Age UK Barnet is excited to be setting up a new team to coordinate and administer grants from the Household Support Fund. This is a one-year project aiming to support older people currently facing financial challenges. The project goal is to enable individuals living in the Borough of Barnet, who are facing hardship, to benefit from small grant/s towards goods or services which will ease the pressure of the current cost of living crisis. This service will also support beneficiaries where possible towards setting up longer term solutions.

The purpose of the post is to work as part of a small team of co-ordinators to deliver a short-term Household Support Fund. The postholder will assist to coordinate the procedures put in place to ensure a consistent and efficient process for beneficiaries.

Are you an experienced case worker with over two year’s experience on the front line? As Project Worker – Casework you will be responsible for working with a diverse range of clients seeking support from our Living Well services, many with multiple and complex needs. You will be passionate in getting vulnerable people the right support, whether it is information and advice, signposting or longer-term casework.

You will be working in our pleasant offices just off Holloway Road, in a thriving community hub. Benefits include 25 days’ annual leave on appointment (this will increase to 27 after 5 years’ service and 29 after 10 years’ service), flexible working, employee assistance programme, and family-friendly policies.

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust (MGWT) has supported people to improve their mental and physical health and wellbeing since 1913. Our mission is to work with people and communities to take action and enable good health, resilience and opportunity.

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust is committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities with which we work. We value, respect and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation or religious belief. We encourage applications from individuals with experience of volunteering alongside or instead of professional experience, and no academic background is required to apply.

How to apply

To apply click 'Appy now' to be redirected to our website for an application pack and additional information. 

Closing date: Monday, 6th June 2022 at 9am 

Interviews: w/c 13th June 2022 

Manor Gardens Welfare Trust follows safer recruitment procedures, and all successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced DBS check. Any disclosures within a DBS check do not necessarily prevent an individual from taking up a position with us, and we encourage those with questions about this to contact us to discuss further.

Programme Coordinator
Location: King's Cross
Contract length: Full time/Permanent
Start date: 20 May 2022
Salary: £27,000

Art Fund is the national fundraising charity for art. We believe that art can make you see, think and feel differently, and through our work we help make art more accessible to as many visitors as possible, wherever they are. We give grants to help museums and galleries acquire works of art for their collections, share them with wide audiences, and support the training and professional development of curators. We are supported by our growing membership of 130,000 through the National Art Pass, as well as the generosity of many trusts, foundations and other individuals.

As Programme Coordinator you'll support the Programmes team and the delivery of Art Fund’s annual grant-making programmes through the assessment of applications, day-to-day delivery and management of casework and related administration across Art Fund’s grant making portfolio. Working with the Senior Programmes Managers, you will take ownership of specific projects as required, make improvements to programmes and systems, updating and maintaining relevant databases and records, and forging excellent working relationships with applicants and partners. You'll also take a proactive lead on improving internal communications regarding the Programme to internal and external stakeholders.

Key Employee Benefits

• Generous Annual leave – 25 days annual leave + bank holidays, with additional non-contractual office closure dates at Christmas.
• Flexible approach to hybrid working
• Free National Art Pass (NAP) - for yourself + another person of your choice.
• Free Entry to Exhibitions
• Life Assurance - cover for up to three times your basic salary.
• Season Ticket Loan
• Pensions - Eligible employees are enrolled into the scheme with the exception of those who have contracts of three months or less. Art Fund contributes 8% of the basic annual salary during the first six months of employment or until probation is successfully completed, whichever is the later. At that point the contribution is increased to 10%.

Closing deadline: 13 June 2022

To Apply and for More Information:

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website. 

We are committed to building our team and trustees from the broad range of backgrounds and experiences across the UK, valuing difference and diversity, and building a workplace based on shared values of equality and mutual respect.

We have ambitious plans for the future and will be holding ourselves to account and putting our principles into action, as we all work together to help bring about positive change and a fairer future for everyone. We therefore want to encourage applications from all races, ages, religions and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with any kind of disabilities and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our organisation.

This post is London-based. Non-UK nationals will require current and valid permission to work in the UK.

No agencies please.

