Advocacy Jobs
Citizens Advice Southwark has a track record of delivering high-quality services from its offices in Peckham and Walworth and outreach locations across Southwark and South East London. We sort out problems together, for good, by providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice across all areas of social welfare law, and through using the experience of our clients to bring about positive change through research and campaigns.
This is an exciting opportunity for a Gateway Assessor or Advice Worker with a minimum of three months experience to be fast tracked through the full Citizens Advice Generalist Adviser training programme. Once having completed an initial four weeks training period you will be allocated to work on one of a range of different projects and services providing direct advice to the public and undertaking casework on social welfare law issues.
- You must be a trained Gateway Assessor with a minimum of three months experience.
- An understanding of the advice needs and issues of the local community in a diverse inner-city area.
- To understand, empathise with and be committed to the Service’s aims, principles and equal opportunities policies.
Closing date: 9.00 am Tuesday 7th May 2024
Interviews will take place on: Thursday 9th May 2024
We offer a range of employee benefits, including generous annual leave, an employer matched pension contribution up to 10% salary, and training and development opportunities to continue your professional development.
Citizens Advice Southwark is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all applicants who meet the person specification irrespective of sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, age, or disability.
Registered charity no: 1070263
“Providing free, independent, confidential and impartial advice”
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Hillside Clubhouse is recruiting for a mental health employment specialist to join our dynamic Camden team supporting people with mental health conditions to gain and retain employment. The role is working within the nationally recognised IPS (Individual Placement and Support) model within an NHS secondary care mental health team based in the heart of Camden.
Who we are:
Hillside Clubhouse is a co-produced mental health employment support charity working across Camden and Islington. We support people with mental health conditions into training, volunteering, and employment opportunities. People can access our services via our Clubhouse, where they can share their skills and expertise with others and support the running of the charity. Alternatively, they can receive support out in the community from one of our employment specialists based within primary and secondary care.
The Role:
The role is within our IPS Service and will be based within a Camden NHS secondary care team. As an IPS Employment Specialist, you’ll play an important role in supporting people with lived mental health experience on their recovery journey by supporting them back into paid employment. This is an opportunity to offer ongoing support, to motivate and provide people with hope, while developing the tools and skills required to recover, ultimately transforming their lives.
A variety of skills are needed in this post including but not limited to - a strong ability to develop empathy and rapport with clients; a determined approach to seeking out job opportunities; a person centric-approach to working with people; strong communications skills to motivate clients; strong administrative capabilities and an attention to detail engage with prospective employers via business development and face-to-face meetings, and to be able to challenge some perceptions around mental health.
The postholder will be directly employed by Hillside Clubhouse but work under an Honorary Contract from Camden and Islington Foundation Trust. They will be managed directly by the IPS Operations Manager but work as team member within the clinical team. The role is dynamic and involves being integrated in a clinical team, working within the community, and we operate a flexible working policy where working from home is also permitted up to two days per week.
Overall aim:
To enable people with mental health issues to gain and sustain competitive employment by working within the evidence based Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model.
Primary Duties:
- Manage a caseload of up to twenty clients and work within and apply the 8 principles of IPS in all aspects of role.
- To work with and enable clients to find work using a mix of conventional approaches and employer engagement.
- To generate ongoing referrals from the clinical team and to manage those effectively.
- To engage directly and collaboratively with the clinical team while maintaining the existing multi-disciplinary approach to assisting clients seeking work.
- To report and meet regularly with clinical team service managers and the IPS Operations manager, and to participate in both casework and clinical supervision from IPS Operations and clinical team services managers.
- To be an active member of both the clinical and Hillside teams
- To be responsible for own management of administrative duties tied to both Hillside Clubhouse and clinical team and adhering to existing Hillside and NHS protocols.
- Source job opportunities specific to client needs from a range of sources including those advertised via current and conventional means, as well as through contact with local and Pan London employers.
- To build up a network of employers to secure available and future vacancies.
- To maintain existing and seek out new relationships with a range of external agencies of use to the post.
- To provide ongoing support to both client and employers (where appropriate) when starting work and until such time as the client makes the decision to end the support provided.
- To work with clients to collaboratively manage job searching activities and engagement with the service.
- To manage and meet all KPIs, statistics and documentation as required, including but not limited to: referrals, first meetings, job outcomes, job sustainments of 6, 13 and 26 weeks, and work retention.
- To provide guidance on the impact and/or the potential change to benefits when clients start work.
