Overview

We’re looking for an exceptionally well-organised programme coordinator to lead our work on under-the-radar and community monkeypox vaccination. Based in London, the programme will work in collaboration with other community organisations, sexual health clinics, local authorities, commissioners, other NHS partners, and events and venues to implement community vaccination events. The successful candidate will be able to multi task, whilst remaining focused. They will need to be able to navigate the settings in which the vaccination events will take place (including sex on premises venues), and understand the needs of and be able to connect with the key target groups of this programme – including queer men of colour, and queer migrants.

As a lived experience organisation, we urge and encourage applications from those who have experience of, and are from, the communities that this programme of work is most seeking to serve.

Some background

Over the summer of 2022 a number of monkeypox super-vaccination events took place in London, as well as vaccination via routine sexual health services. Research shows that key groups of eligible people were less likely to take up monkeypox vaccination at the super-vax events, or through clinics. This included queer men of colour, queer migrants (including those who do not have English as a first language), some trans and non-binary people, people who are not ‘out’ about the sex they are having, people not linked-in to (sexual) health services, and people without secure housing.

In response, a number of community vaccination events were held, that took vaccination to community settings and events. These included ‘under-the-radar’ events: events where vaccination was not pre-announced or advertised in advanced. In addition, outreach has been undertaken that links people through to specific clinics, via booking systems and processes that allow fast-track access to vaccination.

This programme of work – and the new coordinator role - takes the UTR and community vaccination on to its next phase.

What the Programme Coordinator will do 

• The UTR Programme Coordinator will work with a wide range of partners to organise and coordinate UTR and community vaccination events in London for key target groups including those listed in the background section above. Note: the coordinator will NOT administer vaccines

• This activity will involve working with and liaising with vaccinators, venues, and other community-based organisations. Vaccination events might take place in settings such as sex on premises venues; commercial venues; parties; social and community events; and in specific clinical settings

• The programme will involve coordinating vaccination events where there are a lot of moving parts – and sometimes several events a week

• The coordinator will liaise with and work with other borough-wide and pan-London outreach programmes, to ensure joined-up and non-duplicative activity

• It will be necessary to liaise with venue and events, ensuring that appropriate spaces are available for vaccination, and ensuring key health and safety areas are covered

• The coordinator will attend vaccination events – or ensure that other appropriate community outreach staff attend – to provide information, support, and onward referral to other (health) services as necessary

• The post holder will undertake outreach and activity to promote community vaccination events, and/or specific vaccination clinics

• The coordinator will attend multi-agency meetings, and report on progress and learning of the programme to key stakeholders, including funders and partner organisations

• They will keep records of programme activity, and collate and distribute case-studies from vaccination events and activity
  
• The post holder will attend weekly staff meetings of The Love Tank, and other necessary meetings and events

• They will be familiar with and adhere to all necessary organisation and statutory procedures and policies, including safe-guarding policies, and confidentiality and professional boundary policies

What the Programme Coordinator will be able to do (knowledge, skills, experience, ability)

• Experience of coordinating stakeholders to plan and implement events, including community-based events

• Good programme planning skills, including meeting milestones and deadlines, and the ability to be focused, and solution orientated

• Excellent verbal communication skills

• Ability to take initiative and self-manage

• Ability to engage with diverse ranges of people in a supportive and non-judgemental way

• Ability to be empathetic, calm and reassuring to those with concerns or anxieties such as about needles or vaccination

• Knowledge of, and/or the ability to reach into the ‘scenes’, venues, and settings in which the key target groups can be encountered, and to be comfortable working in a wide range of settings

• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, key information about monkeypox; vaccines; sexual health services; and referral pathways to NHS and other relevant services

• Good understanding of the needs of key groups of queer people, and the importance of addressing health inequalities

• It is advantageous for the post-holder to have lived experience of the challenges of accessing health services, and to have lived experience as a member of one, or more, of the groups listed in the background section above

• Verbal fluency in one or more language other than English will also be advantageous, particularly Portuguese or Spanish

An applicant will need to have the right to work in the UK to be offered this post