Community Advocate Jobs in Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Do you want the unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced service, delivering exceptional support to families bereaved by and witness to homicide; coordinating a tailored package of support to service users and their families?
Would you enjoy working closely with Police Major Crime teams providing briefings on the work we do in the Homicide Service (HS)?
If yes, then we'd love to hear from you; we have an exciting opportunity for a Homicide Family Caseworker to join our team, you will be based in Thames Valley working 37.5 hours a week. The team you will be joining within HS covers London and South Central.
What we offer:
At Victim Support we believe in attracting & retaining the best people and offer a competitive rewards & benefits package including:
- Flexible working options including hybrid working
- 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 33 days plus Bank Holidays
- An extra day off for your birthday
- Pension with 5% employer contribution
- Enhanced sick pay allowances, maternity & paternity payments
- High Street, retail, holiday, entertainment & leisure discounts
- Access to our financial wellbeing hub & salary deducted finance
- Employee assistance programme & wellbeing support
- Ongoing training & support with opportunities for career development & progression
About the role:
You will be joining a passionate and committed team who provide high quality and bespoke support to service users. We pride ourselves on exceptional trauma informed advocacy and support to all service users.
You will be driven to make a difference every day with the ability to focus on the needs of vulnerable service users. You will have resilience and adaptability; understand the importance of professional boundaries; have excellent listening skills and the ability to demonstrate empathy. You will enjoy the challenge of a busy caseload and will be able to demonstrate the excellent organisation skills essential to managing a demanding and diverse workload.
Once in post you will benefit from the mandatory comprehensive training programme which will build on your existing skills and experience to prepare you for the role. Homicide Service training includes, criminal justice process; trauma informed approach to support; supporting traumatically bereaved families; personal and professional resilience.
As a fully trained Homicide Family Caseworker you will be responsible for managing your own complex caseload to the highest quality standards. You will need to be able to travel to home visits within, and occasionally outside of area, and therefore a driving license and use of a car are essential. You will be reimbursed for all travel costs.
Please read carefully the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details, this is essential for your application.
About Us:
Victim Support (VS) is an independent charity providing a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. We work towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System. Everyone at VS is driven by our Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events. Working for VS gives you the opportunity to play a key role in a national charity providing high quality services to victims and witnesses and being a vital force for change.
Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.
Victim Support is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe having a diverse workforce at all levels allows us to represent the communities we serve and connect better with people affected by crime. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all communities and monitor the diversity of applicants to analyse if we are representative of the communities we serve in terms of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, age and socio-economic status. As part of our commitment to the Race at Work Charter we would particularly welcome applicants from BAME communities
How to apply:
To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website, and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria. Please give examples where appropriate, and show your aptitude for post. Please ensure you answer each shortlisting criteria including the need to drive and have your own mode of transport.
We looking forward to hearing from you.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Mind BLMK works across our communities to support positive mental health and wellbeing. Working closely with a range of partners, we offer a number of activities from our wellbeing centres and local venues to make a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of people in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, and our aim is to make sure that no-one has to face a mental health problem alone.
Job title: Youth Mental Health Navigator
Post no: 595
Working base: Rush Court, Bedford CAMHS
Hours: 27.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday, 09:00 – 21:00 hours to be agreed).
Salary: £23,800 Per Annum FTE (Actual Salary £17,689.19 per annum)
About the Service
The Youth Mental Health Navigator supports young people who have been referred to the CAMHS front door/single point of access. These young people may have accessed medical, clinical or emergency services prior to being referred to Mind BLMK. The service is suitable for people who have mental health / wellbeing needs but are not felt to be at immediate risk of suicide.
About the Role
This role will provide individualised, one to one support to young people, aged 14-17 who are currently experiencing difficulty with their mental health and wellbeing.
This post holder will be working closely with clinical colleagues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) team offering hybrid in person and online support. The post holder will also be responsible for the development of pathways which enables young people to access services offered by the Voluntary and Community sector.
