Policy Officer

Food Train is a Scottish Charity established in 1995, supporting older people to eat well, age well and live well, through the provision of volunteer led community support services focused on food access. Since 2017, Food Train has led a national malnutrition pathfinder project called Eat Well Age Well Funded initially by National Lottery, and now via Scottish government, the project is in the final phase, focusing activities on malnutrition screening, training and implementation of a new national framework for malnutrition. Food Train holds the largest volume of data collection demonstrating risk and prevalence of malnutrition in older people in the community, in Scotland.

This role will focus on maintaining and growing awareness of the prevalence in, and risk of, food insecurity, malnutrition and loneliness among older people across Scotland. The policy officer will drive momentum and add context to relevant national legislation, policies and frameworks, bringing the voices of Food Train members to the fore, supplemented by evidence gathered over many years by the charity. The policy officer will also communicate all available, high quality and relevant impacts and evidence in the most effective way to ensure the needs of older people and their right to food is represented. The role has its focus in preventative work to support older people access good nutrition and hydration and will involve research and evaluation and policy into practice. The Policy Officer will work collectively with Food Train’s Dietitian to promote and evidence the impact of malnutrition in older people and the need for action to be taken at all levels, from individual to family, friends and carers right up to elected members and Government ministers. This role requires a collaborative, flexible and motivated person, who wants to action change to improve the lives of older people across Scotland.

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