Regional Sexual Health Development Officer

Job Title:                           Regional Sexual Health Development Officer   

Responsible To:                Board of Directors (BoD)

Line Manager:                   Health and Wellbeing Services Manager

Salary:                              Salary Scale SO2 £22,221 – 23,708 full-time or pro-rata

Location:                           Belfast and Foyle

Hours:                              35 Hours per week

Contract:                          1 Year Full Time post

Holidays:                           25 Days P. A. plus statutory holidays.

Due to the nature of this position, namely directly supporting LGB&/T people, this post is exempt under the sex discrimination (Northern Ireland) order (1976) Section 10-(2) (e). This post also has a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for the appointed person to be either gay or bi-sexual. This complies with the GOR requirements of the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (NI) 2003. 

Overall Objectives of the Post

• Ensure the delivery of a range of funded projects throughout the region related to Sexual Health, by providing services to professionals and LGB&/T people and their families; providing an efficient, friendly and effective service for LGB&/T clients who engage with a range of services, engaging with relevant stakeholders and the public to promote the services, delivering training and improving the awareness and knowledge of relevant statutory and community and voluntary agencies of the issues of LGB&/T health and wellbeing,
• Support the day to day operation of the Belfast and Foyle LGB&/T Centre and services offered from this space to both professionals and LGB&/T people and their families; including fire, health and safety, reporting and monitoring of all relevant data, supporting members, volunteers, service users and professionals, and development of services to meet identified need.
• Support the development of volunteers and placement opportunities within the organisation 
• Lead the development of the LGB&/T Outreach volunteer team
• Engage with colleagues in the Health and Wellbeing Services Team and wider staff team to keep them updated and informed of the health improvement and sexual health operation of the organisation and improve their knowledge and skills in relevant areas as deemed appropriate and necessary.
• Promote the range of health and wellbeing services provided by the organisation throughout Northern Ireland and deliver these peripatetically.
• To work with men who have sex with men (MSM) and the wider LGB&/T community in a sex positive environment that promotes informed choices in relation to sexual health and relationships. 

MAIN DUTIES

The main duties of this post are broken down by competency areas as below.

Service delivery

Deliver services such as rapid HIV testing, client management, advocacy, one-on-one support, youth development, outreach, personal development and befriending (please note list is not exhaustive), including supervision of volunteers and deliver training to professionals and LGB&/T people.

• Promote the health and wellbeing services of the Rainbow Project across Northern Ireland via LGB&/T groups and wider support services to encourage appropriate uptake of services
• Deliver an efficient, friendly and effective service for members of the LGB&/T community
• Develop and maintain a wider partnership  with key stakeholders to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for LGB&/T people
• Provide guidance, support, advice and information to professionals and LGB&/T individuals and their families
• Design, deliver, evaluate and monitor training to professionals on issues affecting LGB&/T people and their families
• Design, deliver, evaluate and monitor a range of health and wellbeing initiatives for LGB&/T people and their families, including but not limited to, personal development programmes and workshops, information and education sessions, one to one support, rapid testing, social and peer support and advocacy
• Support the development of volunteers and placements within the Belfast and Foyle LGB&/T Centres
• Deliver services throughout Northern Ireland and support regional staff where necessary
• Manage and deliver the HIV and Syphilis testing service
• Work in partnership with GUM clinics to deliver Outreach testing clinics in community and commercial settings
• Ensure accessibility of safer sex packs throughout a range of venues
• Lead the netreach service provided by The Rainbow Project
• Develop new and innovative sexual health services based on identified needs
• Support the delivery of the Family Ties project
• Lead the development of the Outreach Team in commercial and community settings

Accountability

Collate data such as monitoring and evaluation information and service delivery records using TRP systems

• Complete and submit monthly activity reports to line manager
• Develop Key Performance Indicators and service specifications for the range of services provided
• Attend quarterly one to one meetings for formal evaluation of activities based on developed and agreed Key Performance Indicators and service specifications
• Attend monthly meetings with the Health and Wellbeing Services Team
• Ensure prompt and efficient recording and timely return of travel claims, invoices, time sheets, statistical data, line management activity reports, project monitoring and evaluation reports including ad hoc written reports as requested.
• Contribute to The Rainbow Project’s internal and external policy development, ensuring an understanding and working knowledge of The Rainbow Project’s policy and procedures.
• Provide regular written reports on project development, including statistics and financial issues.