The post holder will ensure they have a good understanding of the services on offer by the Voluntary and Community sector, and other agencies, and will work with individuals to help them access services of their choice.
The Youth Mental Health Navigator will offer mental health and wellbeing support in a safe and enabling service, supporting young people to explore their challenges and identify positive mental health coping strategies, resilience skills, distress tolerance and a solution focused approach to recovery that will help to future proof against potential repeated incidences of poor mental health.
Entitlements/benefits:
- 25 days (pro rata) Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata)
- Auto-enrolment NEST pension scheme (employer contributes 3%, employee contributes 5%)
- Optional Health Plan
- Discounts available through Blue Light Card & Tickets for Good
- In-house and external Learning and Development as appropriate for the role.
- Flexible Working On request (in line with Mind BLMK policy on Right to Request Flexible Working)
If you have a passion for working in mental health and possess the required skills, we would love to hear from you.
Closedown: 5pm on 13 May 2024
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if enough suitable applicants apply
Start date: ASAP
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Mind BLMK has been committed to the Mindful Employer charter and the Disability Confident Employer Scheme since 2008.
Please note: Mind BLMK follows Safer Recruitment practices and we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore all our roles are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
No agencies please.
You have an understanding of drugs and alcohol and health related issues and experience of working with adults/young people in an addictions or social care setting. All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Senior Practitioner.
Aquarius is a charity that helps people and communities overcome the harm caused by alcohol, drugs and gambling. Right now, we’re looking for someone like you to join our Bedfordshire Young People’s Team. We’re here to support anyone under 18 in Bedfordshire who is affected by substance misuse. Many of the children and young people we work with are also facing other challenges, such as school exclusion, homelessness, mental health, unemployment, or experience of the care system.
Your challenge? To undertake a portfolio of cases, generally incorporating the more complex situations, and deputise for Service Managers as and when required. Supervising the work of Practitioners and Support Workers will be important too, as will prioritising activities and monitoring service delivery, outputs and outcomes and providing guidance, training and clinical supervision. And, all the while, we’ll expect you to work in a way that recognises and values diversity and make the most of your understanding of the functional model of alcohol, the model of change and CBT.
An energetic and confident self‐starter, you have a qualification in health/social care, youth and community care (e.g. NVQ Level 4 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies). Alternatively, we’ll consider candidates with experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 4 Health and Social Care or equivalent. You should also have experience of partnership working as well as the ability to maintain constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders from a wide range of services and disciplines. What’s more, you have a flexible approach, a commitment to the principles of confidentiality and the ability to write client records and report and fulfil data requirements.
We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a BAME background.
This is a rolling recruitment process, shortlisted candidates will be interviewed as and when they apply.
Aquarius is a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. From 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship will be merging with the mental health charity Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius will become a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind will then be renamed to reflect the new, bigger and better organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary.
England’s National Parks represent our finest landscapes, famed for their spectacular beauty, varied wildlife and rich cultural heritage. National Parks are critical to supporting local communities, providing access to green spaces for the nation, and helping to tackle the dual challenges of climate change and declining biodiversity.
National Parks England’s purpose is to be the collective voice for English National Park Authorities, helping us to achieve our purposes through influencing policy. We are a small team, working with a much wider team of colleagues across National Park Authorities.
As Senior Media and Communications Officer within NPE you will support a range of the policy and influencing work of National Park Authorities for a range of campaigns and projects including our work on Generation Green and the Protected Landscapes Partnership.
You will work alongside the wider team to ensure effective communication through the media to influence public opinion and political change. As well as high quality media relations, the post will support delivery of public relations activities, and support wider public affairs and stakeholder relations.
The successful candidate will have excellent media, public relations and integrated communications skills gained within a policy and influencing environment and will be confident to play both lead and supporting roles on a wide range of projects. They will have excellent writing and editing skills, an understanding of what makes media worthy content, and experience of building relationships with journalists. The post holder should also have experience of as supporting stakeholder engagement with those in and around government and in working with a range of project partners.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
What we’re looking for:
- Do you have demonstrable experience (professionally or voluntary) supporting customers with substance misuse issues?