ADVICE CASEWORK LEAD (DEBT, BENEFITS HOUSING)

OASIS CENTRE, OASIS HUB WATERLOO

FULL TIME

1 YEAR FIXED TERM CONTRACT (with view to extend)

SALARY:  £30,594 per annum (including London Weighting)

We have an exciting opportunity for an Advice Casework Lead (debt, benefits and housing) to join our team as part of Oasis Hub Waterloo. Oasis Waterloo has run debt advice services and a food bank for the last decade. More recently we have developed further advice and support programmes, including benefits, immigration, and housing advice. We are now looking for a relational, supportive, experienced advice worker, to lead a small team and ensure we are delivering excellent advice, in a holistic community setting.

What’s in it for you?

• A chance to work with a great team of passionate, supportive and holistically minded advisors and community workers
• The opportunity to make a real difference, materially improving the lives of community members, as well as developing the service
• The chance to get involved in the wider life of Oasis Hub Waterloo, including community events and staff gatherings

You will receive the support of a fantastic team of professionals in the community.  As part of the package, Oasis offers:

• A pension scheme, currently offering 7% employer contribution
• A generous holiday allowance
• Flexible working where possible, with family friendly policies

In this role, you would be working with local community members, to improve their circumstances through the provision of high-quality advice, as well as supporting development and ensuring best practice across the service.  This role is based in our newly relaunched community space at the Oasis Centre and will include supporting with community drop-ins and walk-ins, as well as 1-2-1 appointments,

Key responsibilities. 

• Managing your own caseload of clients, collaborating closely with other team members and volunteers
• Line managing a small team delivering client casework
• Ensuring compliance and quality control across our casework provision, including obtaining quality standards, creating client feedback mechanisms, and ensuring policy compliance

The successful post holder must have:

• Experience providing face-to-face advice
• A willingness to work with people who have multiple and complex needs
• A recognised advice qualification or equivalent experience
• Line management experience
• Attention to detail and up-to-date knowledge of advice practice and policy

If you are interested in being part of this service, then please:

Email your CV including a Supporting Statement via the Oasis Charity Jobs Website . Your Supporting Statement should be no more than two A4 pages and must address the following question:

1. Please expand on your CV to tell us about relevant skills, experience and qualification you have, that relate to the job description and person specification.

Completed applications should be returned by Sunday 12th June 2022.

Interviews will take place in Waterloo on Thursday 16th June 2022.

The successful candidate will need to be provide proof of the right to work in the UK.  We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. 

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks. 

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1026487

The Job purpose of the Advice Services Co-odinator is to:-

1. Work as part of the Islington BAMER Advice Alliance (IBAA) Advice Team, you will coordinate the LBI and the Cripplegate Foundation funded IBAA Advice Services Project.
2. Be responsible in co-ordinating, monitoring and reporting the London Borough of Islington (LBI) and Cripplegate Foundation funded IBAA Advice Services Project.
3. Liaise with appropriate voluntary organisations, Advice Agencies, and Islington Council.
4. Work with the IBAA Trustees to identify and develop new programmes when necessary.
5. Work with other voluntary and non-voluntary organisations based in Islington to jointly identify and develop new projects and programmes to sustain the work of IBAA.
6. Maintain appropriate records, statistics and performance data in order to ensure that the progress of work towards the advice services targets are monitored and evaluated.
7. Perform any other duties as may be agreed from time to time with the IBAA Trustees.

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a full time Casework Administrator to cover the Overseas region at SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity.

You will be part of the overseas regional office team and will be responsible for providing specialist administrative support, working closely with SSAFA branch volunteers in order to ensure a consistent, timely, quality service is provided to SSAFA beneficiaries.  This will include supporting volunteer network including our highly trained caseworkers.

To help you establish yourself in this new post you will receive excellent training and induction to SSAFA and will influence the processes and procedures within the new office, working closely with the Regional Operations Support Manager.

The post is home-based, with occasional national and overseas travel.

About the team

In this new role, and with guidance from the Regional Operations Support Manager, you will be working closely with volunteers from the 4 SSAFA overseas branches, supporting them to administer casework for SSAFA beneficiaries.

