Project Development Worker - REQ001129

Job title: Project Development Worker

Salary: PO1 £37,035 - £39,513

Hours: 37

Contract: Fixed Term contract 31^st March 2028

Location: West Leeds

As a Project Development Worker, you will be part of the Linking Leeds Social prescribing city wide contract. Working with Leeds City Council you will act as the link between GP surgeries, Wellbeing Coordinators, Community Hubs and the local Community.

You will identify and recruit volunteers from within the local community who will then act as ‘community champions’ for the GP surgeries and the Community Hubs. This is a varied role, where no two days are the same, and includes finance management, community engagement, group facilitation, meeting and appointment management and much more.

You will work for an organisation that values you as an individual and will support your professional development.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a Project Development Worker, you will bring to the role:

Total commitment to excellent customer/patient care and putting our Citizens and Communities at the heart of our service provision.
Experience of dealing efficiently, effectively and sensitively with a wide range of enquiries.
Ability to work to and exceed customer care standards.
To maintain complete confidentiality and to comply with Data Protection and all other relevant legislation.
Experience of developing and establishing successful groups/classes/courses to meet identified need.
Ability to identify potential and beneficial Community Hub ‘Pop Up’ services, develop and deliver them from external locations

About the role

As one of our Project Development Workers you’ll be part of something bigger and join us in achieving the Best City Ambition, working together as a Team for Leeds. We have an ambitious Health and Wellbeing vision that you will play a key role in delivering and realising across Leeds.

The roles offer excellent opportunities to develop and widen your experience, skills and knowledge and make a real difference to the of people of Leeds.

We are a caring and supportive Team, who want the best for and from our teammates, and we are committed to developing each other to achieve the full potential of the Team and individuals within it.

You will engage with diverse communities, Local Care partnerships and local services to build relationships. You will work with Wellbeing Coordinators, Community Hubs and Libraries to create groups and activities. You will support with the delivery of a range of activities across the service and ensure they are delivered to a high standard,

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements

a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Bushra Javed, Project Development Manager, Call 07891276907or email Bushra.javed@leeds.gov.uk.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK - either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK and the role does not meet eligibility for sponsorship, please consider carefully whether you meet the eligibility to apply.

Job Description

Job purpose

To work with the City wide Social prescribing team to ensure that any gaps in provision at an area level are addressed and that patients/customer needs are catered for appropriately.
To provide a coordinating role in allocated area with regard to volunteer recruitment for the SP contract
To develop a partners support network to ensure effective communication between all agencies working on the SP contract with specific regard to volunteering/development of groups/applying for local sources of funding.
To promote the Community Hub and GP surgeries within the locality. Aiming to effectively link the two services together to ‘join up’ support
To identify volunteer ‘champions’ to be recruited and trained from within the local community. Champions will reflect the needs and aspirations of the community but will also act as the voice of the Community Hub and GP surgeries. This will also ensure a sustainable approach is taken.
Lead and facilitate quarterly Community Champion peer support meetings
Provide practical support to Community Champions to deliver local level activity
Build capacity of community champions to raise funds and take ownership of the model to ensure future sustainability
To work with Council employees and services based in the Community Hub site to develop new courses, groups and interventions based on identified patient need and gaps in service.
To work in partnership with the ‘Wellbeing Coordinators’ to facilitate individual support for Primary Care patients with wider social needs.
To work in partnership with the Adult Social Care workers delivering talking points from Community Hubs and other community based venues, to help identify alternative referral pathways and to develop interventions/activities aimed at supporting older people.
Develop local partnership links through attendance at relevant partnerships including LCP’s, NIP’s, priority neighbourhoods etc
To provide an outreach role into the local community

Responsibilities

To work with the Social Prescribing Wellbeing Coordinators to ensure a seamless service delivery for patients and Community Hub Customers

To promote and develop the use of transactional web services and self-service provision within the Community Hub building.

To support city-wide digital inclusion projects and facilitate/increase customer access to IT within the community hub.

To collate accurate and comprehensive statistics from a variety of Databases and to provide management reports as and when required.

To identify gaps in service provision and develop suitable response e.g. establish new offer to meet the need

To identify potential and beneficial community hub ‘pop up’ services and deliver them from external locations

To abide by LCC Financial Procedure Rules.

To be able to recognise and act sensitively in cases of potential risk or high priority.

To be aware of, and adhere to, the principles of service standards in all aspects of customer contact, and to consistently achieve excellent customer satisfaction.

To keep fully up to date with all relevant service developments (with a particular emphasis on developing links with, libraries and employment and skills providers) and to work in partnership with other departments and agencies to ensure optimum service delivery.

To be responsible for the production of training and publicity material, and to deliver coaching, communication and training sessions as required.

To work on the development of action plans and other projects relating to the service as appropriate.

To demonstrate community hub functions to internal and external visitors as appropriate.

To contribute actively to the development and promotion of community hubs.
To work flexibly to meet the needs of customers, and the ongoing development of the service.

To participate in local management groups aimed at improving service provision for residents

To be able to work in a fast moving and/or remote location with minimum supervision.
To maintain a polite and professional manner if difficult or abusive situations arise.
To maintain complete confidentiality at all times and to sign a declaration to that effect.

To fully understand and adhere to the requirements of data protection legislation.

To carry out duties in accordance with the Council’s equal opportunities policy and other policies which respect the rights and needs of customers and colleagues.
To share knowledge of best practice with colleagues and managers across the service.

To carry out duties in accordance with the councils values.

Any other duties commensurate with the post.

This role involves wearing a name badge, working in an open-plan environment and wearing smart, professional clothing suitable for meeting the public and projecting a positive image of the Council and yourself.

Qualifications

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Degree level or equivalent

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

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