Housing Advice Team Leader Jobs in Westminster, Greater London

Are you passionate about supporting people to uphold their rights?

Disability Advice Service Lambeth (dasl) is Lambeth’s peer-led Disabled People’s Organisation.  

We want to appoint a Professional Advocate who shares our ethos and values and is committed to supporting Lambeth residents achieve their legal rights.

dasl have provided an advocacy service for Lambeth Council for 12 years and since 2020 we have played a key role in the Lambeth Advocacy Hub, a single point of access for all statutory independent advocacy services for Lambeth residents aged 16 and over. We manage referrals and enquiries and provide independent Care Act advocacy and a range of non-statutory advocacy.

We provide a high quality service - we hold the Advocacy Quality Performance Mark. You will hold, or be working towards, a qualification such as the Certificate/Diploma in Independent Advocacy (Level 3), or be able to show the necessary skills and relevant experience in a formal or informal advocacy role. 

dasl’s success comes from dedicated work of our skilled staff, many of whom are Disabled people. You will be valued for who you are in our supportive and friendly team.

We work flexibly between home and office. Our office in Brixton is accessible.

This is a rolling recruitment - applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed as soon as possible. We encourage you to apply as soon as you are able.

Roma Outreach Worker (Full-time, 12-month fixed term contract)
Kingston upon Thames, Greater London
37.5 Hours per week

This role will require the person to work early mornings and late nights in order to conduct outreach shifts in the Borough.

UK Driving Licence and Romani or Romanian language skills are essential.

About Us

We are SPEAR, a charity dedicated to helping homeless people in South and West London find secure accommodation and work towards a positive future. For 30 years, we’ve worked tirelessly to support homeless people to recover from their personal issues and break down the barriers that they face. We recognise that homelessness is much more than just a housing issue, so we provide a range of accommodation and support services to help people reach their full potential.

The Benefits

– Salary of £31,500 per annum
– 34 days’ holiday (inclusive of bank holidays) increasing with length of service
– Pension scheme
– Access to a free Employee Assistance Programme
– A range of benefits including cycle to work scheme and staff wellbeing sessions
– Refer a friend bonus scheme

This is a superb opportunity for an individual with drive, focus and a desire to work with our outstanding charity to help us to combat homelessness. You’ll discover a passionate, supportive environment where the entire team are working toward the same goals and are dedicated to making positive change and producing great results.

The Role

The purpose of the Roma Outreach Worker role is to deliver an effective service to single people who are currently rough sleeping. This post will actively support Roma clients, providing a continued and consistent point of contact whilst assisting them in navigating the various change pathways available to them.

Are you passionate about utilising your language skills to assist in ending rough sleeping? Our organisation takes a proactive stance in supporting individuals away from rough sleeping, aiming for permanent transitions from rough sleeping.

We are seeking a dynamic and self-driven individual with language proficiency in Romanian or Romany to join our Kingston Outreach Team as a Roma Outreach Worker. In this pivotal role, you will engage in street outreach shifts, assess needs, and deliver personalised case management. It is the beginning of assisting clients on their journey from homelessness to independence.

To be considered for the role of Roma Outreach Worker, you will have:

- Able to speak Romani or Romanian fluently or to a high level.
- Full and clean UK driving licence.
- Good understanding of the Roma communities.
- Experience of working within the homelessness or social care sector.
- Have a creative, solution-focused approach to overcoming challenges.
- Knowledge of GDPR and data management.
- Knowledge of current drug and alcohol provision and relevant services, pathways and conditions.
- Emotional resilience to deal with challenging behaviour and to facilitate ongoing constructive engagement.
- Solid IT skills with the ability to record sound and accurate records in a timely fashion on IT applications such as CHAIN and Inform.
- A commitment to learning and continuous improvement.
- Experience of support planning and risk assessing clients with complex needs, including safeguarding knowledge.
- Able to develop positive and professional working relationships with clients to facilitate the best possible outcomes and address issues of social isolation and exclusion.
- Experience in conducting client assessments and interviews and outcome monitoring.

For further and more detailed information on the role and person specification, please review the Job Description.

SPEAR is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for employment. Equal opportunities are the only acceptable way to conduct business and we believe that the more inclusive our environment is, the better our work will be.

At SPEAR, we welcome and encourage applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. We are facing diverse problems, so need diverse people to tackle them.

So, if you’re seeking your next challenge as a Roma Outreach Worker, please apply via the button shown.

Age UK East London are recruiting a Welfare Benefits Advisor to join our growing information and advice team. We support thousands of people a year to maximise their income, challenge bad decisions, and ensure that they understand their rights and entitlements.

We support some of the most deprived communities in the UK, tackling poverty and health inequality while promoting independence and well-being. Working in well networked and integrated systems you will make a key contribution to improving the lives of adults, their carers and the wider community.

