Community Outreach Worker

Description:

About Fusion:
Fusion Maidstone is a health & wellbeing charity based in Park Wood. We opened our doors in 2003 and set about developing programmes, activities and services to address the changing needs of the residents of Park Wood with a strong focus on addressing health inequalities. Fusion works in the community to offer assistance in four key areas Public Health, Food/Food Poverty, Social Inclusion, Mental Health. Services are either delivered directly by Fusion or by a network of partner agencies. We bring services to local people thereby removing barriers to engagement.

Park Wood Connects Project
Courtesy of the National Lottery Community Fund Fusion Maidstone are able to launch their Park Wood Connects project which is a three year engagement and support initiative co-designed with the local community to support people struggling with the combined effects of the cost-of-living crisis, the mental health crisis, and high levels of social isolation/loneliness in one of the South East’s most deprived communities. To address the growing numbers of vulnerable local residents we propose to do two things through the Park Wood Connects project:

* Reach out better across the community to make more people aware that we and our partners are here to help.

* Make more services available locally by encouraging more people and organisations to begin delivering support locally.

About the Community Outreach Worker Role
Fusion is employing a Community Outreach Worker who has a great sense of community and customer service, enjoys working in an outreach environment and who is looking to make a positive difference to the local community.

Working closely with a second Community Outreach Worker and the Community Project Coordinator you will be performing tasks associated with community outreach including identifying and directly engaging with hard-to-reach individuals and families, providing responsive and effective support, deliver drop-in information sessions, recruit, induct and train volunteers to support the project, organise and host community engagement events throughout the year.

Who You Are

* You are an active listener and an empathetic communicator who is able to deliver confidently to a wide variety of audiences.

* You have excellent administrative, organisational and time management skills.

* You have the ability to deal with beneficiaries, colleagues and partners tactfully in difficult situations and be assertive as appropriate.

* You are able to be flexible in response to the organisation’s needs and requirements.

What You Will Offer Us

* You will contribute to the design and development of activities and partner services in response to identified need.

* You will contribute to and attend steering group meetings to represent the voice of the community and aid in the development of the project.

* You will be responsible for your own administration with accurate data entry and working with our customer relationship management (CRM) system.

* You will be a positive addition to the team and happy to represent Fusion Maidstone.

Key Responsibilities

* To identify and directly engage with hard-to-reach individuals and families in Park Wood to raise awareness of Fusion.

* To provide responsive and effective support.

* To ensure immediate needs are assessed and met, respecting the wishes of individuals and families.

* Act as a ‘keyworker’ for the co-ordination and delivery of individuals and families support with the assistance of the wider Fusion team.

* Build a relationship with the KCC Community Wardens with a view to developing partnership working.

* Recruit and induct a total of 15 volunteers from the local community to assist with the project 5 in year 1, 5 in year 2, and 5 in year 3.

* Organise and deliver 4 community engagement events each year of the project.

* Organise and deliver a minimum of 12 drop in surgeries each year of the project in various locations.

* Assisted by the Community Project Coordinator attend regular stakeholder steering group meetings.

Benefits Package

* Mileage will be paid outside of commute journey at the rate of £0.45 per mile provided the successful applicant has business insurance

* DBS paid for by Fusion

* Employer Assistance Programme available 24/7 for advice and guidance

* Full induction

* Ongoing training and development

* Support with career progression and personal development

* Paid 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

* Pension scheme with NEST

Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stage of recruitment, specific measure can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Fusion are committed to the Disability Confident charter. We actively recruit staff who have lived experience. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with lived experience, at all level across the organisation, brings. We create a trauma-informed, person centred environment, where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed