LOCATION: Based out of our Training Centre in Great Horwood, near Milton Keynes with responsibility for puppies placed with socialisers in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire (with possible travel outside these areas from time to time)
JOB TYPE: Full time permanent, with occasional evening and weekends required
Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.
We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving alert assistance dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.
We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small but fast-growing charity that is a world leader in its specialist innovative field.
The Job
The welfare of our dogs is very important to us. We have a no kennel policy and all our dogs live in the homes of volunteer puppy socialisers for about the first 20 months. We are committed to providing quality training and support for all our dogs, and the volunteers who look after them.
We are looking for someone with the skills, experience and passion to join our team of trainers responsible for organising and monitoring the progress of our puppies and young dogs to ensure they receive the highest standard of socialisation and early training, thereby maximising their chances of becoming a Medical Detection Dog.
Reports to: Socialising Training Coordinator
Responsibilities
Training and Development of Puppies
· Take responsibility for a cohort of puppies allocated to socialisers living in your geographical area.
· Provide training that meets the charity’s quality standards and in accordance with timescales and targets.
· To deliver effective training by holding puppy classes, 121’s and home visits with socialisers in your geographical area.
· To prepare the puppy to be a Medical Alert Assistance Dog.
· Regularly monitor progress of the puppies in your area and provide detailed, evidenced feedback to the senior team within Dog Supply and training.
· Support and assist with the potential matches for a particular assistance dog partnership and in consultation with the Socialising Trainer Coordinator, provide any client specific training needed prior to the match.
Socialiser Support
· Be the first point of contact for the socialisers in your area, which will include guidance and instruction to socialisers on handling, behaviour and training of the dogs under your supervision.
· Provide general health care advice within your core working hours.
· To support when required on dog emergencies that arise out of your core hours.
Socialiser Recruitment
· Assist in the recruitment of new volunteer socialisers.
· Carry out home checks to assess prospective new socialisers.
Other
· Update the Harlequin CRM database in a timely fashion to ensure accurate and up to date training, veterinary and health records.
· Support the charity’s fundraising, communications and volunteering teams as required, specifically in relation to your area.
· From time to time you may be required to have a dog live with you for additional training for a set period.
· Share best practice with colleagues across the charity.
Other tasks or ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager required to ensure the successful running of the charity.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
· Ability to demonstrate high quality judgement and a proven track record in relation to the following:
• Dog training matters including the analysis of temperaments, appropriate training methods and requirements necessary to maintain public confidence in assistance dogs.
• Solutions to training and behavioural problems.
• Socialiser training including the ability to assess each person’s preferred learning style and adapt as appropriate your training approach, the specific programmes to be followed,
• Welfare and safety and appropriate time for referral to others.
• Appropriate support to apprentices
• Dealings with other staff, clients and members of the public
· Strong and clear teaching and instructing skills.
· Ability to plan work, be organised and ensure that time is utilised effectively for yourself, colleagues and socialisers.
· Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of people internally and externally. This will include clients and their families, fosterers, other professional service providers, members of the public, the media, managers and other colleagues.
· High level of IT literacy and report writing skills including experience
· of using Microsoft based programs such as Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Power Point.
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE
Practical knowledge in the following areas:
· Experience of working with Assistance Dogs and ADI regulations
· Basic theory of practical dog training.
· Law in relation to dogs.
· Knowledge of medical conditions relevant to puppies between 8 weeks and 2 years of age.
· Dog and human psychology.
· Health and safety implications of dog and socialiser handling.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
You should be supportive of the charitable aims of Medical Detection Dogs and capable of working as part of a team, as well as able to motivate yourself.
You should be adaptable and positively embrace change by not only being flexible towards the ideas of others but also putting forward ideas to colleagues. This will involve creativity in problem solving and making appropriate responses to new ideas and unexpected situations.
Values & Behaviours
There are a few key values that we believe are important in the workplace:
· Respect
· Cooperation
· Honesty
· Fairness
Based on the values listed above, we encourage the behaviours below in the charity:
· Respectful communication
· Cooperating with others
· Honesty in all interactions
· Fairness in decision making
Benefits
· Sick Pay
· Health Cover
· 26 days holiday, increasing with service
· 5% Employer Pension Contribution
· Free On-site parking
Finally, the successful candidate will also be expected to:
- Hold a full UK Driving Licence
- Provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK.
- Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We’re looking for a Housing & Income Officer to join our Landlord Services team based locally at our services in Bracknell, Windsor and Maidenhead.
£32,000.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.
