Work for us

About Dorset MNVP

Dorset MNVP aims to provide high-quality services to the public and to our stakeholders, adhering to the principles of best practice, promoting equal opportunities and working positively with all of Dorset’s diverse communities. Dorset MNVP is a forward-thinking organisation and the people who work for us must be committed to developing and enhancing the services we provide.

Evolving Communities (EC) hosts the Dorset MNVP who are the formal service user voice partner of Dorchester (DCH) and Bournemouth (UHD) Trust maternity and neonatal services, supported by the NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board (ICB). The organisation works in a strong and effective manner with key senior stakeholders across the system to translate and champion coproduction, critical friendship, and meaningful involvement.

The role

​The Dorset MNVP Trust Lead for Dorchester (DCH) is responsible for supporting the delivery of the agreed objectives of the MNVP partnership and is expected to use their influence to drive the delivery of highly effective and visible outcomes within the maternity and neonatal services at Dorset County Hospital and across the Dorset System. You will work alongside and be supported by the Dorset MNVP Trust Lead for UHD.

The Trust Leads, alongside the Neonatal Lead will manage and develop the day-to-day operation of the MNVP and facilitate the coproduction and engagement arm of the organisation, with a focus on working with maternity teams, service users and families.

The Trust Lead will represent Dorset MNVP at local Trust and system meetings and events, and provide independent challenge and scrutiny informed by evidence gathered from parents/carers and professionals from the coproduction and engagement projects.

As the Trust Lead you will support the organisation to identify and engage with pregnant women and people, parents, and their families at every level of change to enable authentic coproduction.

You will lead and enable Dorset MNVP to deliver projects focussed on improving the quality of care provided for maternity service users through the lens of lived experience; you will use lived experience to identify key strategic barriers to providing high quality care as defined by people and families and co-create solutions. This will include coproduction with staff, service users and experts both within and outside our team, to produce supporting guidance, tools, and technologies. We are particularly keen to consider how we can best reach groups who are marginalised and how we can coproduce with these communities in a way which is meaningful and authentic to them.

Who we are looking for

You will have experience of using maternity and neonatal services and a good understanding of the maternity and neonatal care system. You will be experienced in leading partnership working and collaborating with diverse stakeholders including professionals and people from different communities and backgrounds.

Your excellent organisation, communication and interpersonal skills will enable you to be a highly effective leader and a positive and confident manager, facilitator, and influencer.

With a commitment to inclusivity, you will create a team-based approach to problem-solving and decision-making, ensuring all voices are heard. You will be able to translate complex information into accessible, engaging discussions that support diverse involvement, and to communicate insightfully to a range of stakeholders.

Above all, you will be compassionate, collaborative, and committed to making a real difference in maternity and neonatal care.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide. Research shows that people from under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when, in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

More information

For more information about this role, please download the application pack documents above.

In return we offer 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a generous contributory pension scheme, and flexible working practices.

If you have any questions about this job, you are welcome to contact Donna Butland, Chief Operating Officer MNVP & Service User Voice by email donna.butland@evolvingcommunities.co.uk

About Dorset MNVP

Dorset MNVP is the formal partner of NHS Dorset (Integrated Care Board or ICB), Dorset County Hospital and University Hospitals Dorset. We are responsible for providing the voice of service users to inform development of maternity and neonatal care across Dorset.

We support the Local Maternity and Neonatal System to ensure services are delivered in a kind, personal and safe way by making sure the service user voice is central to all decision making and quality oversight. This enables NHS Dorset to fulfil its responsibilities in line with the three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services in England.

We engage with people who have recently used local maternity and neonatal services, listening to their experiences and feedback. We share what we have learned with NHS Dorset and the hospital trusts, to make sure people’s experiences and opinions are at the heart of shaping local services.

Dorset MNVP is hosted by Evolving Communities which specialises in delivering high quality local engagement delivery and support.

The role

You will be responsible for delivering the MNVP’s objectives focusing on reaching and hearing from neonatal families. You will build strong working relationships with staff within the Trusts, maternity and neonatal services and use your influence to drive the delivery of highly effective, visible change that improves people’s experience of neonatal care in Dorset.

Collaborating closely with the MNVP Trust Leads and the Volunteer and Engagement Officer, you will support and develop the day-to-day operation of the MNVP. You will also represent Dorset MNVP at local maternity and neonatal meetings and events, providing independent challenge and evidence-based scrutiny drawn from insights gathered from parents, caregivers and professionals involved in co-production and engagement projects. You will ensure we reach and work meaningfully with diverse communities across Dorset, including groups who are marginalised.

