We have an exciting opportunity for a Peer Support Coordinator with strong digital skills to join the Homicide Service Peer Support Team team, working 37.5 hours a week. This position is home-based.

Do you want to make a difference every day? Do you want to contribute to change & improvement for those who need it?

Do you have resilience & adaptability? Can you work effectively with a focus on customer service and care?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

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
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days plus Bank Holidays
• Pension with 5% employer contribution
• Enhanced sick pay allowances & maternity 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:

This role is home based, but will include some travel nationally, and some overnight stays.

As a Peer Support Coordinator you will: -

Manage a number of Peer Support volunteers who have lived experience of bereavement through homicide. You will support them to use their experience to help others who are also bereaved. This will involve monthly supervisions and regular communication to ensure they are up to date with service procedures and developments.

You will have experience of working in a trauma-informed way, with empathy and compassion. You will have good personal resilience, and be able to make effective use of supervisions to manage your wellbeing.

You will have a passion for using digital technology to make support accessible for people. You will take the lead on maintaining our secure online chat room by working with a group of volunteer supporters. You will also be key in the planning and organisation of our online support groups. Strong digital skills and enthusiasm for digital working is essential.

You will need: -

Knowledge of the impact of bereavement through homicide or the psychological impact of significant trauma resulting from a distressing event

Proven ability to work digitally in creative and appropriate ways to engage with service users and/or peer supporters

Confidence in using Microsoft Word, basic Excel and PowerPoint, and the ability to use client databases

Ability to work on own initiative with good time management skills, prioritise work load, and make use of clinical supervision

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.

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.

”To reach and empower the community with a holistic approach to helping tackle homelessness in London”

• Are you looking for an exciting career opportunity that will keep you on your toes?Do you like working with people?
• Do you have amazing communication skills?
• Do you have an interest in the social care?
• Are you self-motivated even when working alone?

Job Description

To support vulnerable single homeless adults who have been referred to our service. Individuals reside in our shared temporary accommodation and receive floating support from you, to ensure that they can acquire the skills needed to progress to independent living

As a Support Coordinator you will be assigned to a client group and provide them with guidance, according to their assessed needs, and their care and support plan. You will enable your clients to self-develop and progress, reaching the personal goals they have set so that they can move on to being fully independent in the community.

This is primarily a lone working role and will involve communicating face to face with clients on a regular basis. You will conduct one to one key work sessions, house group meetings, signposting and link them in with other support services.

You will be required to attend regular support team meetings, one-to-one supervision with your line manager, and attend mandatory in-house training offered by Assisted Accommodation.

                                                                 Specification

Essential:

• Have excellent communication skills and be able to converse with clients in an appropriate manner.
• To have a sufficient understanding of both spoken and written English language to be able to effectively record and report as well as adhere to written company policy and procedure.
• Own transport car/cycle
• To understand UK social care practices and regulations.
• Be confident in asserting boundaries.
• To be comfortable in lone working
• Have confidence in communicating with other community organisations, and or, local authority departments who may be supporting the service user.
• Having an empathetic and understanding nature is vital.
• Understand the importance of confidentiality and be able to apply this to your role.
• Ability to follow good working practices and procedures.
• Have a basic understanding of using IT systems including Ms. Word and Outlook.

Desirable:

• Level 2 Qualification in Health and Social Care
• Have knowledge and understanding of writing care plans and risk assessments
• An understanding of equality and diversity guidelines
• Have some knowledge and experience of supporting people in the community

If successful, you will be joining the floating support team that works with vulnerable adults with an array of support needs such as mental health, substance and alcohol misuse, and homelessness.

Multiple full-time positions are available in a fast-growing organisation available for an immediate start with a competitive salary based on experience.

Employment is subject to a satisfactory DBS check and successfully completing a 2-week Taster induction.

Independent Age works to ensure that as we grow older, we all have the opportunity to live well with dignity, choice and purpose. To achieve this we provide information, advice and connection services for older people; campaign on the issues that matter most to them around health and care, poverty and loneliness and provide capacity building support to others working in the sector.

