Permanent "Finance Manager" Jobs
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Baird and Co Recruitment, a specialist Social Housing recruitment firm, have been retained by The Yardley Great Trust Group and Sir Josiah Mason Trust in their acquisition of a Finance Director.
The role will work across both businesses following their partnership agreement in January 2023. Both businesses are steeped in the history of Birmingham, with the origins of The Yardley Great Trust Group going back to the 14th Century and SJMT’s beginnings in 1868. Their work in the Alms House arena is also highly individual, an area of support found in the heritage of SJMT.
The Finance Director role would ideally start swiftly and will take on a largely strategic direction whilst still requiring operational input.
Based in Olton, candidates with experience in a senior leadership role in finance whilst holding an understanding of how charities, housing providers or public sector organisations work will be highly advantageous.
The Finance Director post will cover many facets including, but not limited to:
Executive Leadership
- Working with the executive team to develop and manage the delivery of robust corporate, strategic and financial business plans
- Demonstrating positive leadership behaviours and bringing values to life within the organisational culture
- Effectively planning and providing for the resources required to action strategic and operational plans
- Undertaking quarterly reviews of the Charity's Risk Registers, reporting on major risks and mitigations at each Board meeting.
Financial Strategy and Control
- Leading on the delivery of strategic and annual financial business plans, ensuring viability is regularly tested through scenario modelling, appraisals, and stress tests
- Taking responsibility for annual budget and management accounts processes and preparation of statutory accounts
- Maintaining up-to-date reserves policies that meet the requirements of both the Charity SORP and RSL SORP
- Managing relationships with investment managers, ensuring regular review of performance and satisfaction
- Developing and maintaining effective systems of financial control that ensure that business plans are continually reviewed and reported on
- Maintaining overall responsibility for the computerised accounting system, including sales ledger, purchase ledger, cash book and nominal ledger
Treasury
- Being responsible for each Trust’s Treasury Management strategy and policy to ensure the availability of and flexibility of funding to support the achievement of strategic objectives and reduce exposure
Risk Management
- Leading on the development of risk management strategies and registers, audit frameworks, procedures and appraisal systems for capital projects and all other significant areas of risk.
Growth and Innovation
- To support the Chief Executive in the development of the Strategic Business Plans in a way that supports innovation and growth in services
ICT / HR
- Leading on the development and delivery of an effective ICT and Telecoms Strategy which supports mobile and agile working and customer relationship management that underpins our drive for excellent business
- Supporting with the development, implementation and review of an effective People Strategy which supports the vision and values of each Trust
- Reviewing the administration of all statutory returns and sector-relevant returns/surveys
- Leading on the annual remuneration review to approve or decline and make recommendations for salary increases
- Taking responsibility for the outsourced payroll and workplace pension scheme
- Overseeing the relationship with the outsourced IT support provider, ensuring optimal support to staff and monitoring performance against contract
- Working with and developing the use of financial accounting software to meet the operational and strategic development needs of the business
To secure the Finance Director post, the Trusts are seeking the below:
- Proven experience at a senior leadership level in a finance environment
- Experience preparing financial business plans, modelling scenarios and sensitivity analysis
- A track record of delivering on a range of other corporate support services such as IT or HR and Governance
- A relevant Professional Qualification i.e. CCAB or equivalent and membership of a recognised UK body desirable
- Up-to-date knowledge of all regulatory requirements including Finance, People, IT & Governance
- Experience developing services to achieve and support strategic organisational objectives.
The Trusts are also seeking a Finance Director who can demonstrate the values of SJMT and YGT:
- Personalised
- Dignity
- Innovation
- Excellence
- Honesty
- Fun
If interested or want to discuss other Social Housing Executive roles please get in touch with Matt Baird.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Salary: £46,920 (London) / £42,373 (National) per annum
Hours: Full time (but open to proposals including part time, job shares etc)
Contract: Permanent
Benefits:
· 27 days annual leave + statutory holidays + 3 closures days over the Christmas period;
· Flexible working for all staff including working from home / hybrid working, and flexi-time/TOIL scheme;
· Attractive family friendly policies;
· Private healthcare cover;
· Season ticket loans;
· Employee awards, and training and development opportunities.
For more information about our benefits please visit our website.
Location: London/Bristol - employees are able to work from home on an arrangement agreed with their line manager and we have colleagues based around the UK.