About you

To carry out this role successfully you will have a track record of providing excellent customer service by telephone, e-mail and face to face. You will have used Microsoft Office 365 to a high standard. The successful candidate will have experience of planning and managing their own workload, with minimal supervision. It would be advantageous if you have an understanding of the way of life for today’s Armed Forces, veterans and their families and if you have experience of recruiting and supporting volunteers. An understanding of the voluntary sector and preferably the military charity sector would be valuable.

About SSAFA

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing practical, emotional, and financial support to our Forces and their families since 1885. Last year our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, from Second World War veterans to those who have served in more recent conflicts or are still currently serving, and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. We are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business.

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

We have an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and committed UK immigration caseworker, IAAS or OISC Level 2 accredited, to take on the casework supervision and coordination of our Family Reunion from Europe+ project. The successful candidate will join our dedicated legal team in London and help us continue providing high quality legal advice to our clients and supervision to our volunteers from our law firm partners. 

About the Family Reunion from Europe + project

The FRFE project was launched in 2021 in collaboration with 6 commercial law firm partners. Originally focusing solely on family reunion applicants in Europe, the project aimed to provide essential legal information to those directly affected by the changing family reunion landscape post-Brexit. During the first year of the project, over 200 people were given advice concerning reunion with their loved ones in the UK. Exceptional Case Funding was obtained for families who required representation, and a small number of cases were directly represented by our small team with the invaluable support of the pro bono law firm partners. In March 2022, the FRFE project was renewed for another two years, as FRFE+. We are now partnered with 8 law firms, and our remit has expanded to include those in Turkey and Libya. We have also partnered with Coram Children's Legal Centre, who are hosting a dedicated legal aid caseworker to represent our clients. 

Key responsibilities 

The post holder will be a member of our Legal Support team and will work closely with our project partners and volunteers to assist displaced people to reunite with their families in the UK.
 

Case intake and case allocation

• Registering and processing of incoming referrals from individuals and referring organisations;

• Triaging cases and merits assessment;

• Preparing and allocating referrals to volunteer lawyers in our partner law firms;

Casework

• Maintaining high standards of client contact and client care;

• Overseeing/supervising the casework conducted by the project volunteer lawyers;

• Be an active team member to the project volunteer lawyers and our partner legal aid caseworker;

• Providing legal advice on family reunion routes to the UK and drafting advice letters for clients; 

• Preparing evidence bundles for our partner legal aid caseworker;

• Assessing legal aid eligibility of clients;

• Applying for exceptional case funding to the Legal Aid Agency;

Administrative tasks

• Organising and attending client calls;

• Booking interpreters;

• Maintaining accurate records in compliance with OISC standards and organisation reporting frameworks;

• Preparing meeting agendas and reports in advance of project management calls;

Training of volunteer lawyers

• Preparing training materials for volunteer lawyers;

• Delivering training for volunteer lawyers;

Project coordination

• Day to day managing and development of the FRFE project as per the project aims and objectives;

• Working in collaboration with the project partners to ensure that appropriate steps to achieve the aims and objectives of the project are taken;

• Monitoring the progress of referrals within the firm pro bono teams;

• Managing internal and external relationships with project partners;

• Preparing project periodic reports for the project partners; 

• Designing new and optimising existing standardised project systems and processes, including data recording and monitoring;

• Recording project data in accordance with procedures;

• Creating content for project annual reports, newsletters, and articles to raise awareness of the project and its aims and outputs;

• Collating case studies

• Maintaining accurate and confidential records in line with GDPR; and

• Adhering to RLS safeguarding policies and procedures at all times

Person specification 

Please remember that you do not need to tick all the boxes. If you are interested in this work, please do not hesitate to apply!

Essential

• 1 year full time asylum/immigration casework (or equivalent - paid or on a voluntary basis);

• Be one of the following:

  • a OISC caseworker accredited to Level 2 ; or

  • a solicitor; or

  • a caseworker accredited to IAAS Senior caseworker level

• Experience of working with vulnerable client groups;

• Empathy with clients often living in precarious situations and in need of urgent assistance;

• A demonstrable track record of client-facing legal casework in the immigration sector in the UK;

• Strong commitment to high-standard client care; 

• Experience of working with interpreters and people whose first language is not English;

• Demonstrable knowledge of:

  • refugee family reunion procedures and applications in the UK; and

  • legal aid provision and ECF applications;

• Possession of a strong commitment to the promotion and protection of people’s rights throughout the migration process;

• Experience of and commitment to working in a collaborative way on legal cases;

• Good verbal and written communication skills in English;

• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines;

• Strong attention to detail, responsiveness, reliability and dependability;

• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills and an ability to deal professionally and collaboratively with both legal and not-for-profit stakeholders;

• Enjoys working with a small team in a flexible and fast-paced environment, as well as being an independent self-starter able to work with a high degree of autonomy; 

• Computer literacy; and

• Right to reside and work in the UK.