Job description

Job Purpose

• To provide Information, advice and support to clients enabling them to remain independent in their own homes.

• To work with the Advice Service to deliver and maintain excellent services to AQS standard.

• To provide home visits and office appointments, delivering advice via a variety of channels such as phone, video call and face to face.

• To work with clients to deliver holistic support that promotes wellbeing, independence that reduces health inequality and poverty.

Key Tasks

• To provide quality-assured independent advice and casework support to adults across East London.

• To maintain accurate case records in line with all relevant legislation and quality assurance benchmarks.

• To conduct welfare benefit calculations and advise accurately on entitlements.

• To complete applications for welfare benefits and grants etc.

• To support people to understand their rights and challenge decisions made against them such as welfare benefit appeals to first tier tribunal.

• To deliver a holistic, person-centred and strength-based service focussed on independence and wellbeing.

• To support service data input to support the service with evaluation and monitoring KPI’s.

• To keep up to date knowledge of welfare benefit, Housing and Social Care policy and legalisation.

• To support the service to be flexible and responsive to change and community need.

• To train and mentor volunteers.

General

• To meetregularlywith linemanagerforsupport,supervision and appraisal.

• To attend team and staff meetings, committee meetings, partnership, network forums and monitoring meetings as required.

• To undertake any other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be required fromtime to time forthe continued smooth running of Age UK East London.

• To undertake all training required to fulfil the role.

• To carry out the duties of the post in accordance with Age UK East London’s policies and procedures including: EDI, Health & Safety, Confidentiality, Complaints, GDPR, Safeguarding VulnerableAdults.

Functional Links

• The role reports to the Information & Advice Team Leader

• Close working with the Advocacy Service.

• Close working with GP’s, Outreach Venues, Hospital Ward Staff.

• Close working with the Advice Providers Network in Hackney.

Head of Practice

Business Disability Forum (BDF) is the leading business membership organisation in disability inclusion. We are trusted partners, working with business, Government and disabled people to improve the life experiences of disabled employees and consumers, by removing barriers to inclusion.

• We work with over 570 members employing over 20% of the UK workforce and an estimated 8 million people worldwide.
• We advise, support and encourage businesses (many of them global) to become more disability-smart.
• We influence policymakers by representing the voice of employers and disabled employees.
• We provide evidence-based thought leadership on how business affects the lives of disabled people.
• We help effect changes in business practices, products, services and policies that positively impact the life experiences of disabled people, and also benefit business.

The role

The Head of Practice leads on best practice and practice development across Business Disability Forum. This includes leading and overseeing the work of the Advice Service to support our members and Partners and acting as the primary referral point for complex queries, collating and sharing best practice from within our membership and the impact of BDF best practice advice. They will also lead the delivery of the BDF internal upskilling programme to ensure that all Member and Partner facing teams are at the forefront of best practice in delivering high quality advice and support.

They will also work closely with the Content Team to ensure that BDF’s resources reflect the latest best practice and with the Policy Team to ensure BDF’s advice and resources reflect the latest policy and research thinking and to maintain our position as thought leaders.

The requirement

• Experience of leading and managing experts on diversity and inclusion related situations and of motivating.
• A demonstrable track record of relationship building at a senior level leading to tangible results.
• Experience of providing consultancy, training and advice on disability related issues.
• Experience of presenting to senior management and the board.
• Experience of working in human resources, talent management, or organisation development to at least adviser level.
• High level of understanding and knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 and recent disability related case law in the UK and Globally.
• Knowledge of disability best practice, topical issues within disability rights and policy and a commitment to continuous professional development.

For the full job description and person specification of this role and instructions on how to apply please visit our website below via the button below:

How to apply

Applications should be by CV and a supporting statement, of up to 400 words, detailing why you think you would be suitable for the role. If you require any adjustments to the application process please contact Barnaby Powell as set out below. Applications should be addressed to Barnaby Powell, HR & Office Manager, Business Disability Forum, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY. If you are submitting your application by email please do so to barnabyp @ businessdisabilityforum .org .uk

• Closing date for applications: Sunday, 12 May 2024.
• First interviews are planned for the week commencing 20 & 21 May 2024.
• Second interviews are likely to take place in the week commencing TBC.

Business Disability Forum is committed to ensuring that all its information, products and services are as accessible as possible to everyone.

If you wish to discuss anything in regards to accessibility or if you require alternative formats please contact Barnaby Powell by email at bthe address above or by telephone on 020-7403-3020.

For further information on Business Disability Forum please refer to our website via the buttton below.