- To work and manage time effectively in both community/external settings, and at clinical team.
- Secondary Duties:
- To work out of hours as and when required, working in line with Hillside Clubhouse risk management procedures.
- Undertake training when required and participate in ongoing learning and development.
- To maintain professional boundaries with all internal and external stake holders including clients, and staff members of both Hillside and the clinical team.
- To engage and participate in external IPS support services, training, and events.
- To undertake additional tasks and duties as and when required, and to work outside of normal office hours when necessary.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We're seeking a skilled and dedicated individual to join our team as a Young Person’s Worker. In this role, you will play a vital role in providing support to at-risk young people who are experiencing homelessness.
Your mission: to support and empower young people to develop the lifelong tools they need to lead fulfilling lives outside the confines of traditional services. You will carry a caseload of clients who you will formulate a comprehensive support and safety plan with, which forms part of the ongoing casework, promoting independence and preparing young people for moving into independent accommodation, and employment and education.
About the Role:
As the Young Person's Worker, you will be working within a strengths and recovery framework embedded within a trauma informed approach to ensure client needs and aspirations are at the centre of the support planning process. You will be the lead worker overseeing the support and development of the young person’s needs and aspirations. You will guide and signpost the young person to the relevant statutory and non statutory services and will be key in motivating and coaching the young person to develop independent living skills.
About you:
- You bring experience working with young people in the community and in accommodation services.
- Your toolkit includes practical skills in motivation and coaching young people
- Your approach is creative, analytical, trauma-informed and rooted in a strengths and recovery model.
- You can creatively inspire opportunities for our young people to thrive and to develop to their highest potential.
- A non-judgmental approach to working with complex needs young people and to promote a strengths-based approach and an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
- Strong team-working and interpersonal skills, maintaining a collaborative approach to supporting young people achieve the outcomes and goals we support them to set for themselves.
About us:
Single Homeless Project is a London-wide charity. Our vision is of a society where everyone has a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilling life.
We help single Londoners by preventing homelessness, providing support and accommodation, promoting wellbeing, enhancing opportunity, and being a voice for change. From supporting people in crisis to helping people take the final steps towards independence and employment, we make a difference to 10,000 lives every year across all 32 boroughs.
We offer you more than a job; we offer you a chance to be part of a compassionate, driven team that's committed to making a real difference in people's lives. You'll have the opportunity to lead, co-create, and inspire change while enjoying a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.
Join us in creating a brighter, more hopeful future for individuals in need.
Important info:
Closing Date: Thursday 2nd May @ midnight
Interview Date: Monday 13th May or Tuesday 14th May
This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed for the successful applicant.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Hours: 37.5 Full Time (part time may be considered)
Location: Various locations in the London Borough of Hounslow
Closing date: On an on-going basis until filled – we reserve the right to withdraw this job opportunity early if this vacancy is filled
Interview date: To be arranged directly with shortlisted candidates.
Citizens Advice Hounslow is a well-established charity operating in the London Borough of Hounslow, supporting over 10,000 clients a year. We want to expand our capacity for face to face and telephone advice; hence we are looking for an experienced generalist Adviser with the ability to provide advice in person as well as on the phone through our dedicated helplines.
In particular, the role requires you to:
- conduct a thorough holistic exploration of the problem(s) to gain an accurate picture of the client’s situation
- do a benefit calculation as standard for clients
- give full advice and support to clients to resolve their issues
- where necessary, make a referral or signpost clients
- write up case notes to Citizens Advice national standards
For more information about the role and the criteria to apply for the post, please download the Job Description and Person Specification.
We might consider strong trainee advisers who have completed the adviser training and have been exposed to sufficient practical generalist work (about to achieve the adviser certificate or an equivalent qualification).
Please note: We can only respond to successful applicants. If you do not hear from us within three weeks from receipt of your application, please assume that it has been unsuccessful.
We offer a range of employee benefits, including generous annual leave, pension contribution, and training and opportunities to continue your professional development.
We consider applications from all applicants who meet the person specification irrespective of sex, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, age, or disability.
The Hammersmith and Fulham service comprises of one high support hostel and two medium support hostels, housing 24 people experiencing mental ill health who may also have other complex support needs including substance use and offending behaviour or who may present with behaviours which can challenge.
About the role:
The primary role of the project is to enable clients to understand their emotional and mental health needs and manage these effectively. The Project Worker will also support clients to develop their living skills, develop & manage relationships, build social networks and access education, training or employment, by completing comprehensive needs and risk assessments with clients and identifying short-term objectives.
The projects provide support 24 hours a day and are staffed by a Night Concierge and Project Workers, this requires regular weekend working. All work undertaken will be in line with planned support. Staff are responsible for making sure that clients are actively involved in the process and that the support offered is full and holistic.
About you:
- Demonstrable experience of working with people experiencing mental health problems and other complex needs.
- A demonstrable understanding of Mental Health Legislation and how it can be applied.
- A good understanding of safeguarding issues and the ability to undertake comprehensive risk assessments related to this.
- A working knowledge of Housing Management as applied to a residential setting, and an understanding of the rights and responsibilities associated with various forms of tenure including excluded licenses.
- A demonstrable understanding of the Recovery Model, and the ability to engage and motivate people to move towards independence and inclusion.
- A proven ability to work in partnership with external stakeholders, particularly community mental health services and/or substance use services.
- A proven ability to create and deliver SMART action plans with clients through high quality risk and needs assessment.
- A level of numeracy sufficient to carry out tasks such as budgeting with clients, calculating benefit entitlements and monitoring rent payment.
About us:
Single Homeless Project is a London-wide charity. Our vision is of a society where everyone has a place to call home and the chance to live a fulfilling life.
We help single Londoners by preventing homelessness, providing support and accommodation, promoting wellbeing, enhancing opportunity, and being a voice for change. From supporting people in crisis to helping people take the final steps towards independence and employment, we make a difference to 10,000 lives every year across all 32 boroughs.
We offer you more than a job; we offer you a chance to be part of a compassionate, driven team that's committed to making a real difference in people's lives. You'll have the opportunity to lead, co-create, and inspire change while enjoying a collaborative, growth-oriented environment.
Join us in creating a brighter, more hopeful future for individuals in need.
Important info:
Closing Date: Sunday 28th April at midnight
Interview Date: Wednesday 8th May via Microsoft Teams
This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed for the successful applicant.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Location: Across London
Closing date: 6 May 2024
Interview dates: 21-23 May 2024
Whether your empathy towards homeless people has its roots in personal experience or your compassionate nature and determination to help, when you join Thames Reach on our 12-month Traineeship programme, you’ll be making a difference and taking the first steps towards a great career.
About us…
Thames Reach runs projects and services that help to end homelessness in London. We work directly with homeless people on the streets and in hostels. We work to prevent vulnerable people from becoming homeless. We help formerly homeless people get their lives back on track and help people find work and access training and volunteering opportunities.
Is our mission easy? No, but we never give up on people. Last year we helped more than 10,000 people.
Is our work rewarding? Yes, in every sense. We’re listed as one of the top 100 Best Workplaces in the UK. There’s no better place to develop or transfer your skills and build a fulfilling career.
About this role…
Every role at Thames Reach is about ensuring that the users of our services find and sustain a decent home, develop supportive relationships and lead fulfilling lives. On our structured Traineeship scheme, you’ll gain first-hand experience and on-the-job training in what we do. You’ll be expected to work full time on a rota basis. Our placements involve a range of working patterns such as shifts, including evenings and weekends, night work in our fast-paced Rapid Response Outreach team and Monday to Friday 9-5 roles.
The key features are:
• A thorough induction, followed by two six-month placements at our projects, one of which will be hostel-based.
• With supervision and training from experienced staff to help our clients to get off and stay off the street with access to appropriate services.
• Learning about and assisting with necessary administration and record-keeping.
The kind of thing we’re looking for:
• Compassion, determination and a desire to play your part in ending street homelessness.
• Good basic admin and IT skills.
• Good team working skills
• The resilience and commitment to work in a challenging, ever-changing environment.
• An understanding of street homelessness and its impact on people’s lives – applicants who have experienced homelessness are particularly encouraged to apply.
What you can expect…
• A generous pension contribution - we contribute 6.5% to your pension when you contribute 1.5%.
• A range of other benefits including generous holiday allowance – 24 days per year, wellbeing support, cycle to work and season ticket loans.
• High quality on-the-job training with the opportunity to develop the skills needed for a career in our front-line services.
• Potential job prospects – although this is not guaranteed, many of our trainees have gained permanent employment at Thames Reach or in related organisations following completion of the programme.
• Application Support Sessions – we encourage applicants to attend one of these before applying.