An exciting opportunity has arisen at the National Housing Federation (NHF) for a Policy Leader (Finance Policy).
The NHF is the voice of housing associations in England. We are the trade body to almost 600 housing associations, who have grown from philanthropic roots to provide 2.6 million homes to around 6 million people.
This role is a crucial and exciting one within our policy team and the wider organisation. You will use your knowledge and understanding of housing associations and their finances to build strong relationships with Finance Directors across our membership, and use their and your specialist knowledge to shape the financial environment so that housing associations can best deliver on their social purpose.
Whether this is making a persuasive and evidence-based case to the government for additional grant funding to build new homes, or working with sector experts on the detail of accounting, pensions, tax or treasury policy, or meeting with banks, lenders, ratings agencies, UK Finance, HMRC, and the Treasury on behalf of our members, this role is central to our work influencing national social housing policy.
Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to download the full job profile and person specification for this role.
Key elements of the role:
· Shape and lead our policy work on key strategic issues for housing associations around housing finance – advocating for solutions and mitigating risks that affect the delivery of housing associations’ social purpose;
· Develop evidence and ideas on technical policy areas into salient policy solutions that will make a difference for the sector and influence government;
· Represent the NHF to senior colleagues in government, members and external stakeholders with credibility, expertise and political judgement;
· Communicate with and provide advice to members on critical changes to policy and the external environment.
The successful candidate:
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:
· A strong and in-depth understanding of housing association finances and the operating model of housing associations (finance qualifications are not required, but a technical understanding of finance and accounting issues will be vital);
· An ability to lead the development of credible, robust, evidence based policy, including on complex and technical policy areas;
· An ability to communicate credibly, clearly and persuasively in writing and in person including to Chief Executives, senior government officials and finance professionals;
· An ability to draft, oversee, adapt and deliver complex plans for the delivery of multiple projects or programmes of work.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we value the contribution each individual makes to our work.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and are working to increase the diversity profile of our workforce. We are currently under-represented by ethnic minorities, people with a disability or disabilities and LGBT+, and would particularly welcome applications from people in these groups.
Disability confident committed employer
We are a disability confident committed employer and if you are a disabled person who demonstrates you meet the skills and experience we consider essential for the role, we will offer you an interview.
We are happy to consider reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process if you have a disability or have a condition that you feel may affect your performance during the recruitment process. Please contact Stephanie Green, People Manager with your request or to arrange a time to discuss in more detail.
Our role profile and job advert can also be requested in large print or in accessible format via this email address.
Uploading your CV and cover letter
If you decide to apply for this role, when requested, please upload a version of your CV that does not include any personal details, such as name, gender, age etc. You should also ensure that you do not add your name at the end of the cover letter. This will help us to shortlist candidates for interview based solely on their knowledge, skills and experience.
Right to work in the UK / UK VISA Sponsorship
You must have the right to work in the UK and it is important to note that the NHF does not sponsor individuals to work in the UK.
Closing date for applications: 6 May 2024
Interview date: 16 May 2024
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!
Housing Tenancy Officer
Location: Head Office, Oldbury B68
Hours: 35-hours per week
Salary: £27,657 per annum (pro rata for part-time)
As an organisation that plans to grow, we are building a new Housing Management team and are looking for a Housing Tenancy Officer to be part of the team.
The role
The successful Housing Tenancy Officer will carry out a variety of housing management tasks included but not limited to: Supporting with the voids and lettings process, Managing rent arrears with a focus on income maximisation, Working with tenants to ensure they are involved in shaping our services, General tenancy and estate management, Managing day to day repairs, cyclical maintenance and service contracts and Supporting the Senior Housing Manager with longer term asset management planning.
We offer flexibility in how you get your work done, whether that is working from Head Office, being out at the schemes, to occasional working from home. The post is 35 hours flexible working across Monday to Friday with occasional out of hours work.
About You
We are looking for someone with a genuine interest and passion for working to improve the quality of our residents’ lives. You need to be enthusiastic and show capability and ownership to develop in the role. You will also need to have excellent communication skills, previous experience with front facing customer service/administrative work in a housing service, excellent IT skills – proficient with Microsoft packages and the ability to learn new systems quickly, together with a positive can-do and flexible attitude to work.
