Job Opportunity for a Part-time Appointments Administrator

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our award winning team as a part-time Appointments Administrator. This will be based at our office in Stockport town centre.

We are looking for someone with an excellent telephone manner and interpersonal skills, a flexible approach, and good IT skills.  More important is a can-do attitude and a commitment to making the appointments service for clients the best there is.

We prefer that you have an understanding of the voluntary sector through voluntary or paid work, but this is not essential as we will provide thorough training and induction.

Beacon Counselling is a registered charity and exists to improve the lives of people experiencing mental and emotional distress. To achieve this Beacon provides counselling across the borough of Stockport and beyond.

Beacon Counselling is committed to safeguarding all individuals accessing our service, as a member of the BACP we are duty bound to adhere to safeguarding standards. This forms a crucial element of our work and all staff will receive guidance on the ways it will affect them in their role.

Outreach Worker – Housing First Project

Hours

37.5 hrs

Monday-Thursday 8.30-4.30 however some unsocial hours and weekend work will be required. This will typically involve a regular 5am-1pm Friday or a late finish no more than once a week. Bank Holidays may be worked on a rota basis for which time in lieu may be taken.

Annual Leave

25 days plus 8 Bank Holidays

Salary

£20478 pa

Probationary

Period

6 months

Reporting To

Housing First Team Leader

Conditions of Employment

As contained in NOAH Enterprise’ s Statement of Terms and Conditions of Employment and Staff Handbook

Background

NOAH Enterprise has been delivering services to vulnerable people throughout Bedfordshire since 1987 and has established and embedded the single trusted adult model. This means that each service user can begin to trust one person as they get to know them, and this trust allows recommendations and support options to be taken up.

You will be committed, compassionate, resilient, caring, have common sense and be empathetic to the needs of those among the most deprived. You will work with people who may be chaotic, may have mental health and addiction issues but need your help and support.

Throughout your work you will have considerable autonomy and significant periods of time lone working, enabling you to make a personal difference to people’s lives. You will have excellent time-management, prioritisation, motivating, organisational, inter-personal, and administrative skills. You will be competent in IT and communication, have the ability to build relationships with people from many nationalities and organisations and a commitment to help those in need. You will be persistent and undaunted in the face of seeming adversity.

Job Purpose

• You will provide on a 1-1 basis, support for the living and lifestyle needs of a group of 8 carefully selected homeless people with complex needs who have been allocated independent accommodation within Luton on the Housing First Pilot.
• To provide and coordinate, within daytime hours and with crisis telephone advice out of hours, specialist welfare service support where needed.
• To provide lifestyle and education to clients who have experienced repetitive homelessness to actively reduce the risks of eviction and abandonment. Promote independence and understanding of primary health service access to reduce the use of emergency services.
• To work with NOAH management to coordinate delivery of grant funds allocated for the project to transform flats into homes and to provide for the personalisation needs that will help people feel a sense of connection and safety.
• To innovate and work creatively to source additional material, items and technical expertise from the wider community in Luton such as other grants, corporate donors and corporate social responsibility team building days in order to help clients transform their flat into a home.
• The Housing First Service aims include:

• Supporting people who are homeless with multiple and complex needs to access suitable accommodation.
• Developing new approaches to working with people with multiple and complex needs.
• Supporting service users to improve their health and wellbeing.
• Supporting service users to engage with services to meet their health and social care needs that are non-emergency.
• Supporting service users to build resilience, develop their social capital within the local community and support recovery.
• Supporting service users to develop independent living skills to live more independently in the community and sustain their accommodation.

• Reducing the use of acute emergency services, such as A&E, ambulance call-outs and fire and rescue service.
• Reducing repeat homelessness.
• Contributing to the reduction in rough sleeping.
• Contributing to the reduction in the use of temporary accommodation