Who we are looking for

You will have experience of using neonatal services and an understanding of the maternity and neonatal care system. You will be experienced in partnership working and collaborating with diverse stakeholders including professionals and people from different communities and backgrounds.

Your excellent organisation, communication and interpersonal skills will enable you to be a highly effective leader and a positive and confident manager, facilitator, and influencer.

With a commitment to inclusivity, you will create a team-based approach to problem-solving and decision-making, ensuring all voices are heard. You will be able to translate complex information into accessible, engaging discussions that support diverse involvement, and to communicate insightfully to a range of stakeholders.

Above all, you will be compassionate, collaborative, and committed to making a real difference in maternity and neonatal care.

Not sure you meet all qualifications? Let us decide. Research shows that people from under-represented groups tend to not apply to jobs when they think they may not meet every qualification, when in fact, they often do! We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

More information

For more information about this role, please download the application pack documents above.

In return we offer 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a generous contributory pension scheme, and flexible working practices.

If you have any questions about this job, you are welcome to contact Donna Butland, Chief Operating Officer MNVP & Service User Voice by email donna.butland@evolvingcommunities.co.uk

About Dorset MNVP

Dorset MNVP is the formal partner of NHS Dorset (Integrated Care Board or ICB), Dorset County Hospital and University Hospitals Dorset. We are responsible for providing the voice of service users to inform development of maternity and neonatal care across Dorset.

We support the Local Maternity and Neonatal System to ensure services are delivered in a kind, personal and safe way by making sure the service user voice is central to all decision making and quality oversight. This enables NHS Dorset to fulfil its responsibilities in line with the three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services in England.

We engage with people who have recently used local maternity and neonatal services, listening to their experiences and feedback. We share what we have learned with NHS Dorset and the hospital trusts, to make sure people’s experiences and opinions are at the heart of shaping local services.

Dorset MNVP is hosted by Evolving Communities which specialises in delivering high quality local engagement delivery and support.

The role

Dorset MNVP is seeking a passionate and enthusiastic Volunteer and Engagement Officer to support and develop our community engagement work.

In this role, you will recruit and support volunteers, help with events, and enhance our social media presence. You will work on community engagement projects, collaborating with charities and volunteers, to gather valuable feedback and information and understand barriers to accessing services. You will work closely with the Dorset MNVP Leads to analyse the feedback and insights from your engagement work and help communicate findings at system meetings and in the community..

Who we are looking for

You may have lived experience of using maternity and neonatal services (although this is not essential), and you will be friendly and approachable, with great communication skills. You will have experience of working with volunteers, engaging with and listening to a diverse range of people, and have an excellent understanding of equity, equality, and inclusion.

More information

For more information about this role, please download the application pack documents above.

In return we offer 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, a generous contributory pension scheme, and flexible working practices.

If you have any questions about this job, you are welcome to contact Donna Butland, Chief Operating Officer MNVP & Service User Voice by email donna.butland@evolvingcommunities.co.uk

We are expanding our volunteer Board of Directors to support business strategy, growth and good governance, and to ensure we achieve quality and impact in all we do.

We are aiming to build on our success in health and social care and consultancy by developing our business into other areas where the voice of the public translates, for example, in care, housing or education.

Key responsibilities include:

• Constructively challenging and helping to develop business proposals and strategy.
• Overseeing the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitoring the reporting of performance.
• Ensuring the integrity of financial information and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible.

Our current Board is looking for people to complement their individual and collective skill set and who are interested in and supportive of public engagement and advocacy.

We are particularly keen to recruit new Board members with experience in:

• Business strategy, development, sales and commercial
• Tendering/procurement (working with government, other statutory funders, or private providers delivering public/social services)
• Legal and financial oversight
• IT and digital development.

Candidates will also demonstrate a range of knowledge and skills, such as:

• Strategic thinking and planning. Able to analyse complex information including statistical data, draw logical conclusions. and contribute to rational decision-making.
• Entrepreneurial mindset.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills. Able to liaise effectively with a wide a range of stakeholders and audiences.
• An interest and understanding in health, social care and wellbeing issues, policymaking and delivery, and how these may affect people.

This is a voluntary role with a term of three years, and the option to serve further three year terms if invited to do so by the Chair.

You will be required to attend six Board meetings a year (there is an option to join in person or virtually), and other ad hoc meetings such as training and away days.

Overall, the role requires a time commitment equivalent to approximately two days a month.

This is a volunteer role, though remuneration for expenses can be claimed.