Stakeholder engagement

Develop and maintain relationships / partnerships with key agencies, co-ordinate suitable referral pathways and provide strategic representation at working groups and committees relevant to the strategic aims of The Rainbow Project

• Develop and maintain The Rainbow Project’s role within the range of local and central government strategies inspiring confidence from colleagues and service partners by your responsive, diligent and knowledgeable contribution.
• Represent The Rainbow Project to all local partners ensuring maximum access to our services, developing excellent working relationships with referral agents and stakeholders in the lives of people of all ages, within the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.
• Attend and positively contribute to Health and Wellbeing Services Team monthly meetings.
• Together with members of the Health and Wellbeing Services Team effectively promote The Rainbow Project through presentations and meetings with interested parties at all suitable opportunities.
• Support your team to forge and maintain robust working relationships with all referral agents and relevant statutory and community sector stakeholders. 
• Represent The Rainbow Project on relevant forums, networks, meetings and conferences, and present an analysis of the key themes and resources identified at such forums to organisational colleagues, ensuring the agency maintains a responsive, informed and updated advocacy services profile.

Strategy

Identify opportunities for innovative services and projects and assist manager in development of new projects

• Monitor and report upon opportunities for service enhancement or expansion to line manager and assist in the development of funding bids where appropriate.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of innovative training packages to meet the needs of in-house and external target groups.
• Demonstrate a consistent capacity to understand and contribute to the strategic development of The Rainbow Project.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications & Experience

-        Be a confident out gay or bisexual man with knowledge and/or experience of the commercial and non-commercial gay scene (please note The Rainbow Project will welcome applications from gay or bisexual men who were not assigned male at birth);

-        Five GCSEs at grade C or above to include English;

-        Two years experience as a paid member of staff working in a health improvement or community development project or three years similar experience as a volunteer;

-        Experience of working on own initiative with limited on going supervision

-        Experience of working in sexual health in either a paid or voluntary capacity

Essential Competencies

-        Good written and verbal communication skills;

-        Good interpersonal skills;

-        Commitment to equality and social inclusion;

-        Commitment to confidentiality and impartiality within advocacy work.

-        Experience of delivering training to professionals

-        Experience of delivering workshops and education programmes 

Desirable Experience and Competencies

-        Understanding of issues affecting members of the LGB&/T community including but not limited to homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism;

-        Experience of working in the LGB&/T Sector as a volunteer or paid member of staff;

-        Experience of working on hate crime reporting and/or housing issues

-        Experience of working in a sex positive environment

General

The Rainbow Project regards all posts within the organisation to carry a degree of flexibility in their execution of duties in order to assist the development of the organisation.  All responsibilities associated with contracted personnel will be carried out in line with the aims and objectives of the organisation and policies set out by the BoD.  The above job description should not be viewed as an exhaustive list as other tasks may need to be undertaken as directed by the Line manager.

Employees will be expected to be flexible in their approach to working hours, as evening and weekend work may be necessary.

PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION AND MONITORING FORM:

-        By e-mail to [email protected] before 12pm on Thursday 24th March 2016. (Please ensure that the documents are attached to your e-mail and that information is added by saving the documents to your computer and then attaching them to a new e-mail rather than replying. You will receive confirmation of receipt);

-        By post to Recruitment, The Rainbow Project, 9-13 Waring Street, Belfast, BT1 2DX by Thursday 24th March 2016.

-        Please note interviews are expected to be held on Wednesday 30th March 2016.