Please note that we cannot guarantee location of placements for successful intakes.
Thames Reach welcomes applications from people with transferable skills and fresh perspectives.
We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We value, respect, and celebrate diversity. We welcome and encourage applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their history of homelessness, sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.
For full information and to apply visit our website via the apply button.
Thames Reach is committed to safeguarding. Applicants must be willing to undergo pre-employment screening appropriate to the post, including, but not limited to checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not exclude you from applying but you will be asked to provide further details as most posts are considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
JOB DESCRIPTION
As we have launched our ambitious 5-year strategic plan this post will play a key role at Greenwich Students’ Union in supporting students to stay and succeed at university.
GSU Advocacy and Policy Team is leading an award-winning outreach project that seeks to support students to stay and succeed at Greenwich. A team of part-time student staff call 1000’s of students each term, supporting them to navigate University life, services and GSU. This role will support the award-winning team to deliver proactive supportive calls to students.
In this post you will :
- To supervise the retention calling project staff
- To support with escalations for students experiencing difficulties
- To spot trends in student issues and assist with reporting
We’re looking for an enthusiastic candidate who has an interest in supporting our students to become their best.
You don’t have to come from a higher education background, but you should have an interest in supporting students to succeed.
This role sits within the Advocacy and Policy Team and focus on making 1-1 timely interventions to support students to succeed as well as identifying broader trends in student behaviour to inform our strategic approach to services and support.
Duties and Key Responsibilities
This post holder will be part of the Advocacy and Policy Team and will be expected to contribute to the department’s wider objectives and planning.
Delivery of Outreach
- Coordinate the team to deliver outbound phone calls and taking inbound calls in a call centre model, including opening and closing
- Ensure that the quality of personal outreach delivery is consistent and in line with the agreed scripts and conversation structures to support students
- Ensure the team provide excellent customer service to students, at all times seeking to support students’ needs appropriately, clarifying information and providing appropriate solutions
- Support other retention and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
Supervision
- Support with training and development of student-staff team
- Support with the scheduling of shifts, monitoring of attendance and submitting of payroll
- Undertake 1-1’s with student staff, identifying additional support
Signposting & Monitoring
- Keep accurate records of all calls and student outreach in line with provided data tools
- Support callers to identify potential concerns from students and signpost students to the most relevant support pathway
- Closely monitor for any safety or safeguarding concerns from students, and support with escalations
- Support with the analysis of issues and regular reporting as directed
Personal Learning and Responsibility
- Undertake all training and development as required within the role
- Take responsibility for personal learning and development
General Responsibilities
- Represent and be an ambassador for GSU.
- Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop, or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position.
- Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
- Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
- Support and promote liberation, diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
- Treat with confidentiality any personal, private, or sensitive
- information about individual organisations and/ or clients or staff and Project data.
- Actively seek better ways to assist GSU in its effort to become a more sustainable workplace.
- Any other duties commensurate with the accountabilities of the post.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Experience
- Relevant experience working in a customer or support service-aligned role
- Experience of time management
- Experience of working well within a team to achieve targets
- Experience drafting reports with an eye for detail.
Knowledge
- Clear communication skills, particularly over the phone and by e-mail
- Ability to troubleshoot difficult situations, and deal with them calmly, efficiently, and effectively.
- Sensitivity and understanding for others, utilising active listening skills
- IT skills at a level that supports logging of data, email, internet, and database.
- Time management and organisational skills.
- Ability to engage with new people and build rapport quickly.
- Self-motivated with the confidence to work alone but can also work co-operatively and flexibly as part of a team.
- Ability to stay focused and efficient in the face of changing priorities.
Education/Training
- No specific qualification is required, but evidence of recent continuing professional development in a professional area relevant to the post is required
Essential Personal Attributes and other requirements
- A role model who promotes high standards of ethics, integrity and honesty.
- Able to travel between campuses on occasion. Mainly based at Avery Hill – free inter-campus bus service available.
- Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work.
- An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work. Commitment to the values and ethos of GSU
Visa Requirement
Please note that the successful candidate will need to have the right to work in the UK. GSU is unable to sponsor an employment visa for this role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Green New Deal Rising is building a movement of young people from every part of the UK to fight for a response to the climate crisis that totally transforms our economy to deliver a safe climate and fairer society. We believe in people power, and through a combination of disrupting the political system and reaching into our communities, we plan to make the Green New Deal an era-defining issue.
