Vac3595 - Service User Involvement Officer

**VAC3595 - Service User Involvement Officer (Southampton)**:
**Location**: It is essential you can travel independently within Southampton and the surrounding area.

**About Alzheimer's Society**

Who we are
- Alzheimer’s Society are a vital source of support and a powerful force for change for everyone affected by dementia.

What we want
- We will not rest until people with dementia and their carers live more fulfilled and less fearful lives, free from stigma and inequality.

What we do
- We support people affected by dementia through some of the hardest and most frightening times, to improve their lives and help to avoid crisis.
- No matter whoever you are, whatever you’re going through, you can turn to Alzheimer’s Society/us for expert support through practical advice, emotional support, and guidance for the best next step
- We join forces with people affected by dementia, leading scientists and policy makers, amplifying voices to push for cutting edge breakthroughs and societal change that’ll improve the lives of people affected by dementia, now and in the future.

How we do it
- We’re the friendly face of support, the warm voice at the end of the phone and the determined minds who will fight passionately for the cause of everyone affected by dementia.

**About the role**

We have an exciting opportunity to join our award-winning Time for Dementia team who currently cover southern England. We enable people affected by dementia to help improve the knowledge and understanding of dementia for our health professionals leading to a better standard of professional support for future generations.

You will need to be flexible in your work to ensure that we can provide support across the area.

It is essential that applicants can travel independently within Southampton and the surrounding area.

**About you**

Be part of a highly motivated and supportive team, sharing responsibility of some group activities.
- Build relationships with a range of local contacts, networking with health and care professionals, and attending community lead support groups.
- Develop networks and pathways with partner organisations who work in the field of dementia, ensuring good relationships and referrals to time for Dementia.
- Supporting and empowering people and their families to shape the future of healthcare.
- As a self-starter you’ll be happy to work to set timescales within a team and on your own.
- Possess NVQ level 3 (or equivalent) or have demonstrable experience
- Be empathetic and non-judgmental in your approach with a commitment to equal opportunity.
- Understand client confidentiality and how this is applied when representing client needs
- Able to travel independently around Sussex and surrounding areas.
- Have knowledge and experience of Adult and Children Safeguarding, Information Governance policies and procedures and statutory laws such as the Mental Capacity Act**.**:

- Have some experience of working with a wide variety of relevant agencies**.**

**Person Specification**
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written [essential]
- Work collaboratively and be able to prioritise your workload effectively and remain solution focussed throughout your areas of work.
- Strong interpersonal and interpretation skills will allow you to have open jargon-free conversations with the business.
- Excellent organisational and timekeeping skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Be a team player, supporting colleagues when there are deadlines, and who knows when to ask for help themselves.
- Be a self-starter and incredibly motivated.