Healthcare & Education Officer

The Paget’s Association, the UK’s only charity supporting people with Paget’s disease of bone, is looking to recruit a Healthcare & Education Officer to build on the excellent work done by the current post holder.

We are looking for an exceptional individual educated to degree level who is able to play a key role in the following areas: 

• developing the Association’s health and education programmes and education strategy
• operating and monitoring a help line
• developing and delivering health education programmes to a variety of audiences
• the production of information to meet the needs of both lay people and health professionals. 

The post is full-time (37.5 hours) but there are flexible working options available.  For example the role can be home-based for part of the time, although the post holder would be expected to work from the office on a regular basis. The position is permanent subject to a satisfactory 6 month probation period.  Salary, terms and conditions will be based on Band 6 nursing scale in the range of £25,528 to £34,189.  The start point would be dependent upon experience.  The Association operates a company pension scheme with 8% employer’s contribution.  Appointment would be subject to satisfactory references and a Criminal Record Disclosure (Enhanced Level).

The successful candidate must be self-motivated and self-administering, able to organise and prioritise his/her own workload.  Experience of musculoskeletal conditions is essential, as is the ability to communicate with a wide range of audiences.  An important part of the work will be the continuing development of the Association’s information system, so knowledge or experience of the Dept of Health’s Information Standard Scheme would be advantageous.

Application is by e-mail to director@paget.org.uk using a CV, covering letter, supplementary form, with a translation exercise which all candidates must complete. 

The Paget’s Association works within Equal Opportunities Principles.

Closing date for applications is:   Friday 2^nd March 2012

Interviews to take place in Walkden on Friday 30^th March 2012

Appointment to commence 1^st June 2012

The Paget’s Association, 323 Manchester Road, Walkden, Worsley, Manchester, M28 3HH

Tel. No:  0161 799 4646          E-mail:  director@paget.org.uk        Contact:  Marilyn McCallum

To obtain an information pack go to the Association’swebsite

NO  AGENCIES  PLEASE

The NASS en Masse sponsored walks are returning this year to London’s Richmond Park, Pollok Park in Glasgow, Bute Park in Cardiff and Portsmouth Pier in May to celebrate World AS Day. NASS is looking for as many people as possible to join them in each location to walk the 5km route and raise funds for NASS. For more information and to register visit the NASS webiste here. 

The Scleroderma Society establishes a professorial Chair of Rheumatology at the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School

Earlier in the year, The Scleroderma Society received a donation which, with Gift Aid, was £125,000, and a request that this be used to help establish a professorial Chair of Rheumatology at the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Postgraduate Medical School, which has close links with the University of Bedfordshire. The Medical School acts as an academic resource for medical and healthcare professionals in the region. This is accomplished through the provision of high quality professional development and postgraduate education and by fostering research.

During the year we have been involved in discussions with Professor Les Ebdon, Vice Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and Professor Alan Sinclair, Dean and Head of the Medical School. As a result, we are delighted that this has led to the establishment of The Dame Carol Black Chair of Rheumatology and to the appointment of Professor Chakravarty a life member of The Scleroderma Society, as the first incumbent.

The citations at the ceremony for Dame Carol and Kuntal outlined the significant contributions that each has made over many years to research, education and clinical practice in scleroderma. It is a wonderful tribute to Dame Carol that her work has been recognised in this way. Amongst her many achievements Dame Carol founded The Scleroderma Society and is today our Honorary President.

This is a big step for The Scleroderma Society and one which we are very excited about. It is most  fitting that Professor Chakravarty has received this important appointment, and we have been invited to participate in the steering committee which will guide the research programme in the coming years. Along with Kuntal, The Scleroderma Society will report on progress from time to time.

Kim and Steve were privileged to be invited to the ceremony and to join the Vice Chancellor and his other guests for lunch at the university.