We have ambitious plans for the coming year as we head towards the General Election and beyond. This year we are focused on building power to elect Green New Deal Champion MPs in key election battlegrounds, delivering breakthrough actions, running powerful campaigns targeting opposition parties and growing and strengthening our movement.
In this role you’ll be working to meet on-the-ground organising targets and get Green New Deal Champions elected. You’ll be based in our Electoral & Organising Team, working closely with our Battlegrounds Organiser and have opportunities for training and development across electoral and organising skills.
To excel in this role you will be goals and targets driven, ready to run at new opportunities that present themselves, love to experiment and test new things, and have a deep commitment to social movements and climate justice. This role sits within the Electoral & Organising team and will be managed by our Battlegrounds Organiser.
You don’t need to be an expert already, we are looking for someone with a positive attitude, excited about the opportunities an election brings our movement and ready to learn.
For further information and to apply for this role, please visit our website.
Closing date: 9am on 29th April 2024
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
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
This new and exciting role is part of CouRAGEus, a unique pan-London project established to provide specialist advocacy, counselling, resilience and prevention programs for black and minoritised young women and girls (YWG) experiencing gendered violence, mental health and/or multiple disadvantage.
About you
The ideal candidate will be an experienced and dynamic individual with an in-depth understanding of the specific needs of minoritised and multiple disadvantaged YWG with experiences of gendered violence. You will have experience of working with YWG’s with high-risk presentations, including self-injury and suicidal risk and adept at providing crises support and more in-depth work that cultivates self-protective factors as well as meaningful interventions and strategies that aim to reduce and mitigate risk.
You will deliver holistic, YWG’s centred, individualised care pathways that are gender informed, trauma focused and aimed at addressing multiple areas of disadvantage including mental health challenges, problematic substance use and homelessness. You will be well versed in advocating on behalf of YWG to multi-agency services to ensure support, protection and choice for the YWG’s you represent. In this role, the Advocate will also develop relationships with local communities and professionals with an aim to raise awareness about sexual violence, improve communities and professionals’ responses as well as to improve access to services for survivors. This work will be carried out through one to one advocacy sessions, workshops, trainings, consultations and other means.
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.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job title: Referral Co-ordinator and Service Administrator - IRIE Mind
Responsible to: Clinical Services Manager
Hours: 22.5 per week
Salary: Starting salary is £25,635,00 per year (Full-time equivalent) (SC3 SP14)which equates to £15,381 per year at 22.5 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Location: The Hub, Homerton Row, Hackney
Benefits: See supporting documents for information on benefits.
We are seeking a Referral Co-ordinator and Service Administrator to join the IRIE Mind team. This self-motivated, passionate individual will possess excellent communication and organisational skills and will work in close liaison with the Team Lead and external healthcare professionals. The postholder will be the first point of contact for the IRIE Mind Black, African and Caribbean Wellbeing Service.
About Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest:
We are a multi-disciplinary provider of specialist mental health services and a part of the Mind Federation.
We promote both recovery from ill health for people with recurrent and enduring mental health difficulties and early intervention for those at risk of developing mental health issues, or who struggle with common mental health conditions.
We currently support around 5,000 people a year through a variety of services focusing on psychological, social, economic and workplace wellbeing, and support minoritised communities.
Our values are:
Working with Mind CHWF means you’ll be part of a dedicated, passionate, and professional workforce who cares about the work they do and make a real difference to the lives of the people in the City of London, Hackney, and Waltham Forest.
Connected: Creating a compassionate and supportive community.
Fair: We strive for equity- no-one's needs should go unmet.
Brave: We walk with people, offering help by doing what works - proven or new
We are committed to actively becoming anti-racist in everything we do. This is a critical priority for Mind CHWF. We embrace diversity and understand that being an inclusive organisation that recognises different perspectives, will enable us to provide excellent services.
We are committed to ensuring all our employees are treated fairly and equitably at work and promoting equity in physical and mental health for all.
Those with lived experience of Mental Health are encouraged to apply.
Value-based Recruitment:
We know that for various reasons, not everybody who can successfully perform in a role, performs their best under traditional interview/selection procedures. We are therefore seeking ways to breakdown further barriers in our recruitment & selection process.
Shorted-listed candidates will be provided with some questions to help them prepare for the interview.
How to apply:
For more information on the vacancy and how to apply, click the ‘Apply’ button - Please note that we are unable to consider incomplete applications.
