The Forum for Health and Well Being

THE FORUM FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Communities of Health Engagement Manager Salary scale: Grade PO3 spinal point 38. £33,510 per annum inclusive of OLW Responsible to: Director Responsible for: Communities of Health Development Officer, Communications and Marketing Officer and Patient Group Training & Support Officer Hours of work: 36 hours per week

Duration: Up until end of March 2014 (with a possibility of an extension)

JOB PURPOSE The COH Engagement Manager is responsible for the management and development of a range of services that ensure that Newham residents are effectively engaged in the commissioning decisions of Newham Clinical Commissioning Group, (CCG). This includes delivering a GP Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG) development programme; the Patient Forum, the Third Sector Health and Social Care Network and the Annual GP Patient Survey. In addition, the post includes overseeing the effective development of the Communities of Health accreditation programme and supporting the Newham Community Prescription work. It also includes giving effective support to patient, service user, carer and resident representatives in general and an on-going Community Reference Group (CRG) which helps review the CCG’s annual commissioning strategy. You will also be required to support GP training on how to engage effectively.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Engagement in Decision Making Develop and implement a strategy, in partnership with Newham CCG that ensures that Newham residents are engaged at every level of decision making. This will also mean the development of annual delivery plans and the meeting of outputs and outcomes as set out in The Forum for Health and Wellbeing’s (The Forum) contract with the CCG. This work will include the:

. Support and development of Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) in every GP practice in the borough and supporting the delivery of an annual patient survey. This element will include developing systems for engaging a diverse range of patients and ensuring that those patients understand their role and how to run effective meetings;

1 working with patient groups to develop their priorities and working with both practices and patient participation groups (PPGs) to agree how those priorities can be met. Finally it will mean developing systems for monitoring and auditing patient engagement, celebrating achievement and securing an increase in patient participation in the annual patient survey.

. Development of the Communities of Health (COH) Accreditation and Award programme so that it meets the needs both of clinicians and of the local community. This will include managing the Development Officer who assists organisations to secure accreditation; the development of accreditation standards to meet evolving clinical and quality needs and ensuring the effective promotion of the programme to a diverse range of third sector and social interest, private and other relevant organisations.

. Supporting the development of Newham’s pioneering Community Prescription programme by working closely with the Director of The Forum, relevant CCG staff, the CCG lay member and CCG Engagement Manager, participating GP practices and Communities of Health organisations. The aim will be to ensure an effective pilot and subsequent roll out of the initiative. It will involve the effective referral and tracking of patients within the programme, the co-ordination of participating accredited Communities of Health organisations, including ensuring they are developed into a sustainable partnership.

. Working with CCG staff and the lay member to embed and develop the nationally recognised patient and public engagement model that has been developed and which ensures engagement at every level of CCG decision making. This will include ensuring the recruitment, development and support of diverse and able patient and service user representatives. It will also include the provision of opportunities for those representatives to feedback and gather views through the organisation of a range of events and supporting the CCG to reach out to a range of communities, particularly those that are seldom heard. Finally it will involve facilitating continued dialogue between representatives and ensure the development of briefings, information fact sheets and the effective use of social media.

. To develop and support the Patient Forum and Community Reference Group.

. Development of a Health and Social Care network for third sector organisations to ensure a co-ordinated voice and a mechanism by which third sector organisations can be kept informed and engaged

2 and through which third sector representatives can be selected/elected.

Other Management Duties

 Act as the initial contact point for the Communities of Health engagement project, attending and contributing to all relevant strategic meetings and providing advice and guidance to the CCG on engagement, including training of GPs and other clinicians/staff.  To maintain effective records and provide monitoring reports for the CCG, the Forum Director and Board and work with the Director to ensure the effective evaluation of the programme. • To ensure the effective provision of induction and on-going supervision and appraisal to all Community of Health staff and ensure the effective supervision of volunteers as necessary. • Develop strategic partnerships, in consultation with the Forum Director, and relevant stakeholders that enable you to collaborate with other organisations on community engagement activity. • Ensure the effective promotion and marketing of the Communities of Health Programme, including the effective use of social media, ensuring Communities of Health and the services of the accredited organisations are well known to local residents and that the programme has a national presence as a recognised example of best practice. • To regularly advise the Director of the progress of projects, rapidly alerting them to any key successes or areas of challenge.

Equal Opportunities The Forum has a strong commitment to achieving equality of opportunity in both services to the community and the employment of staff and expects all employees to understand and actively promote its policies in their work

Other Tasks To carry out other tasks appropriate to the level and duties of this post

Essential requirements:

 Educated to degree level or relevant experience with evidence of professional development.

3  Proven experience of leading successful community engagement projects, including experience of commissioning and co-creating and managing local community initiatives with local residents.

 Successful experience of working with a range of stakeholders, including proven experience of engaging seldom heard communities and of working successfully with local government, health commissioners, third sector providers and academic institutions.

 Comprehensive knowledge of effective engagement and good communication practice and of how to translate best practice into innovative, effective and practical solutions.

 Knowledge of the health and social care system.

 Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to enthuse a range of stakeholders and motivate them to undertake joint action for the benefit of Newham residents.

 Strong organisational and planning skills, the ability to prioritise and thrive in the face of competing demands and proven success in delivering work personally and through others to tight deadlines.

 Excellent interpersonal skills, enabling the post holder to influence at all levels and to work effectively as part of a team.

 Experience of managing staff and volunteers, enabling them to work to clear targets and maximise their own personal development.

 A demonstrable understanding of health inequality issues and effective resident and service user approaches to tackling these.

 An entrepreneurial and problem solving approach within a high profile project that faces competing demands.

 Ability to work independently and on your own initiative.

 Prepared to work evenings and weekends.

 A clear commitment to equality of opportunity.

Desirable requirements:

 Supervisory or management qualification.

4  Knowledge of third sector issues and understanding of the role of the patient and public voice in health and social care.  Proven marketing and promotion skills.