Local Area Coordinator - Didcot Central

Job Introduction

About Us

We want Oxfordshire to be a place where everyone has a great start to life, people live healthy and fulfilling lives, are enabled to achieve their full potential, and contribute to their community. With the help of the national Local Area Coordination Network, we have established a Local Area Coordination team alongside our partners to help us make this a reality.

The role is in Oxfordshire County Council (within the Health Education and Social Care Directorate). Day-to-day you will be based in the local community, alongside colleagues from other County Council services, the local District Council, NHS partners, and the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector.

Local Area Coordination currently works across four areas of the county, and you will be part of a small, dedicated team of Local Area Coordinators. The work is varied, independent and rooted in the local community, with every day bringing different conversations, opportunities and challenges. We have the freedom to build relationships, listen deeply and work creatively alongside residents and communities. Rather than doing things for people, Local Area Coordination supports people to recognise their own strengths, make the changes that matter to them, and build resilience, confidence and a vision of what a good life looks like.

This Local Area Coordinator role will be based in and alongside the community of Didcot.

About you

Are you passionate about people, communities, and making a lasting difference? This is an exciting opportunity to become a Local Area Coordinator in Didcot and work alongside residents, families, and local partners to help people build on their strengths, connect with others, and shape a good life in their community. We are looking for someone who is approachable, curious, compassionate, and committed to inclusion—someone who enjoys building relationships, listening well, and helping communities grow stronger from within.

You will be a natural networker, who builds relationships easily, hugely enjoys working with people and finds this rewarding. You will be resilient, thrive in an environment where you work alone yet connected to the local community and are comfortable working on your own initiative.

To be shortlisted to interview for this position your application will clearly evidence:

• Experience of working alongside and supporting a diverse range of people, including those experiencing mental health issues, older people, people with physical disabilities, families, carers and their local communities
• Understanding and practical experience of advocacy and supporting people to plan for their future in a strength-based way
• Ability to work creatively and independently
• Experience and ability to work with a broad range of professionals within the health and social care sector as well as elected members, community leaders, third sector, voluntary, community and faith sectors and other organisations.
• Successfully be selected through an in-person competitive community recruitment event.

About the Role

The Local Area Coordinator is a trusted and accessible presence within the community, dedicated to fostering inclusion, resilience, and the empowerment of people to live independent, fulfilling lives. Through building meaningful relationships and connecting people with local resources, the Coordinator helps individuals, families, and communities to recognise strengths, overcome barriers, and realise aspirations—supporting the creation of more inclusive and resilient neighbourhoods, and contributing to the ongoing transformation of public services.

• Champion community participation and equity, encouraging people from all backgrounds to engage and connect with local opportunities, events, and initiatives.
• Support individuals and families to recognise and build upon their strengths, networks, and resources, enabling them to shape and pursue their own vision of a good life. Facilitate access to information, guidance, and wider opportunities.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with local organisations, statutory services, and community groups to co-ordinate support, identify barriers, and drive positive change across the system. Actively contribute to a culture of shared learning and mutual support among partners.
• Ensure people’s views are heard, respected, and acted upon by championing their rights and promoting participation in decisions that affect them and their communities. Seek and share stories that highlight the impact of the Local Area Coordination approach.
• Work autonomously to gather insights from the local area and wider system, share learning, and contribute to the ongoing development, evaluation, and improvement of Local Area Coordination.
• The role is not office based so you will be expected to spend the majority of your time within the community.

Would you like to know more?

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Cheryl Huntbach, Local Area Coordination Manager, Cheryl.Huntbach@Oxfordshire.gov.uk or 07789 088173

We will be holding an informal briefing (via Zoom) about the role for anyone interested to hear more and ask questions – this will take place on Wednesday 14th October at 6pm.

Please contact Cheryl Huntbach, Local Area Coordination Manager on 07789 088173 if you would like to receive an invitation to this.

Interviews

• Longlisted candidates will be invited for community recruitment on Thursday 12th November 10.30 – 1pm at Didcot Civic Centre.
• Formal interviews for shortlisted candidates will be held on 19th Novemberin Oxford.
• Shortlisted candidates will also have an opportunity to shadow a current LAC to gain an insight into the role. These informal sessions will be available on 16th and 17th of November in the LAC areas of Chipping Norton, Bicester or Kidlington.

Rewards and benefits

• Culture of flexible working
• Technology to support agile working where role permits Up to 33 days' holiday p.a. plus bank holidays
• Option to ‘buy’ additional holiday
• Employee Assistance Programme including access to health and wellbeing support
• Membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, with an employer’s contribution of up to 19.9% Enhanced family friendly policies
• Local and national discounts for shopping and travel
• Great learning and development opportunities to support your ongoing development

Your office base may be subject to change as we are currently transitioning between temporary and permanent office locations due to the closure of County Hall. If this is applicable to you, you will be notified, but no reimbursement will apply in respect of travel.

Our commitment to:
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Oxfordshire County Council we are proud of our diverse workforce. Everyone is accepted for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marital status, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or on maternity or family leave. We have a number of staff network groups which provide peer support, education and safe spaces for all.

Our commitment to:
Guaranteed Interview Schemes

As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job. We also guarantee interviews to care leavers who have completed further education and who meet the essential criteria for the job. For those leaving care without any further education, we guarantee an interview for our apprenticeships. We are also committed to helping and supporting those transitioning from HM Armed Forces to civilian life and guarantee an interview for those demonstrating the essential criteria for the role, within three years of leaving the service.

Our commitment to:
Safeguarding

Oxfordshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect these commitments.

Our commitment to:
Flexible Working

We are open to discussions about flexible working, which can include flexi-time, part time working, job sharing, nine-day fortnights and annualised hours, depending on the requirements of the role and the service.

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