Equal opportunities

We are committed to becoming disability-smart and an employer of choice irrespective of race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, age, disability, or pregnancy and maternity. The ethical and business case of ensuring that our workforce is representative of wider society is at the heart of what we do. When we are recruiting, disabled candidates who meet all of the essential criteria will be offered an interview.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of and help shape a new DHSC funded project - Early Support Hubs - providing innovative ways to support Young People’s (11 – 25 years) Mental Health and Wellbeing across the borough of Hackney.

This Early Intervention approach will enable young people to access support in a timely way within their own community and we will work collaboratively with the Hackney Super Youth Hub enabling a one stop shop experience for local young people.

We are looking for passionate and motivated Therapeutic Youth Workers who are committed to supporting positive change for local young people to join our team.

Main Responsibilities:

· Undertake 1:1, group, detached and outreach work with young people

· Provide one-to-one key-working up to 12 sessions, combining youth work values and principles with a therapeutic, trauma-informed approach to help address a wide range of issues that may impact on young people’s mental health and wellbeing e.g. housing, employment, physical health, education, finances and relationships.

· Use a supportive, young person-centred approach. e.g. explaining what services are and what they do, ensuring information is accurate and up-to-date, filling out forms together, making personal introductions, accompanying young people to initial meetings/sessions, being with them during phone calls etc.  

· To work with the Hackney Super Youth Hub, to support young people and liaise with appropriate professionals in the network.

· To maintain confidential, up to date and accurate records of all sessions and plans.

· Be an advocate for young people, supporting colleagues to understand adolescence, and how to engage with young people, particularly with concerns around:

o mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

o Supporting vulnerable groups who would not otherwise receive support (levelling-up).

o Improving children and young people’s engagement with EET.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

· QCF Level 3 Diploma in Youth work or equivalent and have experience of youth work in a youth work setting

· Experience of working with young people, delivering therapeutic groups and/or 1 to 1 interventions in a youth work or similar setting.

· To have an active interest in working with those affected by mental health issues and recognise the impact this has on their life.

· Experience of building positive, impactful relationships with young people responding to their needs

· Excellent, up to date knowledge and understanding of safeguarding needs and risks young people may face.

· Experienced in working as part of a safeguarding team around a child, i.e. Childrens services, education, CAMHS, etc

· Experience of working in with an outreach role, in the community and school settings.

· Confident working well independently as well as in a team setting.

· Ability to use own initiative and be able to respond to change as part of a pilot initiative.

· Computer literacy including Microsoft Office suite (incl. Outlook and Word), with ability to accurately input sensitive data electronically

· Be committed to equal opportunities and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all that you do. Have experience of and active interest in working with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

· Be committed to and comply with Family Action’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion and Safeguarding policies, including Child Protection.

· Willing and able to work flexibly including ‘twilight’ (3 – 7pm), evening (up to 10pm) and weekend hours.  

· Ability to align with and support Family Action’s mission and values.

· Appointments are subject to Family Action receiving a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days pro-rata, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holidays.

- up to 6% matched-pension contributions.

- flexible working arrangements and new starters have the right to make flexible working requests from day one of employment.

- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions;

- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers,

- cycle to work scheme,

- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities.

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect

Closing Date: Ongoing – We reserve the right to close the advert once we receive a suitable amount  of application so please apply as soon as possible.

Interview date: Throughout April 2024 

Salary: £46,920 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum

Hours: Full time (but open to proposals including part time, job shares etc)

Contract: Permanent

Benefits:

· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;

· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;

· Attractive family friendly policies;

· Private healthcare cover;

· Season ticket loans;

· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.

For more information about our benefits please visit our website.

Location:  London/Bristol - employees are able to work from home on an arrangement agreed with their line manager and we have colleagues based around the UK.

An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) for a Policy Leader (Finance Policy).

The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people.

This role is a crucial and exciting one within our policy team and the wider organisation. You will use your knowledge and understanding of housing associations and their finances to build strong relationships with Finance Directors across our membership, and use their and your specialist knowledge to shape the financial environment so that housing associations can best deliver on their social purpose.

Whether this is making a persuasive and evidence-based case to the government for additional grant funding to build new homes, or working with sector experts on the detail of accounting, pensions, tax or treasury policy, or meeting with banks, lenders, ratings agencies, UK Finance, HMRC, and the Treasury on behalf of our members, this role is central to our work influencing national social housing policy.

Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to download the full job profile and person specification for this role.

Key elements of the role:

· Shape and lead our policy work on key strategic issues for housing associations around housing finance – advocating for solutions and mitigating risks that affect the delivery of housing associations’ social purpose;

· Develop evidence and ideas on technical policy areas into salient policy solutions that will make a difference for the sector and influence government;

· Represent the NHF to senior colleagues in government, members and external stakeholders with credibility, expertise and political judgement;

· Communicate with and provide advice to members on critical changes to policy and the external environment.

