FoCUS Involvement Coordinator

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP) have contracted Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and LF Solutions to provide independent administration and support to FoCUS, their Forum of Carers and people who Use Services.

HOURS: 18 hours per week, worked flexibly, mostly Monday to Friday. To include at least one evening per month

TERM: Permanent

SALARY: £12,000 - 13,000 per annum (full time equivalent to £24,000 - 26,000 per annum depending on experience and qualifications)

LOCATION: Home based or office based with regular travel within Surrey and NE Hants

REPORTING TO: Mental Health Lead

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Surrey Coalition Board of Directors

CLOSING DATE: 22nd June 2026 at 10:00am

Surrey Coalition of Disabled People

Our vision is a world where difference is valued, and diversity is celebrated. A world where everyone has the same rights, freedoms, choices, and opportunities.

Surrey Coalition of Disabled People is an innovative organisation that is led by disabled people working together to achieve our vision.

Purpose of the Role

Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SABP) have contracted Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and LF Solutions to provide independent administration and support to FoCUS, their Forum of Carers and people who Use Services.

FoCUS enables people to have their say and influence the mental health services they receive within Surrey and Northeast Hampshire.

FoCUS was set up by SABP to:

Place people at the heart of the delivery and design of mental health services

Set standards for how they involve people

Measure how well they involve people

Measure how well they deliver services

This role is intended to facilitate and coordinate involvement in FoCUS by promoting the network and encouraging people who use the Trust s services and carers to join and participate in user involvement activities, and raise themes heard from member experiences to the Trust for discussion.

Main Responsibilities

Promotion of FoCUS

Encourage and enable people with experience of mental health services and carers to join FoCUS and to influence SABP s services.

Increase awareness of the benefits of user involvement and representation in building people s confidence, sense of worth and self-esteem and in helping people to achieve greater social inclusion.

Promote FoCUS to people who use SABP s services and carers, across Surrey and Northeast Hampshire. Using a variety of communication and engagement methods including attending relevant outreach and community events with an exhibition stand or promotional materials.

Increase the number of service users and carers joining as FoCUS members.

Develop and maintain personal contacts within SABP s services in Surrey and Northeast Hampshire to promote FoCUS to their clients, and encourage key staff to attend Community Group meetings.

Liaise with other services including Community Mental Health Recovery Services, Integrated Neighbourhood Teams and other public services and voluntary sector providers to promote FoCUS and encourage them to promote FoCUS membership to their clients.

Management of the Network

Contact new FoCUS members to ensure their support and access needs are met and to encourage them to attend their local Community Group meetings.

Work with LF Solutions to maintain and manage network enquiries, new members, meeting planning and delivery of the activities of the forum.

Act as main contact for service users, carers and professionals for the FoCUS network. Manage inbox and all enquiries.

Chair the meetings of the forum to ensure the smooth running of meetings and enable everyone to contribute in a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.

Encourage members to attend FoCUS meetings and drop in s to share recent service experiences.

Produce a quarterly mental health Newsletter to promote outcomes achieved, manage the social media accounts for FoCUS.

Reporting

Maintain accurate records. Keeping confidential member information up to date, undertaking data cleanses, recording meeting attendance and topics of discussion. Track activity and outcomes data for reporting purposes.

Provide a quarterly report on activities and membership to SABP.

Development of volunteer FoCUS Representatives

Encourage FoCUS members to put themselves forward to become a volunteer FoCUS Representative, explaining the nature and commitment of the role.

Work with FoCUS Representatives on plans for engagement in their Areas and to agree their individual level of involvement in promoting FoCUS. Help them prepare their respective contributions to their Community Group meetings.

Organise and attend a quarterly meeting of the FoCUS Representatives to prepare contributions to FoCUS Committee meetings, and provide support as required.

Identify any training needs of FoCUS members and Representatives, to empower them to fulfil their potential and build personal skills and confidence to have their say.

General Duties

Encourage existing and new FoCUS members to also join Surrey Coalition of Disabled People and the Independent Mental Health Network, offering opportunities for involvement in other issues affecting their lives.

At all times, to work within Surrey Coalition s policies. Including equal opportunities and health and safety, safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection.

To work as a member of the team promoting FoCUS, including FoCUS Representatives and staff of Surrey Coalition and LF Solutions.

Work flexibly to meet the responsibilities of the role and be responsive to any feedback.

Carry out any other tasks within the scope of the role, as required by the Chief Executive and Mental Health Lead.

Person specification

It is essential that you have:

Understanding of the value of user involvement and representation

Understanding of mental health conditions and services

Experience of working with groups and/or volunteers in community-based settings

Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively in a range of formats and with a variety of audiences

Good interpersonal skills to work with others to achieve objectives

Self-motivated and able to work independently

Advanced organisation and coordination skills with the ability to prioritise and plan your own workload

Have a methodical approach to information gathering, recording and reporting

A high degree of self-motivation and able to work on own initiative

Confident phone call manner

The ability to work safely from home and willingness to do so, or the ability to work from our office in Burpham

Good level of computer literacy including all Microsoft packages with experience of using a range of databases, and video conferencing software

The ability to travel around the county including occasional travel to the main office base in Burpham

It is desirable that you have:

Personal experience of receiving mental health services or caring for someone who has

Experience of chairing or facilitating meetings or groups

Knowledge and/or experience of working with people who have used mental health services and/or carers

Knowledge and experience of user and carer involvement in Surrey and North East Hampshire

A good understanding of the Health, Social Care and Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS)

A understanding of GDPR and adult safeguarding principles

Live within Surrey or North East Hampshire

This role requires the successful applicant to be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check (we will organise and pay for this for you if you are successful).

As part of a remote working and flexible team we will support you to find the ways of working that suit you best.

What we offer you:

Flexible working hours

Induction training and support

On-going training and development and the opportunity to complete accredited training

27 days annual leave per annum (excluding bank holidays), raising to 28 days after 2 years of service

Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

Company Pension Plan

Equipment (laptop and mobile phone)

Pre-agreed expenses

A great team and the opportunity to really make a difference!

To apply

Fill in the application form available on our website by 10am on 22nd June 2026. CVs won't be accepted.

If you think you might be interested in this role and would like to have an informal chat about it, please do get in touch! You can contact Immy Markwick by calling our office.