Community Partnerships & Inclusion Lead

Job summary

Building strong relationships with community, voluntary, faith and advocacy organisations. Working alongside NHS partners, local authorities and neighbourhood teams to support joined-up engagement approaches. Leading meaningful patient and public involvement (PPI) and co-production activities. Reaching underserved and seldom-heard communities through targeted outreach. Gathering and analysing community insight to identify barriers, opportunities and priorities. Helping reduce health inequalities by ensuring services reflect the needs of local populations. Supporting community campaigns and initiatives, including programmes such as Flippin' Pain. Developing engagement plans and providing regular reports on activity, outcomes and impact. Contributing to population health assessment work by bringing together community insight and data to inform decision-making.

Main duties of the job

The Community Partnerships & Inclusion Lead will ensure the experiences, perspectives and priorities of people affected by ME/CFS and Long Covid actively inform service design, delivery and improvement. The role will build trusted relationships with patients, carers, community organisations, support groups and system partners, helping to ensure services are accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of a population that may face significant barriers to participation and engagement. This is a unique opportunity to work across Kent and Medway, bringing together residents, community organisations, healthcare partners and colleagues to improve services, tackle health inequalities and create meaningful change.

About us

Cora is a leading provider of community healthcare services in the UK. We deliver MSK (musculoskeletal) services, diagnostic imaging, day-case surgery, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, podiatry, persistent pain management, mental health, orthopaedic and rheumatology services. We want everyone to have the opportunity to thrive. We help people help themselves, to get back to their best or to simply find a new way forward.

Details

• Date posted: 24 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Other
• Salary: £40,000 to £50,000 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: KM4A
• Job locations: Cora Health Group, Maidstone, Kent, TN12 6AW, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

Community Partnerships & Inclusion Lead Full Time or Part Time Salary £40,000 to £50,000 depending on experience Location: Kent - Remote with regular local attendance Help create a service where patient voice genuinely drives change. The Community Partnerships & Inclusion Lead will ensure the experiences, perspectives and priorities of people affected by ME/CFS and Long Covid actively inform service design, delivery and improvement. The role will build trusted relationships with patients, carers, community organisations, support groups and system partners, helping to ensure services are accessible, inclusive and responsive to the needs of a population that may face significant barriers to participation and engagement. This is a unique opportunity to work across Kent and Medway, bringing together residents, community organisations, healthcare partners and colleagues to improve services, tackle health inequalities and create meaningful change. About the service Cora Health has been selected by NHS Kent & Medway ICB to deliver a service providing specialist care for people affected by ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) or Long Covid. These conditions can have a profound impact on day-to-day life. Many people experience debilitating fatigue, difficulties with memory and concentration, and symptoms that can worsen following physical or mental exertion, affecting their ability to work, study, access healthcare and participate in their communities. We believe services are most effective when they are designed with the people who use them. This role will help ensure that the experiences, priorities and insights of people affected by ME/CFS and Long Covid inform how services are developed, delivered and improved. About the role As our Community Partnerships & Inclusion Lead, you'll be responsible for developing trusted relationships with communities, voluntary organisations, faith groups and system partners, ensuring local insight and lived experience inform service design and improvement. You'll support neighbourhood working, gather insight to understand the changing needs of local populations, and help develop inclusive approaches to engagement and involvement, recognising that some people may experience fatigue, cognitive difficulties or other barriers that make participation more challenging. This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on community engagement. One day you may be presenting at a partnership forum, and the next you could be attending a local community event, gathering feedback from residents, or helping shape a service improvement initiative. What you'll be doing Building strong relationships with community, voluntary, faith and advocacy organisations. Working alongside NHS partners, local authorities and neighbourhood teams to support joined-up engagement approaches. Leading meaningful patient and public involvement (PPI) and co-production activities. Reaching underserved and seldom-heard communities through targeted outreach. Gathering and analysing community insight to identify barriers, opportunities and priorities. Helping reduce health inequalities by ensuring services reflect the needs of local populations. Supporting community campaigns and initiatives, including programmes such as Flippin' Pain. Developing engagement plans and providing regular reports on activity, outcomes and impact. Contributing to population health assessment work by bringing together community insight and data to inform decision-making. What we're looking for You'll be an excellent relationship builder, adept at making connections and earning the trust of people from all backgrounds and communities, and passionate about inclusion, engagement and improving health inequalities. Experience working alongside people affected by long-term health conditions, disability, chronic illness or health inequalities would be particularly valuable. Experience of building partnerships across Kent and Medway, or a similar complex health, care or community system, would be advantageous Essential experience and skills Experience working with community groups, VCSE organisations, faith organisations or public sector partners. Experience delivering engagement, outreach or involvement activities that have led to positive change. Experience using feedback and insight to inform service improvement. Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills, with experience influencing across multiple organisations or sectors Excellent communication skills and the ability to adapt your approach for different audiences. Ability to organise and deliver projects independently while managing multiple priorities. Experience producing clear reports, updates and briefings. Understanding of community engagement, co-production and health inequalities. Desirable Experience working within the NHS, healthcare or integrated care systems. Experience engaging with underserved or seldom-heard communities. Knowledge of the Kent and Medway health and care system and its VCSE landscape. Experience interpreting community insight, population health information or engagement data. Why join Cora? At Cora Health, you'll be part of an organisation committed to improving lives through partnership, innovation and compassionate care. You'll have the opportunity to influence how services are developed, strengthen connections with local communities, and make a genuine difference to people's health and wellbeing. Additional information Regular travel across Kent and Medway is required. Some evening and weekend engagement activity may be required with notice. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Ready to make a difference? If you're passionate about community engagement, inclusion, co-production, reducing health inequalities, and supporting people impacted by long-term conditions we'd love to hear from you. Join us and help ensure local people have a real voice in shaping the services they use. Up to 30 days' holiday (plus public holidays) and an extra day for your Birthday Save pennies through accessing excellent discounts via our 'Boost' Benefits, access to health service discounts and a Blue Light Card Access our employee assistance program, including virtual GP appointments, Mental Health First Aid and Wellbeing Support Sustainable Electric Car Scheme and Cycle to Work

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).