The successful candidate:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

· A strong and in-depth understanding of housing association finances and the operating model of housing associations (finance qualifications are not required, but a technical understanding of finance and accounting issues will be vital);

· An ability to lead the development of credible, robust, evidence based policy, including on complex and technical policy areas;

· An ability to communicate credibly, clearly and persuasively in writing and in person including to Chief Executives, senior government officials and finance professionals;

· An ability to draft, oversee, adapt and deliver complex plans for the delivery of multiple projects or programmes of work.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.  

We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBT+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.

Disability confident committed employer

We are a disability confident committed employer and if you are a disabled person who demonstrates you meet the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.

We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact Stephanie Green, People Manager with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.

Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.

Uploading your CV and cover letter

If you decide to apply for this role, when requested, please upload a version of your CV that does not include any personal details, such as name, gender, age etc.  You should also ensure that you do not add your name at the end of the cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.

Right to work in the UK / UK VISA Sponsorship

You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.

Closing date for applications: 6 May 2024

Interview date: 16 May 2024 

This role will involve office based working at WGN sites in Shepherd’s Bush as well as travel across London, community based and remote working.

About us 

Women and Girls Network (WGN) was established in 1987 and has spent over 30 years supporting women and girls across London affected by gendered violence. This includes childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, prostitution (including trafficking and sexual exploitation), female genital mutilation (FGM), and so-called 'honour' based crimes such as forced marriage.

Our goal is to promote, preserve, and restore the mental health and wellbeing of women and girls, to empower them to make a total and sustainable recovery from the experiences of violence.

About the role

We are now looking for an experienced and innovative individual to support the engagement and outreach of our Young Women’s Service.

The successful candidate will be experienced in developing and delivering creative Gender Based Violence (GBV) prevention programs and confident to successfully engage young women in a wide range of settings including schools, colleges, youth programs & pupil referral units to raise awareness, challenge and positively influence the attitudes and behaviours that normalise GBV in this peer group. You will receive training on delivering GBV Resilience Programs that build psychological and emotional resilience in young people (YP) to strengthen protective factors to promote positive mental and emotional well-being in YP. You will co-produce and deliver training and awareness raising work for professionals, including first responders and managers in GBV related services / mental health provisions, educational centres and non-abusing family members and carers to facilitate appropriate response towards YP at risk. 

About you

You will therefore be skilled in nurturing and developing YP voices and active engagement within such forums. You will be skilled at working alongside young women with an acute awareness of how to successfully co-create and co-deliver training packages to professionals and the wider community, thus centralising YP as the leaders and change agents in the project.

Further information 

WGN’s employee benefits include: 3% pension contribution, enhanced leave entitlement and an Employee Assistance Programme, as well as the opportunity to work with a leading multi-cultural, women-led feminist charity.

We welcome and encourage applications from women of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Ethnic communities.

This post is subject to satisfactory references and DBS check.

WGN is an equal opportunities employer.

Posts are exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1.

We're looking for a temporary Revenue & Income Officer to join Your Place and be part of our dedicated team to help us with our mission to solve homelessness in east London, one person at a time!

About the role
Based within the Resident Services team, the Revenue Officer will play a critical role to help deliver an effective and high performing rent collection and recovery service in accordance with legislation, the organisation’s policies, set performance targets and customer satisfaction requirements.

In collaboration with the RSM and RI Team Leader and Finance Team to ensure that Your Place are compliant with all regulations and using robust policy and procedures. Support with the set up of the new Pyramid system and ensuring the right systems are in place to effectively manage the Revenue and Income stream and arrears of the organisation.

Maximising the organisation’s Revenue and Income by liaising with both internal and external partners including the Resident Services, Keyworkers, HB, DWP and directly with residents., and effectively managing the arrears.

This role will also manage the impact of welfare reform provisions, ensuring an effective advice and support service to residents to manage risk on revenue and income levels.

Contract: Temporary Contract (until September 2024)
Hours: Monday - Friday 37.5 hours 
Location: Canning Town, London

Other responsibilities include

• Investigating and support clients with Housing Benefit Appeals
• To support our project to transfer all accounts from Inform to Pyramid
• Investigate and support to manage Overpayment Claims from Housing Benefit
• Ensure rent accounts are up to date and correct. Checking HB entitlements against PC rates and requesting adjustments accordingly.
• Chasing ex resident arrears
• To manage resident rent and accommodation charge accounts and other former resident debts, on a regular basis identifying trends and patterns on individual accounts and then liaise with Support Workers or residents to rectify income issues and address arrears in line with policies and procedures
• To contribute towards the continuous improvement of performance in line with the organisation’s service plan targets
• To work collaboratively and closely with the Finance officer and Revenue and Income Team Leader to ensure all rent accounts tally.