- Do you have experience supporting customers with mental health needs?
- Do you have knowledge or an understanding of housing support needs and benefits?
If so, this role is perfect for you!
Here at Peabody, we have an opportunity for a Outreach Support Worker on a Permanent basis in Brentwood, Epping & Harlow areas.
A bit about the role:
As a Outreach Support Worker, you will provide a service where planned support and crisis intervention is delivered to vulnerable people with low, medium and high support needs living in independent accommodation with the aim of them maintaining their home.
In conjunction with colleagues and Senior Managers, you will be responsible for the effective operation of the Support Service, in line with its policies and procedures, including encouraging a co-operative and supportive environment within the Service, listening to customers’ views and developing new services to meet these needs.
Some of the key results for the role include:
- To provide pre tenancy guidance and ongoing support to customers on all tenancy matters, including assistance to furnish and move into properties.
- To enable customers to abide by their tenancy agreements, giving advice and assistance on dealing with police and courts where this relates to housing matters
- To provide basic Welfare Benefits advice, assisting customers in claiming all benefit entitlements and assisting with accessing specialist support.
- To work with customers to identify the skills required to manage their own tenancy, including assistance to deal with difficult situations.
This role will require an Enhanced DBS check, a UK driver’s licence and access to a vehicle.
A bit about us:
It started over 160 years ago with one man’s desire to improve the lives of poverty-stricken Londoners.
Today, we have 107,000 homes and 220,000 residents across London and the Home Counties and around 20,000 care and support customers. But the desire remains the same – to create homes and communities where people can flourish.
We work with councils and communities to promote economic inclusion, tackle inequality and poverty, and prioritise wellbeing.
Here just a few of the benefits for working at Peabody:
- Up to 25 days’ annual holiday plus bank holidays
- Flexible benefits scheme, including options for Healthcare, Dental care, Critical illness cover, vouchers, technology scheme and access to a discount portal
- 4 x Life Assurance
- Competitive salaries that are benchmarked regularly against current market rates
- Professional development by access to "paid for" apprenticeship programs and qualifications
- Two additional paid volunteering days each year
- Family friendly policies
- Up to 10% pension contribution matched 1:1
Are you ready to apply?
Closing Date: 6 May 2024
Interview dates - Week commencing 13th May.
PLEASE NOTE: As an employer, Peabody does not provide sponsorship as a licenced UK employer.
To be considered for the position of Outreach Support Worker, please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and submit both your CV and a bit about why we should consider you for the role.
Peabody reserves the right to close this advert before the advertised closing date, depending on the number of applications received.
Contract type Permanent
Weekly hours Monday - Friday 9-5
Here are the top four things to be excited about:
- Being at the heart of the global health partnership community, supporting UK NHS and other health workers to volunteer internationally.
- A broad grants management portfolio, working across several themes and countries across sub-Saharan Africa
- A chance to oversee inputs from a diverse team in order to manage programmes, including overseas staff, M&E colleagues and academic implementing partners.
- Take on a leadership role within THET, contributing towards the strategic direction of the organisation.
What is expected of you in the first six months?
- You will take on the management of at least one UK Government-funded health partnership grants programme operating across a range of countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
- This includes running the grants selection, award, contracting and onboarding process
- You will take over project governance structures, managing the inputs of programmes team members, Country Directors and implementing partners.
- You will organise and attend a programme launch event in-country, as well as visit health institutions in sub-Saharan Africa.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
Programme Management
- Coordinate staff and implementing partners to ensure the timely completion of deliverables.
- Quality assure the application of THET’s grant management processes by other team members.
- Ensure compliance with donor/country agreements, regulations and requirements.
- Identify, track and manage programmatic risk.
- Ensure effective communication with partners, donors and other stakeholders.