Please note, you will also need a full UK Driving License and use of a car for business purpose, and able to apply for enhanced DBS certificate, together with evidence of the Right to Work in the UK. These will need to be shown at the interview stage.
What can we offer in return?
If you are looking for a career in housing and can demonstrate you have the above requirements, this may be the ideal role for you. In return we will commit to providing the successful candidate with support to undertake a recognised Level 3 Housing Qualification.
In addition to ongoing training, we also offer a pension scheme and staff discounts.
The Company
New Outlook is a specialist Association that has been providing housing and care services to people with sensory impairment in the West Midlands for over 170 years. We currently have 10 Care and Supported Living services across Birmingham and some general needs properties in Redditch.
Our core values summarise what we ASPIRE to achieve:
· Approachable – friendly and easy to talk to
· Supportive – understanding and encouraging
· Professional – capable and skilful
· Innovative – inventive and adaptable
· Reliable – consistent quality and performance
· Empowering – confident and strong
How to Apply:
Please provide an updated CV along with a covering letter explaining “why you are applying for the role of Housing Tenancy Officer and what skills, experience and knowledge you can bring to this role” All applicants are encouraged to thoroughly read the job description provided, highlighting relevant skills and experience that directly correspond to the outlined responsibilities and requirements. (Please do not write any more than 500 words).
Once completed, send this to us.
Closing Date: 12th April 2024
Interviews: Week commencing 15th April Face to Face, Head Office, Oldbury B68.
Please note, we are actively reviewing applications, and may close this advert early if a successful candidate is found.
New Outlook is a Disability Confident Committed employer.
Please provide a covering letter explaining “why you are applying for the role of Housing Tenancy Officer and what skills, experience and knowledge you can bring to this role” All applicants are encouraged to thoroughly read the job description provided, highlighting relevant skills and experience that directly correspond to the outlined responsibilities and requirements. (Please do not write any more than 500 words).
Once completed, please click on Quick Apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Head of Property
Canterbury, Kent
£50,242 - £57,778 pa plus excellent benefits
35 hours per week
The Head of Property is a crucial and pivotal role at the Diocese, as you will lead the strategic management of the Diocese’s assets, taking responsibility for maximising income and capital returns from assets, including property development on investment land and buildings.
Reporting to the Diocesan Secretary, you will oversee the management of the Diocese’s housing and the Glebe estate. You will ensure good quality clergy accommodation through strategic maintenance and planned enhancements, along with the sale, purchase and development of housing stock and glebe land as required.
Managing the Property Services Team, which oversees the management of all clergy and other housing within the Diocese, you will ensure maintenance and improvements are performed within agreed timeframes and budgets and provide an excellent and friendly service to clergy and their household. In addition, you will ensure maximised rental income from vacant housing and glebe land which is a key income stream for the Diocese.
As Head of Property, you will offer support to parishes and protect their interests by advising on decision making regarding their buildings, with a particular focus on enhancing utilisation and value, especially for church halls. You will also represent, protect and advance the interests of PCCs, Incumbents and Churchwardens, by partnering with them to provide high-level advice to parishes on the effective management of property matters, particularly in cases where the Diocese acts as custodian trustee on their behalf.
As a key member of the Diocesan Office and Senior Management Team (SMT), Diocesan Finance & Assets Committee, Diocesan Advisory Committee and Property Advisory Group, you will manage the property budget, taking part in budget reviews and budget setting in partnership with the Director of Finance and Finance & Assets Committee.
Professionally qualified with a relevant qualification and with significant demonstrable post qualification experience in a similar role, perhaps as a surveyor, you should have proven leadership experience with a focus on strategic property development and resource planning.
With experience of working in the property sector, ideally in asset management, residential property management and landlord and tenant relations, you should have a track record of driving maximum return from property and/or land assets, including experience of property disposals and purchases. Able to maximise income, you should also be adept at planning, managing and reviewing substantial budgets and exercising strict financial controls in a property environment.
Sympathetic to the overall Christian mission of the Church of England, including the Diocese’s schools, church communities and buildings, you should be prepared and able to travel regularly throughout the Diocese.
Previous experience with Charities or Not-for-Profit organisations is desirable but not essential.