This is an exciting time to join Independent Age as we work to increase our profile, impact and reach so more people can live a happy, connected and purposeful later life. We want to find talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

This role is situated in a department that brings together policy, campaigns and public affairs professionals. The Policy Officer will provide vital support on our policy and research activities, ensuring our work delivers the maximum possible impact for older people. 

The postholder will be responsible for developing policy activity, research and analysis to influence change on key areas of work for Independent Age. Specific responsibilities include providing summaries and analysis of relevant policy developments, writing detailed policy content for reports, briefings, consultation responses, blogs and social media, and developing the charity’s policy positions. We are also looking for someone who can conduct qualitative and quantitative research on older people’s experiences, including sourcing and analysing relevant data and speaking to older people directly.

You should have strong writing skills, and experience of desk-based or field research and producing written analysis. You will have an understanding of how policy, public affairs and campaigns activity interacts to create positive change. You will have experience of building working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and collaborating both within a team and across different teams. Organisational skills, with a proven ability to work independently and meet strict deadlines, a high level of attention to detail, and strong IT skills are also important. Finally, you will have a demonstrable passion for, and affinity with, our cause, and an ability to speak to people compassionately and empathetically when discussing sensitive subjects.

At Independent Age we live by our values. We are Purpose-driven; compassionate; expert; collaborative; accountable; inclusive.

We champion inclusion and celebrate diversity within and outside our charity to create a culture where everyone knows that they belong and can bring their whole self to work.   We hire from a variety of backgrounds as we know this makes our charity stronger.

If you are passionate about our cause, share our values and believe you have the skills for this role, then we’d love to meet you.

We offer two incremental salary increases for everyone joining us, one at successful completion of probation and the second on the first anniversary of starting with us.

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best, so we provide support to attain this with flexible working hours and regular remote working opportunities.  We also offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance and fantastic learning and development opportunities.

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer.  

To apply, please visit our website to submit a cover letter detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, along with your CV.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 8 June

Full time permanent post, 37 hours per week

Hybrid working, with one day a week working in our Reading, London or Brighton office

Salary in the range of £22,988 to £25,542 per annum.

£3,299 per annum location allowance payable if London based

Parents and Children Together (PACT) is an independent adoption charity and family support provider which helps hundreds of families every year through outstanding adoption services and therapeutic support and community projects across London and the South of England.

Our Adoption Services team recruit, prepare, approve and support adoptive parents for children in care.  We’re looking for an Enquiries Officer to join our team who operate our frontline enquiry service providing information and advice.

If you have outstanding customer service skills, are competent in the use of Microsoft Office packages, accurate in the use of database systems and can demonstrate effective listening skills whilst developing your knowledge and understanding of our adoption enquiries, then we would like to hear from you.

To join our inspirational organisation where you can make a real difference, please visit our website for further information and details of how to apply. 

Closing date for applications is Friday 27 May 2022 at 5pm.

Interviews will take place week commencing 06 and 13 June 2022.

Please note that we may close this advertisement earlier than stated should we receive a high volume of suitable applications.  Please do not submit your CV, only completed application forms will be accepted.  No agencies please.

PACT is a supportive and respectful place where people are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of women, children and families from many different backgrounds.  We continuously look to progress the ways in which we create families and bring people together and encourage applications from people across all communities.  We are committed to ensuring that our people and our services reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and applications from people from under-represented groups are particularly welcomed. Please note prospective employees will need to evidence they have the relevant permission to work in the UK.

This is a fantastic opportunity to be a part of a growing social enterprise supported by the best of British designers helping prisoners with their rehabilitative journey. Fine Cell Work is a charity which makes beautiful handmade products in British prisons, teaching prisoners high-quality needlework boosting their self-worth, instilling self-discipline, fostering hope and encouraging them to lead independent, crime-free lives.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative person with excellent communication skills and a passion for promoting social enterprise. You will need to demonstrate marketing training and/or experience with an interest in driving sales across all channels. The successful candidate must understand and be passionate about the work of the charity.

For the full job description and person specification please see the attached documents. Do visit our website for to learn more about what we do.

To apply please submit a covering letter and CV demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the role.

