Independent living services coordinator jobs in Milton keynes
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RESPONSIBILITIES:
Outreach, Wheelchair Skills and Wider Engagement
· Engage the widest possible range of people with spinal cord injury to sign up for further contact with Back Up, through organising and/or delivering wheelchair skills training sessions and talks for patients and families at the spinal cord injury centre in the region, general hospitals and with other key partners or locations as identified.
· Coordinate, support and manage volunteer trainers who are helping to deliver sessions and talking to patients and families.
· Lead, sustain and develop strong and effective working relationships with a wide range of health professionals and other charity representatives e.g. through presentations, calls and meetings, to ensure that people access seamless support.
Proactive Contact with People Affected by Spinal Cord Injury
· Maintain and support relationships with a large number of people affected by SCI (adults, children and young people and their parents) through regular proactive contact. This could be in person in the spinal cord injury centre, other settings or through events, telephone contact or other interactions.
· Explore their feelings, wishes and needs and provide tailored peer support to help them feel supported, access relevant services from Back Up and elsewhere through proactive referrals, and become more aware of the possibilities of life after SCI.
Networking, Partnerships and Sustainability
· Develop and maintain a map of touchpoints in the region, where people with an SCI will come into contact.
· Develop partnerships, referral routes and signposting processes to develop reach beyond the spinal cord injury centre.
· Develop and manage a network of community ambassador volunteers to support the wider work and sustainability of Back Up through fundraising and other related activities.
· Take a lead on encouraging localised fundraising activity; working towards wider income targets that support ongoing sustainability.
Other Duties and Responsibilities
· Maintaining accurate records on the database.
· Work as a team, consulting with others to ensure you give and receive high quality support.
· Keep Back Up informed of the issues affecting the people you are supporting and of developments at the spinal cord injury centre, general hospitals and other settings.
· Input into team planning and activities.
· Manage the budget relating to activities in your region.
· Help recruit new volunteers as needed to ensure a diverse team representing Back Up.
· Other duties as required by the Regional Outreach & Engagement Team Leader.
The above list is not exclusive or exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such duties as may reasonably be expected within the scope of this role.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Essential:
- Experience of working to support vulnerable people to achieve goals/move forward in life
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- High standard of IT including experience of using databases and MS Office
- Self-starter; highly organised, able to drive own workload
- A creative and proactive approach to all areas of work with a 'can do' attitude, in line with the charity's values
- Commitment to delivering a high-quality service
- Respect for confidentiality
- Suitable to work safely and appropriately with children and vulnerable people
- Strong team working orientation with a flexible and adaptable approach to work demands across the whole organisation, a real people person
- Respect for others; able to work in a way that respects diversity and values equality
- Great listener, warmth, empathy, respect for everybody. Able to be non-judgmental and focus on the individual and their needs
- Willing and able to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends including overnight stays
- GCSE Maths and English A-C or equivalent
Desirable:
- Spinal cord injured person or family member
- Experience of working with and supporting volunteers
- Experience of working with people in trauma
- Presentation skills and the ability to manage a group
- Proactive approach to own support needs, health & wellbeing
- An understanding of the needs of people adjusting to life with spinal cord injury
• Please Note: We currently review application only through Charity Jobs ATS. Please apply through Charity jobs as we will not be accepting offline applications.
• Charity Jobs will ask you for a CV & Cover Letter (saying why you want the job and explaining how you meet the criteria in the job description. This statement is crucial; CVs alone will not be accepted).
• Please complete equal opportunities form on charity Jobs. This form will be kept separate from your application and not viewed by the recruiting manager. It is used to help us assess the diversity of our applicants to ensure our processes are fair to all. It is optional to fill in, but it will help us improve and maintain high standards.
We will acknowledge receipt of your ap
Registered Charity
At Back Up, our vision is a world where everyone affected by spinal cord injury can reach their full potential.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Are you an experienced practitioner with a passion for empowering young people and making a difference?
At NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service), we are dedicated to making a lasting impact on the lives of children, young people, and adults at risk. We believe no child or young person should ever be alone or voiceless in the care system, in family court, or when decisions are being made about their future.
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Senior Practitioner to join Project Unity England, working 28 hours per week. This is an exciting opportunity to deliver intensive, trauma-informed support to care-experienced young mothers who are pregnant or have recently given birth, helping families stay together and supporting young mothers to build positive futures.
About Project Unity England
Project Unity England is an innovative national initiative focused on improving outcomes for care-experienced young mothers and their children through collaborative, multi-agency working. The project aims to keep families together, strengthen service delivery, promote innovation and ensure that local needs are addressed effectively across England.
At the heart of Project Unity is a collaborative approach that brings together local authorities, health partners and community organisations to provide coordinated, community-focused support. By working closely with partner agencies, Project Unity helps ensure young mothers receive the right support at the right time, enabling them to make informed decisions and achieve the best possible outcomes for themselves and their children.
About the role
As a Senior Practitioner, you will manage a complex caseload, providing independent, rights-based advocacy and one-to-one support to care-experienced young mothers. Working autonomously while supported by the Project Coordinator, you will empower young mothers to understand their rights, navigate statutory processes and make informed decisions that help keep families safely together.
You will build trust, complete assessments, develop support plans and advocate on their behalf within multi-agency settings. You will work alongside social workers, midwives, health visitors and other professionals to ensure each young mother's voice is heard and represented.
Alongside direct casework, you will contribute to peer support groups, workshops and community-based activities that reduce isolation, build confidence and strengthen parenting skills. You will also play an important role in safeguarding, quality assurance and service development by maintaining high-quality records, producing case studies and identifying opportunities to improve local services.
This is a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference to the lives of care-experienced young mothers while working within an innovative, rights-based national programme.
About you
We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting vulnerable young people and families. You will be confident working independently while building strong partnerships with professionals across health, social care and the voluntary sector.
You will have experience supporting families or parents with complex social care involvement and a sound understanding of safeguarding, risk assessment and relevant legislation. You will be an effective advocate with excellent communication skills, able to build trusting relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
You will be organised, resilient and confident managing a demanding caseload, with strong analytical skills and the ability to make sound professional judgements in complex situations.
Above all, you will demonstrate NYAS's values of Collaboration, Accountability, Respect and Empowerment, sharing our commitment to ensuring children, young people and adults at risk have their voices heard.
How to Apply
Please apply via the the NYAS website. In your application, evidence using specific examples how your skills and experience meet the criteria in the person specification within the attached job description, including:
- Experience with vulnerable young people or families in a social care, advocacy or support setting
- Knowledge of legislation and policy relating to advocacy, safeguarding and children’s social care
- Excellent communication, organisational and report-writing skills, with sound professional judgement
Employee Benefits
We offer the following employee benefits:
- 26 days, increasing to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
- Occupational sick pay (subject to completion of qualifying period)
- Enhanced pay for family friendly leave
- Free parking at some of our offices
- Employee assistance programme
- Group stakeholder pension scheme
- Access to BHSF health cash plan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Support and supervision from your line manager
- Learning and Development opportunities
Safeguarding and Compliance
NYAS operates robust safeguarding procedures, and internal candidates will be subject to references in line with our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. In accordance with UK immigration law, proof of eligibility to work in the United Kingdom will be required as part of the recruitment process. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.
About NYAS
NYAS (National Youth Advocacy Service) is an established rights-based charity ensuring that children, young people, and adults across England and Wales are respected, represented and supported in expressing their views. We work with care-experienced people who are often reliant on statutory services, and our combination of social care and legal services places us in a unique position to ensure their voices are heard.
We are an equal opportunities employer and a Disability Confident Employer, guaranteeing an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria. We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, religion or belief, or any other protected characteristic.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
At NYAS, we listen to what children, young people and vulnerable adults want. We empower them to have their voices heard.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.