Main Duties

• To promote and provide clear information about the Housing First Project to other organisations and to work in close partnership across different agencies to share information to reduce rough sleeping in Luton.
• To deliver some on street outreach work in Luton to meet prospective candidates and assess their suitability for the project.
• To assist with receiving and managing new referrals onto the project both from external and internal sources and to maintain communication with the referrer.
• To attend the Housing First Operations Group and Caseload group to support the processes of assessing eligibility, prioritisation and allocation.
• To work with the new tenant to prepare them for embarking on an independent tenancy, communicating their responsibilities whilst also providing reassurance and advice.
• To support the new tenant to work with the housing officer to develop between them a strong and positive relationship which can withstand future tensions.
• To support the new tenant with all administration around setting up and equipping their new home incorporating their personal choices where possible.
• To support the new tenant with completing the 2 support plans on inform within week one and then to renew these at scheduled intervals every 12 weeks.
• To assist the clients to access primary health care services to help stabilise any health and wellbeing concerns or addictions if they are interested in this support.
• Build trust and relationships at a pace suitable to them, learn about their lives, their background and their ongoing needs. Where appropriate offer expertise and advice to tackle some of the barriers in their lives such as housing, benefits, employment, relationships and health.
• Use motivational interviewing techniques to support people to explore their own lifestyles and choices and to reflect on whether they are interested in recovery.
• To provide the clients with opportunities and choice to receive free support in decorating their homes with the assistance of corporate volunteering teams.
• To maintain keywork contact in person or by phone at least every other day with every client on their caseload and deliver a personalised approach allowing the client choice in the way that they engage with NOAH.
• To use the inform system to record every support intervention which is delivered.
• To provide opportunities and facilitate visits to places to encourage clients to live their own lives and to express their personalities and individuality and reduce social isolation.
• On an ongoing basis to help to manage their personal safety including undertaking persistent, assertive outreach such as on-street visits at any stage where eviction or abandonment seems to be approaching in order to give the client every opportunity to retain their home.
• To work with the local communities and neighbours to promote positive communication and understanding in order to reduce ASB and maintain property infrastructure.
• Monitor improvements and regressions and support the NOAH management in delivering comprehensive monthly reports to update commissioners of the current situations, trends, challenges and success that the project has witnessed.
• To support the NOAH management to ensure excellent quality and robust evidence is available to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Housing First Pilot. Working alongside the University of Bedfordshire team to audit this work and promote continuation of the project through a robust exit strategy which will ensure continuity of funding and the opportunity for project expansion.
• Submit written reports as required

General Duties/

Requirements

• Act as a NOAH Enterprise representative always and in a manner befitting a representative of the organisation.
• To work as part of the wider NOAH welfare team which includes supporting the work of the welfare centre as well as the on-street outreach workers.
• Identify opportunities to improve the level of service NOAH offers to service users.
• Take a responsible approach to your personal development – manage and update own skills base to ensure quality service delivery and engage fully with all training offered.
• As part of the NOAH welfare staff team you will be required to be part of an on-call rota and take occasional phone calls from service users requiring out of hours advice.

Administration

• All duties to be carried out in accordance with the policies and procedures of NOAH Enterprise
• Attend any meetings, seminars, training sessions as requested both on and off NOAH Enterprise premises
• Supporting the wider welfare centre team with Bank holiday and Christmas openings by contributing to this rota.
• Act as a NOAH Enterprise ambassador always representing the organisation in a manner befitting the charity
• The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other duties as specified by the Chief Executive or Head of Welfare Services. Permanent changes to the job description will only be made in negotiation with the post holder.

Christian Ethos

The work of NOAH Enterprise is founded upon a Christian ethos and it is expected that the post holder will respect this ethos

The London Survivors Gateway is an innovative project that is the first of its kind in London. It is a partnership of specialist sexual violence services managed by Women and Girls Network (WGN) comprising the four Rape Crisis Centres, Galop, Survivors UK and The Havens, providing a unique single point of access into specialist sexual violence services. The service is run by Navigators who seek to find specialist support available for survivors.

Navigators support clients to access bespoke assistance around their needs after having experienced sexual violence including support with advocacy, counselling, drugs and alcohol support, housing, etc. The Gateway works with all survivors aged 13 and up. The Navigator is a fast-paced role delivering short-term intensive casework to survivors, and advocating on their behalf with statutory and non-statutory services.

Navigators are at the centre of the Gateway and receive an ongoing package of specialist training and clinical supervision.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced practitioner to work in an innovative new service which improves responses, access and support for survivors of sexual violence in London. Navigators work from a person-centred, trauma-informed and survivor-led, integrated approach ensuring individualised care pathways that are rooted in WGN’s intersectional, feminist model of empowerment and best practice.