Core Job Purpose:

The Sales and Marketing Coordinator supports the Sales and Ecommerce Manager and Comms and PR Manager with all areas of sales (including pop-ups and events) and marketing including social media and is responsible for preparing and sending a fortnightly e-newsletter to our customer database and scheduling sales-related posts on social media.

Sales

1. Responsible for the management and updating of the e-commerce website (Shopify), ensure the charity information is up-to-date and support online sales.
2. Website management and merchandising, including creating any design changes, updating and creating content, implementing changes and all troubleshooting and testing.
3. Responsible for overseeing and facilitating the despatch of web sales including training of volunteers and ex-prisoners, who we refer to as apprentices, to support despatch.
4. Ensure all shipping requirements are met, keeping up-to-date with international shipping regulations.
5. Support the Sales and Ecommerce Manager generating the monthly sales reports and sales analysis.

Marketing

1. Responsible for preparing and sending fortnightly e-newsletters to our customer database.
2. Support the Comms and PR Manager with timely posts on the social media channels, managing engagement.
3. As being part of the design and marketing team, contribute to the 5-year marketing plan and product innovation pipeline, sharing creative input and insights based on customer data and analysis.​

Customer Service

1. Be the first point of call for customer queries, answering the phone and responding to customer queries via email in a helpful and timely manner.
2. Resolving any order fulfilment issues, making sure the customer experience remains positive.

Pop-ups and Events

1. Responsible for the day to day running and merchandising of pop-up shops (1-3 times per year of 2 to 4 weeks), including redesigning the window display and stock placement.
2. Working with the Volunteer and Programmes Coordinator to ensure we have enough volunteers to man shops.
3. Ensuring that sufficient stock is available at Fine Cell Work’s sales events (5/6 large events annually, with responsibility for approximately 8 small sales events).  As part of the sales and events team, sell our products and promote the work of the charity at events.

The Member Services team at UUK delivers high quality services to all UUK members (vice-chancellors) and to specific segments of our membership in support of UUK's strategic aims. It also leads on UUK governance. This is a critical post within a small team providing administrative and logistical support to the Director of Member Services and to the Secretary to the Board and Member Services Officer.

Interviews will take place on Thursday 23 June 2022 in-person in London.

RNIB's Phone and Face to Face Living Well with Sight Loss Courses bring together blind and partially sighted people to share experiences, learn about opportunities and to gain knowledge to support independent and confidence living. Due to our service growth and customer demands, RNIB is now looking for a Living Well with Sight Loss Coordinator to deliver the service across Yorkshire.

Role

Working with volunteers and partners, you will be facilitating and also developing capacity for others to facilitate courses to ensure we can offer a range of options to our customers.

This is a home-based role, but will require face-to-face working within the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk area. As such, the right candidate will need to be able to travel to these areas as required.

Skills & Experience

With experience of networking and relationship building, some experience of facilitation and a commitment to empowering blind and partially sighted people, you'll be contributing to one of the RNIB's most exciting and rapidly developing services. You'll need to be prepared to travel extensively within your region and be committed to developing this service and working to develop links with your local RNIB colleagues to ensure we reach more people.

Key benefits

In exchange we offer a competitive salary, a stimulating and supportive working environment and a benefits package including:

• 26 days holiday per year (plus bank holidays), which increase with service.
• Excellent pension schemes

How to apply

If you would like to apply for this great job opportunity please review the documents linked below, then select "Apply Online" at the bottom of this page and complete our application form, telling us how you meet the Specialist Skills, Knowledge and Experience criteria (Section 1 of the person specification in the Job Description). Guidance for completion can be found on each page of the application form

This role requires an enhanced criminal record check including adult barred list as the post holder will carry out regulated activity/work with adults with sight loss.

We're the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and we're here for everyone affected by sight loss. Working for us means working for one of the UK's biggest charities, supporting almost two million people living with sight loss in the UK.

One of our core values is to be led by blind and partially sighted people and we involve our customers in recruitment. Please be advised that your anonymised application may be shared internally with those involved in the recruitment process.

RNIB is committed to being an Equal Opportunities organisation and we welcome applications from people with sight loss.