This track change highlights the differences from Mind CHWF website advert template.
The closing date is by 30th April 2024, however, please do not delay applying as this advert may close before the stated deadline if we find a suitable applicant for the role.
We are a disability confident employer. All applicants with a disability, who meet the minimum essential short-listing criteria are guaranteed an interview. If this applies to you, please let us know in your application.
Your privacy and the security of your data is our top priority. Please take a moment to read through our applicant’s privacy notice.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
ABOUT US
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crises helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees.
THE ROLE
The Lead Policy Advocate – Planning will focus on influencing and shaping planning policies to protect woods and trees from development and promote biodiversity and public access. They will lead efforts to develop and implement evidence-based policies and influence strategies, coordinating with colleagues and partners to align these policies with the latest conservation research.
The role involves collaboration with stakeholders across the UK to ensure widespread understanding and support.
This is a hybrid working role, where you’ll work part of your time at home and part of the time working from one of our regional offices, with regular UK travel. Our Hybrid Working Policy is flexible, and the frequency of time spent in your contracted office will vary across teams and job roles.
THE CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate has a proven background in policy advocacy, particularly in areas relevant to environmental and conservation goals. You will be a skilled communicator and negotiator, adept at engaging diverse audiences and stakeholders, with robust project management skills, and the ability to adapt to changes and seize opportunities.
The role demands effective leadership to drive cross-organisational teams in executing dynamic strategies and a vision to integrate planning policy with broader environmental and conservation objectives.
Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of UK devolution's impact on policy, and the importance of public campaigns in policy advocacy. Familiarity with UK, EU, and global institutions related to environmental policy and expertise in planning policy, supported by an RTPI, CIEEM qualification, or equivalent experience, is required.
Our Organisational Nature enables us to better understand what it means to be part of the Woodland Trust, empowering us to make an impact, every day. We want you to be able to role model our values; ‘Grow Together’, ‘Focus’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Make it Count’ to ensure each of us plays our part in helping to protect, restore and create our woods and trees.
WHAT TO EXPECT BY JOINING A TEAM AND MAKING A DIFFERENCE
There’s no other organisation like the Woodland Trust. Joining the team you will be making your contribution to tackling the nature and climate crises. In return, we recognise and value our people. You'll have our full support, training and opportunities for professional development, along with a contributory pension, life assurance, good holiday allowance and the opportunity to work flexibly from home.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
At the Woodland Trust, we want to reflect and represent the full richness of diversity in the UK. Fewer of our employees are Black, Asian or minority ethnic; disabled; from lower socio-economic backgrounds?or under 25;?so we are particularly keen to receive your application if you are from one or more of these groups. We can also discuss?anything you may need to achieve your full potential at any stage of the process. We assess your application solely on your demonstrated suitability for the job. Nothing else.
To ensure anonymised recruitment, if you have uploaded your CV, shortlisting panels?do not?see your CV until shortlisting has been completed. Before submitting your application, please ensure you have completed the supporting information section with details of experiences that clearly evidence as many aspects of the job description as possible.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. If you are interested, we'd encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Our system keeps your personal information hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Description: Fellowship Programme Officer
Line Manager: Team Leader (New Fellows)
Objective: The Programme Officer provides individualised support to Fellows, facilitates placements and secures funding. The Programme Officer also contributes to project management activities.
Duration: For an initial period of 12 months, subject to review.
Start date: 1 May 2024, or as soon as possible thereafter.
Hours: Full-time. Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm.
Salary: £30,240 per annum
Number of posts: 2.
___________________________________________________________________________
Organisational Background
The Council for At-Risk Academics is a UK-registered charity founded in 1933 under the leadership of William Beveridge, to rescue academics suffering persecution under the rise of Nazism and facilitate their continued work in safety. Sixteen Cara Fellows from the 1930s and 1940s became Nobel Laureates, and many more innovators in their fields, including, Nikolaus Pevsner, Lise Meitner and Karl Popper. A number of Cara’s founders and Council members also personally provided places and/or funds to help individual academics; and Cara, known in the 1930s as the AAC, later the SPSL, was closely involved in the successful effort in 1933 to bring to London the Warburg Institute art library, which had been prohibited by the Nazis, and six of its staff. The Fellowship Programme is the continuation of the rescue mission operation started in 1933.