The Housing and Land assets of the Diocese of Canterbury comprises operational and investment properties, almost all of which consist of ministry housing stock and a small amount of Glebe Land. Assets include circa 170 parsonage houses, the majority of which are occupied by clergy, establishing a unique relationship between the Diocese and church leaders. A minority of the stock (around 50 properties) which are intended for ministry but not currently used, generate substantial rental income. Notably, recent years have seen the move to ensure that we have the right properties in the right places for ministry as well as exploring development opportunities on existing properties that are due to be reviewed, sold or replaced.
Canterbury Diocese is the oldest diocese in England, stretching from Maidstone to Thanet, the Isle of Sheppey to the Romney Marsh. We have 350 miles of coastline with historic ports and seaside resorts, alongside rural communities, market towns and commuter-belt urban developments. Affluent areas often sit alongside pockets of major deprivation, offering an exciting and challenging mission context.
At the heart of all we do is a vision of transformation for ourselves and our communities: no one can encounter God and remain unchanged. In the Diocese of Canterbury, we want to increasingly become a Christian community transformed through encounter with Christ, growing and overflowing to transform and bless the families, homes and communities we serve: Changed Lives, Changing Lives.
Closing date: 6 May 2024, 11:59pm
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week (Mon-Fri, 7.5 hours per day). May be required to work occasional evenings and public holidays.
Contract: Permanent
Salary: In range of £58,000 per annum
Location: London, E8 4DG
Our client, Peter Bedford Housing Association (PBHA), is a housing association with charitable aims that create positive change in people’s lives. As well as homes and support, they empower people to learn, access work and discover their creative talents. Based mainly in Hackney, Islington, and Newham, they work with people who are homeless, have mental ill health, learning difficulties and multiple needs. PBHA work enables people to move on and lead independent lives.
PBHA are committed to an asset based and psychologically informed approach to their work. Mutual support, participation and personal development for both staff and service users are key to this.
The role:
Reporting to the CEO, the Head of Property and Development will oversee the provision of high-quality asset management and repair services in-line with PBHA values and strategic objectives. Working closely with the Director of Services, the successful candidate will aid in the identification, management and acquisition of opportunities that will enable PBHA’s strategic growth. The role will help to ensure that PBHA’s work, and homes, meet building standards, health and safety obligations, regulatory framework, and will always provide a high-quality service to PBHA tenants.
Key duties and responsibilities:
- Spearhead line-management of PBHA’s Property and Development Team through performance management and handling employee relations issues if necessary.
- Organise and coordinate work programmes.
- Lead Housing Development programmes ensuring compliance with building standards, health and safety and regulatory requirements.
- Participate in the recruitment, selection, induction and onboarding of team members.
- Participate in on-call rota and respond appropriately to out of hours incidents.
- Provide strategic and operational direction to enhance the long-term management and investment objectives of the property portfolio.
- Ensure PBHA’s assets are surveyed and data records are established and upheld to monitor property condition.
- Oversee and manage stock improvement and maintenance programmes, ensuring that they meet service standards and agreed budgets.
- As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, present to Board and Services Committee, offering recommendations in accordance with the Asset Management Strategy.
- Develop high quality policies, procedures and systems relating to Property and Development Service.
- Advise tenants and other PBHA teams on strategy and future policy implementation.
- Propose appropriate partnership development opportunities to the Senior Leadership Team.
- Monitor and evaluate service delivery, collating information for monthly, quarterly and annual performance metrics.
- Respond proactively to complaints regarding services, staff and contractors.
- Develop and implement new procedures in response to legislation changes and emerging best practice.
- Aid team in creating and maintaining good working relations with landlords, contractors and professional consultants.
Person specification:
- Experience delivering and improving Repairs and Maintenance Service, preferably for a Registered Provider or Charity.
- Substantial project or change management experience.
- Experience developing specifications for property related tenders and managing contracts.
- Revenue and Capital Budgets experience.
- Staff management experience.
- Building related qualification and professional body membership, e.g. RCIS/MCIOB, degree or HND in building management.
- Knowledge of project management, e.g. PRINCE 2/APM Techniques.
- Experience of housing development issues, funding, approaches and financing.
- Sound knowledge of health and safety legislation.
- Prioritisation and ability to work independently as well as part of a team.
- Strong IT and data management skills.
- Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
- Communication skills, specifically with stakeholders.
- Committed to innovation and creating customer value.
Peter Bedford Housing Association offers in return:
- Excellent support
- Enhanced company sick pay
- Access to an extensive range of training
- A psychologically informed environment
- 26 days annual leave per annum plus bank holidays, rising up to 30 days with service
- Cycle to work scheme
- Eye care vouchers
- Agile working.