The successful candidates will have specialist knowledge in sexual violence as well as frontline experience supporting survivors. She will have exceptional communication skills, strong IT skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced, telephone-focused role. If you have these skills, and want to join this unique and innovative project, we would love to hear from you.

This post is based in West London (and includes travel across London).

These roles are funded by MOPAC and the Home Office.

WGN’s employee benefits include: 3% pension contribution, generous annual leave entitlement and an Employee Assistance Scheme.

Interviews to be held on Friday 20th December 2019.

These posts are subject to satisfactory references and Enhanced DBS checks.

WGN is an equal opportunities employer. The above post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1

Hostel Support Worker
Hours: Full time - 40 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Bath
Salary: £18,200.00 per annum
Closing Date: Tuesday 20th November 2019 (12 noon)

If you want a rewarding job in which no two days are the same, then come and join us! We are a fun dynamic team who strive to provide a quality person centred service to some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Manvers Street is a busy direct access homeless hostel offering crisis accommodation and support to rough sleepers in Central Bath.

We are recruiting for a permanent full-time member of staff to join our fantastic team. We deliver 24-hour support 365 days a year to help former rough sleepers out of homelessness.

The role requires empathy and understanding as well as the ability to maintain clear boundaries and provide a safe environment. Some of our staff have lived experience, others have social care work experience, whilst some have just graduated from Uni and want to develop new skills. But what all the team members have in common is a strong value base and a natural affinity for people, who often have a range of complex needs.

With an ability to work on your own initiative as well as being part of a team who are committed to client involvement, you will be innovative and creative in your approach to meeting client need. A 9-5 job is not what you are looking for, because you understand that supporting vulnerable people is a 24/7 responsibility. These roles based in Bath include a range of shifts.

If you want to work for an organisation that genuinely helps others and has real opportunities for advancement. If you are up for a new challenge or want to develop your existing skills, then we would love to hear from you.

Benefits:

• Cash health care plan
• Up to 26 days annual leave (depending on length of service)
• Employer pension contribution (up to 6% of your gross salary)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff Award Scheme
• 20% Discount at Julian House Shops. 

Julian House has a supportive culture, providing regular supervision and line management alongside externally facilitated reflective practice which enables staff to look after their own health and well-being whilst giving their best in their roles.

Richmond Borough Mind is a vibrant local charity that has been supporting and providing services for adults affected by mental health problems and their carers for over 60 years. 

Funding has recently been secured to provide two Crisis Cafes, to be delivered across the boroughs of Richmond and Kingston.

Crisis Cafés provide out-of-hours support to those suffering from mental health problems, aiming to prevent escalation, reduce isolation, increase independence and self-management and improve mental health and wellbeing.

This is an exciting role for someone to develop and shape a new service to achieve the above aims. We are looking for two individuals to lead on this service. Successful candidates will be highly motivated managers, with knowledge and experience of supporting vulnerable adults and using the recovery approach in service provision.

The successful applicants will have clear project management skills to support our flexible approach to delivering crisis interventions moving forwards.  You will also be a motivating and inspirational leader, and be skilled at encouraging and supporting your team of staff and volunteers to deliver effective person centred support for our clients.  You will be enthusiastic and self-motivated, and must be able to work on your own initiative. 

You will be required to work across both Crisis Café locations, in a shift pattern over evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays.

Richmond Borough Mind values diversity and difference.  We welcome applicants from all sections of the community, particularly individuals with lived experience of mental health problems.

Successful candidates will be required to complete an enhanced DBS.

The closing date for applications is 9am Wednesday 20th November 2019. 

Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place the week commencing 25th November 2019.

Cold Weather Shelter Supervisor: Two Posts

CARIS Islington

Islington, London, Greater London

Job description

Do you have the passion, skills, enthusiasm, commitment and energy for helping homeless people? Do you have the willingness and ability to work with a wide range of churches, and in partnership with other faiths and community organisations? CARIS has run a Winter Night Shelter based in churches in Islington for the last 22 years and we now need up to two Cold Weather Shelter Supervisors to deliver our Winter Shelter, which will run in January, February and March in 2020. Working days and hours can be agreed between candidates, but we propose one post holder working 22 hours per week, on Monday - Friday and the other working 17 hour per week on Friday - Monday.