- Oversee project budgets, including monitoring spend against budget, undertaking re-forecasting, and authorising spend.
- Oversee the quarterly reporting process to donors.
- Coordinate and support workstream leads within the project.
Programme quality and design
- Contribute to the design of new projects: co-ordinating the proposal team; overseeing a needs analysis; liaising with stakeholders; contributing to a Theory of Change; developing content; and developing the budget.
- Develop and nurture relationships with potential and existing donors, partner organisations and consultants as appropriate.
- Contribute to the design and improvement of project and health partnership quality programme approaches, including standards, processes, tools and guidance.
- Contribute to the delivery of capacity development interventions for grant holders and THET staff.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- With support from the Research, Evidence and Learning team, oversee Monitoring and Evaluation processes for the programmes you lead, e.g. logframe and reporting mechanisms
- Lead the quarterly and annual reporting and analysis review process with institutional donors.
- Write project reports and programme reviews, and coordination of donor reporting as appropriate.
- Ensure grant holders have effective M&E plans in place and coordinate the review of their reports.
- Coordinate visits to project implementation sites for monitoring and audit purposes.
- Facilitate learning and sharing of good practices across programmes and the wider organisation.
Team Support and Line Management
- Line manage members of the Programmes Team (1-2 Programmes Coordinators).
- Oversee the contracting, payments and deliverables of in-country consultants and other suppliers.
- Lead the induction process for new Programmes Team members and other THET staff when required.
- Work with colleagues from across the team to identify areas for improvement and strengthening.
Miscellaneous
- Attend and present THET’s work at UK and international events, including the THET annual conference.
- Join your choice of THET’s and external thematic working groups, such as on gender equality and social inclusion, on the climate crisis, etc.
- Contribute to the strategic direction of THET and play a leadership role in the Programmes Team
Candidates can apply by submitting a two-page cover letter stating why they are interested in this position, what they would bring to the role and how they fit the person's specification.
This letter should be submitted with a CV to THET by midnight Wednesday, 15th May, with ‘THET Programmes Manager’ in the subject line. Applicants must be available for interview and assessment over the following two weeks. Please visit our website for a full Job Pack and instructions.
This post is UK based and you will require current and valid permission to work in the UK.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Working as part of the newly-formed Research Solutions team, this exciting new role will play a pivotal role in accelerating the transition from using animals to using human-specific technologies in medical research.
Job Purpose
• A pivotal outward-facing role focused on growing the charity’s relationships within academia, biotech and pharma, increasing our footprint and positive influence to support the transition to human specific research.
• Act as the charity’s lead scientist, providing expert advice and input to the senior management team.
• A senior member of the charity’s Research Solutions team, providing line management to the Science Manager and support to the wider team.
• Owns the delivery of high-quality products, services, education, and content that provides solutions to researchers and encourages the uptake of new
approach methodologies (NAMs).
Please download Job Pack for full role description
REF-213 546
Citizens UK and the NRPF Partnership
Citizens UK
We are Citizens UK. We’re working together to make change on the issues that matter, from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign.
We bring together everyday people and local organisations to build a better, fairer society. Too often communities are left out of decisions that affect their lives, but we know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We develop local leaders who find solutions to problems big and small and hold power-holders to account.
We work with hundreds of civil society organisations, who we call our members - schools, universities, faith groups, charities, unions and more - to help them win change. Over the last 30 years, we’ve worked in alliance with 500+ members, trained 4,000+ community leaders, accredited 13,000 Living Wage employers, and won hundreds of campaigns.
NRPF Partnership
The NRPF partnership was set up in 2023 and is being developed by Citizens UK, Migration Exchange, and Praxis. We are working to build the necessary infrastructure for collaboration across a range of organisations, amplify their work, and build power to win change against the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition. You can learn more about the overall initiative via our FAQs page.
Each partner contributes staff capacity and will work closely with the appointed person to ensure a positive, professional and supportive culture. The Partnership centres around:
1) Placing decision-making power and strategic vision in the hands of people doing the work
(frontline staff and people with lived experience), via a steering group and working groups.