RNIB reserve the right to close the advert early, should a sufficient amount of applications be received.

We are looking for a well-organised, motivated and creative individual to join our team as a part-time Youth Worker (Independent Living), supporting our mission to enable young people to use their strengths to live a life that is safe, full of health and opportunity, and in a home that they deserve.

The successful candidate will work within the Youth Work Team to deliver our Lifeskills programme, as well as contributing to the smooth running of our day centre services to young people aged 16-24 who are facing homelessness or are unsafe. You should be experienced in designing, planning and facilitating a range of independent living and lifeskills activities, able to work flexibly in a fast-paced day centre environment, and be skilled in engaging and inspiring a diverse range of young people with various complex needs to develop the skills and tools they need for move forward in their lives. In this role, you will be providing practical support and advice to young people, as well as delivering 1-1 and group sessions, on topics such as budgeting, money management, and tenancy sustainment . You will take a strength-based approach in your work, building on young people's assets and skills and collaborating with wider teams such as Health and Housing to achieve positive outcomes.

Please note, this role is a job share with an exisiting post and would include a part-time working pattern of 3 days per week (21 hours). Further information will be provided at interview. The role is based at our day centre in Camden and will involve some homeworking. 

Please see our Application Pack for more details on how to apply. 

Job Title: Independent Living Advisor (North East) 

Region: Home Based, North Region

Directorate: Operations 

Contract: Permanent, Full Time, 35 hours per week 

Salary: £25,500 to £26,500 per annum 

The Role 

At the Royal British Legion, we believe in building on potential. As an Independent Living Advisor, covering the North East your ability to provide advice, support and advocacy for beneficiaries could have a real impact on people’s lives. 

At its heart, RBL is a people organisation. People who want to do the very best for others, while at the same time making the most of the opportunities and experiences we offer them.

We are the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with 210,000 members, 50,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities; helping us give support wherever and whenever it’s needed. 

As an Independent Living Advisor, you will be responsible for will manage a caseload, providing person-centred advice, guidance and support, across a range of areas, including Direct Payments, Personal Budgets, Individual Budgets, Disability Advocacy, Personal Health Budgets, Disabled Facilities Grants, available Equipment and Minor Adaptations. You will also prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies and social care/health panels.

If successful, the main duties of your role will be: 

• Provide a comprehensive community-based independent living advice service to beneficiaries who are experiencing difficulties with day-to-day living, mobility and self-care (or those caring for someone in this situation), advising on the suitable options available to them through statutory, charitable and private sources through a mixture of face-to-face, telephone and email interactions. 

• Conduct assessment of clients, using input from Occupational Therapists and other professionals as necessary, to establish their eligibility for health and social care services in their area. 

• Providing a person-centred support service within a designated territory to include home visits, outreach activities in local communities 

• Identify, research and source the services that are required to achieve the desired outcomes and contribute to the maintenance of an up to date resource directory of service provision within the locality

• Maintain detailed case records in accordance with Legion policies and procedures for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation, using the IT software provided. 

• Prepare support and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts and social care/health panels, as appropriate. 

• To prepare and deliver training, workshops and seminars on independent living issues for a range of audiences including beneficiaries and Advisors 

You will have a good understanding of the current UK Social Care system and of advocacy work and experience working with older people, carers and people with disabilities. 

Please note this role will be home based with travel required to RBL offices and/or throughout the region. This role is also subject to onboarding checks, including an Enhanced DBS. 

About the Royal British Legion – Careers in Advice and Welfare 

Across the country, in every city and on every street, the RBL is there to support our Armed Forces community. 

Every day, everyone in our Advice and Welfare teams dedicate themselves to bettering the lives of those in this community. 

Be it a conversation about financial support, physical and mental wellbeing, employment, housing, independent living or social support – working in these teams means the time you’d spend with those who need our help, and the advice you’d offer, could have a profound effect on their lives. 

It's this mission, this scale, this challenge and the values we all live by, that makes the RBL such a fulfilling place to thrive. 

We also want those who need our support to be able to get it when they need it, and from those best placed to give it. Which is why we’ve invested in multi-channel support services. 