The successful candidates must be enthusiastic, hard-working patient and committed to helping the homeless.  You will possess the skills to understand and motivate our homeless guests and volunteers from a wide range of churches. You must be able to handle pressure and remain calm always treating our homeless guests and volunteers with the utmost respect in every situation.

Please send your CV and a supporting statement of a maximum of 2 pages explaining how you fit the specification for this position (please see the person specification and summary job description attached). Please also provide two references.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Covers the CWS for the evening running of each shelter for the days contracted, as well as attending 2 briefing/planning meetings between the 3 CWS staff on Mondays and Fridays.  
2. Each evening shift involves working with individual churches who host the CWS guests, briefing the church volunteers about the guests they will be hosting that evening, and supporting them in running their shifts that evening.
3. Apply ongoing Risk Assessment of each guest during their stay at the shelter, and as set out in the Risk Assessment Policy for the CWS.
4. Maintain clear, up to date and accurate written/electronic of all guests admitted to the shelter including those that are not accepted into the shelter, that includes reasons for non-admission as well as those guests that are.
5. Inducting guests in to the shelter, outlining the rules and agreements between the charity and guests, providing support and guidance where possible and liaising with guests’ case/social workers (where they have them).
6. Provide daily written/electronic notes that are sent to the CWS Manager.
7. Contribute to the CWS Manager’s reports to the Trustees. Be willing to attend Trustees meetings if required in the place of, or alongside the CWS Manager.
8. Work with the other CWS Coordinator and the CWS Manager to organise coverage of the Shelter mobile phone (provided by CARIS), the registration Log Book, and supporting each church to ensure the volunteer pool at each venue is sufficient to cover the shifts for the evening, overnight and morning shifts.

This list is not exhaustive; other duties may be required of the manager during the shelter season, and there is the expectation of flexibility by the post-holder to accommodate these.

Person Specification

• Experience of volunteering/working in the voluntary sector, particularly in the field of homelessness / marginalised social groups and an understanding of the needs of marginalized people
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team
• Ability to plan, manage and prioritise a complex workload.
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Proven administrative skills and computer literacy
• Well developed time management skills
• Ability to take initiative, work unsupervised and to meet deadlines and be accountable for actions.

Pay and hours

Precise working arrangements for these roles can be agreed between the successful candidates, however, we envisage one post holder working 22 hours per week, covering the CWS on Monday - Thursday evenings (around 4pm to 9pm), as well as team/ handover meetings on Monday and Friday afternoons; and the other post holder working 17 hours per week, covering the CWS on Friday - Sunday evenings (around 4pm to 9pm), as well team/ handover meetings on Monday and Friday afternoons. The successful candidates will also need to undergo a successful DBS check for this post.

Pay will be £11.02 per hour.

The roles are available on a fixed term basis from December 1st 2019 until 30th April 2020. 

Groundswell is seeking an experienced professional, with a track record of supporting people around welfare benefits, to join our Progression Team in the role of Progression Advisor. This is an opportunity to support our volunteers, who have experience of homelessness, to overcome issues around welfare benefits, so that they can progress in their volunteer roles and build healthy and sustainable lives. You will be playing a crucial role in a growing and dynamic charity which is committed inclusive solutions to tackling homelessness.

As Progression Advisor you will provide support; information, advice and guidance to our volunteers. Advising Peers on their entitlement to Welfare Benefits, including benefit calculations and support and advice on disability benefits.  You will also provide practical support working with people to complete relevant paperwork for applying/continuing receiving benefits. This also includes contacting Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Health and Advisory Team by telephone, email and letter and accompanying Peers, and if necessary, advocating on their behalf at Welfare Benefit Assessments and meetings

You will be managed and supported by our experienced Progression Manager. You will also be offered independent clinical supervision and you will be based in our office in Brixton.

Application

To make an application, please submit your CV along with a cover letter in Word format, which explains:

• how you meet each of the areas outlined in the Person Specification (included in the Job Pack  attached)   and
• why you are interested in doing this job.