About you

• Demonstrable experience of working in a supported housing environment in a similar or related role for at least 5 years
• GSCE (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• Experience of working with software applications including Microsoft office and bespoke IT Systems.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and priorities workloads.
• Able to take ownership and deliver excellent customer service in a professional and confident manner
• Demonstrate a positive, flexible approach to team working.
• Ability to communicate with residents and colleagues effectively.
• Ability to provide customer focused and responsive services.
• Willingness to work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service
• Patient and pro-active
• Commitment to the Your Place values including diversity and inclusion
• Housing or a related qualification - desirable but not essential

About applying

When applying don't forget to answer the questions in our application process to tell us more about how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience to be successful in this role.

At Your Place, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that the different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better resident outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of peoples age, disability, sex, gender, identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability.

This post is subject to an Enhanced DBS check and a right to work in the UK.

The Margins Project, Union Chapel’s Frontline charity, work with people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness and helps address pertinent social justice issues these communities face.

The charity runs three integrated programmes:

• a community drop-in programme providing access to nutritious hot meals, and limited access to showers & laundry services.

• advice and engagement programme providing one-to-one as well as group advice service on benefits and housing, and onward referrals to pertinent services.

• support employment programme offers a paid catering training to 10 people who have had experience of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill-health, and or imprisonment.

Our range of services are designed to help guests (service users) at varying stages, from having no roof over their head to getting back into employment.

This role offers an opportunity for an experienced adviser to help shape and evolve Margins services. Experiences on the ground at the drop-in programme inform the charity’s strategic direction. The role will involve expanding our partner network to link into pertinent statutory and other charitable organisations that provide services that will help our guests with their housing, substance misuse, recidivism, and mental health challenges.

We work closely with people on an individual case work basis to get guests off the streets, into hostels or temporary accommodation where possible, and work with private and social landlords on a range of issues. We support and represent the people we work with on the phone and in person, including at the council, the doctors, the job centre, and benefits tribunals.

Our drop-ins run on Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00am to 1:00pm where attendance is currently from 65 to 75 guests. The advice and engagement worker works more intensively with smaller numbers of up to 20. The demand for more follow up work and advocacy support has been increasing over the last two years and this in-house advice worker is critical for this demand.

Working collaboratively with the Drop-in Community worker (currently vacant), the head chef, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, you will be responsible for the support of a caseload of guests, some with complex needs, and will undertake key work responsibilities including registering the guests, identifying their housing, benefit and personal needs and conducting all necessary follow ups including occasional advocacy support, where deemed necessary.

Job Title: ADVICE AND ENGAGEMENT WORKER

Responsible to: Head of Margins

Location: Margins Offices at Union Chapel, Islington, London

Salary: £32,500 - £35,000

Terms: Full time 37.5 hours per week with 1 hour unpaid for lunch.

Three-month probation, two months’ notice.

23 days annual leave + bank holidays. Workplace pension scheme (NEST)

Start date: May 2024

Purpose of Job:

• To advise and assist guests (service users) with benefit claims and related issues, e.g., Housing Benefit, DLA, PIP, Income Support, ESA, Universal Credit, and other benefits. In particular, assisting them to claim Housing Benefit and UC to reduce risk of rent arrears.

• To develop significant contact and liaison with comparable housing and benefits advice organisations.

• To encourage guests engage with Margins activities, and where practicable, with the wider Union Chapel activities.

• To develop, facilitate and deliver group advice workshops/training programmes and open discussions forums to engage guests who historically do not engage with Union Chapel.

• To Refer Margins guests to relevant internal and external services.

• In liaison with the head of Margins and the chef to refer potential candidates to Margins’ Supported Employment Programme.

The Advice and Engagement Worker will have an active role in identifying and engaging guests as well as referring potential candidates to the Supported Employment Programme, a programme anticipated to expand beyond its current services in Margins catering.

Responsible For:

• Working with caseload of guests

• With the support of drop-in services community worker (currently vacant) to ensure the smooth running of the drop-in services

• Identifying opportunities to improve services both at a project and organisational level.

• Assist the Head of Margins in ensuring that the Margins Project remains GDPR compliant.

• Represent the organisation effectively internally and externally.

• Working in partnership with statutory and other charities to deliver co-ordinated support to guests.

• Identify relevant training opportunities in capacity building.

• Initial liaison with and acting as the first referral contact for the Supported Employment Programme

Key Duties:

• To encourage and assist guests achieve the maximum income from benefits to which they are entitled to, and to refer to relevant support services such as mental health, social services, community support.

• To advise guests on basic budgeting and where applicable to refer to Tenancy Support Officers or outside agencies for more complex help.

• To liaise closely with local authorities, social, and private landlords to try to achieve the best outcome for our guests.

• To identify if the guest is accessioning the right benefit that will support their long-term wellbeing.

• To support newly arrived refugees with their housing and benefit advice needs.

