Job Description

Main Purpose of the Job:

The Project Co-ordinator will lead, manage, and grow the Active Connections programme, ensuring it is co-produced with people living with dementia, their carers, and the wider community. The role will oversee day-to-day operations, staff supervision, volunteer recruitment, partnership development, and monitoring and evaluation. The postholder will ensure that all sessions are safe, dementia-friendly, inclusive, and delivered to the highest standard.

Duties and key responsibilities:

1. Project Management & Delivery

Lead the operational delivery of the Active Connections project across sports and nature programmes. Manage project schedules, planning, logistics, and delivery across multiple sites. Ensure activities are dementia-friendly, inclusive, safe, and aligned with project aims. Oversee improvements to outdoor and indoor spaces used in delivery. Coordinate resources, equipment, and materials for all sessions.

2. Staff Leadership & Supervision

Line-manage the Sports Development Officer, Forest Officer, Dementia Support Worker, and Administrator. Provide regular supervision, mentoring, and support to the project team. Ensure all staff uphold dementia-friendly practice and follow relevant policies. Support staff and volunteers to develop skills through training and reflective practice.

3. Community Engagement & Co-Production

Establish and lead a community-led taskforce to engage seldom-heard groups and advise on inequalities. Facilitate co-production workshops with people living with dementia and carers. Ensure lived experience shapes delivery, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Work closely with Memory Assessment Units, health partners, sports clubs, and third sector organisations.

4. Partnership Development

Build and maintain strong partnerships with sports clubs, leisure centres, gyms, outdoor organisations (e.g., Tidy Butt), and national sporting bodies. Support partners to undertake dementia-friendly audits and adapt their environments. Represent the project at regional meetings, networks, and community forums.

5. Volunteer Recruitment & Support

Recruit, train, and support 24 volunteers from diverse backgrounds. Work with the Dementia Buddy and delivery team to coordinate volunteer roles. Ensure volunteers receive induction, training, supervision, and recognition.

6. Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting

Oversee all evaluation processes, including surveys, journey-tracking, case studies, and the Manchester Colour Wheel. Collect, analyse, and report data to demonstrate impact and outcomes. Work with an independent evaluator and ensure the project meets funder requirements. Prepare high-quality quarterly and annual reports.

7. Safeguarding, Compliance & Governance

Ensure full compliance with safeguarding, GDPR, health and safety, and organisational policies. Undertake risk assessments for venues, activities, and participants. Ensure all promotional materials and communications are inclusive and bilingual (Welsh/English).

Additional Responsibilities:

To adhere to all Age Connects Torfaen service standards, policies and procedures.


To comply with the data protection regulations, ensuring that information on clients remains confidential.


To be responsible for personal learning and development, to support the learning and development of others and the whole organisation.

Person Specification - Dementia Support Worker

Criteria

Essential

Desirable

Qualifications & Training

Relevant qualification in health, social care, community development, project management or related field Commitment to ongoing professional development Dementia awareness training Qualification in sports development, outdoor learning, or nature-based activities Welsh language skills

Experience

Experience coordinating or delivering community-based projects Experience working with vulnerable groups, ideally older people or people living with dementia Experience of partnership working across sectors Experience supervising staff or volunteers Experience in monitoring, evaluation and reporting Experience delivering sports, wellbeing, or nature-based programmes Experience of co-production or community engagement work Experience carrying out risk assessments

Skills & Knowledge

Strong project management and organizational skills Ability to lead, motivate and support a multi-disciplinary team Understanding of inclusive and dementia-friendly practice Excellent communication skills (verbal and written) Ability to work collaboratively with partners such as health teams, sports clubs and community organisations IT literacy including Microsoft Office and data collection systems Knowledge of local services and support networks within Gwent Understanding of behaviour, cognition, and communication needs associated with dementia

Personal Qualities

Compassionate, person-centred approach Highly organised with strong attention to detail Flexible and adaptable Able to work independently and as part of a team Confident decision-maker Respectful, patient and empathetic Creative and innovative in problem-solving and service design

Other Requirements

Willingness to travel across Gwent Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends for events and engagement Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion Full UK driving licence (or ability to travel effectively without one) First Aid training * Experience in bilingual (Welsh/English) service delivery