To shortlist for interview, we score people based on whether they have the skills outlined in the person specification and the experience relevant to the role they are applying for.  Please include enough details in your covering letter for us to be able to do this.

We require that you submit your Covering Letter and CV in Word as we will be conducting a blind recruitment process which means that all names and identifying information will be removed from your application before being presented to the selection panel.

The deadline is 10am Friday 29th November 2019. 

Interviews will be held on Monday 9th December 2019 If you have not been notified by this date, then please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. 

This is an exciting opportunity to lead our Psychotherapy and Counselling Service, which has been providing long term counselling interventions to local residents since 1988.  Our service offers a range of therapies which aim to provide individuals with the support and opportunity to work through their difficulties in depth with a professional therapist.  The service is self-funded, and we offer sliding scale rates to make sure that we are accessible to all.

We are looking for a skilled and qualified counselling professional, registered with UKCP or BACP and with experience of working with complex cases, to coordinate and develop our Psychotherapy & Counselling Service.  You will provide leadership and direction to the team and ensure that we are delivery quality support throughout.

As well as having an empathy with the core values of RBMind, the successful applicant will have excellent project management skills and extensive experience of working in counselling support services. We are looking for a confident and versatile communicator with good relationship-building skills, and the ability to provide empathy and guided support to staff, volunteer counsellors and clients.

Richmond Borough Mind is a locally rooted, dynamic charity that has been supporting and providing mental health services to users and carers locally for over 50 years.  We offer competitive benefits to employees, including 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus annual increments, and a pension offering 4-5% matched employer contribution.

Richmond Borough Mind values diversity and difference.  We welcome applicants from all sections of the community, particularly individuals with lived experience of mental health problems.

Salary: £29,000 per annum (pro rata), 22.5 hours per week (evening work is a condition of this post)

The closing date for applications is 9am Wed 27th November 2019. 

Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place Fri 6th December 2019.

Coin Street Nursery Housekeeper 

Do you like a busy work place with plenty of staff and children to interact with, and are you comfortable in a nursery setting?

We are looking for a proactive and experienced Housekeeper to work: 

Hours: 10am-2pm

Days: Monday to Friday

Location: SE1 9NH

You will carry out the day-to-day housekeeping duties across the nursery including:

• Laundry
• Cleaning
• Sanitising
• Tidying
• Kitchen support

Our Family and Children’s Centre offers families and children high quality and affordable programmes, providing integrated childcare and early years’ education. Whether it is our 84-place nursery, facilitated play sessions, parenting courses, peer support groups, family exercise, counselling or one to one support for parents and carers we are here to help children get the best start they can in life.

We offer: 

• 27 Day annual leave plus bank holiday
• 9% non contributory pension (You do not have to pay anything)
• Free gym membership and much much more

Please note that a DBS check is required for this post and it will be subject to satisfactory disclosures and reference check.

To apply please complete the supporting questions form attaching a copy of your up to date CV.

More infomation can be found on the Coin Street website.

Please note we reserve the right to close the application process early if we receive enough applications, so we encourage you to apply early.

Coin Street Community Builders strives to be an equal opportunities organisation and all staff are expected to share this commitment.

Our values are:

• Creative: By looking for solutions rather than problems I will find better ways of doing things
• Collaborative: By respecting the views of others we will learn, grow and achieve more together
• Committed: I do what I say I am going to do and do the best job I can.

The 3 C’s are lived by all staff at CSCB. You will be expected to demonstrate your understanding of the behaviours associated with these values during the recruitment process

New opportunity not to be missed! Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, is looking for a Engagement Officer to join our Engagement team based in Lambeth. In return, you will receive a competitive salary plus excellent benefits.

Centrepoint is the UK’s leading charity for homeless young people 16 – 25 years old that aims to give each person we support a future and we want to end youth homelessness.  It’s our people that make this happen and you can play a part in our vision.  So if you consider yourself to be passionate, dynamic and adaptable, then this could be the job for you.

At Centrepoint we’ve recently expanding our highly successful Engagement programmes and now use a variety of activities; Sport, Arts & Culture, Food and Technology to engage and inspire our young people. We’re well established in London and this position, reporting to the Senior Engagement Manager, will lead on the successful deployment of the Engagement outreach strategy and effectively communicating our offer to staff ensuring we are engaging, inspiring and motivating Young People to positively transform their lives.