The successful candidate will also be required to obtain a satisfactory DBS certificate (RLS will cover the cost). Any final job offer will be subject to satisfactory references.

Desirable

• Lived experience of immigration;

• Experience of supervising casework;

• Experience supervising commercial lawyers in a pro bono project setting; and 

• Language skills.

We value equality and diversity in RLS and strive to build a workforce reflective of the communities we work with. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender characteristics, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. People with refugee or asylum-seeking backgrounds and people who have used the immigration system in the UK are experts by experience and are particularly encouraged to apply.

Family Support Manager

Location: HMP Belmarsh
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Part Time, 26.25 hours per week
Salary: £19,600 pro rota ( £ 17,500 Basic +£2,100 MS)

Closing date for applications: 27 May 2022

You will lead and deliver a service that ensures prisoners, their children, carers and other relatives have access to appropriate advice, guidance, learning opportunities, care, and support to better enable them to maintain or enhance positive relationships. You will oversee the delivery of family services in HMP Belmarsh with support from Family Support Workers, play staff, volunteers, and student placements. The service delivers play and children’s services; social enterprise refreshment/catering service; complex family casework and support for family group work interventions.

Please see the Job description attached to learn more about the role.

About You:

To be successful in this role you will be knowledgeable of the criminal justice system and have an awareness of the impact of custody on prisoners and on their children and families. Furthermore, you will have the ability to act as a role model to volunteers and an ambassador for Pact, always conducting yourself professionally, with high standards of personal integrity and accountability. You will also have experience of managing and coaching a team and experience of playing a lead role in delivering front-line services.

Organisation:

Pact is a highly respected independent charity, working across England and Wales to develop and deliver a range of innovative services. We provide practical and emotional support to prisoner’s children and families, to prisoners and those who have resettled back into the community. Our work is founded on core values, the first of which is a belief in the innate dignity of every human being, and our work focusses on human relationships, family and community. We are committed to achieving high standards of quality in all that we do.

What we offer:

Pact offers a range of benefits including a free advice, information and counselling service, contributory pension, corporate eye care scheme, cycle to work scheme, and generous holiday entitlement. You will have the opportunity to attend training events to further develop yourself as a professional training and intervention worker. You will undergo a thorough induction process and be supported by a friendly and enthusiastic team.

How to Apply:

If you feel that you meet the requirements of this exciting new role please complete an application form by clicking the `apply now` button.

Other information:

Pact is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all applications including those with a criminal conviction (appointment to post is subject to a risk assessment).

This post is subject to a 6-month probationary period, verification of identity and proven right to work in the UK, satisfactory references from previous employers covering a 3-year period, declaration of any unspent criminal convictions (and where appropriate a satisfactory risk assessment), Prison Vetting and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. Please note that being bankrupt or having County Court Judgements may affect your ability to be successfully vetted to work in a prison.

About us

Pact (the Prison Advice & Care Trust) is a pioneering national charity that provides caring and life changing services to men and women in prison, to people with convictions on release and in the community, and to their children and families.

Pact’s vision is of a society in which justice is understood as a process of restoration and healing, in which prisons are used sparingly and as places of learning and rehabilitation, and in which the innate dignity and worth of every human being is valued. We work for the common good of Society, taking a public health-based approach. We work at the intersection of criminal justice, child and family welfare, mental health, wellbeing provision and health & social care.

Our volunteers and staff can be found in courts, prisons, probation services, and in communities across England & Wales. We are a diverse, inclusive, modern, and collaborative charity. We build effective partnerships and sustainable solutions based on our well-established understanding of the systems in which we work, and on our historic values and ethos developed through our 120+ years of service delivery.

