Community Health and Wellbeing Worker

Community Health and Wellbeing Worker (CHWW)
Location: Bideford, with travel around the area (candidates must be living within 10 miles of Bideford)
Salary: £22,932 per annum pro-rata
Hours: 24 per week 
Contract: Fixed term contract (2 years)
Travel: Ability to travel around the area is essential

Are you ready for exciting opportunity to help shape a new project at the British Red Cross?

Community Health and Wellbeing Workers (CHWW) are local people who care about the health of their community and those around them.

The outreach work of the CHWW team is essential in addressing the rising inequities in health and social care and in identifying unmet need in the community. The CHWW performs a variety of duties with the aim of improving the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.

We are looking for 4 special team members who will be supporting two communities in Bideford.

These include:

• Educational: delivering targeted health promotion, helping residents understand medical advice, highlighting digital exclusion, linking them to support.
• Navigational: helping to use referring patients to the healthcare system to access appropriate local services, acting as right care ambassador.
• Support: through proactive relationships, building trust, advocacy and allyship, counselling and motivation via health coaching, as well as means of tackling social inclusion and loneliness.
• Research and Intelligence: providing information to the community on contextual safeguarding, asset mapping, gathering intelligence for needs assessments.

CHWWs play a significant role in increasing health promotion, through a range of activities including outreach assessments, raising awareness, community education, signposting, informal counselling, and support.

Their bridging role between health, social care, housing and voluntary sector services helps to remove barriers and improve access. CHWWs are positive role models and provide advice and signposting to people living in their own communities, to enable them to make positive choices around health and wellbeing.

A day in the life of a CHWW will involve:  

• Building relationships and sustain them across a community.
• Supporting service users from a diverse range of backgrounds and adapting approach accordingly.
• Working with different service providers to achieve outcomes.
• Delivering high quality services to the public.
• Communicating effectively and build trust with multiple audiences, including health and social care professionals and members of the public. 
• Knowledge of the local community: its demographics, culture, local services and resources 

To be a successful CHWW, you'll need: 

• Strong communication skills.
• Knowledge of the local community: its demographics, culture, local services and resources 
• The ability to be self-aware, sensitive and relate to a diverse range of people.
• Commitment to advocate for social changes that promote the health and well-being of the local community. 
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Able to plan own workload.
• To be IT literate with Microsoft 365.
• Ability to travel around the area is essential.

Further information about this exciting opportunity and the CHWW principles can be found at https://napc.co.uk/chww/

Drop-in sessions will also be available on:

TTVS, 14 Bridgeland Street, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2QE: Tues 12th and Weds 13th August 10am-12pm

East the Water Community Food Pantry, Opposite The Pollyfield Community Centre, 27 Avon Rd Bideford EX39 4BL: Thurs 14th August 10am-12pm

https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/community-health-and-wellbeing-worker-model

A full Job description and Person Specification which includes a list of the essential criteria for the role are available for download.

Closing date for applications is 14^th August 2025 with interviews week commencing 18^th August 2025.

Please note that early application is encouraged, as we’ll be reviewing applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert in advance of the advertised closing date. 

In return for your commitment and expertise, you’ll get:

• Holidays: 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays) + option to buy 5 extra days.
• Pension scheme: Up to 6% contributory pension.
• Learning & Development: Wide range of career opportunities + comprehensive learning.
• Discounts: Access to Blue Light Discount Card and employee benefits platform.
• Wellbeing Support: Access to mental health and wellbeing assistance.
• Team Working: Support our mission in a collaborative team.
• Cycle2Work: Lease a bicycle through the scheme.
• Season ticket loan: Interest-free loan for commuting expenses.

At The British Red Cross, we pride ourselves on our diverse workforce, and ensuring we have an inclusive environment for all our staff and volunteers.

 We remain committed to ensuring our teams can bring their true selves to work without risk or fear of discrimination. We do this through regular data reporting, and the support of our internal Race and Equality Network (REEN), LGBT+ Network, our Disability and Wellness Network (DAWN), Gender Network, Carers Network and Young Staff Network.

Together, we are the world's emergency responders