What you’ll be doing…

• Lead on the successful development and delivery of Centrepoint’s Engagement Team outreach strategy.
• Work with Senior Engagement Officers to build a London-wide network of internal advocates and external community services and partners interested in supporting service-users in to our activities and programmes.
• Responsible for being main point of contact for any internal service and external partner and building strong relationships with key staff by regularly communicating and promoting our full Engagement offer.
• Be proactive when developing varied network of internal and external champions to help with the communication and promotion of all Engagement activities
• Support Engagement Manager and Senior Engagement Officers in developing and maintaining key strategic relationships with large organisations within the sector.
• Support Senior Engagement Officers in delivering taster engagement session as part of the ‘active recruitment’ weeks during each quarterly cohort.

What we’d be looking for from you…

• Demonstrable experience of engaging socially-excluded adults and young people.
• Qualification in adult education training or sport and/or Art related qualification
• Experience of delivering training, preferably to people who have experienced social-exclusion
• Experience and knowledge of developing and implementing an Engagement strategy to improving young people’s health, social and life skills.

What we offer in return...

In return for your efforts you’ll receive a competitive salary, excellent training and development, and a host of staff benefits including:

• 25 days of annual leave per year, rising by one day per year to a maximum of 27 days
•  Excellent training package to ensure you have the skills and knowledge to build a new career
• Employer pension contributions of 4%
• Clear career progressions, linked to portfolio work, that enables movement up the pay scale
• Access to Cycle 2 Work loan scheme
•  An interest-free travel loan

We seek to challenge discrimination and are committed to fairness and equality within Centrepoint. We welcome applications from anyone with direct experience of being homeless or using young people's services.

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to join our team as an Engagement Officer, click ‘Apply’ now!

Closing Date: 20 November, 12 noon. 

Young Carers Support Advisor

Full time (37 hours) or part time will be considered

Salary: £22,048 FTE

We are looking for people who are passionate about supporting young people to achieve their potential to join us.  You will build strong relationships with professionals across a range of services, including schools, in a geographical area to improve understanding and support for young carers and their families. You will also hold a caseload of young carers and work with them, their families and others that support them to reduce age inappropriate caring and help them to have all the same opportunities as their peers.  As part of Hertfordshire’s early help offer you will record much of your work on EHM as a Families First Assessment, for more information about this please see hertfordshire government website for Families First Assessment.

You will need excellent communication skills and be able to be creative to seek solutions to issues facing children, young people, and their families.  You will be confident speaking to people at all levels and be able to present information in a clear and concise manner suitable for a variety of audiences.

You will have strong IT skills and be confident using databases to record your work understanding the need for clear record keeping that demonstrates your understanding of the situation and allows others to work in partnership. Previous experience of using Families First, Outcome Stars or similar tools will be an advantage.

As a carer led organisation Carers in Hertfordshire believes that the voice of the carer is central to everything we do, so you will be able to ensure young carers voices are heard at every level, whether this is in planning the care for them and their family or in the planning of services that affect them. You will contribute to this through supporting the work of the young carers council, encouraging feedback on support as well as regular surveys and the annual young carers conference.

Closing date: Monday 20th November 2019 - 09.00 am 

Interview Date: Thursday 28th November 2019

Rumbletums is a Community Café offering non-accredited training and work experience opportunities to young people with learning disabilities.

The main purpose of the role of Project Manager is to work with the Board of Trustees in developing the future strategic direction of Rumbletums, to manage Rumbletums on a day-to-day basis and to lead the programme of training and development of our trainees.

The training is based in our café and trainees undertake a range of ‘Front of House’ and kitchen duties and other related activities that enable them to develop specific and transferable skills relevant to the catering industry, plus communication and life skills, as well as greater self-esteem and confidence.

We need someone who has experience of working with young people with learning disabilities in a vocational or learning setting and with proven experience of effective management, as well as excellent leadership and motivational skills.