To apply, please register your interest and we will send you an application form to complete. Using an application form supports equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices.
Peter Bedford Housing Association is an Equal Opportunities employer who support an inclusive culture and diversity for their staff and those they represent. They are committed to encouraging further growth from diverse groups, and welcome applications from people of all abilities and under-represented groups. Currently, PBHA have an underrepresentation from men and disabled communities. As such, they particularly welcome applicants from these groups.
We are recruiting into our FAST team. In this role, you'll be instrumental in maintaining and advancing our technology infrastructure. Working closely with colleagues across seven sites, you'll be at the forefront, ensuring smooth operations and facilitating the delivery of essential services.
Please find full details of how to apply via our website in the advert below. The deadline for application submissions is 23:59, Wednesday 08 May 2024.
We are striving to better represent the young people we support and therefore are particularly keen to increase applications from Black/Black British, Muslim, and male candidates as they are currently under-represented in our organisation. We also encourage applications from people with relevant lived experience.
If you need an adjustment to be made to any part of the recruitment process, please let us know as soon as possible.
Who are we?
We are a leading youth homelessness charity based in the Southwest, working with over 1,500 young people. At 1625ip we are driven by Social Justice and Passion: we strive to do something that matters and take pride in seeing the results of our work in social outcomes and improving young people’s lives.
What you will be doing:
- Tapping into your previous experience in help desk support, multitasking to troubleshoot and repair issues, you will be providing technical support via our helpdesk to colleagues, resolving issues promptly and efficiently.
- Using your previous experience in IT, you will be managing and overseeing the day-to-day operation of our IT systems, including hardware, software, and network infrastructure, using your problem-solving skills to ensure smooth running of the network and systems.
- With your solid knowledge of IT systems and applications and strong communication and interpersonal skills, you will collaborate with teams and colleagues to assess their IT needs, identify areas for improvement, and implement appropriate solutions.
- Assisting and contributing to IT policy, planning, development.
You will be in the FAST (Facilities and systems team) and your line manager will be our Central Services Manager.
At 1625ip we are led by our Competency Development Framework. This connects our values to our behaviours in everything we do and gives us the tools to develop. The framework ensures our recruitment is better informed, applications and interviews are behaviourally based, and job profiles are developed on the ‘how’ of a job.
The role requires previous experience and knowledge of IT infrastructure. If you have transferrable skills and you are interested in this role, but you are worried about the application process, please get in touch with us. We encourage you to have an informal chat with the recruiting manager to discuss how your personal or professional experience and skills could be transferred to this role. Details of how you can do that are further down in this advert.
Contract details
- Hours per week: 37.5 (this represents full time hours)
- Contract type: Permanent
- Pay: £28,282 - £29,777 per annum
- The location: You will be based in Kingsley Hall, close to Bristol’s main train and bus stations as well as the vibrant city centre. There is also flexibility to work from home to be agreed upon.
A few benefits at 1625ip
In return for your dedication, we offer:
- A generous annual leave entitlement of 30 days per annum plus all Bank Holidays
- A supportive and approachable team with an emphasis on colleague wellbeing
- Flexible working
- A friendly and welcoming team
Important dates
- Application deadline closes: 23:59, Wednesday 08 May 2024.
- If you have not heard from us by the end of the day on Thursday 09 May 2024, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.
- Interviews are on Thursday 16 May 2024.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Housekeeper
Location: Osgathorpe, Leicestershire
Job Type: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £20,666 - £25,833 per annum (depending on experience)
Benefits: Generous annual leave allowance, salary exchange pension scheme, life assurance, occupational sick pay, dog-friendly offices.
Closing date: 19-04-2024
If you have experience working in housekeeping or hospitality and you are excited about the opportunity to work for a national assistance dog charity, this could be the role for you!
Their mission is to change the lives of disabled people using expertly trained dogs to improve physical, emotional, and social well-being.
To help them create amazing partnerships they need amazing people. They have an exciting opportunity for a Housekeeper to join their dedicated housekeeping team.
This is an incredible role at a prominent assistance dog charity where your role will be a part of their essential work that transforms lives every day.