You may have experience of the following: Case Management, Rehabilitation, Family Services, Support Work, Criminal Justice System, Charity, Charities, Third Sector, Not for Profit, Social Work, Advocacy, Mentor, Mentoring, etc.

Ref: 131 789

Age UK Barnet is excited to be setting up a new team to coordinate and administer grants from the Household Support Fund. This is a one-year project aiming to support older people currently facing financial challenges. The project goal is to enable individuals living in the Borough of Barnet who are facing hardship, to benefit from  small grant/s towards goods or services which will ease the pressure of the current cost of living crisis. This service will also support beneficiaries where possible towards setting up longer term solutions.

The purpose of this post is to lead a small team of co-ordinators to deliver this Household Support Fund.  You will be involved from the outset in setting up systems and procedures to provide an effective service.

Successful candidates must have a proven record of managing and coordinating a team to ensure efficient processing of applications. You will also have an understanding of the needs and concerns of older people.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is the leading welfare charity. The Welfare Directorate is responsible for understanding and meeting the social welfare needs of those in the RAF Family. The Welfare Services Team provides help and support for serving and veteran RAF personnel and their eligible dependants who need assistance as a result of issues such as financial hardship, disability or ill-health. 

We are seeking two individuals with a compassionate and flexible approach to welfare delivery, who are highly organised, analytical and articulate communicators. You will provide advice and information via the RAF Benevolent Fund helpline, email, and web chat. This includes advising the RAF family on the financial and support services that The RAF Benevolent Fund provides and how to access this support. In addition, you will provide information on statutory and charitable support that might be available. 

You will also provide ongoing support to members of the RAF family during the application phase by liaising with our internal caseworkers, caseworking partners and other agencies. In order to ensure that the RAF family receives the welfare assistance that they need.

The successful candidate will be pro-active and will have experience of taking helpline calls and providing advice and information. They will be able to demonstrate an ability to relate to people of all ages, especially older beneficiaries, in a compassionate manner. This will also be backed up by a strong administrative and database use along with good Microsoft Office and keyboard skills suited to working in a paperless office.

The role will be based at our London Headquarters, currently with hybrid working between three days in the office and two days at home. Any successful candidate for this role will need to be DBS checked.

A detailed job profile is available below and on the Fund’s website. To apply, please send your CV together with a covering letter detailing why you believe you are suitable for this role and how you meet the person specification to Elizabeth Haigh, HR Advisor via email.

The closing date for applications is 5.00pm on Friday 03 June 2022. Please note interviews will take place: Thursday 16th and Friday 17th June 2022. Please note that due to the high number of applications expected, only candidates shortlisted for interview will be notified.

A copy of the Fund’s Candidate Privacy Notice can be found on our website. As an equal opportunities employer, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Fund.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a Registered Charity (No. 10810090).

About Hammersmith, Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow Mind

This is an exciting opportunity to join and support a fast growing and dedicated team supporting the wellbeing of communities across West London.

We’re here to make sure that everyone suffering with a mental health problem gets the help they need to recover. We listen, support recovery, fight stigma and work with partners to take action. We provide services for adults, children and young people, signposting for everyone and training and consultancy for employers.

Role purpose

The Ealing Advice Service (EAS) is a consortium of charities working in partnership to deliver advice and guidance to the residents of Ealing, in the absence of a Citizen’s Advice Service. Advice issues may include housing, benefits, council tax, debt, signposting etc.

The successful candidate will deliver support to enquirers and manage a caseload of individuals as agreed with the service manager. In addition to advice casework, the Advice Worker will also be expected to assist on reception in the main hub when required.

The successful candidate will be required to work alongside a team of Advice Workers employed by our partner charities with the consortium, as well as a team of volunteers.

The Advice Worker will be required to work within the Advice Quality Standard framework (AQS), adhere to Mind’s policies and procedures, as well as follow EAS procedures.

Due to the nature of the work, if successful, you will need to have an up to date DBS check completed prior to undertaking unsupervised client work.  

Place of work

The Advice Worker will work between, homeworking, The Lido Centre and the HFEH Mind office in Ealing.

