Go back Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Engagement and Outreach Officer
The closing date is 05 December 2025
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Engagement and Outreach Officer to join the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme.
In this role, you will work with the local community to raise awareness of the importance of AAA screening, particularly among men approaching the age of 65, when they are invited for screening. A key focus will be engaging with groups where inequalities and low uptake exist, helping to promote participation and reduce the risk of aneurysm rupture, which can be life‑threatening.
We are looking for someone creative, motivated, and confident in communicating with diverse groups. If you enjoy working with people, thrive in a supportive, patient‑focused team, and are ready for a new challenge, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Work with partners to increase visibility of the AAA Screening Programme across all sectors.
Raise awareness of the importance of screening and promote uptake.
Support GPs across screening boundaries to achieve programme targets.
Target hard‑to‑reach groups to improve participation.
Focus on underserved communities and seldom‑heard groups, including:
* People with learning disabilities
* Patients in areas of greater deprivation
Collaborate closely with the Programme Manager on outreach and engagement activities.
Work alongside the Trust's Communications and Engagement team.
Plan and organise engagement events to promote screening.
Build and maintain relationships with public and stakeholder organisations.
Contribute to wider communications and engagement initiatives to strengthen awareness and uptake
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job responsibilities
Engage in new and established strategies to ensure service equality across diverse patient groups, focusing on hard‑to‑reach communities.
Strengthen and expand links with underserved groups, proactively promoting the importance of regular screening.
Liaise with local authorities, the BLMK Integrated Care Board, and thirdsector organisations to address inequalities and develop a team of screening champions.
Collaborate with Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts Communications Team to use social media, develop a BLMK AAA Screening website, and produce localised literature.
Undertake, analyse, and report on annual patient satisfaction and experience surveys.
Conduct ongoing health equity audits and implement screening inequalities action plans.
Organise, deliver, and evaluate outreach and engagement sessions.
Develop outreach and marketing strategies to promote health and engagement in the AAA screening programme.
Identify and act on new engagement opportunities.
Create clear, engaging content for online, print, and other channels in line with Trust guidelines.
Lead newsletters, campaigns, and event communications.
Support programme communications planning and delivery across GPs, thirdsector, and health organisations.
Exercise autonomy in decision‑making, deferring to senior managers when required.
Work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, to support activities and events
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Educated to degree‑level or equivalent experience within patient involvement or community engagement
Experience
* Experience of working with under‑represented or seldom heard groups.
* Experience of involving and working with a wide variety of public stakeholders such as patients, carers and community groups.
* Experience of working within the diverse communities served
* Experience of organising events and conducting presentations
* Experience of developing and maintaining working relationships with community / voluntary groups
* Experience of marketing, public communication and stakeholder engagement
* Experience of undertaking Health Equity Audits.
Knowledge
* Understanding of equality and diversity issues and how this affects patients, particularly its impact of screening take‑up.
* Awareness of general and cultural issues as they relate to underserved communities and seldom heard groups
* Awareness of the linguistic and cultural backgrounds of targeted groups
* Knowledge and skills in market research
Personal Skills
* Excellent verbal and written communications skills, including ability to assimilate information and draft copy for a variety of platforms to engage a range of audiences
* Ability to present accurate and precise information to large groups, from small local third sector agencies to board level.
* Excellent planning and organisation skills
* Excellent IT skills including the use of Microsoft Office, and web content management skills
* Ability to work as part of a team
* Ability to travel across Bedfordshire and Luton
* Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends, as required.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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