Edinburgh Headway Group

Edinburgh Headway Group Part-Time Brain Injury Carers Co-ordinator

Salary: Negotiable / dependant on experience Salary Information: 26 hours per week – worked flexibly as role requires Status: Fixed term - initially for 12 months Location: Edinburgh

Role: As Carers Co-ordinator, you will lead our exciting new Brain Injury Carers Support Project by providing a proactive and comprehensive administration, information and support service to ensure our carers, volunteers and adults with an acquired brain injury receive a high quality, non-judgemental and flexible care service.

Key tasks, duties & responsibilities:

1. Widely promote the work of the project with other voluntary sector and statutory organisations e.g. local hospitals, social work services, GP’s and all allied health professionals, establishing links as appropriate to help identify and make early contact with carers of people with an acquired brain injury.

2. Develop and maintain positive relationships with carers of adults with an acquired brain injury and provide specialised, non-judgemental, understanding and flexible support to these carers.

3. Work with carers to develop a programme of social, recreational and therapeutic opportunities.

4. Develop and maintain links with other professional organisations to provide a seamless information, advice and support service to carers.

5. Be first point of contact for the project and respond appropriately to any calls from project carers, members or volunteers within agreed working hours

6. Work with the Volunteer Co-ordinator to recruit volunteers to provide valuable respite opportunities to project carers through the delivery of 1:1 volunteer support for adults with an acquired brain injury.

7. Match volunteers to adults with an acquired brain injury in line with project’s eligibility criteria; and support, monitor and review volunteers in their respective matched roles.

8. Work with both the Support Services Manager and Volunteer Coordinator to provide an appropriate programme of training to volunteers.

9. Develop, comply with and carry out the Project programme to ensure agreed annual outcomes and targets are met. This will involve developing and maintaining appropriate monitoring and evaluation systems, statistics, case studies and reports (monthly, quarterly and annually) as required by the CEO and funders.

10. To maintain knowledge and understanding of carer issues and relevant legislation, ensuring that appropriate policies and guidelines for the Project are maintained and adhered to.

11. Liaise effectively with colleagues to exchange information and promote good practice to benefit all carers, service users and volunteers of Edinburgh Headway Group.

12. Participate in relevant meetings in the interest of the project’s service users, as agreed with the CEO. To take minutes of meetings when required.

A Registered Scottish Charity: SC006528 Company Limited by Guarantee: 138081 www.edinburghheadway.org.uk 1 13. Be administratively self-supporting, and maintain effective electronic and paper-based office information systems

EHG requires all staff:

 To undertake ongoing training and professional development, appropriate to the effective and timely discharge of the duties of the post.

 To perform other duties, appropriate to the role, as required by the Chief Executive from time to time.

 To actively contribute to the maintenance of a professional and welcoming environment at Edinburgh Headway Group.

 To familiarise themselves with Edinburgh Headway Group Staff Handbook including all policies and procedures.

Additional Project Information:

 A clean driving licence is preferred with access to a car. The current annual allowance for approved project mileage is 40 pence per mile up to 10,000 miles

 The post entails 26 hrs per week. Some occasional unpaid work may be required to support social events and TOIL will be authorised in accordance with Edinburgh Headway Policy.

 Appropriate training will be provided within and outwith Headway House and the Co-ordinator will be required to participate in this

 The project is funded on an annual basis by the City of Edinburgh Council (currently until 31 March 2017 with the likelihood of continuing funding to 31 March 2018). The contract will therefore, initially be to 31 March 2017 and may thereafter, subject to confirmation of funding, be renewed.

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will have previous experience of working in a similar role with carers and volunteers and be able to demonstrate that they have sound knowledge and understanding of carer issues including working with volunteer policies and procedures.

The candidate will have:

 Excellent inter-personal skills, including effective listening skills and the ability to support, influence and motivate carers and volunteers and the public with, enthusiasm, understanding and a positive, outgoing attitude.  Excellent written communication skills.  Outstanding communication, relationship building and networking skills.  Effective administrative skills and a good standard of IT skills, including MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Access or other database, and social media.  Ability to independently produce statistical reports using databases and spreadsheets.  Good time management skills, and the ability to manage a diverse workload and prioritise effectively so that deadlines are met.  A sensitive and professional approach towards colleagues, carers, volunteers and service users, mindful of confidentiality and anti-discriminatory practices.  An understanding of the needs of individuals with an acquired brain injury.  Able to recognise limitations of skills and knowledge and liaise with Line Manager, when necessary.

A Registered Scottish Charity: SC006528 Company Limited by Guarantee: 138081 www.edinburghheadway.org.uk 2