So, if you want to give your days meaning. To put your passion into a role with real impact. To support people and be supported yourself. In an inclusive team that faces every challenge together. Whatever your interests and ambitions, we think you’ll find a role here that works for you, with career opportunities right across the UK. 

Diversity Statement 

We believe that the compassion, understanding, and service we show each and every individual should be reflected in the way we all support, respect, and include every individual who works with us. We want everyone involved in our work or receiving our services, to feel proud to contribute to or be part of a diverse and inclusive organisation. 

We recognise that we still have a long way to go to ensure that we make the RBL a truly great and inclusive organisation to work for and be part of so we have set out our commitments to provide a clear path to deliver this ambition. We will keep listening, learning, and sharing our progress and impact. 

How to Apply 

Please Click "Apply Online"

Closing date for this role is: 6th June 2022 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible. 

Job Title: Independent Living Advisor (South – Dorset and Hampshire) 

Region: Home Based, South Region

Directorate: Operations 

Contract: Permanent, Full Time, 35 hours per week 

Salary: £25,500 to £26,500 per annum 

The Role 

At the Royal British Legion, we believe in building on potential. As an Independent Living Advisor, covering the North East your ability to provide advice, support and advocacy for beneficiaries could have a real impact on people’s lives. 

At its heart, RBL is a people organisation. People who want to do the very best for others, while at the same time making the most of the opportunities and experiences we offer them. 

We are the country’s largest Armed Forces charity, with 210,000 members, 50,000 volunteers and a network of partners and charities; helping us give support wherever and whenever it’s needed. 

As an Independent Living Advisor, you will be responsible for will manage a caseload, providing person-centred advice, guidance and support, across a range of areas, including Direct Payments, Personal Budgets, Individual Budgets, Disability Advocacy, Personal Health Budgets, Disabled Facilities Grants, available Equipment and Minor Adaptations. You will also prepare and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies and social care/health panels. 

If successful, the main duties of your role will be: 

• Provide a comprehensive community-based independent living advice service to beneficiaries who are experiencing difficulties with day-to-day living, mobility and self-care (or those caring for someone in this situation), advising on the suitable options available to them through statutory, charitable and private sources through a mixture of face-to-face, telephone and email interactions. 

• Conduct assessment of clients, using input from Occupational Therapists and other professionals as necessary, to establish their eligibility for health and social care services in their area. 

• Providing a person-centred support service within a designated territory to include home visits, outreach activities in local communities 

• Identify, research and source the services that are required to achieve the desired outcomes and contribute to the maintenance of an up to date resource directory of service provision within the locality

• Maintain detailed case records in accordance with Legion policies and procedures for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation, using the IT software provided. 

• Prepare support and present cases to the appropriate statutory bodies, tribunals and courts and social care/health panels, as appropriate. 

• To prepare and deliver training, workshops and seminars on independent living issues for a range of audiences including beneficiaries and Advisors 

You will have a good understanding of the current UK Social Care system and of advocacy work and experience working with older people, carers and people with disabilities. 

Please note this role will be home based with travel required to RBL offices and/or throughout the region. This role is also subject to onboarding checks, including an Enhanced DBS. 

About the Royal British Legion – Careers in Advice and Welfare 

Across the country, in every city and on every street, the RBL is there to support our Armed Forces community. 

Every day, everyone in our Advice and Welfare teams dedicate themselves to bettering the lives of those in this community. 

Be it a conversation about financial support, physical and mental wellbeing, employment, housing, independent living or social support – working in these teams means the time you’d spend with those who need our help, and the advice you’d offer, could have a profound effect on their lives. 

It's this mission, this scale, this challenge and the values we all live by, that makes the RBL such a fulfilling place to thrive. 

We also want those who need our support to be able to get it when they need it, and from those best placed to give it. Which is why we’ve invested in multi-channel support services. 

So, if you want to give your days meaning. To put your passion into a role with real impact. To support people and be supported yourself. In an inclusive team that faces every challenge together. Whatever your interests and ambitions, we think you’ll find a role here that works for you, with career opportunities right across the UK. 

