Regional Support Officer

Job Introduction

Diabetes UK in the North of England is looking for a Regional Support Officer to help us organise events, engage communities and help people with diabetes improve the NHS in the North West  Region.

You will be a key member of our team, working closely with volunteering colleagues. If you have experience of office administration, organising events, and engaging communities, then we would like to hear from you.

The role will be based at our office in Warrington. The role is for two days per week – Mondays and Tuesdays. The role is initially offered as a one year contract as part of a job share trial but it is expected that if these arrangements prove successful, the post can be made permanent.

For an informal discussion please contact David Chaney, Assistant Director for local Impact at david.chaney@diabetes.org.uk

Role Responsibility

• Provide basic IT support within the Regional Office including compiling of audits and liaising with IT in Central Office to ensure effective IT for regional staff.
• In the frequent absence of the Regional Head, ensure the continuation of services and work of Diabetes UK Regional Office.
• Responsible for the development and maintenance of the information and archiving systems for the office, including accessibility to Diabetes UK publications, information/advice sheets and other appropriate journals.
• Provide information, support services and adequate responses to people enquiring to Diabetes UK being the first point of contact, with telephone enquiries, e-mail enquiries, letters and any personal callers to the office.
• Responsible for the organisation and smooth running of a number of events in the Northern and Yorkshire region, including full venue and delegate management, promotion and evaluation.
• Assist in developing and maintaining relationships with Local Volunteer Groups, individual volunteers, Healthcare Professionals, Voluntary organisations and others within the region.
• Coordinate and provide 1-1 management of general office Volunteers.
• Responsible for reporting to Regional Head concerning the financial spend of the Region. Responsible for looking at the monthly management reports and highlighting any discrepancies to the Regional Head and taking appropriate action to rectify these.
• Assist the Regional Head and other staff to implement various projects to raise awareness of diabetes and Diabetes UK in the region.  This may include giving presentations, staffing stands, attending planning meetings for internal and external events and attending meetings on behalf of the Regional Team.
• Work cooperatively with the Regional Fundraising Team in handling fundraising enquiries, common administration and partnership working.
• Work with the Regional Head and Improving Care Manager with any follow up and administration concerned with NHS Engagement and campaigning.
• To coordinate the writing, editing, production and distribution of the Regional Newsletter for volunteers and other interested parties (generally 2-3 per year).
• Responsible for the entry of information onto the Diabetes UK CIS Database, complying with data protection and other legislation and, as far as is possible, ensuring other team members are equally compliant.
• To be the regional lead for Health and Safety, ensuring weekly Health & Safety checks are undertaken and recorded and ensuring all staff are inducted and regularly kept up to date with health and safety issues.
• To ensure that the office is open 9am-5pm, coordinating with staff to ensure adequate staff cover.
• Any other duties commensurate with the role that may be reasonably required.

The Ideal Candidate

The best person for this job will be able to:

• Prioritise and manage a varied workload efficiently
• Work in a small team to help deliver activities and projects
• Communicate with a range of different audiences.
• Work flexible hours – evenings and occasional weekends.

The best person for this job will have experience in:

• Working as part of a team to achieve shared objectives
• Using IT packages including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Using organisational databases.
• Supporting the delivery of a range of different projects, within a busy team.
• Organising events from finding venues to delivery
• Working with volunteers

The best person for this job will be:

• Customer service focussed
• An excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills
• Able to build strong relationships with volunteers and colleagues across the organisation
• Friendly and approachable with the ability to adapt to different groups of people
• Able to use analytical and numeric skills with strong attention to detail.

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