Role: Community Services Development Lead (Older People)
Reports to: Head of Services
Responsible to: Interim CEO
Base: Bolster Community, Unit 1 Whitegates Enterprise Park, Killeavy Road, Newry, BT35 6UA
Hours: 30 hours per week
Fixed Term for 24 months
Salary: £31,828.93 FTE of 37.5 hours per week
Benefits:
- Pension: 6% employer contribution (subject to conditions)
- Annual Leave: 25 days per annum + 11 statutory holidays (pro-rata)
- Health Care: Axa Business Care (subject to conditions)
- Hybrid Working
How to Apply:
To apply for this role please email completed application forms to [email protected] by 12pm Noon on Monday 7 September 2026
Application forms can be downloaded at Community NI using the following link:
https://www.communityni.org/job/connected-communities-coordinator-older-people
Who We're Looking For:
Could you help make it easier for older people to find the right support, at the right time, in their own community?
Bolster Community is looking for a Connected Communities Co-ordinator (Older People) to help us develop a new approach to connecting older people with the support, services and opportunities available across Newry, Mourne and South Armagh.
This is a new role with real scope to make it your own. You’ll spend time talking and listening to older people, helping them navigate the support available, building relationships with community and statutory organisations, and bringing people together to find practical solutions where gaps exist.
You won’t be starting from scratch. This role has grown from our Not Done Yet work, which has helped us better understand what older people in our communities need and where the current system can be difficult to navigate. We now want someone who can help us turn that learning into action.
We’re looking for someone who is good with people, naturally builds relationships and enjoys making things happen. You might already work with older people, or your experience could come from community development, health and social care, housing, advice, family support or another related area.
Most importantly, you’ll share our belief that older people should be able to remain independent, connected and supported within their own communities — and you’ll have the opportunity to help us build a better way of making that happen.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Supporting Older People
- Be a trusted point of contact for older people, families and professionals.
- Meet with older people to understand their needs and help connect them with appropriate support and opportunities.
- Build relationships with older people and communities, ensuring their experiences help shape the project.
- Promote earlier access to support and help people navigate services where needed.
Building Connections and Developing Services
- Develop strong relationships with community, voluntary, health and statutory organisations.
- Strengthen referral pathways and help organisations work better together.
- Identify gaps or barriers in existing support and work with older people and partners to develop practical responses.
- Lead the development of the Not Done Yet – Staying Connected model, testing and adapting approaches as the project progresses.
Monitoring, Learning and Sustainability
- Maintain accurate records of referrals, activity and outcomes.
- Gather feedback and evidence to understand what is working and the difference the project is making.
- Share learning with colleagues, partners and funders and contribute to project reporting.
- Help identify opportunities to strengthen and sustain the project beyond the initial funding period.
- Work in line with Bolster Community policies and contribute positively to the wider organisation.
Personnel Specification
Essential Criteria
- A relevant qualification (level 5)
OR
- Equivalent experience gained through community, voluntary, health, social care or a related setting.
- Minimum of three years' experience in community development, health improvement, social care, partnership working or service development.
- Experience of working directly with individuals and communities and responding to identified needs.
- Experience of building positive working relationships with other organisations or professionals.
- Experience of coordinating work, managing priorities and maintaining appropriate records.
- Experience of monitoring outcomes and preparing reports for funders or senior management.
- A good understanding of community, voluntary, health or social care services and how people access support.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to work with older people, families, communities and professionals.
- Ability to identify needs or gaps and work with others to develop practical solutions.
- Good organisational skills and the ability to work independently while also contributing to a wider team.
- Comfortable using IT systems, maintaining project information and contributing to reports.
- Understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Full driving licence and access to a car for work purposes, as the role involves regular travel across Newry, Mourne and South Armagh, including rural communities where public transport options are limited.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working with older people or carers.
- Experience of service design, innovation or social enterprise development.
- Experience of facilitating multi-agency partnerships.
- Knowledge of community navigation or social prescribing models.
- Experience of securing funding or contributing to funding applications.
Pay: £25,000.00-£31,828.93 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance
Work Location: In person