• To actively assist guests with formal appeals against Local Authority, DWP and HMRC decisions regarding benefit entitlement. Representing at Appeal Tribunals.

• To signpost guests to resources that can assist them in finding work.

• When needed, signposting guests to specialist providers in mental health or drug and alcohol support services.

• To Support guests on paying their rent, including providing advice on benefits and debt management.

• To Address breaches of occupancy agreements and develop strategies that would prevent and avoid eviction.

• To assist guests with backdated claims for Benefit by supporting their applications through to completion.

• To ensure all guests’ files are up-to-date and that data is captured on our management system.

• To provide written reports and statistics as and when requested.

• To attend supervision, training, and meetings as and when required.

• To provide advocacy support to guests as and when required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

• Good knowledge of the benefits system, including Universal Credit.

• Experience of working with homeless and marginalised people and understanding of the issues that face them.

• Experience of working or collaborating with people with mental health issues.

• Experience of working with refugees and their needs.

• Ability to manage challenging behaviours.

• Embrace a strength-based approach.

• A clear understanding of professional boundaries.

• A knowledge of the best practice in Safeguarding Adult procedures.

• Excellent written and oral communication skill.

• Ability to work proactively as part of a team.

• Ability to plan, manage and action follow-ups on time and manage and contain workload.

• Proficient in IT skills and competence in Microsoft Office applications.

• Committed to personal and professional development through ongoing training.

Desirable:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience of providing advice to vulnerable groups

• Experience of delivering provision for the benefit of vulnerable backgrounds

Equal Opportunities:

• Ensure consistent and effective implementation of Union Chapel Equal Opportunities & Diversity policy and procedures.

• Positively promote an environment which respects and values the diversity of staff, volunteers, and Guests.

This is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Advice and Engagement Worker. It is therefore not comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed with the postholder and the line manager from time to time. The post holder may undertake any other reasonable duties within the capabilities and scope of the post as specified by their line manager. In such circumstances appropriate training will be provided.

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and a support statement, both no more than two pages, outlining your skills and experiences to meet the criteria of the role, why you want to work for Union Chapel Project and your availability to start with “Advice and Engagement Worker” in the subject line. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Form.

Closing date: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 8am

Interviews will take place w/c 13 May 2024

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Assessment Centre service in Kensington and Chelsea.

£27,352.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.
Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Please see website for more details.

This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.

What you'll do:
Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs including support needs and daily living skills. This would include potential risks and an assessment of the customers independent living skills as a whole.
The initial and co-produced assessment will incorporate models of co-production, observation, and person-centred planning. This is with a view that it is solution focused as to provide a framework for progression towards independent living.
Liaise with partner agencies regarding the assessment process seeking advice and guidance as to specialist input and clinical input as part of multi-disciplinary assessment process.
Create support/ action plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available.
Empower customers to be part of the local community and active participants in the local community as part of a Recovery Capital model.
Liaise with partner agencies regarding making referrals where an unmet need has been identified via the multi-agency assessment.
Ensure that referrals are chased proactively so that properties which can be used to house those in need are filled as efficiently as possible.
Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Team Leader/Manager
Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks as past of the assessment of daily living skills, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation.
Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local community.
Co produce In Reach services at the Assessment Centre so that we are able to action plan jointly with partner agencies and feed into any action plans in regard to customers support needs e.g. Substance Misuse treatment plans
Attend training and workshops that are delivered via partner agencies were possible to provide a through and up to date assessment.
Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to, including assessment and support of budgeting and debt management to garner their tenancy readiness.
Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/customer records to professional standards.
Adhere to Look Ahead's Policies and Procedures
Engage in learning and development activity to increase knowledge and skills.
Provide day-to-day instruction of domestic staff/Personal Support Assistants where appropriate.
Undertake any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as may be reasonably assigned.

About you:
Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour.
Prefers working as part of a group or team.
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
Flexible.
Open to feedback and self development.
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised.
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem.
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude.
Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement.
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour.

What you'll bring:
NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector

About us:

Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us. Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Citizens Advice Westminster works to make a difference to the lives of people in Westminster. We deliver a high quality, agile advice service which reflects community issues and needs. Our service puts people first.

As a Generalist Adviser / Caseworker, you will be part of a dedicated team helping in the delivery of advice and casework on full range of advice enquiry areas in particular welfare benefits and housing. You will also be undertaking casework support for vulnerable clients including acting on their behalf with third parties.

You will need to be a strong communicator with excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to deal with diverse range of people including vulnerable clients. You will be committed to developing your skills and happy to work flexibly, including from home, since we offer advice services on the phone, via digital technologies and face to face. While we are based near Royal Oak station the role will also include working from community settings including Food Banks across Westminster.

