Role: Support Lead – Full-time – 37.5 hours per week

Location: Wandsworth – office, remote working and community-based

Mind in Brent, Wandsworth & Westminster has been delivering services and support to people living in Brent, Westminster and other boroughs for over 40 years. Our aim is to help people in our local communities to have better mental health and wellbeing and to live the best lives possible.

We are looking for a Support Lead to join our busy Floating Support Service based in Wandsworth. This new role follows a recent restructure and will support the Team Leader to deliver a safe and effective service that meets the needs of our service users. You will supervise 4 of the staff team, enabling them to develop and grow, providing regular supervision and supporting on-the-job learning. You will have a small caseload of service users, co-produce support plans with them and enable them to realise their goals and continue their recovery journey.

We are looking for an experienced, empathetic, self-motivated and hardworking individual who will support both the staff team and service users to achieve their goals. At least 50% of Mind in Brent, Wandsworth and Westminster’s staff team have experience of mental illness and we value lived experience.

Please complete the application form attached in order to apply for this vacancy. 

Application Deadline: Monday 29th November 2021.

Interviews W/C: Monday 6th December 2021.

This is an exciting new  role working on a pilot programme in our North West region. The role will be testing out new ways of working with our Sight Loss Council volunteers, developing new models of practice and establishing clear roles and responsibilities throughout the team.

This role will be supporting the Engagement Manager (EM) of the North West region.

This role is fixed term and is primarily home based but as this post will be working as part of a pilot project, there is a duty to be flexible in the approach to work duties; the post holder will be required to travel to meetings at various locations within the North West and occasionally to London.

Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) is a national charity dedicated to delivering positive change for blind and partially sighted people.   Sight Loss Councils (SLC) are led by blind and partially sighted volunteer members and funded by Thomas Pocklington Trust.

There are more than two million blind and partially sighted people in the UK and there is still limited public awareness of the challenges that are faced.Many blind people we speak to feel that they are under-represented and have no strong, unified voice when decisions are being made – especially in the design and implementation of goods and services. We are here to change this.

The work of our Sight Loss Councils is driven by three key priority areas:

• Employment and skills

• Health and well-being

• Inclusive Communities

Challenges in accessing services under these areas continue to profoundly affect blind and partially sighted people in the UK.

We currently have 12 Sight Loss Councils across England, with plans to grow this reach even further, but in order to support this growth, we need to grow our team and infrastructure.

The main duties of this role will include:

• To support the development and implementation of the pilot project’s plans, feeding back at every stage of the pilot.
• To be the first point of contact for individual SLC members for on-going support and SLC administration.
• To organise SLC meetings and events, as required by the Engagement Manager, ensuring all agendas, minutes and reports are distributed to SLC members in a timely manner.
• To coordinate the development of resources such as guidance leaflets, Information packs, surveys and presentations in relation to SLC events and activities.
• Support the work of the Public Affairs and Campaigns team in distributing information to partner organisations and coordinating regional responses.

More details can be found in the Job Description.

The successful candidate will have experience of working with volunteers with a visual impairment or additional needs.  They will have proven experience of developing an delivering social action projects and have supported with planning and delivering events.  The ability to work collaboratively with other organisations to achieve their goals is key

The closing date is midnight on Wednesday 24 November and interviews will take place on Tuesday 30 November

 in Manchester.

This role is subject to a standard DBS check 

Job Overview

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for an exceptional, highly organised and experienced office professional to cover maternity leave as an Office Manager for Better Bankside.

The Office Manager plays a crucial role in enabling Better Bankside to service its membership and achieve its aim of driving positive change in one of the world’s great neighbourhoods. The postholder is in charge of ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the organisation.

Key tasks include:

- Oversight of the organisation’s phone, IT and internet facilities, ensuring that these are functioning at all times.

- Ensuring external contracts are recorded and managed efficiently

- Oversight of office supplies and deliveries

- Manage the office administration budget

- Liaise with landlord for any building issues.

- Identify working practices to streamline working environment

- Monitoring the usage of the BB’s arch spaces on the Low Line.

- Ensuring the workplace is a covid-safe environment

- Oversight of the organisation’s Sugar CRM membership database.

- Key role in managing and documenting the organisation’s procurement procedures, including maintaining accurate records relating to contracts with suppliers

- Finance support including: administering the sales ledger, issuing invoices and keeping an account of theme budgets and relay information on these to managers, compiling and distributing payslips, pensions and tax information to employees

- Developing, implementing and monitoring HR policies and ensuring the organisation demonstrates best practice in areas such as employee absence, grievance, diversity, recruitment and staff development

- Ensure the staff handbook is up to date in line with best practice and current legislation, and convey the staff handbook to new employees

- Support recruitment of staff across the organisation: helping draft JDs, advertising roles, managing, scheduling and attending interviews. Managing the Be Applied unbiased recruitment platform

- Line management of one direct report: Business Support Coordinator

Person specification

The role requires a positive attitude and a flexible approach. The ideal candidate should be willing and able to take on a wide range of diverse tasks. There is no preference for any particular background, but you need be able to demonstrate an impressive range of relevant experience in the following areas.