You will be supporting people in the community, as well as meeting them in different office locations, so you will need to be able to travel across the borough of Ealing.

The start date for this role is 1st July 2022.

We are an equal opportunities employer; and are proud to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

Post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

Hours: 37.5 (part-time/job shares considered, please state preference) 

We are seeking to recruit an experienced adviser to run our twice weekly advice clinics at Kensington and Chelsea Foodbank in Notting Hill and take on generalist advice and specialist debt casework. 

You will have strong skills in delivering advice and casework in debt and as a generalist adviser. You will be joining a friendly, diverse and experienced team at Citizens Advice Kensington & Chelsea, and be part of a cohesive and vibrant voluntary sector in the borough. 

Closing date: 30th May 2022 23:59

SEND Case Worker, Islington SENDIAS Service

Based in Islington N7
18.5 hours per week (part-time)

Grade 2 (lower) Point 11-15: £24,018 - £26,681 FTE (£12,009.00 - £13,340.50 per annum), inclusive of Inner London Weighting

2 x Permanent Contracts

At Family Action we transform lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation. We have been building stronger families since 1869 and today we work with more than 60,000 families in over 150 community based services, as well as supporting thousands more through national programmes and grants.

We are looking for a Case Worker to provide impartial and accessible advice and support in a full range of matters relating to SEND law and processes.  The successful post holder will provide a response to intial enquiries coming into the service, support for families through phonecalls, emails and face-to-face meetings and casework. You will undertake training in order to offer casework support to families in relation to the Education and Healthcare Plan (process), including providing advice around resolving disagreements, mediation and SEND appeals.                                                 

We are looking to recruit a motivated and experienced case worker to join our new SENDIASS team in Islington. You will be a confident and skilled practitioner in providing direct work with children, young people and families with special educational needs.

You will have a demonstrated ability to work on your own initiative and have excellent verbal and written communication skills. You will be confident in your ability to provide SEND casework support for families through phone calls, emails and face to face meetings.

This is an opportunity for the right person to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people with additional needs and their families by providing them with advice, support and information to help them to navigate the SEND process and achieve positive outcomes.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQIA+ candidates and candidates with disabilities because we are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action. We know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants and will reimburse your travel cost if you attend an interview.

What will we offer you?

We’ll offer you a generous pension scheme and leave entitlements, eye care vouchers, a cycle to work scheme and other great benefits. All roles in Family Action are open to a discussion about possible flexible working options, subject to business needs, and all new starters will have the right to make a flexible working request from day one of employment. We have an excellent wellbeing offer and we will invest in your professional development with on-going quality training and career development opportunities. You’ll join an established, supportive and high-performing service and have the opportunity to thrive in an innovative organisation that values your opinion, encourages learning and has the needs of children and families at its core.

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect. If you share these values and behaviours and have the necessary skills then we look forward to hearing from you.  

For an application pack and further information please visit our current vacancies page.
 

We are unable to accept CVs alone, please complete an application form and send this to the designated inbox detailed on the advert document.

Closing date:              Thursday 26th May 2022 at 09:00am
Interview date:           TBC

Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service which we consider acceptable.

ID: 361

Advert Deadline Extended – if you have already submitted an application you are not required to re-apply.

Each year Age UK East London helps 9500 older east Londoners living in the country’s top pensioner poverty hotspots. Many are aged 70+, living alone in poverty and poor health. Most people have one or more long-term conditions, for example diabetes, COPD, or heart disease. They often struggle to access services and have no family to support.  They are struggling to make ends meet and watching every penny. With millions more individuals and families soon to be tipped over into poverty by the rising cost of living we are here to help mitigate the worst impact and ensure that people don’t have to choose between heating and eating.

We deliver advice across the three London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Newham. Each year 2,100 clients receive detailed casework. Around 1,400 are experiencing significant life events, which are often interlinked.

During the year to 31st March 2022, we helped older people improve their financial position by £2.8million. Overall, 96.5% of our clients felt they were treated with respect by staff and given clear and useful information.  93% felt the support they received allowed them to stay as independent as possible.

