Job Description and Person Specification
Communications Co-ordinator
(18.5 hours per week)
What we are looking for
Watford Mencap is one of the largest Mencap societies in the UK with a long-established history of providing high quality social care services to people with learning disabilities and their families in South West Herts. We are a registered charity founded in 1951 with a trustee body, the Council of Management. Whilst we are affiliated to national Mencap, we are independent and self-funding. In recent years the organisation has increased its annual turnover to £2.3 million by developing a range of creative and innovative new services for people with learning disabilities and their families whilst also remodelling existing provision to offer more personalised support to local people. We currently have over 117 volunteers and employ 120 staff.
The charity is currently facing the challenge of County Council funding cuts and a much more competitive fundraising environment. Last year our fantastic volunteers supported us with 20,000 hours of their time helping to run our leisure projects, charity shops, fundraising events, trustee meetings and generally helping us to support over 800 people with learning disabilities and their families.
Watford Mencap has Investors in People accreditation, an Outstanding Ofsted status, an Advice Service Quality Mark and a range of operational projects that are recognised by CQC for delivering excellent quality services. We are also the winner of the HCPA Best Care Business in Hertfordshire in 2012 and2013 and we were awarded their Innovative Care Team prize in 2017.
The post is based in Rickmansworth will involve some travel across South West Hertfordshire. There may be some out-of-hours working for which time off in lieu will be granted.
We hope you will consider joining us at this exciting and challenging time. For more information please call Jane Pattinson (CEO) or Carol Tunstall, Fundraising Manager on 01923 713630
Communications at Watford Mencap
The Communications Co-ordinator will be part of the small paid team which also includes the Fundraising Manager, Grants & Trusts Fundraiser and Community Fundraiser. In practice this post will work across the organisation to promote the activities of the whole of Watford Mencap as needed. In addition to fundraising communications, key tasks are likely to centre on promotion of the organisation to attract competent recruits for our projects and the advertising of activities at our children’s centre. This is very much a “hands on” post.
Main duties and responsibilities
1. Work with senior managers to develop and deliver the communications strategy and work on specific projects.
2. Develop key organisational messages, lead on creating and maintaining appropriate and consistent communications.
3. Oversee branding to ensure consistency across all internal and external communications.
4. Provide training and support to staff and volunteers who are involved in preparing information for publication.
5. Manage and expand the organisation’s social media presence, sourcing and sharing newsworthy information from across the charity.
6. Produce press releases as and when required.
7. Provide support on copy-writing and production of marketing materials and key publications including the Annual Review and eNewsletters.
8. Develop relationships with target media representatives.
9. Take an active part in the organisation’s external events including fundraising and recruitment events.
10. To represent the charity at external events speaking knowledgeably about its various activities.
11. Support the charity’s fundraising, recruitment, services and public affairs activities.
12. Produce and edit high quality photographs to illustrate the work undertaken by Watford Mencap.
13. To work at all times to the highest possible standard and in a way which maintains the good name of Watford Mencap.
14. To promote Watford Mencap’s equal opportunities and diversity policies.
15. To undertake such additional duties as may be required.
This list is not exhaustive and will be reviewed from time to time in discussion with the post holder. It requires occasional flexible working, including weekends, evenings and bank holidays as deemed appropriate by the organisation. The post holder is expected to be conversant with and work within the aims and objectives of the charity and to adhere to current policies, practices and procedures.
Person Specification
Values / Commitment to Watford Mencap’s objectives and values / Experience of supporting people with a learning disability
Previous Experience / At least 2 years’ experience of working in a communications role.
Familiarity with social media including Facebook and Twitter.
Experience of developing and maintaining a website.
Experience of representing an organisation at an external event. / Experience of developing and/or implementing a communications strategy
Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector
Knowledge / Knowledge of how different communications media interact and the ability to design a comprehensive strategy. / Understanding of local community groups within SW Herts and how they operate.
Knowledge of learning disabilities and the challenges faced by people with learning disabilities.
Skills / Excellent written and verbal communication skills - excellent spelling and the ability to write well-crafted letters.
Excellent interpersonal and networking skills – the ability to act as an ambassador for Watford Mencap with donors.
Excellent presentation skills - the ability and confidence to deliver talks to groups of people without the use of notes.
Good computer and administrative skills including Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Publisher and Outlook
Organisational skills – the ability to prioritise a busy workload and meet deadlines / Photography
Ability to use Canva.com or similar products to create interesting social media posts
Equal Opportunities and Diversity / Understanding of Equal Opportunities and Diversity as they apply to Watford Mencap’s work
General / Able to deal confidently with people at all levels.
Strong organisational and time management skills
The ability to work under pressure, prioritise and meet deadlines.
Flexibility – on occasions working outside normal hours, including early mornings, evenings and weekends for which time off in lieu will be given.
Ability to work hard in a small team of staff and volunteers and on own initiative
Outgoing, confident personality, good telephone manner and ability to deal with a wide range of people / Car owner with clean licence and insurance for business use or have access to transport.
Interest in learning disability
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