Skills and experience

- Proven track record of organisational and administrative skills, with minimum of two years’ experience of working in a similar capacity

- A competent verbal and written communicator with a friendly and professional manner

- Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning

- A strong team player who will embody the BB culture

- Confident user of standard MS Office software packages

- Experience of working with database systems

- Conscientious, diligent and attentive to detail

- Problem solver and adaptable to new ideas

- Experience of providing administrative help for meetings (including preparing agendas, taking minutes)

- Able to confidently develop positive and productive working relationships

- Proactive and self-motivated, ability to prioritise own workload and to work to tight deadlines

- Interest in Bankside as an area to live, work and visit

- An understanding of Business Improvement Districts

About Better Bankside

Vision Powered by the people of Bankside, Better Bankside will be an agent of change, leading innovative economic, environmental and social action to advance one of the world’s great neighbourhoods, bringing benefits to business and Banksiders.

Mission We will improve everyone’s experience of the neighbourhood by co-creating our programme with Banksiders, responding inventively to urban challenges, and celebrating the differences that define Bankside as London’s Other Side.

Better Bankside was one of the first Business Improvement Districts (BID) in the UK, established in 2004. We are a partnership of local businesses, working closely with other community stakeholders to co-create a programme of projects and services that benefits the whole Bankside neighbourhood. Our core purpose is to promote local businesses and make a positive impact in our community.

As a BID, we are funded by a mandatory levy on businesses within a defined boundary. Our last ballot took place in November 2019, achieving overwhelming support from the business community, with 92% voting for another five years of Better Bankside.

Better Bankside is an organisation where you can make a real impact; and where you can expect to get involved in a wide-ranging programme of work.

We are a small team of fifteen in the Bankside office, plus our wardens and street cleaning teams. The way that we work with our members through our governance structure provides an extended network of regular collaborators and contributors.

Working arrangements

Better Bankside operates on a flexitime basis with mandatory core hours of 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday, with additional hours, evening and weekend work expected in accordance with the requirements of the post. Due to the nature of our work, a minimum of three days per week will be based in the office with up to two days working from home.

Throughout the pandemic, Government guidance has been adhered to with home working supported for those able to do so, and measures put in place to ensure the Better Bankside workplace is Covid secure.

How to apply

At Better Bankside, we celebrate diversity and promote equality and inclusion amongst our staff. We welcome applications from all, regardless of personal characteristics or background. We've taken the decision to use blind recruitment for this role and as such, we'd like applicants to apply by using the platform Be Applied.

Full copy of the JD can be found on our website

Closing date: 10th December 2021, 12pm

Interviews (via Zoom): w/c 13th December 2021

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the right to work in the UK.

We have an exciting opportunity for someone with excellent communication skills to join the staff of a social enterprise on an NHS-funded advice project now in its seventh year. The core function of this role is to be the public-facing first point of contact for callers to the advice service, offering tier one information and supporting the tier two specialist advice team. With big plans for the future, we want you to be part of a strong team committed to delivering excellence and achieving success in line with our commercial and social objectives.

You will be an excellent communicator with good interpersonal skills and experience of working in a client-facing information, advice or administration role. A proven ability to provide clear and coherent information via the telephone in a way that is accessible to a broad client base is essential.

The successful candidate will be able to establish a good rapport with clients and stakeholders in a professional and caring manner, upholding brand values.

In return, you can look forward to working with a small but highly-skilled and dynamic team, and having influence over the future strategic direction of the company. We also offer a competitive salary with performance-related bonus and an excellent benefits package. The nature of this role demands complete confidentiality and flexibility with regard to the needs of the business and its clients. This is a salaried role and some unsocial hours may be expected.

MAIN DUTIES:

