Villagers Connect Project – a great opportunity to join our team at Action in rural Sussex
Villagers Connect is a community development project which is working to sustain a strong and vibrant community in the villages of Colgate, Faygate and Rusper. It aims to build connections and relationships which increase confidence, independence and empowerment, particularly for the over 65’s.
We are seeking a part-time community development worker to work as part of a small team that is active in this rural location in the Horsham district. This role involves a good deal of community-based activity, engaging with older people and the wider community. This does therefore require someone who is understanding of older people and their interests, abilities and needs.
We champion an asset based approach to community development, which is about building on existing strengths and supporting local people to flourish; undertaking community led projects that create community cohesion and have lasting impact.
Key Objectives
· Support older people to access services and support locally that will meet their needs and improve their quality of life
· Improve the lived experiences for older people in these rural communities
· Build connections and relationships across and within the three parishes to reduce social isolation
· Develop new and support existing activities to enable a vibrant community
· Increase confidence, independence and empowerment amongst individuals, groups and community based organisations.
· Strengthen existing community assets, knowledge and skills in line with our asset based approach to the Villagers Connect Project
· Support community resilience by building community networks which are strong and sustainable into the future
Two years in, the project is well established and has gone from strength to strength. We are now seeking a new member of the team to help drive this project forward and enable this community to celebrate what can be achieved when people come together and support one another to age well and live full and active lives, despite the challenges of rural living.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
To increase the capacity of rural communities to manage change for the benefit of all their constituents.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Housing Advice Worker to join our Social Care Service in Kent.
£27,976.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week on a 1 year FTC.
Want to feel in control of your career? 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.
Our benefits include:
Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
Free DBS
Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
Fully paid induction programme and further training
ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
Cycle to work scheme
Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
Online wellbeing resources
A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
What you'll do:
Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers who are currently in refuge to make the transition to permanent accommodation smoother.
Supporting community customers who have accessed the Sanctuary Scheme to remain in their properties and manage the risks associated with that.
Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a move on Support Plan
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking.'
Ensuring customers have full access to any move on welfare support by completing move on paperwork prior to customers move on date.
Liaising and building partnerships with local charities to support customers with move on items
Accompany customers to property viewings.
Helping to set up utilities for move on customers
Working proactively with the refuge and IDVA teams and referring any clients/customers to the IDVAs where required.
Empowering customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits to which they are entitled
Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organizations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
Develop links with private sector landlords, estate agents and other housing providers in order to source additional units and move on accommodation
Deliver domestic abuse training and awareness raising to housing teams and local landlords forums
Ensuring Look Ahead Health and Safety policies are adhered to at all time and to uphold all health and safety responsibilities within relevant policies and local protocols
Engage positively in reflective practice sessions with colleagues.
Undertaking any other duties consistent with the grade and nature of the post as assigned by the Manager
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
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
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour
What you'll bring:
Essential:
NVQ Level 2 or equivalent experience in the social care/charity sector
Desirable:
Full Driving Licence and access to use of vehicle
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
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.
Thank you!
Job Description
Job Title: Parent Adviser – SEND
Responsible To: Senior Parent Adviser - SEND
Team Membership: Helpline/IAS- (Information, Advice and Family Support Directorate)
Hours: 28 hours a week (4 days)
Salary:
Scale 26
£ 36,242.00 - FTE
£ 28,993.60 – actual salary including inner London weighting
Contract:
Fixed term – until 31 March 2027
Location:
Central London – Office N1 7EU.
(Hybrid working, 1 day working in office). Another working day in the office, will be needed during the induction and training period.
Job Purpose:
The post’s primary focus is to provide specialist education advice primarily by telephone and email, to parent carers with disabled children in the UK. The post holder will be working on the Contact national helpline service. Service hours are Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm.
Main Duties:
To respond professionally and with empathy to incoming calls, emails, web form and social media enquiries on SEND and related education issues.
To deal effectively with enquiries by offering specialist education advice, information and relevant signposting.
To provide, information and signposting on the wider concerns of families with disabled children including health and social care.
To build positive working relationships with colleagues, contributing to a culture of mutual respect, trust, and shared responsibility.
To work collaboratively as part of a team, sharing and supporting colleagues to deliver a reliable and responsive helpline service.
To respect diverse experiences and perspectives within the team and contribute constructively to problem‑solving and decision‑making.
To enter accurate enquiry data on the Contact database in a timely manner ensuring appropriate follow up actions to calls and accurate written notes.
To keep up to date on law and guidance relevant to education in England and to be aware of education law relating to Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
To communicate, be flexible and responsive, with team members, to ensure coverage of the helpline rota.
To ensure the helpline operates in accordance with confidentiality, safeguarding, privacy and data-protection policies and procedures.
To provide a high-quality service, with commitment to ongoing service development, improvement and good practice.
General duties
In common with all Contact staff, the post holder will be expected to work in accordance with the aims of Contact and to observe the policy and procedures set out by the directors of the charity.
The post holder will be expected to assist with any reasonable duty at the request of the line manager for the post.
Staff will be expected to attend and participate in Contact staff meetings and the staff annual conference.
Staff will be expected to attend training events relevant to their specific responsibilities.
Staff will be offered supervision, support and annual appraisal incorporating their training needs.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.