What you will do:
You will be working within a small team to provide housekeeping cover, cleaning and catering for their on-site training courses, and overnight stays by their clients, staff, or other site users. You will be responsible for ensuring all areas of the site are kept clean to the highest standard and support the housekeeping and catering needs in all aspects of the charity's work.
What they are looking for:
- Highly effective interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication skills across a range of audiences.
- Experience in providing cleaning services.
- Ability to plan, prepare and cook hot and cold meals.
- Basic understanding of nutrition including knowledge of special dietary needs and food allergies.
- Some knowledge of human physical disabilities.
- Level 2 food hygiene certificate or willingness to obtain one.
- Flexibility to take on additional hours as needed.
You will be happy to work as part of a team and on your own initiative whilst being personable and approachable to all service users. The role requires some heavy and strenuous cleaning duties therefore it is essential that you have the physical capability to carry out these tasks safely.
Most importantly you will be passionate about the transformative impact that their assistance dogs provide to their beneficiaries.
They can offer you:
- Generous annual leave allowance
- Salary exchange pension scheme
- Charity sick pay
- Life assurance
- Employee assistance programme
- Wellbeing portal
- Free on-site parking
- Dog-friendly offices
This role benefits from working at their purpose-built training centre in the rural countryside of Osgathorpe, Leicestershire - some local travel to and from the training centre may be required for weekly shopping trips and collecting/dropping off clients. This is a working training centre therefore you must be comfortable with dogs in the workplace.
The basic hours for the role are 22.5 hours per week, normally 3 days per week however hours will vary depending on charity activities. Some work may include evenings (up to 6.30 pm) and weekends to support on-site training courses for their clients. Working hours will be agreed on a 4-weekly basis. Time off in lieu or overtime pay will be available as appropriate for additional hours worked.
If this sounds like the right role for you, they would be delighted to hear from you. Please apply online with a comprehensive CV and supporting statement explaining how you believe you match the requirements of the role.
All interviews will take place at their training centre.
They recognize the benefit of diverse experiences and therefore welcome and encourage applications from all sections of the community. They are a disability confident committed employer.
You may also have experience in the following: Domestic Team Leader, Housekeeping Assistant, Housekeeper, Housekeeping, Cleaner, Cleaning Assistant, Cleaning Operative, Hospitality Assistant, Cleaning Supervisor, Cleaning Manager. Catering assistant, etc.
REF-212 726
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Margins Project, Union Chapel’s Frontline charity, work with people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness and helps address pertinent social justice issues these communities face.
The charity runs three integrated programmes:
• a community drop-in programme providing access to nutritious hot meals, and limited access to showers & laundry services.
• advice and engagement programme providing one-to-one as well as group advice service on benefits and housing, and onward referrals to pertinent services.
• support employment programme offers a paid catering training to 10 people who have had experience of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill-health, and or imprisonment.
Our range of services are designed to help guests (service users) at varying stages, from having no roof over their head to getting back into employment.
This role offers an opportunity for an experienced adviser to help shape and evolve Margins services. Experiences on the ground at the drop-in programme inform the charity’s strategic direction. The role will involve expanding our partner network to link into pertinent statutory and other charitable organisations that provide services that will help our guests with their housing, substance misuse, recidivism, and mental health challenges.
We work closely with people on an individual case work basis to get guests off the streets, into hostels or temporary accommodation where possible, and work with private and social landlords on a range of issues. We support and represent the people we work with on the phone and in person, including at the council, the doctors, the job centre, and benefits tribunals.
Our drop-ins run on Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00am to 1:00pm where attendance is currently from 65 to 75 guests. The advice and engagement worker works more intensively with smaller numbers of up to 20. The demand for more follow up work and advocacy support has been increasing over the last two years and this in-house advice worker is critical for this demand.
Working collaboratively with the Drop-in Community worker (currently vacant), the head chef, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, you will be responsible for the support of a caseload of guests, some with complex needs, and will undertake key work responsibilities including registering the guests, identifying their housing, benefit and personal needs and conducting all necessary follow ups including occasional advocacy support, where deemed necessary.
Job Title: ADVICE AND ENGAGEMENT WORKER
Responsible to: Head of Margins
Location: Margins Offices at Union Chapel, Islington, London
Salary: £32,500 - £35,000
Terms: Full time 37.5 hours per week with 1 hour unpaid for lunch.
Three-month probation, two months’ notice.
