Welsh Language Support Officer

An exciting opportunity has risen for an enthusiastic and keen individual with a flexible approach to work to join our Welsh Services Team with Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The Welsh Language Support Officer will support the provision of bilingual services to patients.

The Welsh Language Support Officer will ensure fairness in the use of Welsh and English in all areas of the Health Board promoting bilingual healthcare.

The post holder will assist in ensuring that the University Health Board fulfils its statutory legal requirements in relation to the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011.

The Welsh Language Support Officer will be expected to demonstrate very good communication and organizational skills as well as a sound understanding of the Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 and the Standards set on the Health Board.

Support the Senior Welsh Language Officer in implementing the Health Board’s Welsh Language Standards in order to ensure compliance in achieving targets within stated timescales.
Ensure that priority is given to strengthening bilingual services to the following groups:

- Children and young people
- Users of mental health services
- Older people
- People with learning disabilities
- dementia services
- Stroke services
- Speech and language therapy

Support teams/departments to develop initiatives to promote and implement the Health Board’s Welsh Language Scheme in accordance with the Welsh Language Measure (Wales) 2011. This will require negotiating skills in order to overcome barriers to understanding of bilingualism across the organisation.

To provide and co-ordinate strategically the guidance, support and assistance given to all departments and directorates within the Health Board to ensure a corporate approach is adopted when implementing the Welsh Language Scheme.

Support departments to develop their own systems and arrangements for operating and monitoring the scheme and the use of the Welsh Language, including arrangements for delivering services to the public, dealing with the Welsh-speaking public and presenting a bilingual image in documents, written material, signs etc.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is the planner and provider of NHS healthcare services for people in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and its bordering counties. Our 11,000 members of staff provide primary, community, in-hospital, mental health and learning disabilities services for around 384,000 people across a quarter of the landmass of Wales. We do this in partnership with our three local authorities and public, private and third sector colleagues, including our volunteers, through:

- Four main hospitals: Bronglais General in Aberystwyth, Glangwili General in Carmarthen, Prince Philip in Llanelli and Withybush General in Haverfordwest;
- Seven community hospitals: Amman Valley and Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; Tregaron, Aberaeron and Cardigan in Ceredigion; and Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospital Health and Social Care Resource Centre in Pembrokeshire;
- 48 general practices (four of which are managed practices), 47 dental practices (including three orthodontic), 99 community pharmacies, 44 general ophthalmic practices (43 providing Eye Health Examination Wales and 34 low vision services) and 17 domiciliary only providers and 11 health centres;
- Numerous locations providing mental health and learning disabilities services;
- Highly specialised and tertiary services commissioned by the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee, a joint committee representing seven health boards across Wales

You will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

The ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable for this post. If you do not meet the Welsh Language requirements specified, the Health Board offers a variety of learning options and staff support to help you meet these mínimal desirable requirements during the course of your employment with us.

Interviews will be held on 28/09/22