Milestones Trust is looking for an Involvement and Engagement Coordinator to facilitate the coordination of all aspects of involvement and engagement to ensure that the people supported by Milestones Trust are able to shape and influence the operation of the Trust’s services and to get involved in opportunities within their homes, Milestones Trust or the wider community.

The Involvement and Engagement Coordinator will coordinate the coproduction work globally across all divisions of the trust working closely with the people we support, The Volunteer and Involvement Lead, Operations and Service Managers and teams to implement the Involvement Strategy and to take forward this work. 

The Involvement Coordinator (IC) reports to and is supported by the Volunteer and Involvement Lead (VIL) and works alongside service and operational staff to maximise opportunities for people we support to engage and participate as they choose. The role is 21.5 hours per week.

Role Responsibilities

• Participate in the schedule and administration of the gathering continuous feedback project from the people supported by the trust and people who are important to them.  This may include conducting surveys; collating and reporting on data collected from surveys and observational visits at services by the Quality Team; presenting these results, including any areas for development and improvement, in an accessible and meaningful way for a variety of audiences including the Board of Trustees and Operational Leadership.
• To work with the Volunteer and Involvement Lead to co-ordinate regular meetings of the People’s Council (Voices4Choice) to ensure it continues to develop and remains an important link between the people we support, trustees and the leadership of the organisation. To support the Chairperson to feed back the issues discussed to the Leadership Team.
• To work with the Volunteer and Involvement Lead and Volunteer Coordinator to co-ordinate regular, coproduced events, which encourage staff, volunteers, trustees and the people we support to come together. These could be Walk and Talk events or coffee mornings in services for example.  
• Ensure that the involvement activities and events provided for people we support reflect the values and objectives of the Trust i.e. to recognise Autism awareness week and also external lobbying or campaigning i.e. ensuring that people are given the opportunity to meet and ask questions to local candidates in elections.
• To work with the VIL and network with similar organisations and roles in the charity sector and remain aware of emerging trends and best practice in involvement and co-production and issues that affect the rights of people with learning disabilities and/or mental health needs. Use this learning to drive continuous improvements and developments in the trust’s involvement strategy and work. 
• Keep up to date with all aspects of legislation / policy i.e. Accessible Information Standard, relating to people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and dementia and ensure this is reflected in involvement activity.
• Coordinate, develop and deliver learning workshops alongside the Learning Dept.  that support the Experts by experience team (Ebe) with training and learning, for example to develop their understanding of data protection, safeguarding, equality and diversity, conducting interviews etc.
• To liaise with the Marketing team and to write articles and content for social media, various trust publications and communication platforms about planned events, involvement opportunities and successes of our co-production work. 
• To manage Ebe administration and support individuals with payroll, learning, AL, contracts and working with other departments to ensure Ebe data is correct and maintained.
• Work with the Involvement and Volunteer Lead to devise and develop a network of Involvement Champions across the organisation, ensuring that they are engaged and supported with the process.
• Work with South Glos Council to coordinate the service user representative group of the Learning Disability Partnership Board, which meets 5 times a year + preparation meetings, increasing co-production in South Glos.
• To travel to services and community projects in the Bristol, South Glos, North Somerset and BANE’s areas, promoting involvement and engagement opportunities to all.
• Work with and support recruiting managers to ensure that people we support are involved in recruiting new staff
• To work with the Volunteer and Involvement Lead, Operations and Service Managers and the Quality team to develop best practice in all areas.
• To identify, and share areas of excellence and good practice to ensure that the Trust is able to spread best practice in all its services.
• To ensure inclusion and equity in all areas of work, ensuring that all the people that we support have a chance to be involved if they wish.
• To promote and demonstrate Trust values in all professional relationships in daily work.
• To self-administer work, prioritise busy work schedules, with a thorough attention to detail.

About You

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Effective organisational skills demonstrated by successful management of multiple projects achievement of deadlines and priority setting
• Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships demonstrated by joined-up, partnership working on activities, positive role modelling and influencing of others
• Excellent administrative and IT (MS Office) skills
• Strong professional boundaries and can work both autonomously and as part of a team
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation communication skills
• Ability to engage in reflective discussions in supervision/1:1 sessions with line manager.
• Awareness of national good practice on coproduction, involvement and inclusion
• Minimum 2 years professional, frontline experience of working with people with learning disabilities, people living with dementia and/or mental health needs
• Worked in a public sector setting in a similar coordination role (i.e. advocacy, engagement, participation, involvement, human rights) or lived experience as a carer or as person who has received support.
• Experience of working in regulated services (CQC registered or Supported Living)
• You have experience of leading and coordinating a range of projects with competing demands and stakeholder requirements.
• You have experience of carrying out consultation work and developing effective communication channels with people we support through surveys, focus groups and interviews
• Experience of promoting and facilitating the effective and meaningful implementation of involvement at individual, service and organisation level i.e. policies, accessible information, newsletters, events information
• Full drivers licence and use of own transport with appropriate insurance
• Commitment to the core values of the Trust
• Willingness to be flexible, adaptable and responsive to change

In return, we are committed to rewarding you with a competitive pay and benefits package including: 

• 30 days Annual Leave Entitlement
• Access to an Employee Discount Platform from Day 1, with discounts and cash back for hundreds of retailers.
• Refer a Friend Scheme earning you up to £750
• Company Pension
• Job Satisfaction
• Generous Occupational Maternity/Paternity pay
• Learning and development opportunities for you to build your career
• Health Cash Plan on completion of probation giving you access to a minimum of £695 cash back for health treatments e.g. Dental, Therapies, Optical, Maternity/Paternity, NHS Prescriptions etc. 

We pride ourselves with being able to offer staff opportunities to develop and progress their careers within the Trust. 

For more information about the role, visit our recruitment website at: https://www.joinmilestonestrust.org.uk or for an informal discussion about the job, please telephone Sara Turrill, Volunteer and Involvement Lead, on 01179 709356.