VCFSE Community Research Engagement Officer

Job description

Are you passionate about addressing health inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of people across Coventry and Warwickshire?

Do you have an understanding of the relationships the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector have with various communities who may not be as engaged with health services or health and care research? For this work funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), we are seeking an organised individual with event delivery, engagement, and administrative experiences to join the team.In this role for the REN, you will work across Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System (ICS), supporting Working and Steering Group Meetings, and ongoing support of volunteer Community Research Champions.

WCAVA is an equal opportunities employer - ‘Putting Equality, Diversity and Inclusion into Practice’

Job Purpose 

The purpose of this role is to provide operational support to CAVA’s Health and Wellbeing Manager to support the delivery of the community engagement aspect of the REN Workplan which is identified through the REN Working/Steering Group. The Coventry and Warwickshire REN is currently funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and aims to increase opportunities and inclusivity for people (particularly from underserved communities) to take part in research, to tackle health inequalities, and identify ways for researchers to improve the health and wellbeing of people across Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System.

The post holder will be responsible for supporting Working and Steering Group meetings, attending REN events on behalf of CAVA and taking a proactive role in gathering examples of good practice and sharing outcomes and impact with stakeholders. This role will support engagement with communities throughout Coventry and Warwickshire by supporting delivery of in-person engagement events and support the recruitment of, and support related to, Volunteer Community Research Champions who play a vital and central role within this scope of work.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support organisation and delivery of in-person engagement events for the REN work
• Support the REN Working and Steering Groups with communications and marketing activities with various stakeholders (including with: VCFSEs; potential and existing volunteer Community Research Champions; updates to funders; and for various communication channels of the ICS) 
• Support gathering of examples of good practice and presenting these case studies in various formats
• Support the team with gathering intelligence, and liaising with VCFSEs about capturing and sharing in an Engagements and Insights Atlas the research opportunities and learnings from across Coventry and Warwickshire
• Champion VCFSEs involvement in using their knowledge and understanding of issues related to addressing inequalities and under-representation, and improving health
• Support the REN with writing monitoring reports
• Circulate relevant material and agendas and take notes from virtual and in-person meetings
• Support the REN with the recruitment, on-going support, training, and organisation of virtual and in-person events for volunteer Community Research Champions 
• Attend relevant meetings (in-person and virtually, as appropriate)

General

• Participate in individual supervision sessions with your line manager.
• Attend and contribute to relevant CAVA meetings.
• Undertake relevant training agreed with the line manager.
• Ensure that under-represented groups have access to CAVA services offered by the post.
• Comply with CAVA’s work programme, policies and procedures.
• Partake in occasional CAVA events including AGMs and Away Days.
• Undertake additional duties occasionally, commensurate with the grading of this post.

The nature of tasks may vary from time to time but within the levels of responsibility of the post.