23 days annual leave + bank holidays. Workplace pension scheme (NEST)
Start date: May 2024
Purpose of Job:
• To advise and assist guests (service users) with benefit claims and related issues, e.g., Housing Benefit, DLA, PIP, Income Support, ESA, Universal Credit, and other benefits. In particular, assisting them to claim Housing Benefit and UC to reduce risk of rent arrears.
• To develop significant contact and liaison with comparable housing and benefits advice organisations.
• To encourage guests engage with Margins activities, and where practicable, with the wider Union Chapel activities.
• To develop, facilitate and deliver group advice workshops/training programmes and open discussions forums to engage guests who historically do not engage with Union Chapel.
• To Refer Margins guests to relevant internal and external services.
• In liaison with the head of Margins and the chef to refer potential candidates to Margins’ Supported Employment Programme.
The Advice and Engagement Worker will have an active role in identifying and engaging guests as well as referring potential candidates to the Supported Employment Programme, a programme anticipated to expand beyond its current services in Margins catering.
Responsible For:
• Working with caseload of guests
• With the support of drop-in services community worker (currently vacant) to ensure the smooth running of the drop-in services
• Identifying opportunities to improve services both at a project and organisational level.
• Assist the Head of Margins in ensuring that the Margins Project remains GDPR compliant.
• Represent the organisation effectively internally and externally.
• Working in partnership with statutory and other charities to deliver co-ordinated support to guests.
• Identify relevant training opportunities in capacity building.
• Initial liaison with and acting as the first referral contact for the Supported Employment Programme
Key Duties:
• To encourage and assist guests achieve the maximum income from benefits to which they are entitled to, and to refer to relevant support services such as mental health, social services, community support.
• To advise guests on basic budgeting and where applicable to refer to Tenancy Support Officers or outside agencies for more complex help.
• To liaise closely with local authorities, social, and private landlords to try to achieve the best outcome for our guests.
• To identify if the guest is accessioning the right benefit that will support their long-term wellbeing.
• To support newly arrived refugees with their housing and benefit advice needs.
• To actively assist guests with formal appeals against Local Authority, DWP and HMRC decisions regarding benefit entitlement. Representing at Appeal Tribunals.
• To signpost guests to resources that can assist them in finding work.
• When needed, signposting guests to specialist providers in mental health or drug and alcohol support services.
• To Support guests on paying their rent, including providing advice on benefits and debt management.
• To Address breaches of occupancy agreements and develop strategies that would prevent and avoid eviction.
• To assist guests with backdated claims for Benefit by supporting their applications through to completion.
• To ensure all guests’ files are up-to-date and that data is captured on our management system.
• To provide written reports and statistics as and when requested.
• To attend supervision, training, and meetings as and when required.
• To provide advocacy support to guests as and when required.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential:
• Good knowledge of the benefits system, including Universal Credit.
• Experience of working with homeless and marginalised people and understanding of the issues that face them.
• Experience of working or collaborating with people with mental health issues.
• Experience of working with refugees and their needs.
• Ability to manage challenging behaviours.
• Embrace a strength-based approach.
• A clear understanding of professional boundaries.
• A knowledge of the best practice in Safeguarding Adult procedures.
• Excellent written and oral communication skill.
• Ability to work proactively as part of a team.
• Ability to plan, manage and action follow-ups on time and manage and contain workload.
• Proficient in IT skills and competence in Microsoft Office applications.
• Committed to personal and professional development through ongoing training.
Desirable:
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience of providing advice to vulnerable groups
• Experience of delivering provision for the benefit of vulnerable backgrounds
Equal Opportunities:
• Ensure consistent and effective implementation of Union Chapel Equal Opportunities & Diversity policy and procedures.
• Positively promote an environment which respects and values the diversity of staff, volunteers, and Guests.
This is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Advice and Engagement Worker. It is therefore not comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed with the postholder and the line manager from time to time. The post holder may undertake any other reasonable duties within the capabilities and scope of the post as specified by their line manager. In such circumstances appropriate training will be provided.
How to apply
Please apply with your CV and a support statement, both no more than two pages, outlining your skills and experiences to meet the criteria of the role, why you want to work for Union Chapel Project and your availability to start with “Advice and Engagement Worker” in the subject line. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Form.
Closing date: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 8am
Interviews will take place w/c 13 May 2024
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.