We will offer the right candidate a generous salary with other benefits including hybrid and flexible working, annual season ticket loans, career breaks, and the opportunity to develop yourself professionally and your career within the organisation. You will be part of a warm and friendly work culture where opinions are valued. We can also offer a flexible working environment where you can work some days from home.

If you are ready to be a part of this community organisation offering a vital service to people who need our help, then click apply and complete the application process, demonstrating how you meet the competencies in the Person Specification in your supporting statement. Please note we expect employees to spend 40% to 60% of their working time at the office or in outreach location.

Citizens Advice Westminster value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. We strongly encourage applicants from all parts of society and believe that diversity is what makes us the leaders in what we do.

Closing Date: 3rd May 2024, 5pm

Assessments and Interviews may be booked before closing date if we find the right candidates with the skills and experience we are looking for in the person specifications, so apply now!

Are you a strong, visionary leader keen to advocate for the VCSE sector? Are you interested in bringing people and organisations together to collaborate on the future of community led services across Hampshire and to be the public face of the organisation?

Having led the organisation through a significant period of change, our CEO has chosen to move on to take up a new challenge and set up her own business. We are now seeking a Chief Executive to lead Action Hampshire through the next phase of its strategy. This is an exciting opportunity for anyone who has the desire, vision and ambition to continue to build a system that is fairer for our communities.

As a strengths-based organisation, we value the unique contributions each member of our team brings and our organisational culture emphasises coaching and leadership over management. We’re committed to inclusivity, equity and to the wellbeing and safety of our team. This role offers a high degree of flexibility in working hours and can be delivered remotely, apart from bimonthly coworking or away days in Hampshire. You’ll have the opportunity to set your own development goals and targets and receive support to achieve them. Joining a friendly and supportive team, you’ll be able to manage your own time and work both independently and collaboratively with colleagues and contractors. You’ll have the opportunity to apply your strengths to other parts of the organisation too.

Key tasks include:

(see job description for a full list of tasks)

• Lead, inspire and develop the team at Action Hampshire to deliver our purpose
• Work with the Board of Trustees to ensure delivery and regular review of Action Hampshire’s (‘the charity’) vision, mission and strategic plans 
• Deliver the charity’s vision and mission through appropriate plans and in accordance with agreed policies and protocols. 
• Support and advise the Board to meet its responsibilities to ensure that the charity is legally compliant, well run and meets its organisational duties and obligations
• Enhance the charity’s impact and profile locally, regionally and nationally.

For almost 75 years, we’ve supported communities across Hampshire. Today, our mission focuses on strengthening the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector, supporting communities to raise their voices, and doing all we can to reduce disadvantage and celebrate diversity across Hampshire. Our responsive approach means we work across a wide range of issues relevant to our communities, from increasing the availability of rural affordable housing to ensuring cancer awareness messaging reaches seldom heard communities.

There has never been a more exciting time to join our talented, ambitious and friendly team. Our new 3-year strategy sets out clear goals and actions which we’ll achieve together. Our leadership team are embedding a culture of learning, experimentation and development. Our team is caring, collaborative and driven by our values of being bold, enterprising, informative, and empowering. We very much welcome applications from all members of the community, regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, faith or disability. We are a Living Wage employer and Disability Confident.

Make your mark as a key leader in this growing charity

This is a key leadership role in this vibrant, user-led charity based in Richmond and Wandsworth. You will be providing leadership and direction to 5 team leads/managers as well as leading and directing development to increase the scope and depth of the services we offer. We are looking for innovation as well as sound leadership skills and professional knowledge of employment law is a given.

Ruils is a charity supports disabled children and adults, to live independently, be part of their community and to live life to the full. We provide information, advice, practical support, befriending and accessible activities to our clients and families. We enable individuals to have choice and control over the way in which they get their support.

The Adult Services Team Manager is one of 3 team managers reporting to our Chief Executive Officer. The services managed include Direct Payment Support across Richmond and Wandsworth, Befriending and Community Activities, our Benefits and Housing Advice and Information service and our Counselling service.

We constantly research and develop services to meet the identified needs of the community and this role would suit someone who wants a good level of autonomy to develop new ideas.

The Adults Services Manager works alongside our Children’s Team Manager and our Social Prescribing and Community Development Manager, supported by Finance, Fundraising and Campaigns and Communications Managers.

Purpose of Post

• To be responsible for the management of the Support Services to Direct Payment clients in Richmond and Wandsworth.
• To be responsible for the research and development of adult services in Richmond and Wandsworth.
• To oversee promotion, monitoring and delivery of the CILS, Pathways and Counselling services.
• To provide leadership and supervision, performance evaluation and general support for all of the adult services team managers and leads
• To be responsible for adult safeguarding and health and safety across the organisation.