2) Establishing a strategic pooled fund so that the steering group has sufficient budget to guide the collaboration, act, identify and seize political opportunities, and facilitate active participation of everyone involved.
3) Expanding the movement and building power, using incremental wins to build towards broader change towards the goal of ending NRPF.
The Person and the Role
100,000s people in our communities have put down roots in the UK but are denied access to the welfare safety net (No Recourse to Public Funds).
Citizens UK has worked with Migration Exchange and Praxis to raise over £2m to develop a 5 year partnership to enable the movement to end NRPF.
This Senior Project role will be a core part of the support to the steering group of the partnership to make sure it runs effectively and achieves its potential.
If you're angry about injustice in the immigration system, have good communication and relationship building skills and self organised - apply below. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates who have been through the immigration system themselves.
We are looking for a values-driven and experienced person with exceptional skills and knowledge in project management, relationship-building, and community organising. This role will lead and coordinate all project management and tactical activities necessary to support the day-to-day functioning of the NRPF Partnership. The right person will be highly motivated by joining the distinctive ethos of Citizens UK and the shared values of the NRPF Partnership, where local leaders and people experiencing injustice are in the lead, and where grassroots community organising is combined with strategies for social change.
This role is a really exciting opportunity to forge real change and to shift the power dynamics in social change work. The successful candidate will be at the heart of making change happen on one of the most important social justice issues of our time. Top Priorities
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Building and maintaining relationships and communication – maintaining excellent working relationships and effective communications with the Coordination Backbone Group (CBG), Steering Group, working groups, wider community partners involved in the NRPF partnership, and the Citizens UK Migration Team
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Managing and coordinating capacity-building and leadership development in support of the shared strategy set by the steering group– developing and maintaining the effectiveness of a capacity-building and leadership development inputs that enables everyone in the Partnership, especially those with expertise by lived experience, to fully participate across all levels of the Partnership
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Project managing all partnership implementation logistics and follow-up – managing meeting logistics from planning to scheduling to outreach to follow-up to ensure seamless participation of Steering Group and Working Group members and ensure that planned activities take place effectively in support of the goals and values of the Partnership
The role will be reporting to Assistant Director, Migrant and Refugee Organising.
Main Responsibilities
Reporting directly to X with oversight from the NRPF Partnership CBG, the post holder will be expected to manage their own independent workload, as well as support the broader CBG. The main responsibilities are outlined below:
Working with the NRPF Partnership’s key stakeholders
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Developing and maintaining relationships with Partnership stakeholders
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Working with the CBG to update outreach strategy as new needs emerge
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Building and maintaining trust and relationships across the whole Partnership and more widely (within and across sectors from migration to anti-poverty to children’s rights, etc.)
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Supporting with the facilitation of Working Group meetings
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Develop and implement ideas for action that are consistent with the goals of the project
Strategic coherence
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Supporting the coordination of activities with partners to align strategies and actions and minimise duplication
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Working with the CBG to coordinate with other related projects and coalitions to maintain a full understanding of the current landscape of local and regional activities
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Maintaining understanding of current implementation challenges and developing comprehensive solutions to address them in dialogue with partners
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Developing, maintaining, and monitoring political opportunities to support Working Groups to develop and execute on their action plans
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In partnership with the CBG and steering group, providing support to partner organisations to coordinate and collaborate on joint initiatives
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Coordinating advocacy activities across stakeholders that support the wider aims of the Partnership
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Supporting the independent learning partner to deliver evaluation and learning activities
Communications
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Organising appropriate outreach and communications efforts across the Partnership (e.g. publishing a regular newsletter, email updates, insights from learning and evaluation etc.)
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Ensuring effective internal communication with CUK organisers, leaders, and partners involved with the NRPF Partnership and with funders
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Facilitating on-going communication across the NRPF Partnership to ensure alignment of activity
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Supporting the development of any communications materials such as summary documents, brochures, FAQs, social media content, etc.
