Service Development Assistant - Social Connection

Salary details: £ - £

Are you passionate about improving social connection, strengthening communities, and helping people live healthier, more connected lives? We’re looking for a Service Development Assistant to join our Community Support & Resilience (CSR) team in Public Health.

This is an exciting time for the service as we implement a range of new social connection initiatives, enhance the 50+ Forums, and support the roll‑out of the Volunteer Gateway training and mentoring schemes. You’ll play a vital supporting role, helping us deliver high‑quality, co‑designed, person‑centred community programmes across Derbyshire.

About the Role

As a Service Development Assistant, you will work closely with the Service Manager and two Service Development Officers to support the development, delivery and monitoring of community services and contracts that aim to reduce loneliness and improve wellbeing.

Your work will help strengthen partnerships, support contract monitoring, gather feedback from communities, and ensure services are co-designed with local people.

Key areas of focus include:

• Supporting implementation of the Socially Connected Derbyshire service
• Helping to develop and monitor CSR‑funded contracts and pilot initiatives
• Contributing to co‑design with members of the public, including 50+ Forum committees
• Supporting the roll-out of the Volunteer Gateway training pathway and mentoring pilot
• Gathering data, case studies and insight to inform service improvement
• Building relationships with partners, providers, and community groups

You'll act as an important link between providers, partners, and the public—helping us deliver changes sensitively, collaboratively, and effectively.

We’re looking for someone who is organised, confident engaging with communities, and keen to support the development of services that make a real difference.

You will have:

• Experience supporting community‑based initiatives, ideally involving the voluntary sector or Integrated Care System partners
• Experience working collaboratively or in co‑design with the public and partners
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills
• The ability to handle sensitive information appropriately
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail
• The ability and a willingness to travel to locations around the county as part of engagement work

If you have a passion for public health, meet all of the essential criteria in the person profile and wish to support our vision and ambition in Derbyshire, we would like to hear from you.

Applicants are strongly advised to use the criteria in the person profile as sub-headings in their application, to make it clear how they meet each of the selection criteria. Please also see the job profile for competencies and a general overview of the role.

Employees have access to a range of benefits and discounts including: 

• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• 25 days annual leave per year (rising to 30 days after 5 years continuous service) plus 8 bank holidays (pro rata for part time). 
• Training and development opportunities
• Paid travel expenses if required to travel to other sites
• Smarter travel scheme including access to the cycle to work scheme
• Supportive management and team
• Access to our in-house occupational services which also includes free eye tests, physiotherapy and counselling
• Derbyshire rewards – offering hundreds of discounts and cashback 

Applicants note that this role is hybrid, so will involve office based and remote working, as well as regular travel within the county.

If you would like to find out more, please contact:

Alex Shore alex.shore@derbyshire.gov.uk 

Provisional Interview Date: 9 and/or 10 March 2026

Due to this post having administrative privileges within the Council’s IT systems, and in order to comply with the Public Services Network requirements, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic criminal record check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according to the nature of the role and information provided. Click here to see our policy on criminal background checks.

Apply now and take the first step towards a fulfilling career with us! By joining Derbyshire County Council you will have access to a range of amazing rewards and employee benefits, including our generous annual leave scheme, excellent local government pension and fantastic employee discounts. To discover more detail about the rewards and benefits available to you, click here

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Important: Derbyshire County Council holds a sponsorship licence, but this role does not offer visa sponsorship. Please apply only if you already have the right to work in the UK without sponsorship, as applications that do not meet this requirement will be rejected.

We welcome applications from individuals who share our values — being Collaborative, Innovative, Empowered and Accountable. These values describe who we are and what we stand for as a council. They help shape our culture, encourage consistent behaviour and guide how we work together to make a positive difference for both our employees and the residents we serve.