Citizens Advice Stevenage is a progressive, highly regarded independent advice charity in Hertfordshire serving a growing population of 87,000. With over 20 paid staff and around 70 volunteers, we seek to deliver the best possible service for the people of Stevenage.

We have an excellent track record and strong foundations to further develop our work, with a new business strategy with a clear ambition for what we can deliver. You will be highly self-motivated with a strong sense of mission and vision. You will have significant experience of project management, strategic development, business planning, monitoring and meeting challenging performance targets, with a strong focus in identifying and developing new funding opportunities. The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator with demonstrable experience of working with a range of key stakeholders.

Citizens Advice Stevenage values equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Job Description

1. Planning and Development

• In conjunction with the Trustee Board, develop, implement and monitor the business and development strategy as required by the Citizens Advice membership scheme
• Translate organisational objectives into team and individual work plans with clear and realistic targets
• Develop project plans as necessary in furtherance of the business and development strategy, development objectives and fund raising targets
• Maintain an awareness of the operating environment such as those legislative developments, social trends and local needs likely to affect demand for advice and opportunities for service development
• Develop IT and other resource needs and strategies within Citizens Advice guidelines
• Participate in Citizens Advice initiatives as appropriate
• Work with the management team to ensure the effective operation of the service to meet the needs of clients and the targets which have been set
• Manage the development of the service to ensure that the strategic development of the bureau, its management and its services to clients reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service’s equality and diversity strategy

2. Supporting the Governing Body

• Oversee the arrangement and servicing of meetings of the Trustees and attending meetings of the Trustee Board and sub committees, including the annual general meeting and any special general meetings
• Advise the Trustee Board on progress against agreed objectives as well as any financial, staffing and service delivery issues and on compliance with the Citizens Advice membership scheme and all other relevant legislation, e.g. company and charity law, health and safety, GDPR, employment etc
• Report to the Trustee Board on progress against the business plan and agreed objectives
• Prepare and draft the organisation's annual report

3. Service delivery

• Research and develop the provision of specialist advice services and identify and respond to changing advice needs particularly for disadvantaged groups and different demographic areas
• Identify development opportunities consistent with the aims of the organisation and the operating environment
• Maintain an awareness of organisational and technological developments and ensure that the service operates in ways which make best possible use of the resources available to meet local needs
• Ensure, delegating as appropriate, that each service location is adequately managed, staffed and resourced and appropriate IT systems are in place, monitored and developed
• Develop and maintain common practices in service delivery and monitor staff to ensure that standards of service delivery are met and appropriate systems are in place for staff supervision, case recording, statistics, follow-up work and quality control

4. Resource acquisition

• Develop the organisation's funding base by identifying potential funding opportunities consistent with the aims of the organisation and the operating environment, and applying for funding as agreed by the Trustee Board to secure present and future service delivery
• Negotiate and review all grants and service agreements in consultation with the Trustee Board, ensuring that existing services are adequately funded
• Maintain appropriate relations with funders, fulfilling all reporting requirements and ensuring compliance with contracts

5. Financial management

• Maintain day-to-day financial control of the service within budget heads agreed by the Trustee Board
• Ensure that all finances are properly administered and monitored and that appropriate financial regulations and controls are in place and in use at all times
• Advise the Trustee Board on the proper allocation of resources
• Prepare and review detailed budgets for approval by the Trustee Board in conjunction with the honorary treasurer and / or appropriate sub-committee and auditors
• Make regular reports to the Trustee Board on income, expenditure and any variations from budgets
• Oversee the correct preparation of accounts and financial statements in conjunction with the honorary treasurer and / or appropriate sub-committee and auditors
• Ensure that all financial reporting obligations are met in relation to submissions for funding, grant aid, contracts and any other initiatives
• Act as cheque signatory and authorise expenditure up to limits as agreed by the Trustee Board 