Build leadership development offer for the Partnership
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Working alongside CBG and the CUK Migration team, refine community organising and leadership development support for all members of the NRPF partnership especially those with lived experience of NRPF
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Ensuring that everyone in the group can contribute to the best of their ability by managing a training and external facilitation budget to build skills, confidence and trust
Fundraising and reporting
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Working with the CBG to develop and support fundraising bids and support reporting requirements and funder relationships
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Contributing to the budgeting process and the effective management of financial resources in the project working closely with Global Dialogue who will hold pooled funds on behalf of the partnership
Managing meeting/event logistics
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Planning and managing the logistics of all Partnership meetings and gatherings of the Steering Group, working groups and CBG (e.g., dial-in, attendance, cancellations, etc.)
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Consolidating Working Group updates for Steering Group, including summarising meeting notes and highlighting key outputs and decisions so they can be easily shared with others across the Partnership
Any other reasonable tasks as required by the line manager.
Person Specification
REQUIREMENTS
ESSENTIAL (E)
DESIRABLE (D)
QUALIFICATIONS
Degree or equivalent professional qualification (D)
EXPERIENCE
Significant proven, comprehensive experience in a project management role (E)
Experience of initiating new projects and developing them so that they become sustainable underpinned by strong values (E)
Experience of building consensus between diverse stakeholders and managing complexity in relationships (E)
Experience of organising and managing all aspects of community events, incl. logistics (E)
Proven experience of raising significant funds for charitable purposes (D)
A proven track record of delivering and reporting against targets and on budgets (D)
KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of No Recourse to Public Funds and working with individuals who have an NRPF designation on their immigration status (E)
Outstanding communication skills (verbally and written) combined with the ability to liaise with stakeholders (E)
Ability to work well as part of a team, and maintain effective communication with colleagues (E)
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships, lead, influence and motivate others (E)
Ability to act on own initiative to introduce and develop new projects and systems (E)
Proven computer literacy to include MS Office (E)
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
Exceptional leadership skills, with an ability to enthuse and inspire staff and volunteers (E)
A proactive approach to all areas of work with a flexible approach to work demands (E)
An appreciation and respect for different communities; including faith groups and different cultures. (E)
A strong commitment to the CUK values and the values of the NRPF partnership, which include: (E)
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Being open to new ideas (specifically ensuring that all our 121 conversations, small group discussions with the sector and funders create an environment that fosters creative problem-solving and innovation)
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Fostering connection
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Championing co-design and co-production
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Being equity-focused and enabling any one interested to participate and feed into the design and development of this work
Please note there will be recruitment webinar on Tuesday, 7th May from 14:30-15:30. Please register via the following link if you are interested in attending: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcO-rrzsoH9ecIXUaaFbqDjaVxVSvqJLq.
Interviews are planned to take place on Thursday, June 13th (subject to change.)
You have an understanding of drugs and alcohol and health related issues and experience of working with young people. All you need is the perfect environment to put your skills to great use. Welcome to Aquarius as a Complex Needs Practitioner.
Aquarius helps young people aged 5-18 overcome the harm caused by drugs and alcohol by working closely with the individual, family members and other professionals. But it’s only possible with people like you.
Right now, our Bedfordshire Young People’s service is looking for a Complex Needs Practitioner to join the team. This role will be in partnership with Bedfordshire Youth Offending Service and will require some co-location from the Youth Offending Offices around Bedfordshire to be an integral part of both teams.
Your challenge? To provide information and advice, brief interventions and long term structured support to young people who are using drugs and alcohol or being impacted by someone else’s use. You will be conducting assessments, risk assessments, care-planning and working directly with other services such as schools, social care, health provisions, alternative education providers and mental health services.The successful candidate must have exceptional organisational skills and the ability to work with other agencies both face to face, email and via telephone.