1. To be the public-facing first point of contact to health and social care service users in England, providing information about the NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment and appeal process, as part of an established national specialist continuing healthcare information and advice service, with a great reputation.
2. Main duties to include being part of the tier one team, who are the first point of contact for new client enquiries (telephone and email), responding to messages from new clients, asking relevant questions to determine the type of enquiry, providing accurate tier one technical information about the NHS continuing healthcare framework and criteria, and scheduling tier two advice sessions. Note that this is primarily a telephone advice role within a very busy service and that many callers will present with strong emotions.
3. To provide tier one information about the assessment and dispute processes to our clients tailored to their specific situation and needs from a good working knowledge of the national guidance and assessment framework.
4. To keep informed of issues, policies and guidance affecting clients ensuring that the information provided is relevant, current, complete and accurate.
5. To respond to new referrals by making prompt initial contact with the client following referral from a Clinical Commissioning Group, stakeholder or private enquirer, within appropriate timescales.
6. To provide administrative support to the Information and Advice team and Managing Director.
7. Keep operating procedures under review to identify areas of potential development and / or improvement and make recommendations.
8. To meet and greet clients and visitors to the offices.
9. To research topics relevant to continuing healthcare as directed, preparing clear and concise summary reports.
10. Responsible for maintaining online client management and filing systems.
11. Work closely and efficiently with representatives and partners from NHS England and referring Clinical Commissioning Groups so as to provide a quality and cost-effective service, and to minimise stress for the client.
12. To work with partner organisations and stakeholders to share knowledge, make appropriate referrals, maintain consistency and draw upon each other’s expertise, always striving to improve the quality of both services and provide a better customer experience.
13. To keep relevant and sufficiently detailed case records following each client contact, ensuring that all client information is kept up to date in line with Beacon’s systems and procedures, including data protection (GDPR) policies. 
14. To work cooperatively with Beacon’s private casework team so as to provide clear, transparent and appropriate information to clients about Beacon’s casework services in line with company procedures. 
15. To uphold organisational values, promoting Beacon’s social goals through each area of your work.
16. Attending line management, supervision and team meetings as appropriate and to play a full part in the development and success of Beacon.
17. Archiving
18. Provide organisational and administrative support to advisers and caseworkers as required.

This post may be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Baring Service check or equivalent.

STAFF BENEFITS: Pension Scheme, Generous Annual Leave Entitlement, Death in Service Benefit 4x salary, Flexible Working, Health & Dental Care Plan, Professional Development Plan, Employee Rewards Scheme (Perkbox) and Performance-Related Bonus.

Background Information

NHS Continuing Healthcare is the name given to a package of health care that some people need to receive as a result of a disability, accident or illness. Individuals who are assessed as eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare will have the full cost of their care and accommodation funded by the NHS.

The criteria for determining eligibility are highly complex and can be very difficult to understand because they care based upon case law and often poorly-understood legal tests rather than primary legislation.  Our experience has shown that there is a lot of confusion surrounding continuing healthcare because of the complex nature of the criteria, as well as lengthy and detailed assessment processes.  Likewise, the appeal process can be very daunting and perplexing to individuals who do not know what to expect.

Over the past 17 years, Age UK Oxfordshire has provided a free advice, support, advocacy and active casework service to individuals in the South of England going through the assessment or appeal process.  In that time they have worked with over 7,500 families and won over 70% of appeals, establishing a national reputation for quality advice and casework within continuing healthcare professional circles.

Beacon is the trading name of Ethical Legal Services Ltd, a company which has evolved from Age UK Oxfordshire’s original continuing healthcare project. Beacon utilises the extensive experience of its casework team to fill both a commercial gap and a social need in the national support market for continuing healthcare.  Beacon aims to ensure that individuals receive a fair, accurate & comprehensive assessment of need, being empowered to make informed appeal choices. Beacon is a social enterprise, producing operating surpluses which are donated to charity to support vital services for older people.

Beacon operates an ethical business model which places the client at the heart of the process and aims to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients through robust and non-confrontational engagement with CCGs. Our team of advisers and caseworkers have established a strong reputation for their thorough understanding of the eligibility criteria and key principles, combining excellent client engagement with high-quality case representation. In seven years we have supported over 30,000 people and achieved a consistently high quality score from our clients.

The Project

For the past seven years Beacon has been commissioned by NHS England to deliver the first national specialist NHS Continuing Healthcare information and advice service. The service delivers in two specific areas:

• Remote verbal or written advice surgeries: time-limited specialist advice delivered via telephone, Teams and email
• Literature in the form of comprehensive information guides provided via post and across digital access points

The service is open to anybody in England at any stage of the continuing healthcare journey or in the long-term care system. Clients and service-users will be entitled to receive a copy of Beacon’s literature in the format they find most accessible, and up to ninety minutes of remote (verbal or written) advice.

Remote verbal information and advice will be provided on any area within the scope of the National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS Funded Nursing Care (2007, 2009, 2012 and 2018 editions), and related guidance, and on the topics covered by the Navigational Toolkit.

The role of the Information Officer will be to deliver accurate tier one information to clients which helps them to understand what NHS continuing healthcare is, how to apply for it and what to do if they want to challenge the outcome of their assessment. You will also be expected to schedule tier two advice sessions with our specialist advice team for individuals who require an-depth consultation.

Please note that whilst prior knowledge of the NHS continuing healthcare criteria and assessment procedures is desirable, it is not necessary to have this knowledge and full training will be provided. We are looking for candidates with the right skills and personal attributes as listed in the Person Specification.

