Current Vacancies

Are you passionate about helping others and do you have strong communication skills? If so, we may have the role for you at Annabelle’s Challenge.

We are seeking a compassionate and enthusiastic Patient Coordinator to join our team. As a Patient Coordinator, you will play a vital role in assisting patients with their needs throughout their journey with Vascular EDS, a life-limiting rare genetic disorder. 

Ideally, we need someone that is good dealing with people and has fantastic communications skills, someone who can build relationships quickly, can multitask and isn't afraid of picking up the phone to speak to some of the hundreds of patients and family members you'll be working with and helping to coordinate.

This could be a fantastic opportunity for someone with a retail or contact centre background. We will provide you with full training, you will just need strong communication skills, basic computer skills and the ability to learn whilst being adaptable.

Your responsibilities will involve coordinating various patient care services, and working closely with patients and their families (our members) to ensure they receive the necessary guidance and support. Duties include managing the helpline and assisting in delivery of all aspects of the VEDS Support Programme. You will also collaborate with healthcare providers to ensure patients receive comprehensive and tailored care and support.

Your commitment and passion will contribute to the overall well-being of our members in the vEDS community.

Main Tasks

• Setting up the regional support groups and listening to members through discussions and developing feedback into service design and improvement. Managing and supporting the regional coordinators.
• Managing the charities social media accounts and content on Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram for Annabelle’s Challenge and REDS4VEDS.
• To work with the CEO to ensure the day-to-day running of the VEDS Support Programme is effective for the benefit of our VEDS community.
• To lead on the co-design and delivery of inter-community projects, involving our members and clinical team with the wider community.
• Supporting delivery of groups and activities for the VEDS Support Programme and aligning these to all other projects at Annabelle’s Challenge.
• To be involved in networking and partnership work with other relevant parties to ensure that the service is at the forefront of community services in the VEDS community.
• Manage and update the VEDS database and contact members as and when required.
  
  

About You

• You will have an understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• You will have plenty of passion and enthusiasm. 
• You have excellent customer service skills to provide ongoing support for patients and their families.
• You will have an ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness, and common sense, to respond to enquiries and concerns.
• You have experience of effectively using a range of communication tools including social media, to provide support and information.
• You have computer skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• You can demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and willingness to contribute to the wider objectives of the charity.
• You will be able to occasionally travel throughout the UK and Internationally when needed, possibly at times out of office hours to attend events, meetings and support groups, including evenings and occasional weekends. (Whilst travelling the charity will cover all travel costs (whether that is the fuel or electric in your own car or train/coach costs) as well as any hotel/accommodation and food/drink costs too.

The most important attributes we are looking for are a customer friendly personality and a willingness to go the extra mile for our members, colleagues and stakeholders.

About Us

Annabelle’s Challenge was founded in 2013 by Jared Griffin, when his daughter Annabelle Griffin aged 3 was diagnosed with a very rare genetic life-threatening disorder known as Vascular EDS (vEDS). VEDS causes easy bruising and veins, arteries and organs to be prone to rupture. Life expectancy average is reduced significantly. We currently support 400 patients across the UK, and there are anticipated to be 740 people with vEDS in the UK.

Prior to Annabelle's Challenge, vEDS patients, did not have a community nor a collective voice in terms of I) promoting awareness; ii) educating medical professionals, schools, families and iii) driving research. The majority of individuals were looked after by their local GP/cardiologist, with a mixed experience in terms of quality of care, given many of whom would have little knowledge about vEDS.

Since its foundation the charity has grown from strength to strength, proud recipients of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2018, holding the world’s first vEDS conference bringing together families with VEDS with medical professionals to spread awareness, holding quarterly regional support groups and providing patient support services, linking newly diagnosed vEDS patients into the two national NHS EDS teams (Sheffield and London), ensuring newly diagnosed vEDS patients receive the appropriate medical advice and support, and supporting children with vEDS and their schools. It has also worked with universities coordinating and funding research into a number of areas.

In summary Annabelle’s Challenge has achieved a significant amount with limited resources for the community and is highly valued and respected by vEDS patients, international vEDS charities, the two NHS EDS centers in the UK. Annabelle’s Challenge in August 2021 received a 3 year grant from The National Lottery to fund it’s VEDS Support Programme and securing the medium term financial sustainability of the charity. This, combined with a very active fundraising community means we have the resources to take the charity to the next phase of its strategy.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful difference to this small charity and the community it serves.

Benefits

• Rate of pay is £10.90 per hour.
• Part-time hours 16 - 20 hours per week (to be discussed) over 3 or 4 days Monday to Friday.
• Days of work and start and finish times are negotiable.
• Initial training and ongoing development.
• Access to counselling support.
• Mental Health First Aid Training.
• On-site cafe discount.
• Contributory pension scheme.

Application Instructions

Please send a CV and covering letter outlining how your skills and experience that meets the requirements of the role to: jared@annabelleschallenge.org or post to our office at Walshaw Park House.

Annabelle’s Challenge reserves the right to close this vacancy early if a large number of applications are received.

We will only contact those candidates shortlisted for interview via email. If you do not receive the email, it will be that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

• Applications now closed.

• Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 25th September 2023

• Role effective from October / November 2023 depending on notice period required

Annabelle's Challenge requests no contact from agencies.