Diversity Statement 

We believe that the compassion, understanding, and service we show each and every individual should be reflected in the way we all support, respect, and include every individual who works with us. We want everyone involved in our work or receiving our services, to feel proud to contribute to or be part of a diverse and inclusive organisation. 

We recognise that we still have a long way to go to ensure that we make the RBL a truly great and inclusive organisation to work for and be part of so we have set out our commitments to provide a clear path to deliver this ambition. We will keep listening, learning, and sharing our progress and impact. 

How to Apply 

Please Click "Apply Online"

Closing date for this role is: 6th June 2022 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy when we are in receipt of sufficient applications. Should you wish to apply for this post you are advised to complete and submit your application form as soon as possible. 

We are looking for a Digital Coordinator to provide essential administrative support to Battersea’s Digital Products team, assisting with the development of the new Battersea website and its ongoing continuous improvement, with the aim of enhancing user experience, furthering charitable impact and maximising online income.

About us
Battersea is here for every dog and cat and has been since 1860. We are a leading animal welfare charity and over the last 160 years we’ve grown from one home in London to three rescuing and rehoming centres across the South East. With c500 staff and 1000 volunteers, we have cared for over three million vulnerable animals We also campaign tirelessly to make things better for dogs and cats; sharing our expertise and educating the public and policymakers about responsible pet ownership. Join us and make a difference for every dog and cat.

Our Marketing and Communications Team
Battersea’s Marketing & Communications department is responsible for communicating the breadth of the organisation’s work in an engaging and memorable way. Though our award-winning campaigns, we use our influence to affect change for dogs and cats within and beyond our gates; building Battersea’s reputation on a national and international scale. Our work involves everything from innovative integrated advertising campaigns to rehome our animals, to supporting other departments with their strategic objectives. We also manage Battersea’s online communities, offer brand guidance, deliver innovative digital activity, and manage internal communications, ensuring that staff and volunteers stay informed and engaged. The department’s ultimate goal is to raise awareness of Battersea’s work, so we can be here for more dogs and cats.

Digital team
Within the Marketing & Commercial department sits the Digital team. Responsible for Battersea’s digital output, our goal is to drive innovation and impact online. We manage Battersea’s website, and lead its digital products, campaigns and advertising – all to increase awareness of Battersea’s work and engage people with the need to support our dogs and cats.

What we can offer you
Our dedicated people mean that we can be here for every dog and cat. Whether you are sharing an office with our dogs or directly caring for our cats, our animals show their appreciation every day. There is no better reward than seeing the difference you make to the lives of our dogs and cats first-hand; although we also provide a wide range of employee benefits, including:
• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
• Generous pension contributions – up to 10% employer contribution
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental (£100), optical (£100), physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture (£325) every year
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes
• Life insurance

During the recent Coronavirus restrictions, our animal-facing staff have continued to work on site and our office based staff have been working from home. We are currently piloting a hybrid working model for our office-based staff to split their time between site based and home working. We believe this will support office-based staff to maintain the benefits of home working, while allowing for collaboration and interaction with our animal-facing staff and maintaining a connection to our cause.

As this role is office-based, you’ll be expected to work in our Battersea office for a minimum of 50% of your working week.

So, if you are passionate about dogs, cats and about our work, then we’d like to hear from you.

We are committed to providing equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all current and prospective staff, volunteers and Trustees. We aim to ensure that this commitment, reinforced by our values, is embedded in our day-to-day working practices and our work together. We would particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates, who are currently under-represented at Battersea.

Closing date: Sunday 22 May2022
Interview date(s): w/c 30 May 2022

For full details, please download our recruitment pack. To apply, click the button below. All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised; we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Help to build caring, peaceful and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults. Join our award winning charity and support our important work to grow to the next phase. We are seeking a national coordinator to engage and support our stakeholders.

As the Roots of Empathy national coordinator you will be responsible for the administration and coordination of all aspects of the programme management, including providing support to the UK Manager.

Background Information

This role sits within the Women’s Development Unit, a partnership project between The Connection at St Martin’s and Solace Women’s Aid aiming to bring strategic attention to women’s homelessness in London.

