ‘Social model of disability.’
• Experience of using /delivering over virtual communication platforms; Microsoft Teams, Zoom, social media etc.

Through our diversity and inclusion strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and we welcome candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We want our employees, volunteers and trustees to represent the broad diversity of the communities of which we are a part.

Summary

We are recruiting to our award-winning Young People and Families Service. This role will deliver our one-to-one clinic work embedded in the multidisciplinary team at Edinburgh Children’s Hospital, as well as our peer support self-management events alongside our team of youth volunteers.

About the role

We are looking for dynamic, creative, innovative team players to join our Young People and Families Service in Scotland. The role will be based in Edinburgh but will support service delivery across Scotland.

As a Young People & Families Worker you will work with colleagues, partners, healthcare professionals, schools, volunteers, families and most importantly young people to co-plan, deliver and evaluate a high quality, holistic support offer locally and nationally.

Using a community development/youth work approach you’ll put children and young people at the centre of decisions about their journey. Using youth accessible approaches, you will help young people build their confidence, make friends, and achieve their personal goals. This will be achieved by providing one-to-one support, creating peer networks and working with volunteers to co-deliver self-management activities on a variety of topics from sleep management to self-advocacy.

You’ll also co-design an exciting programme of social events, youth voice opportunities, digital content, and residential events. You will act as the bridge between young people, their families and professionals – especially in healthcare settings where you will play a unique role working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to meet a range of needs in a relatable and youth friendly style as young people learn to live well with their condition. You will support young people during the pivotal transition from paediatric to adult services and life, ensuring it is a time of empowerment and growth.

Key requirements

Essential:

• Experience of working within the third and/or public sector, preferably within the fields of youth/community development work and/or health and social care - with a passion for improving the lives of young people.
• Understanding the importance of self-management and experience of delivering interventions to people living with long term conditions. Experience of taking a person-centred approach when providing support.
• Experience of using a community development/youth work approach to co-design and deliver a quality service/project that is inclusive, inspiring and makes a difference. Engaging colleagues, funders, supporters and partners to make it happen.
• Knowledge and experience of embedding safeguarding and safe working policies and procedures.
• Experience of basic project skills, including supporting evaluation work, writing reports, developing project proposals and managing activity budgets.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and evidence of good relationship management with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Good IT skills; thorough working knowledge of MS Office Suite especially Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint and digital working skills including experience of using databases.
• Sound organisational and time-management skills and the ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Understanding of the importance of diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
• Willingness to travel across the UK as required to attend meetings and events, and to attend occasional weekend events and meetings.

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
• Understanding of the ‘social model of disability.’
• Experience of using/delivering over virtual communication platforms; Microsoft Teams, Zoom, social media etc.