The Polish Association Gloucestershire has an exciting opportunity for the right individual to take a lead on supporting Polish Carers across Gloucestershire to improve their health and wellbeing and help them access support that meets their needs. The role will involve working with the Gloucestershire Carers Hub to support Polish carers in the community. 

You will work closely with Carers to understand their individual circumstances and level of need. You’ll help them overcome language and cultural barriers and develop effective relationships with Carers, families, and professionals. You will also support Carers to complete written forms and applications, draft letters, and advocate with third parties.        

You’ll build on your local knowledge to signpost and facilitate access for Carers to support services, including financial and benefit advice, housing, health and safety home systems, and leisure and social activities. 

Together with colleagues and volunteers from PAG and Gloucestershire Carers Hub you will  run coffee mornings, drop-in sessions, activities, online and face to face groups, and peer support forums. There will also be opportunities to promote the service by attending meetings and forums, and to deliver training sessions to professionals and community organisations so that they have the skills to identify Carers.

Applicants should have relevant personal or professional experience of working with Carers and/or vulnerable adults or children in a social care, health, education or voluntary and community sector. You’ll need a practical understanding of barriers faced by Carers, and an awareness how cultural differences may hinder access to services. 

You should be an excellent communicator and able to motivate and empower others. Flexibility will be required in the role as occasional evenings or weekends will be needed.

Role description: 

• Identifying Polish Carers across the county of Gloucestershire;
• Working closely with Glos Carers Hub to support carers and to understand what support is available to them;
• Building relationships with other organisations, professionals and maintaining existing relationships resulting in improving access to services and information;
• Organising sessions for the Carers group- wellbeing sessions, art therapy sessions;
• Engagement work resulting in Carers engaging in events, sharing feedback, connecting with the wider community;
• Establishing Polish Carers group in Gloucestershire resulting in Carers being more connected, building community capacity;
• Making sure that Polish Carers are aware of the carer services that are available;
• Writing and sending reports to the Polish Association Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire County Council;
• Managing a group chat dedicated to the Polish Carers;
• Coordinating the work with Polish volunteers to further enhance the service provision;

About the role:

• The role would suit an individual who would like to undertake it as a contractor;
• Rate of Pay: £14.50 to £16.50 depending on skills; approximate requirement of 16 hours a week, 45 weeks in a calendar year.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Relevant personal or professional experience of working with Carers and/or vulnerable adults in a social care, health, or voluntary and community sector;
• Ability to work independently;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Solution oriented with the ability to solve problems;
• A practical understanding of physical, emotional and cultural barriers facing Carers;
• Confident working within professional boundaries;
• Able to motivate and empower others;
• Proficient in using MS Office package and internet;
• Good level of education and fluency in Polish and English languages;
• Able to travel throughout Gloucestershire.

Desirable Experience:

• Live experience of being a Carer will be an additional advantage.
   

We are committed to Safer Recruitment practices, and the post is subject to references and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Please submit your CV with a short covering note to secretary@polishglos.org