6. Staff management

• Ensure that appropriate staff and volunteers are recruited and inducted ensuring that recruitment procedures are followed
• Line manage the management team and other staff as appropriate
• Create a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are well-managed, dignity at work is upheld and staff can do their best
• Ensure the effective performance management and development of all staff, through regular supervision sessions and the appraisal process
• Regularly evaluate staff learning and development needs and ensure that learning and development needs are identified and met in accordance with Citizens Advice standards.
• Ensure that each member of staff has a learning and development plan
• Convene and chair regular meetings of the management team
• Convene and chair regular meetings of all paid and unpaid staff and negotiate with staff reps / union reps / volunteer reps as necessary
• Establish and implement a recruitment, induction and staff development policy in conjunction with the appropriate sub-committee
• Ensure that Health and Safety policies and procedures for staff, premises and equipment are agreed and maintained and comply with statutory requirements
• In accordance with Citizens Advice and organisational procedures, assist the Trustee Board in implementing and monitoring employment policies and procedures

7. Public relations and research and campaigns

• Promote and protect the aims, principles, policies, interests and reputation of the CAB service both locally and nationally and ensure that the organisation has a high profile at all times
• Ensure the development and delivery of research and campaigns is undertaken effectively and instigate systems and procedures in line with the research and campaigns requirements of the membership scheme
• Develop and oversee appropriate publicity through effective relations with the media and other community organisations, and through public speaking
• Develop effective relations with appropriate authorities, agencies, organisations and individuals at local and national levels, including councillors, MPs, MEPs and local and national statutory and non-statutory organisations
• Liaise with Citizens Advice and contribute to its work at regional and national levels where appropriate
• Represent the Trustee Board, as appropriate, with external stakeholders and other bodies

8. Administration

• Establish, maintain and monitor effective administrative systems
• Establish, maintain and monitor complaints procedures in accordance with Citizens Advice requirements
• Ensure that the service is adequately accommodated and equipped in consideration of the needs of clients and staff and the effective operation of the service
• Use ICT as required for the role and coordinate its development
• Promote the aims, principles, policies, interest and wellbeing of the organisation and protect its integrity and reputation
• Undertake such other duties as may lie within the scope of this post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service

Person Specification

Essential

1. The ability to commit to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service.
2. Understanding of equality and diversity best practice and legislative requirements in relation to service delivery, business development and recruitment of staff and volunteers.
3. Proven ability to devise and implement strategic development and resource plans, particularly in the areas of service development, staff development and the management of change.
4. Demonstrable track record of financial management and budgetary control, and ability to manage a budget under the guidance of the honorary treasurer.
5. Track record of successful income generation, through fundraising, commissioning and marketing activities including bidding for grants and service contracts.
6. Capability of influencing external change through research and campaigns and the ability to earn and maintain the trust of those people with whom the bureau deals, especially funding bodies and donors.
7. Proven ability to develop quality standards and monitor service delivery against agreed targets and  to manage internal change. 
8. Ability to lead and contribute to a team, including the ability to prioritise work, identify and develop ideas and opportunities, delegate effectively, handle pressure and take day-to-day decisions on the running of an organisation.
9. Demonstrable ability in people management, including the ability to recruit, develop, manage and motivate staff and volunteers, particularly in the voluntary sector with the ability to create a positive working environment in which equality and diversity are well managed, dignity at work is upheld and staff are empowered and motivated to do their best.
10. Proven ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing with individuals and with a wide variety of organisations, and to research and interpret complex information and produce clear verbal and written reports.
11. Commitment to continuous professional development and willingness to learn and develop.
12. Track record in project management.

Desirable

1. Understanding of the voluntary sector and, in particular, knowledge of the strategic and policy environment in which the advice sector operates.
2. Broad understanding of the operation of local and national government and the administration of public and legal services, including an understanding of commissioning.
3. Experience of managing service provision from split locations and / or different functions.
4. Experience of developing quality standards and monitoring service delivery against agreed targets.
5. Track record of managing ICT in a business environment, including the ability to: use ICT packages; undertake ICT business planning; develop and maintain management information systems and procedures; and manage supplier relationships.

Main Purpose of Post

To Co-ordinate the Centre and Office administrative function to ensure the delivery of an efficient, friendly and smooth-running Centre, overseeing and developing office co-ordination and support services/systems. The post holder specifically is responsible for reception, information and administration systems, recruitment and supervision of the administration and reception volunteers, the administration of Human Resource, Quality Assurance, ICT and related office systems, as well as Centre facility and event management. The post holder will also be part of the ‘Senior Leadership Team’ led by the CEO and act as the Clerk to Board of Trustees.