Digital Inclusion Support Officer for Hertfordshire

Digital Inclusion Support Officer for Hertfordshire

Fixed Term, Full Time

£25,081 per annum

Location: East of England

Closing Date: 27th May 2025

Please note this vacancy is available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity until March 2026

This position has been classed as an anywhere worker role but has an expectation that the successful candidate will attend the office, in both Stevenage and Chelmsford, 1 day per week, with the remaining time for visiting sites and remote working if desired, in line with the organisation's needs.

Are you passionate about helping people to get online and thrive in a digital world? Do you enjoy working with communities, building relationships, and making a real difference?

Essex County Council's Digital Essex team is looking for a motivated and people-focused Digital Inclusion Support Officer to help develop digital inclusion initiatives across Hertfordshire. This role is funded by Hertfordshire County Council in recognition of the fantastic work already happening across the region. It represents the opportunity to build on that momentum and drive a greater impact.

This is a unique opportunity to join a collaborative and expanding programme that's helping individuals and communities to access the digital tools, skills, and support they need to thrive to today's digital world.

The role

As a Digital Inclusion Support Officer, you'll be out in the community - meeting people, supporting local organisations, and helping to make digital inclusion more accessible and effective across Hertfordshire.

You'll work closely with libraries, community hubs, charities, and other local partners to help them deliver or improve digital support. This will mean doing things like; helping a hub run its first digital skills session, delivering devices or SIM cards to a community group, or showing staff how to use the Digital Help Finder, a free tool that signposts people to local digital support and helps assess and improve their digital skills.

You'll also play a key role in building relationships with a wide range of local stakeholders, including NHS services, councils and voluntary organisations. Through your engagement and use of the Digital Exclusion Risk Indicator, you'll help map existing support and identify where gaps remain. In addition, you'll support the Essex and Hertfordshire Digital Inclusion Network (EHDIN) by welcoming new members, sharing best practice, and helping coordinate local efforts.

Alongside this, you'll use tools like the Digital Exclusion Risk Indicator to help identify areas most in need of support, and you'll contribute to simple reports and presentations that show the impact of your work and help shape future plans.

Please note: While the Digital Essex team is based in Chelmsford, Essex, this role will be based at Hertfordshire Farnham House in Stevenage. You'll be expected to travel regularly across Hertfordshire and attend team meetings in Chelmsford at least twice a month. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with Essex County Council's travel policy.

Accountabilities

• Assist in supporting local organisations such as libraries, community hubs, and charities to deliver or enhance digital inclusion activities, including digital skills sessions, device distribution, and SIM card provision.
• Collaborate with local stakeholders including NHS services, councils, and voluntary organisations to map existing digital support and identify service gaps using tools like the Digital Exclusion Risk Indicator.
• Promote and demonstrate the use of the Digital Help Finder tool to community partners, ensuring they can effectively signpost individuals to appropriate digital support services.
• Support the coordination and growth of the Essex and Hertfordshire Digital Inclusion Network (EHDIN) by welcoming new members, sharing best practices, and facilitating collaboration.
• Contribute to the preparation of simple reports and presentations that capture the impact of digital inclusion initiatives and inform future planning.
• Engage with community members and groups across Hertfordshire to raise awareness of digital inclusion opportunities and encourage participation in local initiatives.
• Deliver basic training and guidance to staff and volunteers on digital tools and inclusion strategies to build local capacity and confidence.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of digital inclusion barriers and opportunities, both locally and nationally, to inform engagement and support strategies.
• Travel regularly across Hertfordshire to attend meetings, deliver support, and represent the Digital Essex team, with occasional visits to Chelmsford for team collaboration.
• Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Working knowledge of the barriers to digital inclusion, both locally and nationally.
• Strong people and communication skills-confident engaging with individuals and groups in person and online.
• Good organisational and time management skills.
• Comfortable presenting to groups and supporting training delivery.
• Basic data analysis and reporting skills.
• Competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams).
• A full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle.

Desirable (but not essential)

• Experience working in community support, digital inclusion, or volunteering.
• Familiarity with tools like the Digital Help Finder or Digital Exclusion Risk Indicator.
• An understanding of social value and how it supports community initiatives.

Why Essex?

As one of the largest and most dynamic UK local authorities, Essex offers a stimulating public service environment. Covering over 1,420 square miles and serving 1.8 million residents, we're committed to transformational change and delivering better quality at lower cost. Recognised in the top three of the latest IMPOWER index for productivity, we ensure everyone matters in Everyone's Essex. With flexible working options and a focus on innovation, whether you are looking to develop your career or contribute to the local community, Essex is the ideal place for you.

In February 2025, Greater Essex was accepted onto the Government's devolution priority programme, which will see local authorities in Essex work towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. You can read more about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR) on our careers site.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We're committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process. We're also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

Once you've secured your role within Essex County Council you will receive many great employee benefits, including support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements to accommodate their needs.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.