About The Connection at St Martin’s and Solace Women’s Aid

The Connection is based in the heart of London, near Charing Cross Station and Trafalgar Square. Our history of working with people experiencing homelessness can be traced back to the First World War, and we offer both short-term practical help and more intensive long-term support to clients who are sleeping rough or vulnerably housed. Westminster is the epicentre of rough sleeping in the UK, and we work closely with people who find themselves on the edge in Central London, with nowhere else to turn.

Solace is an innovative, exciting, grassroots charity working across London. Their purpose is to bring to an end the harm done through domestic and sexual violence to all survivors, particularly women and children. Their work is holistic and empowering, working alongside survivors to achieve independent lives free from abuse.

About the Women’s Development Unit

The Women’s Development Unit commenced its first year in 2021, funded by ESI’s The Homeless Fund and London Community Foundation with support from the London Homeless Collective.

The Women’s Development Unit works to bring strategic focus to women’s homelessness in London and support and improve good practice in working with women facing severe and multiple disadvantage. The Unit does this through working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders, including across the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and homelessness sectors, building evidence to support the need for increased focus on women’s homelessness, and developing best practice guidance and training.

Extended for at least a second year, the Unit is excited to continue work to develop and implement this strategy launched in March 2022. We will work to build further evidence in support of this work, work closely with women with lived experience of homelessness to enhance their voices, and engage with a range of stakeholders to explore opportunities to advocate for and implement change.

About the role

This is a full-time role working within the Women’s Development Unit, working with a range of stakeholders to progress the Unit’s work on implementing a strategy for addressing women’s homelessness in London. We are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic postholder with strong communication skills and the ability to work with curiosity and creativity.

You will be good at working both collaboratively and independently, and will enjoy problem solving. You will be working closely with the team and wider stakeholders to determine the direction and progress of the project’s work. For this role, ability to learn quickly, communicate well and coordinate/facilitate groups of key stakeholders including those with lived experience is more important than direct experience of working with data.

Salary: £34,762 - £38,151
Closing Date: Wednesday 18th May 2022
Interview Date: Friday 27th May 2022

THE ROLE

The Community Connectors will support individuals to connect within neighbourhoods, and use local assets to self-organise.

Who you will support 

The post-holder will work closely with individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and/or personality disorders (PD), developing an understanding of complexity in order to provide the most appropriate support. Some of the service users you will work with will have been supported by community mental health recovery teams, seen in outpatients and are not care co-ordinated, so could be better supported by their local neighbourhood team. Other service users will be on primary care SMI registers and likely to benefit from additional support, but do not meet the thresholds for traditional secondary care. Other people might not be known to our services currently, and could benefit from the more personalised, local, holistic offer you will be developing.

Your approach 

The ethos of this work will be recovery focused, move away from a traditional referral model, blur the boundaries between primary and secondary care, explore needs through complexity (rather than diagnosis), focus on a person’s strengths and assets, and focus on the wider determinants of health and wellbeing. This approach is as important as your experience and expertise. You will develop a strengths based biopsychosocial assessment, and supportive approach, and work with colleagues and local people to develop the MDT approach in its infancy.

Although not exhaustive, below is a list of the skills and responsibilities that may be required:

Individual Support 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. It is important that you listen to service users and carers to find out what is important to them, and that you build open, supportive and trusting relationships.
• A strong sense of what factors influence health and wellbeing. 
• The ability to assist service users in setting goals and making changes that are meaningful to them.
• You will conduct regular innovative and engaging sessions (currently with individuals, over the phone) in order to work towards support plan goals.
• You will ensure ongoing assessment and management of risks within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'. 
• You will give people time to tell their stories and focus on ‘what matters to me’, build trust, providing non-judgemental support, respecting diversity and lifestyle choices. 
• You will use health coaching and motivational interviewing techniques, identify barriers to people accessing services, and work with service users to overcome these. You will support people to identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, employment circumstances and unemployment, loneliness, isolation and caring responsibilities. 
• Where people may be eligible for a personal health budget, help them to explore this option as a way of providing funded, personalised support to be independent, including helping people to gain skills for meaningful employment, where appropriate.

