Physical Activity Insight Advisor
Job Introduction
Diabetes UK is seeking a physical activity expert who will be able to lead and gather insights from people with diabetes, focusing on the barriers faced to becoming active.
This is an exciting new role within the organisation funded for one year by Sport England. You will be part of the Care Team, working alongside diabetes specialists, Sport England’s experts and the wider health charity sector.
You will conduct a detailed review of the evidence surrounding people with diabetes and inactivity, focus on barriers that prevent people with diabetes from engaging in physical activity, and you will hold frequent focus groups to uncover these barriers. The post holder will use a variety of mediums to engage with people with diabetes and collect insights in innovative and wide spread ways, whilst meeting people with diabetes you will be expected to support your audience from a physical activity perspective.
Role Responsibility
- Effectively build and maintain excellent external relationships with a range of people with diabetes and those at risk. The post holder will gain invaluable insights through mechanisms such as focus groups formulating
,interviews and arranging forums to understand barriers relating to inactivity - Build and maintain excellent internal relationships with colleagues and teams across the charity, and being the lead internal expert provide advice on physical activity throughout the organisation.
- Responsible for undertaking a review of evidence to identify previous findings on barriers for people with diabetes undertaking physical activity/those who are inactive to inform future thinking within this area.
- Responsible for gathering knowledge and insights from diabetes physical activity experts from the NHS and physical activity sector with a view to utilising this information to formulate Diabetes UK’s organisational position on this matter.
- Conduct focus group sessions, with or without external input, across the UK to gather insights from people with diabetes and barriers they face to physical activity
- Working collaboratively with the Richmond Group of Charities and Sport England to shape and drive this insight project and share expert knowledge as well as influencing the approach taken based on evidence and insights gathered through this project.
- Working with internal diabetes experts to enhance our physical activity messaging and content, adapting technical information, and enabling this messaging to be tailored to meet the needs of a variety of audiences
- Use behaviour change theories to guide the rationale for information gathered
- Consider potential solutions to barriers uncovered through insight gathering and evidence review which may shape the organisations position in the future
- Search and critique evidence when required to ensure all messaging and advice is evidence based.
- Lead on the pro-active development of relationships within the physical activity sector as well as
,external diabetes courses and professional bodies to define good clinical practice and promote the work of Diabetes UK. - Commitment to Diabetes UK charitable aims and values
- Willingness to travel throughout the UK and work flexibly to meet the needs of the charity.
The Ideal Candidate
The best person for this job will be able to:
- Ability to build and maintain effective relationships
- Ability to persuade and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders
- Creative and forward-thinking approach to solutions
- Enthusiastic with a pro-active with a can-do attitude
- High attention to detail
- Minimum bachelor’s degree in physical activity related course (Physical education/ sport psychology etc) or health related field with post grad physical activity awards
The best person for this job will have experience in:
- Delivering community based focus group work and proactively utilising the learning from these groups
- Working in a physical activity role where all abilities had to be addressed
- Ability to critique evidence and literature
- Worked with populations using behaviour change theories/practice
The best person for this job will be:
- Expertise on physical activity and behaviour change
- Have the ability to critically appraise research findings and apply to a population
- Have good understanding of qualitative data interpretation
- Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people.
- Excellent in presentation and writing
- The ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders
- A good team player with the ability to work well using own initiative,
- Effective with time management and prioritisation skills with the ability to work calmly under pressure and tight deadlines
- Proficient in MS- Word, Powerpoint and Outlook
Package Description
What we can offer you:
- Generous annual leave starting at 25 days plus bank holidays
- A Cash Healthcare Plan (giving you up to £1,600 towards a range of out of pocket health expenses like new glasses, dentist, chiropractor or osteopath appointments)
- Early finish Friday and flexible working
- Discounts on gym membership and days out
- Employee assistance programme to give you support on any issues that come up in life
- Annual Season ticket loan
- Very active social scene including sport teams, gardening and other activities
- Generous pension provision, life assurance and permanent health insurance
About the Company
Diabetes is the most potentially devastating – and fastest growing – health crisis of our time, requiring ongoing high-quality care and support. There are currently 4.5 million people in the UK living with diabetes, and 11.9 million more at increased risk of getting Type 2 diabetes. Those diagnosed face the risk of life-changing, and life-limiting, complications, unless they are given the very best care and the support they need to manage their condition well. As a society we need to work together now – and take action now – to fund critical research, improve healthcare and treatment, and prevent yet more people developing this potentially life-threatening condition.
Diabetes UK is a forward thinking and commercially focused organisation, and is the leading charity for the 4.5 million people with the condition in the UK.
As we continue to improve our processes, through continual development and change, this is an exciting time to join us. With established funding streams and following on from the success of our previous five-year plan, we are in a strong position to continue developing and responding to changing environments.
We rely heavily upon the expertise and motivation of our staff in order to work towards our many aims and meet objectives. We aim to be an equal opportunity employer; the organisation recognises and respects the value and diversity of all. We gladly make the adjustments required for people with disabilities to join us. Our diverse functions mean that we can offer you a wide range of rewarding career opportunities.
Diabetes UK is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable and expects all staff and volunteers to actively support this commitment.
Diabetes UK recognises and respects the value and diversity of all.
We have a vision of a world where diabetes can do no harm – if you’d like to be part of that, why not join us?
To Learn more about the work we do - Click here
Diabetes UK