Stroud District Community Hubs Network Project Lead

Responsible to:  CEO
Conditions of Service: 15hrs
Contract: Three year fixed term
Location: Base at GL11 Community Hub in Cam with frequent travel across the Stroud District

About the Stroud District (SD) Community Hubs Network and Our Approach

Stroud District Community Hub network was started in 2020 in response to the growing number of community groups interested in supporting their neighbourhoods. These new groups joined with well established Community Hubs in the district to share good practice and raise the profile of challenges for their communities.

The SD Community Hubs Network has a plan to develop over the next three years to become a commission-ready network of community hubs that deliver hyper-local, accessible, and adaptable services across the district. These hubs will be tailored to the unique needs of individual communities, demonstrating an effective model for enhancing community wellbeing, reducing inequalities, and fostering stronger, more connected, and resilient communities.

The long term aim of the Network is to tackle the health and rural inequalities in the District by developing a resilient and well run group of Community Hubs, owned and operated by local people.
With major changes coming this year and next within NHS and Local Government, now is the time to ensure that the evidence and organisation is in place to obtain funding in the new commissioning approaches.

Job Summary

As the project lead for the Stroud District Community Hubs Network your super power will be your ability to build trusting relationships with community hubs across the district. With your ears and eyes to the ground, you will collaboratively shape the development plan with community hubs and partners.

You will be responsible for planning, staffing, managing and evaluating the development plan for the network of community hubs within the Stroud District. You will be able to engage a diverse range of people, sometimes facing complex challenges, in a strengths-based way to build community hub resilience.

The ideal candidate will thrive working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, taking responsibility for their own workload, and building their skills and knowledge as part of an evolving organisation. As this is a new role, the role will evolve over time as the Community hubs develop and the context in which we work changes. You will contribute to the safe and supportive culture of GL11, inspiring both partners and external stakeholders, making sure our vision, values and key aims are a living part of all our work.

1. Responsibilities and Duties

The list below describes the main responsibilities and duties of the role but is not a finite list. You will be required to carry out any other duties commensurate with this post;

Project Development

• Work with a broad range of community hubs to develop and deliver the network development plan. Providing the community hubs with support to allow them to succeed.
• Working with external partners and partner community hubs to shape the project.
• Nurturing smaller community hubs.
• Work within Community Hubs to agree priorities for development of the network.
• Build trusting relationships with the community hubs to ensure a unified network of community hubs across the district.

Project co-ordination

• Full responsibility for planning and delivery the development plan with allocated budget and in line with project aims.
• Networking and building relationships with all stakeholders.
• Work in a collaborative way with individuals involved in the development plan, the whole GL11 team and external agencies.
• Embed inclusive and non-discriminatory approach across the network.
• Have full familiarity with all community hubs to be able to advocate for the network of Stroud District Community Hubs at District and County level.
• Represent the SD Community hubs network at District and County wide meetings, including alongside NHS ICB, Gloucestershire County Council and other VCSE organisations.

Reporting and Evaluation

• Be a confident user of GL11 database as appropriate, registering and updating information to meet marketing, fundraising and monitoring needs, ensuring that GL11 reports accurately on the impact of projects and activities.
• Meet regularly with your Line Manager to assess and evaluate progress with project.
• Provide data and work input into monitoring reports.
• Be self-sufficient for all aspects of administration.

Flexible Working

• You will be working across the Stroud District, at times there may be a requirement to work evenings or weekends to support community hubs in the district.

• There is limited opportunities for remote working due to the relational, community facing element of the role.

People Support and Governance

• Work to address Safeguarding / Code of Conduct concerns as needed and in line with the relevant internal and external policies and procedures.
• Work within GL11 Community Hub policies, including Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Equalities and Confidentiality.
• Work at all times in ways which respect, enable and empower community hubs to make informed choices that reflect their individual communities.

2. Values, Behaviours & Competencies

Listen   Look for strengths   Act as if it’s possible   Be brave   Be kind

• Working at all times in ways which respect, enable and empower individuals.
• Committed to the purpose of GL11 and its strength-based ethos.
• Committed to fostering innovation and continuous improvement in working practice.
• Agile and responsive attitude to change.
• Respectful of boundaries and able to follow policies while acting in a kind and thoughtful way.
• Flexible and open to new challenges, ideas, and experiences, and able to be self-reflective.
• Committed to understanding diversity and ensuring inclusive practice is applied in all forms of our work.
• Collaborative and a team player, building positive relationships with internal and external partners. Emphasise collaboration and co-design within the network and in all aspects of your work.
• Be committed to your own self-care and work to promote and facilitate self-care and well-being within the team and wider network.
• Non-judgemental with a commitment to self-care within the team and wider network.
• Ensure our values are integrated into all we do:
     o Listen
     o Look for strengths
     o Act as if it’s possible
     o Be kind
     o Be Brave

Person Specification

Your application should give clear examples of your experience, knowledge, skills and
abilities gained in both paid and/or unpaid (volunteer) work for each of the Person
Specification criteria.

Experience of

• Co-ordinating projects to time, budget and outcome objectives
• Working with multiple organisations to achieve a common goal
• Contribution to safeguarding and risk management
• Compiling data and evidencing impact of interventions
• Working with volunteers and paid staff within the community sector
• Line management and leadership
• Applying for funding and working alongside funders

Knowledge and Understanding

• Understanding of the social and economic determents to health and wellbeing
• Has a kind and empathetic nature
• Being people focused
• Effectively manage diversity and proactively challenge discrimination
• How to build an effective partnership within networks

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills (written & spoken)
• Excellent people skills and evidence of the ability to engage effectively with different community hubs, other professionals and external stakeholders
• Deadline & outcome focused with good organisational and time management skills
• IT skills – ability to use Microsoft office at least to intermediate level
• Able to organise and manage own workload
• Ability to reflect upon on practice and utilise feedback from others to enhance performance

Qualifications

• We are looking for someone who will be committed to our values and work, to learning, and to their own development.

Values and ethos

• A team player with a commitment to working in a community setting, putting into practice the values and ethos of GL11.

Other

• Ability to drive with access to a car to travel to other locations
• Ability to work across the Stroud District or wider as required
• Flexibility to attend events and community outreach opportunities outside of usual working hours on occasions
• Enhanced DBS

Email Application CV and Cover letter by clicking on Apply Now.