Our I&A Service has grown to meet the ever-increasing needs to our communities and we aim to continue to develop our capacity and accessibility whilst maintaining the highest quality standards and achieving maximum outcomes for our customers.  To support the next phase of growth, we are recruiting a Senior Advisor to join our team to support the development and delivery of an expert, preventative and well-being focussed Information and Advice Service delivered across multiple channels.

JOB PURPOSE

• To support the Head of Advice, Advocacy and Integration to develop, deliver and sustain trusted independent advice services to AQS standard.
• To supervise and support a team of advisors and volunteers across three East London boroughs to maintain excellent case records and guarantee quality of advice.
• Provide information and advice to Adults and their carers and their carers to maximise their income,  promote their wellbeing  and independence.
• To support the development and implementation of an advice service that is accessible remotely, face to face, in multiple settings and use technology to reach as many local people as possible.
• Support integration of services, partnership development and multi-disciplinary working in our communities.

KEY TASKS

Supervisory Duties

• To complete file reviews and case checking procedures in line with the current Quality Standards.
• To conduct supervision and appraisal of the information and advice team.
• Supervise the work load of the advice team, allocating cases, monitoring case progress to ensure timely completion of referrals.
• Represent AUKEL at network and partnership meetings ensuring that AUKEL Information and Advice service is at the forefront of service delivery in the borough.
• Conducting and recording regular team meetings.

Provision of Advice

• To carry out benefit checks, benefit applications and form filling services to older people and their carers.
• Escalate cases, raise complaints and challenge decisions made about our clients which are unlawful or erroneous. 
• Provide accurate and up to date advice on housing, Community Care and Consumer Rights.

Reporting and monitoring

•  Supervise and Monitor our client database to ensure the information we hold is accurate and up to date.
• Support the Head of Advice, Advocacy and Integration to compile and submit regular evaluation and monitoring reports to our funders making sure relevant information is available and accurate.
• Generate outcomes data and gather customer satisfaction surveys.

General

• To undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder under the direction of the Head of Advice, Advocacy and Integration as may be required from time to time for the smooth running of Age UK East London.
• Represent AUKEL at network and partnership meetings ensuring that AUKEL Information and Advice service is at the forefront of service delivery in the borough.
• Promote the Information and advice Service and develop communication  plans.
• Attend regular Team Meetings and Supervision to ensure personal development and the continuous improvement of the Information and Advice Service.
• To undertake all duties in line with Age UK East London policies and procedures (e.g. Health & Safety, Complaints, Confidentiality, Equal Opportunities).

FUNCTIONAL LINKS

• The post holder will be line managed by the Head of Advice, Advocacy and Integration.
• Supervisory responsibility for 4 advisors and sundry volunteers.
• Close working with GP’s, Outreach Venues, Hospital Ward Staff, Local Authorities and other AUKEL Services.
• Close working with the Advice Provider Networks in East London.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Experience

• Minimum of 18 months supervisory experience in a Quality Mark holding advice service.
• Experience of providing advice services that support carers and older people enabling their independence by providing up to date knowledge of services available to them.
• Demonstrable experience in negotiating Welfare Benefit changes and duties to carers in accordance relevant legislation.
• Holds NVQ Level 4 Advice & Guidance, or equivalent, qualification.
• Experience of people management.

Knowledge and understanding

• Knowledge of Issues that affect adults, older adults and their carers.
• Understanding of confidentiality policy and practice.
• Understanding of equality and diversity in practice.
• Understanding and commitment to empowering service users.
• Understanding of relevant legislation, areas of law, tribunal system and local authority acts.
• Knowledge of wider Adult Social care sector, integrated commissioning and NHS 10 Year Plan.

Skills/Attributes

• Commitment to working creatively within a team.
• An open minded and questioning approach.
• Excellent communication, numeracy and literacy skills.
• Good planning and organisational skills.
• Demonstrable leadership qualities.

Additional requirements

• This post requires IT skills in Windows and ability to use Microsoft word and excel;
• This post may require occasional evening and weekend work. 
• As Age UK East London works with children and vulnerable adults the post holder will be required to have a satisfactory enhanced DBS certificate. A criminal record will not necessarily, but may be, a bar to obtaining a position with the organisation.

PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION PACK TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE ROLE AND THE BENEFITS OFFERED BY AGE UK EAST LONDON.