What you might be doing now:

• You might be working for or volunteering in a similar charity or in a similar role.
• You may be looking to work part-time to fit around your other responsibilities.
• You may be a HR practitioner looking for a new management challenge away from the corporate world
• You may have worked for a local authority, but are looking for more autonomy and flexibility
• Or you may have the skills we need from some other combination of work and volunteering.

Main Duties include:

Management of Direct Payment Support Service

• Lead and manage the Direct Payment Support Service across Richmond and Wandsworth Boroughs through an experienced DP Project Manager.
• Provide support to the DP Project Manager to resolve complex DP HR management issues around the area of employment law.
• Support the Project Manager in their work with the local authority to set targets for the project, monitor performance against these targets and identify and resolve any issues that arise.
• Report as required to the commissioners and the Ruils Board of trustees
• Work with the DP Project Manager and the CEO on new DP projects and funding applications as required.

CILS, Pathways and Counselling Teams

• Lead and manage the delivery of the Community activity, Befriending, Pathways and Counselling services.
• Work with the CILS partners to ensure that the service is meeting Local Authority targets
• Report as required to the commissioners and the Ruils Board of trustees
• Responsible for ensuring active promotion of the services to potential and existing clients and stakeholders and to ensure representation of Ruils at networking events.
• Work with the CEO and Fundraising Manager to ensure projects are fully funded and demand is well managed.

General Responsibilities

• Responsible for ensuring safeguarding policies and principles are upheld across Adult Teams.
• Responsible for Health and Safety across the organisation.

What we can offer you:

• A vibrant and interesting work environment – every day is different.
• An experienced and supportive CEO and a great team 
• Training and development opportunities.
• Flexible working.
• Kind and caring colleagues who work as a team.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Access to an employee assistance programme (EAP)
• 1-2-1 coaching

We welcome applicants from all walks of life, training and mentoring will be provided.

We actively encourage applications from disabled people and people with long term health and mental conditions. We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme in that we will guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. Please state in a cover letter if you wish us to consider you for this guaranteed interview scheme.

Please apply in writing with a cover letter and stating your current salary to Viv Sage our HR Consultant at Better Talent.

Closing date for applicants: 1st May 2024, interviews the following week.

We are seeking talented and experienced senior managers to lead the organisation’s Workforce and Living Well Programmes. 

Position: Programme Lead x2 roles (Workforce or Living Well Programme)

Location: Remote/Hybrid

Salary: £50,000-£60,000 per annum pro rata

Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week (negotiable)

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 25 days paid holiday (rising to 29 days with service increments) plus 8 bank holiday, Personal Pension Scheme, Healthcare Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, Staff Awards Scheme, Company Sick Pay Scheme, Flexible working patterns

Closing Date: Monday 22nd April 2024

Interview Date: 8th or 9th May

About the Role

As a key member of the Strategy and Impact Directorate, you will establish and lead one of our strategic programmes and focus on building key relationships, developing a portfolio of projects and helping us achieve our strategic ambitions.

You will be able to draw on the organisational resources, bringing them together around the problem with a clear and unrelenting focus on impact.  Whilst it is important that you bring an effective and efficient approach, it is also critical that you bring creativity and vision to enable the programmes to realise their full potential.

As an experienced senior manager, you will lead the organisation’s Workforce Wellbeing Programme, bringing together a range of projects and activities that respond to the challenges and emotional distress faced by the NHS workforce on a daily basis.

Or, you will lead the Living Well Programme, bringing together a range of projects and activities that respond to the challenges presented by inequality and help to unlock the power of people and communities to create health, maintain good health and to manage as effectively as possible whilst living with one or more chronic conditions which in turn seeks to reduce or avoid demand on NHS services

About You

Whichever Programme you lead, you will have experience of:

· Leading complex multi-partner and stakeholder programmes in the VCSE or public sector

· Leading large programmes including programme management, governance, monitoring, impact measurement and reporting

· Working in an evolving strategic and operational environment and able to maintain and direct impactful programmes through periods of change

· Building and delivering communication strategies, using learning and insight to drive transformation

· Leadership and people management

· Co-production, collaboration and partnership working

· Working in a team to support the delivery of team objectives

About the Organisation

This is an exciting time to join the organisation as we begin to plan and deliver against our newly launched strategy, to achieve our vision of a future with a thriving NHS and the best possible healthcare for everyone, in which the finance team plays a vital role.

You will be asked to provide a copy of your CV and if selected and a supporting statement outlining how you meet the job description, person specification and any preference for a specific programme, via NFP People. The supporting statement should be no more than 2 sides of A4.

Please indicate which role you are applying for.  If applying for both please submit a single CV but a separate personal statement for each outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of each role. 

Other roles you may have experience of could include Programme Lead, Programme Manager, Programme Officer, Senior Programme Manager, Programme, Programmes, Impact, Engagement.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.