An energetic and confident self-starter, you will be required to hold a qualification in health/social care, youth and community work (e.g. NVQ Level 3 or above, DipSW, Mental Health Nursing, Counselling, Addiction Studies). Alternatively, we will consider candidates with experience of working in the substance misuse field with a commitment to complete NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care. You will have a flexible approach, a commitment to the principles of confidentiality, excellent record keeping and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
As this role requires extensive travel around Bedfordshire, you will need to have a clean driving licence and access to a vehicle.
This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post-holder to work 37 hours per week.
This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted.
We are committed to increasing our diversity and we would welcome applications from those with lived experience and/or who are from a BAME background.
Aquarius is a subsidiary of Richmond Fellowship, with both organisations being part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. From 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship will be merging with the mental health charity Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. At the same time, Aquarius will become a subsidiary of Humankind, with no impact to terms and conditions of employment. In October 2024, Humankind will then be renamed to reflect the new, bigger and better organisation, of which Aquarius will remain a subsidiary.
Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis? Are you calm, non-judgmental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?
Can you demonstrate our values of Hope, Courage, Together, and Responsive and want to be part of our mission to create opportunities for individuals to make choices, find their own solutions, build resilience and manage their whole life and wellbeing?
If the answer to all of these is yes, we want to hear from you.
Crisis Centre Coordinator – Part Time
Reference: 196
Responsible to: Crisis Centre Team Leader
Based: Hemel Hempstead Crisis Centre
Salary: £24,928 - £26,250 per annum, FTE
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 30 hours per week (Part Time) Covering a shift pattern of Earlies, Lates and Nights across 7 days.
We are also seeking a Night Coordinator working 3 Night Shifts 3 out of 7
About the Service
The Crisis Centre and rest of Nightlight Services (Café’s, Helpline, Daylight provision) is proud to provide urgent support, crisis intervention and emotional support to people experiencing a mental health crisis in Hertfordshire as an alternative to statutory pathways. We provide support to adults across Hertfordshire 7 days a week, 365 days a year through our helpline, crisis cafes and 24/7 Crisis Centre. We aim to provide a safe space for people in crisis to talk and feel supported, be listened to without judgement, access relevant support with problem solving and facilitate access to external services when necessary.
As a member of our diverse team, you will work closely with service users in crisis by using a person-centred approach to ensure that each individual is supported with dignity and respect. By honouring the individual experience of each service user, we are able to respect their autonomy as well as encourage and facilitate positive steps towards management of crisis and recovery.
About the Role
Alongside other Crisis Centre Coordinators, to be a key member of the Crisis Centre team, providing effective operational leadership delivering the Nightlight Mental Health Crisis Centre Service. You will be ensuring the delivery and development of quality crisis support services and instilling Hertfordshire Mind Network’s values throughout the provision. You will provide management support to Crisis Centre Mental Health Support Workers and support the Crisis Centre Team Leader in ensuring practice within the service is safe, effective and person centred.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing emotional support and developing, alongside service users, flexible and realistic crisis support/person-centred plans within agreed guidelines with support from the leadership team (including assessments of need, risk, crisis support plans and review forms) in person or via telephone.
- Draw upon own lived experience as appropriate to inform the delivery of person centred support.
- Providing immediate advice and information to clients to support with crisis presentations.
- Liaise with Nightlight management and external services e.g. police, ambulance service, Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team, Single Point of Access, Safeguarding Out of Hours Service, Mental Health Liaison Teams, Adult Community Mental Health Services etc. as needed in terms of accepting referrals and proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitating appropriate support.
- Complete appropriate signposting/onward referrals to both internal and external services in accordance with identified needs and risks.
- Ensuring record keeping is maintained to the required standards at all times and contributing to service monitoring requirements.
- Arranging transport for service users to facilitate access to services as needed.
- You will line manage a number of Crisis Centre Mental Health Support Workers and be part of the operational management for the Nightlight Crisis Centre.
We offer:
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
- An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
- Ongoing training relevant to your role.
- An Employee Assistance Programme.
- Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 5th May 2024
Interviews shall take place week commencing 6th May 2024
Please note: We reserve the right to close the advertisement once sufficient applications are received so would encourage early applications.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.
Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.
We are delighted to have been accredited as a Living Wage Employer.
No agencies please.
Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis? Are you calm, non-judgmental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?
Can you demonstrate our values of Hope, Courage, Together, and Responsive and want to be part of our mission to create opportunities for individuals to make choices, find their own solutions, build resilience and manage their whole life and wellbeing?
If the answer to all of these is yes, we want to hear from you.
Mental Healthcare Support Worker – Helpline & Crisis Cafés - Evening and Weekends
Reference: 198
Responsible to: Crisis Cafe Coordinator
Working Base(s): Watford, Stevenage and Ware (expectation to travel whenever necessary with mileage paid when not working at home base)
Salary: £22,347 - £24,024 per annum, FTE
Hours: Full time or part-time positions (30 or 22.5 hours) available in addition to Bank hours.
Work pattern: A full-time pattern will be working 5 out of 7-day rota, working 17:30 - 01:30
About the Service
Our Nightlight Service is proud to provide urgent support, crisis intervention and emotional support to people experiencing a mental health crisis in Hertfordshire as an alternative to statutory pathways.
We provide support to adults across Hertfordshire 7 days a week, 365 days a year through our helpline, crisis centres, crisis cafes and a weekend Crisis House. We aim to provide a safe space for people in crisis to talk and feel supported, be listened to without judgement, access relevant support with problem solving and facilitate access to external services when necessary.
The objectives of Hertfordshire Mind Network’s (HMN) Nightlight Mental Health Crisis Services are:
- To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health crisis in Hertfordshire.
- To increase early access to help for people experiencing mental health crisis in Hertfordshire, by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided by Herts Mind Network and other third sector and statutory providers.
- To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
- To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
- To provide an alternative pathway to people in distress and crisis to support better outcomes and reduce the demand on statutory crisis services and emergency services.
About the Role
Mental Healthcare Support Workers are key members of staff delivering the Nightlight Mental Health Crisis Service, taking part in a rota covering 7 days per week, ensuring the delivery of quality crisis support services and instilling Hertfordshire Mind Network’s values throughout the crisis cafe and helpline provision. Working closely with other staff (bank staff, volunteers), coordinators, team leaders and Crisis manager to ensure services are of the highest quality and support the continued growth and development of the service.
Key Responsibilities
- Providing emotional support and developing, alongside clients, flexible and realistic crisis support/person-centred plans within agreed guidelines with support from leadership team (including assessments of need, risk, crisis support plans and review forms), often where risks are significant.
- Liaising with statutory agencies to ensure appropriate intervention is obtained for individuals.
- Drawing upon own lived experience as appropriate to inform the delivery of person-centred support.
- Providing immediate advice and information to clients to support with crisis presentations.
- To support individuals both through telephone support (helpline) and face to face support (crisis café).
- Liaising with Nightlight management and external services e.g. police, ambulance service, Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team, Single Point of Access, Safeguarding Out of Hours Service, Mental Health Liaison Teams, Adult Community Mental Health Services etc .as needed in terms of accepting referrals and proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitating appropriate support.
- Completing appropriate signposting/onward referrals to both internal and external services in accordance with identified needs and risks.
- Supporting clients with making drinks and beverages as needed when visiting the crisis café.
- Assisting with housing keeping/cleaning tasks as necessary and reporting any maintenance problems.
- Contributing to the co-development of the service by supporting service user, family and carer involvement by obtaining feedback and supporting where necessary chances to be involved in wider service reviews.
We offer:
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
- An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
- Ongoing training relevant to your role.
- An Employee Assistance Programme.
- Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.
Closing date for receipt of applications is 6th May 2024
Interviews shall take place the week commencing 6th May 2024.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if sufficient applications are received so would encourage early applications.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.
Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.
We are delighted to have been accredited as a Living Wage Employer.
No agencies please.