Department: Healthwatch in Cumbria
Salary: £27,500 FTE
Work Hours: 30-37.5 hours per week – to be discussed at interview
Contract Type: Contract
Holiday Entitlement: 26 days (FTE) plus bank holidays and length of service increments. Additional 1 day leave entitlement for your birthday.
Benefits: An employer pension contribution of 6%, working for a values-based organisation, flexible working arrangements, training, and staff wellbeing initiatives.

About us

Healthwatch Cumberland and Healthwatch Westmorland and Furness are the independent champions for people using health and social care services across Cumbria. Our purpose is to gather insight from patients, social care service users and under-represented communities, turning people's experiences into meaningful evidence that influences health and social care services.

We are proud to be part of People First Independent Advocacy, and we are committed to helping people live informed, respected, healthy and fulfilled lives.

 

About you

You may not meet every requirement listed below or have experience in this exact field. If you believe your skills and experience are transferable and you are passionate about our mission, we welcome your application.

We are looking for someone who:

  • As a prerequisite, the successful candidate must believe in the core values of People First, and be driven by our mission.
  • Lives in Cumbria. 
  • Has experience co-ordinating projects, staff, volunteers or sessional workers.
  • Can evidence strong experience of community engagement, consultation or participation work.
  • Is highly organised and able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
  • Builds positive relationships with a wide range of people and organisations. 
  • Has experience collecting and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data. 
  • Understands, or is interested in, health and social care services and the challenges facing local communities. 
  • Is confident working independently, as well as able to work constructively with colleagues, partners and people with lived experience. 
  • Has strong admin, written, verbal and digital communication and IT skills, particularly Excel and Word. 
  • Able to separate personal views from their professional role and represent Healthwatch objectively and impartially at all times. 
  • Is willing to travel across the county as needed, with occasional travel elsewhere. 

 

About the role

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 

  • Co-ordinate a team of sessional engagement staff, including planning activities, allocating work and managing rotas.
  • Co-create and deliver qualitative and quantitative research activities, including surveys, focus groups, interviews and case studies.
  • Conduct Enter and View visits, and lead community engagement activities, events and consultations across Cumbria. 
  • Develop relationships with community organisations, voluntary groups, NHS organisations and local authority partners.
  • Ensure engagement activities are delivered to a high standard and evidence is accurately recorded.
  • Promote Healthwatch's work through community networks and events. 
  • Maintain the good reputation of Healthwatch at all times. As an independent organisation, Healthwatch must remain politically neutral. We are a 'critical friend' to the system, using evidence and people's experiences to influence improvements in health and social care. 

 

Essential requirements

  • Current driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
  • Appropriate business-use insurance.
  • Ability to travel throughout Cumbria, and occasionally beyond.
  • Flexibility to occasionally attend evening or weekend events.

 

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to health and social care services across Westmorland and Furness. You'll work with communities, influence decision makers, and help ensure local people's voices are heard where it matters most.

 

To apply

If you’re interested in the role and think you’d be a good fit, we’d like to hear from you.

To apply for this position, please email a copy of your CV including details of two references, to [email protected] or alternatively, you can post for the attention of Barry to People First Conference Centre, Milbourne Street, Carlisle, CA2 5XB. Interviews will take place at either our Carlisle or Barrow offices. 

Closing date: Wednesday 30th September at 5pm. 

Don't wait until the closing date to apply. We review applications as they are received and may close this advert early if we appoint a suitable candidate.

Please note, applicants who do not live in Cumbria will not be considered for this role. This is not a role which can be carried out remotely. 

If you would like an informal chat to find out more about the role, please call 0300 303 8567 or 0300 373 2820.