The Outreach Officer will be at the front line, supporting every single newly diagnosed Duchenne family, helping them understand, process and cope with the life-changing diagnosis. This role will involve lots of travel, meeting with and talking to families and providing them with Action Duchenne’s world-class support.
About us
Action Duchenne was established in 2001 as the first national charity dedicated to supporting young people, adults and their families living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. 87p in every £1 we raise is invested in charitable activities; research, educational and support programmes, and life-changing campaigns. We are looking to appoint an Outreach Officer, to make a real contribution to the lives of those living with Duchenne.
Job Title: Outreach Officer
Reports to: Grant Manager
Type: Permanent
Working week: 30-37.5hrs, 4 – 5 days/ week,
Salary: £26 – £30k per annum, pro rata
Location: Flexible Home/Office split
Line Management: None
Overview
Most children are diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy around the age of 4. Hearing the words “your child has Duchenne muscular dystrophy” is extremely upsetting and emotionally challenging for families to understand, process and cope with. It leads to a myriad of dark thoughts and feelings and anticipatory grieving shortly follows.
We would like to provide all families living with Duchenne with free and widely available support that is not otherwise available. We want every family receiving this life-changing diagnosis to be able to immediately access whatever it is they need to help them at such a difficult time. This role is a vital part of that plan.
Benefits
We offer the competitive salary shown, flexible working hours, home-working and an innovative and supportive working environment.
Why should you apply for the role of Outreach Officer?
Young people and adults living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) face many challenges in their foreshortened lives. Our support is vital to thousands of young people, adults and families living with Duchenne. We developed our progamme in response to their needs and since 2017 we have been developing a sustainable, long-term funding model for this work.
This is a great opportunity for you to make a significant contribution within our small yet vital patient organisation.
We work to achieve our vision by
- Supporting the Duchenne community – to bring people together to share their experiences and learn from each other.
- Working with the NHS to improve care and provide their patients with the earliest possible access to approved medicines.
- Funding research into potential therapeutic strategies for everybody living with Duchenne.
- Helping to create an inclusive society where everybody is equal, and disability is accepted.
About the role
This is a great opportunity for you to make a significant contribution within our small yet vital patient organisation. Supported by the Support and Community Fundraising team, the Outreach Officer will:
- build close working relationships with Duchenne clinics and clinicians across the country to understand what support they already offer and what support is needed.
- be responsible for developing engagement plans with individual clinics, to ensure that all newly diagnosed patients are referred to our support services as quickly as possible after diagnosis and offering initial support to those families.
- establish a network of support groups for newly diagnosed families.
- play a key role in identifying content for newly diagnosed families at our annual conference.
- work closely with our existing support team, to ensure that each family receives the best support possible, and that long-term support is provided.
- work with the Project Marketing & Support Coordinator to collect data, follow up, and get feedback/organise focus groups for impact purposes.
- assist in writing bids for continued funding of the project and reports to funders and other project stakeholders.
- receive training and full support in order to fulfil your role. This might include training in counselling, stewardship, and how to engage and support Duchenne families
Candidate specification
The successful Outreach Officer will have a strong commitment to Action Duchenne’s aims and objectives and a drive to deliver outcomes.
You will be a self-starter with a hands-on attitude to work. As Outreach Officer you will work in a collaborative and flexible manner with our team of staff, volunteers, committees, and Trustees.
Essential criteria
- understanding NHS clinical and commissioning work streams.
- Experience and proven ability of working with young people and their families
- Experience of supporting families dealing with trauma
- Excellent written and oral presentation skills and ability to communicate effectively
- Ability to adapt to and manage variety and ambiguity
- Ability to work as part of a team and work on own initiative and to deadlines
- Willingness and ability to travel across the UK (including remote sites)
- An understanding of and commitment to Equal Opportunities and the ability to promote this in the day-to-day work of the post.
Desired criteria
- Degree in psychology, nursing, or equivalent level qualification
- Experience of working in or with the NHS
- Training and or experience in counselling or coaching
- Desire to help individuals cope with life-changing events
How to apply
Send your CV and cover letter to HR@actionduchenne.org, explaining why you are the best candidate for Outreach Officer and what is your connection, if any, to Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Application deadline: 15th December 2021.
Successful applicants will be invited to attend a face to face first interview via Zoom, ideally, and if possible, before the Holiday period. With final interviews, via Zoom, will be held in the New Year.
If this sounds like an opportunity you would succeed in, please get in touch!
A note to candidates
Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment and we are most interested in finding the BEST candidate for the job. That candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background, and that’s okay. We would strongly encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of the qualifications described.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES STATEMENT
As part of its recruitment policy, Action Duchenne intends to ensure that no prospective or actual employee is discriminated against on the basis of race, sex nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, employment status, class, disability, age, religious belief, or political persuasion, or is disadvantaged by any condition or requirement which is not demonstrably justifiable.
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