Jobs

Digital Inclusion Support Officer

Fixed Term, Full Time

£25,081 per annum

Location: South Essex

Closing Date: 6th June 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 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 Essex and Southend on Sea.

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 Southend.

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 Southend 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, you'll be expected to travel regularly across Essex and Southend. Travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with Essex County Council's travel policy.

To read more about our business area, please visit:

People, Policy, Economy and Public Health

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 Southend 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 Essex and Southend 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 Essex including Southend 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.

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.