Stockport Council
Job Description
Post Title: Community Capacity Worker (Adult Social Care)
Service Area:Adult Social Care – Health and Wellbeing
Directorate:Services for People – Adult Social Care (ASC) / Salary Grade:SO1
(scale point 29 - £25,440)
Responsible to: Health and Wellbeing Service
Responsible for: NA
Main Purpose of the Job:
A fundamental aspect of the change that Adult Social Care wishes to implement as part of its Preventative Commissioning Strategy is to escalate and support the continued growth of social action from within people’s own communities, which is provided by local people or community groups in an informal but organised way. The expectation is that the high-level outcomes of this work will be to build mutual support, facilitate connections and enable inclusion.
This role is essential to that endeavour and willwork directly with individuals and communities across Stockport to stimulate and support the growth of community self-help, build community capacity and support the development of community organising. In doing this, the main focus will be on benefitting(directly and indirectly) the population groups which Adult Social Care works with, in particular, older people; people with physical, sensory or learning disability, and cognitive deterioration such as dementia; people with poor mental wellbeing; and people who provide informal care, often family carers.
Summary of responsibilities and key areas:
  • To deliver collaboratively, alongside communities,the social action element of the Adult Social Care Preventative Commissioning Strategy.
  • To deliver a grass-roots and asset-based model of support which works co-operatively with community members to help to identify and support the development of community self-help and which harnesses people’s existing interests, strengths and talents.
  • To work with, and in the primary interests of, Adult Social Care population groups to deliver broad wellbeing outcomes which must include:
  • Addressing loneliness and social isolation
  • Promoting and fostering emotional wellbeing, covering a wide spectrum from bereavement to ongoing low mood
  • Promoting social inclusion, particularly working to foster carer/age/disability/dementia ‘friendly’ and ‘enabling’ environments and communities
  • To work collaboratively as part of a virtual team with colleagues working around the same agenda e.g. the Relationship Managers in the Locality Team, Neighbourhood Management/inclusion colleagues, community development workers based in the public health team, colleagues in the voluntary sector commissioned to deliver early intervention and preventative support, but retaining a focus on Adult Social Care priorities.
  • Developing productive working relationships and networks within and between the community, internal colleagues, partners and wider stakeholders
  • Contribute to the local knowledge base and understanding of social action and community capacity building and freely share learning and experiences for wider benefit

Job activities:
  • To develop and deliver, with Stockport communities, a practical grass-roots approach to social action and community capacity building which is grounded in asset-based community development principles and empowerment
  • To work towards the creation of a collaborative network of community self-help across Stockport
  • To proactively identify with community members opportunities to improve wellbeing and independence within and across Adult Social Care populations, providing appropriate and authoritative support to bring ideas into practice. This support is likely to include:
  • advice about what to consider when setting up a group / realising an idea;
  • advice about fundraising and bidding to get started, cover costs, extend support etc;
  • support to enable networking and coaching between volunteers to make it easy for people to share and learn from each other;
  • cascading good practice / ‘buddying’ with other volunteers or groups to share learning;
  • facilitating access to essential training;
  • facilitating the creation of virtual communities and networks.
  • To continually work towards ensuring the ongoing sustainability of approaches, groups and activities and build up a diverse range of methods and knowledge about how to achieve this.
  • Actively acquire excellent local knowledge within a defined area/’locality’ of Stockport, developing strong informal networking as one way to achieve this
  • Supporting and/or promoting the development of existing or new natural focal points/places for people to go to in their community
  • To be committed to workingproactively, collaboratively and creatively with residents, colleagues and partners to stimulate social action
  • Identifywith communities and colleagues gaps in support and be proactive in finding appropriate solutions whether through the community, voluntary, public or private sectors
  • To contribute to consolidating/expanding our local understanding of the barriers to independence and quality of life experienced by Adult Social Care population groups and the community solutions to address them

Additional duties:
To work positively and inclusively with colleagues and customers so that the Council provides a workplace and delivers services that do not discriminate against people on the ground of their age, sexuality, religion or belief, race, gender or disabilities.
To fulfill personal requirements, where appropriate, with regard to Council policies and procedures, health, safety and welfare, customer care, emergency, evacuation, security and promotion of the Council’s priorities.
To work flexibly in the interests of the service. This may include undertaking other duties provided that these are appropriate to the employee’s background, skills and abilities. Where this occurs there will be consultation with the employee and any necessary personal development will be taken into account

Stockport Council

Competency Person Specification

Post Title: Community Capacity Worker (Adult Social Care)

Directorate: Services for People

The criteria listed below represent the most important skills, experience, technical expertise and qualifications needed for this job role.

Your application will be assessed against these criteria to determine whether or not you are shortlisted for interview. Any interview questions, or additional assessments (tests, presentations etc) will be broadly based on the criteria below.

Competency / SCORE / Essential or Desirable
0 / 1 / 2 / 3
Substantial & demonstrable relevant practical experience of working with members of the community in one or more of the following types of role:
  • In anasset-based community development style role;
  • In a front-line service delivery role;
  • In a voluntary capacity
/ Essential
Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to develop a rapport and build trust with people from all walks of life and backgrounds / Essential
Personal resilience including effective conflict resolution skills and an ability to say ‘no’ / Essential
A desire and ability to empower and inspire others to achieve their goals, identifying and building on their strengths / Essential
An aptitude for seeing opportunities and consider/develop creative solutions in response / Essential
Considerable expertise in brokering connections and networks between peers and organisations / Essential
An ability to find common ground and build consensus, with demonstrable practical experience / Essential
An ability to act as a credible independent voice and mediate between parties when it is needed / Essential
Good knowledge of and experience in the process of establishing new community ventures, including:
  • Fundraising
  • Policy/practice development
  • Training needs
/ Essential
Skills in planning and co-ordination, with practical organisational ability / Essential
Significant experience of developing productive working relationships and networks within and between the community, internal colleagues, partners and wider stakeholders with a focus on improving outcomes for residents and service users / Essential
Awareness and understanding of the political environment of the Council and decision making / Desirable
An understanding of the basic idea and aims of:
  • social action / community capacity building
  • behaviour change
/ Desirable
A knowledge of Stockport as a town and community / Desirable
Practical experience of social action / community capacity building / community organising and how it contributes to promoting wellbeing and independence / Desirable
Competent user of ICT solutions within the work place / Essential
Holder of a full UK driving licence and access to a car for work (alternative arrangements will be made for disabled applicants) / Essential
Understands and actively supports Stockport Council’s diversity and equality policy / Essential
Is able to work within the Council’s standard policies and practices / Essential
To meet Stockport Council’s standard of attendance / Essential
A willingness to be flexible in a changing environment / Essential

Scoring key

0 – Not met essential criteria

1 – Partially meets essential criteria

2 – Meets criteria

3 – Exceeds criteria

4 - Exceptional

1