Cara has been a lifeline to academics at risk for just over 90 years, as and when world events have placed them in the line of fire: Hungarian Uprising, Cold War, Apartheid South Africa, Iran, Latin American Juntas, Vietnam, Kosovo, DRC, Rwanda, Sudan, Zimbabwe etc. and, more recently Iraq, Turkey, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. Cara support is typically framed as temporary sanctuary offered at times of heightened risk.
Cara Objectives ‘To assist academics who have been, or are, or are at risk of being, subject to discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, to relieve needs among them and their dependants and ensure that their specialist knowledge and abilities can continue to be used for the benefit of the public.’
‘To advance education by supporting academics and their educational institutions in countries where their continuing work is at risk or compromised, to ensure that such academics and institutions can continue to fulfil their critical role as educators for the public benefit.’
This is a critical time to join our dedicated and friendly Fellowship Programme team as we expand our capacity to support at-risk academics from the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Russia and many other countries.
Fellowship Programme Officer Role & Responsibilities
Fellowships
- Lead on New Fellows Team cases and provide comprehensive support to Cara Fellows using trauma-informed practice.
- Secure fee waivers, bursaries & in-kind support from universities, research institutes and other funding bodies.
- Provide logistical support to Fellows prior to and after their arrival in the UK.
- Coordinate with regional exam centres to facilitate IELTS or equivalent fee waivers for Fellows.
- Collect and interpret regional intelligence to inform Fellowship Programme advice and guidance.
- Write and send official documents to Fellows.
- Develop relationships with universities and other partner organisations.
- Conduct due diligence on Fellows’ documents and risk.
- Assess Fellows’ suitability for academic placements and liaise with experts for their professional opinion.
- Assess Fellows’ English language abilities.
- Attend weekly meetings with the team.
- Support Fellowship Programme with ad hoc responsibilities.
Visa Advice & Guidance
- Liaise closely with Fellows and hosting universities on visa related issues (Student and Temporary Worker (GAE) visas).
- Liaise with independent legal advisors where necessary.
- Research and update visa guidance to reflect changes in complex immigration regulation.
Managerial Support
- Provide advice and guidance to Fellowship Programme Assistants
- Contribute to Fellowship Programme policy changes and decision-making.
Finance
- Make payments to Cara Fellows and non-Fellowship related payments.
- Document financial transaction records.
- Record all financial and in-kind support from universities and other partner institutions.
Monitoring and Evaluation
- Assist new arrivals with handover to the Active Fellows’ Team.
- Record and report on the efficacy of IELTS or equivalent fee waivers to relevant bodies.
- Assist with compilation of reports to funders.
Administration
- Provide support for general enquiries.
- Present and collect data
- Ensure safekeeping of confidential information
- Maintain detailed records of correspondence, documents, and activities.
Project Management
- The Programme Officer will have the opportunity to contribute to the management of internal projects within the Programme.
Responsibilities also include related activities that might arise in relation to the Fellowship Programme as required by the Executive Director or Deputy Director/Fellowship Programme Manager.
Benefits of Role
· Challenging but rewarding work, always life-changing, sometimes life-saving
· Competitive salary
· Team and individual training opportunities
· Weekly case review meetings with line manager, plus quarterly 1-1 sessions with manager to discuss role and to plan individual professional development
· Hybrid working, home and office (usually 2 days each week in the office)
· Eight hours each day Monday – Friday, with flexible working by arrangement around core hours of 10am – 4pm
· 25 days plus Bank Holidays annual leave entitlement
· 8% employer pension contribution
· Convenient office location at Elephant and Castle, close to Tube (Bakerloo and Northern lines) and bus routes
Person Specification
Essential
· Bachelor's degree
- Fluent English (spoken and written).
· Proactive with a willingness to learn
- Confident and empathetic with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
· Keen team player who is ready to support and help colleagues
- Excellent record keeping and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and in a team
- Good time management with ability to prioritise and independently work to deadlines.
- Understanding of issues of confidentiality.
- Interest in and commitment to the work of Cara
- Confident use of Microsoft package
- Good knowledge of current global issues.
· Ability to have difficult conversations
Desirable
- Masters or equivalent experience
- Casework experience
- Arabic language skills are desirable. Other foreign languages (such as Farsi/Dari, Pashto, Ukrainian and Russian) will also be considered.
- Salesforce/CRM software experience
- Project Management experience.
- Experience in a supporting role with people with lived experience of forced migration
Cara provides help to academics in immediate danger, those forced into exile, and those who remain and work in their home countries despite the risks.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.