Want to feel in control of your career? You’ll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren’t token gestures - we’ve thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Look Ahead manages a number of young people services in Bracknell and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Look Ahead is looking for a highly motivated and committed Housing & Income Officer for an initial 6-month placement to work alongside our support workers and deliver a good quality intensive housing management service to our customers.
The successful applicant will be responsible for all aspects of housing management within the service. This will include rent arrears management, occupancy agreement management, ASB management, void management and some compliance and repair reporting responsibilities. This is not an exclusive list.
You will be based at our local offices in Bracknell, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. You will have significant daily contact with our customers and staff.
The successful candidate needs to be able to meet challenging targets for arrears and voids, have excellent problem-solving skills and be prepared to “go the extra mile”.
The role is based on site at two of our young people's schemes- visiting customers in their homes and having a presence in the community. This role covers Bracknell Forest in Berkshire, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead region.
This role is a Fixed Term Contract, lasting 6-9 months.
This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.
What you’ll do:
• Sign up new customers to the appropriate occupancy agreement and ensure housing benefit claims submitted and maintained correctly.
• Be responsible for monitoring and updating all relevant information on Look Ahead`s housing management database including inputting all new customers and ending occupancy agreements in a timely way.
• Proactively monitor rent accounts and take timely and effective action to deal with increasing rent and service charge arrears.
• Ensure all customers are supported to have the most appropriate payment method (rent payment cards, direct debit etc.) for their individual circumstances to ensure easy payment of their rent and/or arrears.
• Lead on making back-dated claims for housing benefit and appealing over-payment deductions.
• Ensure that all customers are kept informed of their rent account status regularly and that action plans are agreed with customers to address any arrears or other rent related issues promptly.
• Issuing arrears warning letters, monitor payment agreements and escalate arrears enforcement action.
• Serve accurate notices for possession, complete court paperwork and represent Look Ahead in court cases in the county court.
• Requesting rent adjustments and repayment of housing benefit over-payments
• Ensure that there are effective and on-going liaison processes in place with key agencies such as the housing benefit service, Department of Work and Pensions and local police.
• Develop and promote financial inclusion initiatives in the service such as advertising credit unions and local debt management advice services.
• Act as the lead role for void management in services – ensure void inspection forms are completed, void reporting systems are maintained and that there is effective liaison with the organisation’s void team and contractors. Ensure that void turnaround times are in line with Key Performance Indicators and post inspections are completed and reported.
• Support local staff to ensure occupancy levels at the service are as high as possible and escalate issues where necessary.
• Lead on ASB enforcement across the portfolio ensuring early intervention techniques are utilised. Ensure timely and appropriate actions is taken against perpetrators including issuing warnings and serving notices where appropriate.
• Maintaining systems and spreadsheets associated with all housing management functions and producing reports and data where requested.
• Act as the lead role for reporting repairs in the service both in communal areas (internal and external areas) as well as in customer rooms. Ensure all works are post inspected and reported. Liaise with contractors to ensure access is granted.
• Act as the lead officer in completing all required compliance tasks within the service including call point and fire alarm checks, fire door checks, fire evacuation drills, health and safety inspections, carrying out living standard checks. This list is not exhaustive.
• Make sure all compliance records are maintained to a good standard and that KPIs are being met. Liaise with the scheme manager regarding underperformance against compliance targets.
• Participate in team meetings, 1:1 meetings with the manager and undertake any training required for the post.
• Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Team Leader/Manager
• Adhere to all the policies and procedures of Look Ahead Care & Support, those specific to the project including any statutory requirements.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement.
• Approachable and open behaviour. Can work independently and as part of a team.
• Prefers working as part of a group or team.
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
• Exercises decisions and discretion in a non-judgmental manner.
• Is assertive and will challenge others.
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised.
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.
• Demonstrates significant confidence and high levels of self-esteem.
• Is respectful, articulate, and sensitive in style of communication.
• Is passionate and enthusiastic about his/her career and job experiences.
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can-do attitude.
• Committed and passionate about improving the life chances of vulnerable customers.
• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour.
What you’ll bring:
Essential:
- Experience of monitoring rent accounts and managing rent arrears
- Experience of using computerised rent systems to monitor arrears and record information.
- Ability to track and manage void properties and ASB cases.
- Knowledge of managing ASB and lettings and be able to explain good practice in this area.
- Extensive knowledge of welfare benefits, especially housing benefit.
- Experience of liaising with housing benefit departments, the DWP and other external agencies.
- Confidence in interpreting rent accounts and using IT packages to run and create reports, identify priorities, and update records.
Desirable:
- 1-2 years’ experience in housing management.
About us:
Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.