Job Title: Wellbeing & Community Engagement Officer
Salary: £22,000 per annum (£27,153 FTE)
Contract: Fixed-Term Contract until 31 March 2026
Hours: 30 Hours per week
Location: This is hybrid working role, working in the community with some home working
Carers First is a charity that works directly with, and for unpaid carers, providing personalised information, advice and tailored support making it easier for those caring for someone else to continue living their lives to the fullest.
We have a committed, dedicated staff team and you could be just the person we are looking for to join us to make that valuable difference in carer’s lives. We live and work through our values in all that we achieve by being positive, collaborative and ambitious and we have clear plans to scale our reach, support and impact for carers.
About this role
As a Wellbeing and Community Engagement Officer your responsibilities would include: -
- Working alongside and in partnership with local businesses to identify and support carers, caring for someone living in Southend.
- Supporting and working collaboratively with all age carers enabling them to live their lives to the fullest.
- Working alongside the community to team to identify carers who’s wellbeing is being impacted by their caring role and implement support to improve this.
- Working with carers and professionals, to identify gaps in service provision and to develop new initiatives.
- Working with local community organisations to identify and develop new partnership opportunities to create better outcomes for carers.
About you
To be successful in this role you will need:
- NVQ level 2 education or equivalent relevant experience.
- Experience of working within the health and social care sector is desirable.
- Demonstrate experience of assessing and supporting an individual’s needs.
- Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills; to be able to undertake carer assessments, support plans and keep accurate written care records.
- Experience of using a database to keep timely and accurate records.
- Evidence of sensitively building and maintaining a positive relationship with individuals.
- Experience, working knowledge and active promotion of Safeguarding.
- Experience in actively promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in operational services.
- Evidenced of the ability to network, develop and sustain joint work between agencies, including establishing good working relationships.
- Experience of working in partnership with other organisations to deliver a range of support to individuals and families.
- Ability to build positive and constructive working relationships with colleagues at all levels across the organisation
We are looking for passionate people who are committed to the overall aims and objectives of the Charity. Carers First is committed to providing a supportive, vibrant, diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.
Carers First Can Offer You
In return for your contribution, we have an amazing package of staff benefits including 26 days annual leave entitlement which increases with length of service, flexible working options, paid carers leave, access to our work-place pension, staff discount scheme, employee assistance programme and a Benenden Healthcare package.
Whatever you are aiming to achieve in your career, we are here to encourage, help and support you grow, through our excellent training and development programmes.
How to apply
To apply for our exciting opportunity and make a real difference to the lives of carers, please download our Candidate Pack and click on the ‘Apply Now’ button to begin your application.
Applications can only be assessed if they clearly state how you meet each of the requirements in the Personal Specification.
Appointments are subject to Carers First receiving an appropriate disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service that we consider acceptable.
Interview Process:
All successfully shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview as and when the criteria is met. Date to be confirmed.
Carers First is an Equal Opportunities Employer
Positive Collaborative Ambitious
There are currently 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK, however carer charities estimate that number could be as high as 10.6 million. Their huge contribution saves our economy £162 billion each year - the cost of a second NHS. Each carer’s needs and situation are unique, but many face similar challenges. They can struggle to balance employment, finances, or their own wellbeing and time for themselves with their caring role. They may not be aware of the help and support available to them - and that is why we are here.
Carers First works directly with, and for, thousands of carers, providing personalised information and tailored support in the way that suits them: online, on the phone, or face to face in their local community. With the help of our supporters and volunteers, we can continue to be there for carers, helping them find balance, and to live their lives to the fullest - today, and for years to come.
Last year, we reached over 376,000 carers through digital services and face to face activities. We have been able to make a material difference in carers’ lives and we can evidence that carers feel more confident, informed and resilient in their caring role.
We are growing, and currently have over 50,000 carers registered with us.
When you join Carers First, you join a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive team who all have a shared interest in supporting unpaid carers to continue living their lives to the fullest, across the country. In a community dedicated to caring, we believe that our employees and volunteers really do make a difference, therefore, we emphasise the importance of learning and development, as well as actively encouraging them to develop their skills with our fantastic learning and development programme. This means that all of our team become the best that they can be, whilst helping others do the same.