Our Values

At Beacon, we employ people who want to do things differently to other organisations working in this field. Five values sum up our culture and how we treat our clients and our staff:

1. Ethical

Commitment to our clients

We operate with honesty and integrity. We are transparent about our funding set-up and our fees, which we keep as low as we sensibly can. We never ‘hard sell’ our services, we keep you informed at every step, and we always give our honest opinion of your chances of success. As a social enterprise, we donate any profits to charity.

Commitment to our team

We operate with honesty and integrity, and always work hard to get the best results for our clients and the business. We work to high standards, and trust our people to respectfully speak out if we fall short.

1. Expert

Commitment to our clients

We pride ourselves on being recognised as leading independent experts in NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). We apply our knowledge and experience to help every case and caller. We also strive to improve CHC for everyone, by training health and social care professionals.

Commitment to our team

We are the leading experts in our field. We encourage and value innovation and evolution in what we do, and how we do it. We are united in developing the business and its services.

1. Personal

Commitment to our clients

By listening carefully to you and the people who really know about your care needs, we can provide excellent advice and powerful advocacy tailored to your unique situation.

Commitment to our team

We get results by getting to know our clients. We do the same with our people, offering flexible working options to suit your circumstances, and taking time out to have fun as a team.

1. Compassionate

Commitment to our clients

We are mindful of the immense stress that our callers and clients can be under, at what is often a really tough time. We do our best to lift some of that burden by providing a quality service that you can trust, and by being compassionate and courteous at all times.

Commitment to our team

The nature of the work can be stressful and emotionally draining. We take care and time to look out for each other, and encourage healthy work habits.

1. Rewarding

Commitment to our team

We take the time to celebrate success and are inspired by one another’s achievements. We provide a generous and varied suite of benefits that can be enjoyed by our people and their families.

The Partnerships Co-ordinator will play an important role in delivering Living Sport’s new strategy, working as part of the team to empower and equip communities to embed physical activity within community life. 

This role will focus on building connections and trust with people and organisations in local places, discovering what local priorities are and supporting community led solutions which enable people to be more active. This will include accessing physical activity as a tool to support wider outcomes which are important to them. 

You will be confident in starting conversations, listening, bringing people together and empowering people to take action in their local places. You will have a passion for the role physical activity can play in tackling inequalities, and creating great places to live. 

Further information including a Job description and an application form are available on our website.For an informal conversation about this role please contact Alison Lyons, Head of Partnerships on 0756 3023 422.Please send completed application forms to Jayne Thacker, Finance & Administration Co-ordinator.

Interviews will take place online on Monday 13th December 2021.

Living Sport is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults participating in sports and physical activity from harm.

Sightsavers has an exciting opportunity for an Institutional Funding Advisor or Senior Advisor (dependent upon experience) to develop, support and maintain institutional donor relationships.

Location:  Kenya 

Salary:  Local Terms and conditions apply 

Contract:  2-Year Fixed Term Contract with expectation of extension 

About the roles 

As an Institutional Funding Advisor, you would be responsible for supporting and maintaining institutional donor relationships in the UK, both directly and in support of other members of the Institutional Funding team. This includes working with the Institutional Funding Senior Advisor in directly managing existing funding agreements and in leading on the development of new funding relationships for the team.  The role will involve contract management, bid development, learning and continuous improvement.

As a Senior Institutional Funding Advisor, you would be responsible for developing strategic institutional donor relationships, both directly and in support of other members of the Institutional Funding team. You would work alongside the Director and Heads of Institutional Funding to lead on contract management and maintain key institutional donor relationships for some our largest funding agreements. You will engage with senior internal stakeholders at head office, consortium working groups and country offices to support project implementation and be involved with contract management, bid development, learning and continuous improvement. You will also line manage Institutional Funding Advisors.

About you 

The ideal candidate for either role will be educated to degree level or equivalent, preferably in an international development related subject or have gained relevant working experience. You will have a demonstrable experience of working with institutional donors preferably including bilaterals, multilaterals or large-scale foundations. Candidates with experience of producing successful applications and good donor reports as well as donor engagement would be of particular interest. The successful candidate will have good research skills with a good understanding of budgets and financial data.

This role will involve travel of up to eight weeks per year to meet donors, accompany donors and support programme staff in the development of relationships at a country office / regional level. 

This is not an exhaustive list of duties or essential professional skills but if you feel you are ready for this challenge and responsibility, please read the Institutional Funding Advisor and Institutional Funding Senior Advisor Job Descriptions for further details.

How to apply: 

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a role-specific written exercise and interviews will be offered to candidates following review. First stage remote interviews will be held on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 December 2021.

To apply, and for further details about the role, please complete an application via our recruitment portal. We are particularly interested in learning of your motivations for applying. 

As an equal opportunity employer, we actively encourage applications from all sections of the community. Sightsavers is a Disability Confident Leader and qualified people living with a disability are particularly encouraged to apply.