Community Development 

• You will act as the ‘glue’, linking people in with experts and local assets, and undertaking support work in partnership with external stakeholders to complement their interventions.
• You will stay up to date with the constantly developing environment, local offer, and national policies, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Significant experience in local statutory and/or voluntary sector services.
• You will have a deep knowledge of City & Hackney (or a specific local area or demographic), what is available locally and how to signpost and support people (network creation, mapping). 
• You will develop productive relationships with local partner organisations to improve service outcomes, and involve service users and carers in the design, development and delivery of the service. 
• You will need to triage referrals and signpost to specialist support quickly where necessary, and deal with general queries to contribute to the overall smooth running of the neighbourhood team.
• Where appropriate, introduce people to community groups, activities and statutory services, ensuring they are comfortable.  Follow up to ensure they are happy, able to engage, included and receiving good support. 
• Where appropriate you will connect people to each other through shared common interests and the need for mutual support. 
• You will have the ability and drive to build networks with local community resources such as activities and services that may have an impact on health and wellbeing, and support individuals to access these. To be proactive in encouraging self-referrals, and connecting with all local communities. 
• You will work in partnership with existing community navigation roles in City & Hackney.

Project Management 

• You will monitor and record outcomes of all those accessing the service through the use of recognised assessment tools and outcome measures. With the wider team, you will gather and collate statistical and other information and data as required, reporting on activity and outcomes and ensuring effective qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation of the services.
• You will help to develop and adapt this role as the societal circumstances we are operating under change.

General 

• You will reflect on practice and participate in team meetings, practice development forums and peer supervision. You will identify own training and development needs in conjunction with your Line Manager and participate in training opportunities. 
• You will develop an awareness of local and national developments and best practice in this area of work and to attend relevant conferences, meetings and training events as required. 
• You will adhere to organisational policies and procedures relating to risk and personal safety. You will refer all safeguarding issues in line with local policy.
• You will manage volunteers and other team members as required. 
• You will identify issues relating to systemic challenges and disconnects, and report these to the Programme Manager, developing an eye for service improvement opportunities.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

As a community connector, you will become a local expert, gathering and sharing information about local opportunities, activities, and support, bringing people together and supporting them to remain confident and independent in their everyday lives.

We are looking for community connectors with experience supporting with people with their mental health, with significant experience in statutory and/or voluntary sector services, knowledge of City & Hackney (or a specific local area or demographic), and strong interpersonal skills.

Skills and experience:  

Person Centred 

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others. 
• Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour. Is approachable and open-minded.
• Prefers working as part of a group or team. 
• Has a practical and logical mind. 
• Well organised and knows how to prioritise tasks. Able to plan own workload.
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.
• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential.
• Experience of supporting people, families and care in a related role (including unpaid work). 
• Experience of supporting people with their mental health, either in a paid, unpaid or informal capacity.

Community Development 

• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities. 
• Able to work from an asset-based approach, building on existing community and personal assets. 
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders. 
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals.
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity. 
• Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude. 
• Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour. 
• Demonstrates a desire for continuous professional development. 
• Experience of working directly in a community development context, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work). 
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations. 

Knowledge

• Understanding of the wider determinants of health, including social, economic and environmental factors and their impact on communities and how adverse circumstances and structural barriers can affect people's relationships 
• An understanding of the experiences of people who live with significant mental distress. 
• Knowledge of community development approaches. 
• Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports. 
• Knowledge of motivational coaching and interview skills. 
• Knowledge of voluntary and community services in the local neighbourhood. 

Essential 

• NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent.
• Significant experience in statutory or voluntary sector services.
• IT literate.

Desirable: 

• Mental Health First Aid or willingness to work towards the qualification. 
• Training in motivational coaching and interviewing or equivalent experience. 
• University degree and/or professional qualification.
• Experience of delivering peer support groups. 

Additional requirements:

• This post will normally be based at Russia Lane, Bethnal Green and within the Community.
• This post is subject to the relevant check through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).
• The organisation requires flexibility with working hours to meet its needs.
• Educated to GCSE level (or equivalent by experience).

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