Social Welfare Jobs

Age UK are recruiting for a Senior Influencing Project Manager on a fixed term 12 month contract.

We will be developing a number of research, policy and practice development projects in support of our new strategy. These include the 'extremely vulnerable people' project and a new partnership researching older people's experiences pre and post an urgent episode of care or emergency hospital admission.

This exciting opportunity will also take on responsibility for managing our response to the Pandemic Inquiry and relationship with the Health and Wellbeing Alliance. This is initially a 12-month role, with the possibility of extending to 24 months depending on project funding.

The successful Senior Strategic Influencing Manager will take the lead in designing and delivering these complex projects, including management of external partners, consultants or agencies and internal teams as required. The role will work closely with the Policy Lead, Clinical Lead and Head of Health Influencing to coordinate and drive delivery of the organisation's goals and strategic priorities across health and care.

This hybrid role, known as a Senior Strategic Project Manager within the charity, offers flexible working between home and a central London co-working hub. Occasional travel may also be required to attend meetings, workshops etc.

Age UK Grade 4L

Must haves:

• Experience of leading complex projects to deliver a combination of research, policy and practice/ service development outputs.
• Experience of project and programme design, research methods and action learning/ improvement processes, and an understanding of best practice in working with vulnerable people.
• Ability to develop and drive coherent influencing strategies and change programmes, manage a complex workload, set priorities and meet tight deadlines.
• Proactive, flexible approach, identifying and taking forward opportunities, shaping new ideas and developing partnerships
• Ability to be agile and adapt projects as they develop or in response to a changing external environment.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to present complex issues in a persuasive, accessible style to a range of different audiences.
• Experience of developing and leading project teams, including external stakeholders, funders, and partners, to build engagement with and support for the project and outputs.
• Ability to support and challenge internal colleagues, with self-confidence and a commitment to internal communication and helping others meet shared goals.

Great to haves:

• Good oral advocacy skills and ability to build influential relationships with senior stakeholders, with the ability to present complex issues in a persuasive, accessible style to a range of audiences and in different settings (meetings, speeches, media etc.).
• Experience of policy analysis and advocacy at a senior level, including managing relationships with funders, external stakeholders and lead officials.
• Ability to assimilate new policy issues/areas quickly, make connections between different policy areas, and initiate and frame new policy agendas.
• Excellent skills in policy analysis with a focus on robust evidence, understanding political and policy contexts, and finding solutions.

What we offer in return

• Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.

Additional Information

All CVs will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role at Age UK. Please note that our system is unable to anonymise cover letters, and we would therefore ask that to support the work we are doing on making our recruitment selection process fairer and more unbiased, that you remove any personal information from your cover letter/supporting statement, including your name before uploading this. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us once you are invited for an interview.

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please note that on occasion, due to high numbers of applications, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Age UK politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Six Months Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

Flexible work location within Greater Manchester

As Strategic Lead (Cancer & Inequalities) you’ll continue our work with GM Cancer to achieve a permanent reduction in inequalities and inequity within Greater Manchester, addressing the social, environmental, and economic determinants of health and wellbeing, with the aim of ensuring active VCSE participation.

This role will suit someone with a passion for improving the health and wellbeing of people, for tackling health inequalities, and who enjoys working in fastmoving and complex systems. To be successful you’ll need experience of supporting a strategic partnership; developing proposals and funding models; and influencing at a senior level. 

Application is by CV and supporting statement. 

Closing date for applications: 9:00am on Wednesday 5 June 2024.

Planned interview date: Thursday 13 June 2024, in either Salford or central Manchester.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Waking Night Mental Health Support Worker to join our Mental Health service in Hackney.

£27,352.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Felstead street is a CQC registered care home that provide care and support for 24 adults with high level mental health needs but also with complex physical health needs.

As a Waking Night Mental Health Support Worker, you will play an integral role as a part of the team by offering the continuity of care and support in every aspect of their needs in line with individual support and risk management plans, such as medication administration, emotional support and regular welfare check, personal care and so on.

Shift: 10.15pm-8.15am. Must be able to work some weekends and bank holidays. 4 working days (10 hours x4) a week, according to the rolling rota.

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:

Buildng supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere in the home.
Following lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness to health and safety for self, colleagues and customers.
Supporting customers to maintain a safe, healthy and hygienic living / shared environment.
Providing emotional support and assistance to customers overnight who may be experiencing difficulties with their own mental health and seeking appropriate support.
Providing support with daily living activities including practical assistance to customers who may require this during the night.
Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
Develop and maintain links with all key agencies and service providers in the local community.
Managing the petty cash during the shift.
Continuing the infection control duties at night.
Maintaining fire safety and H&S at night, and managing the arising issues in line with the local protocol and Look Ahead policies and procedure.
Empower customers to ensure they receive the service and benefits they are entitled to
Undertake all administrative work and keep accurate and comprehensive tenant/customer records to professional standards
Adhere to Look Ahead's Policies and Procedures

For the full list please see our website.

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
Approachable and open behaviour
Prefers working as part of a group or team
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
Flexible
Open to feedback and self development
Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is essentially customer-focused
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours
Is computer literate and has basic IT skills : Microsoft & Excel

What you'll bring:

Essential:

NVQ Level 2/3 in Health and Social Care or above or experience in the social care/charity /mental health sector
Basic IT skills
Literacy and basic math

Desirable:

Experience working in mental health
Experience working in a CQC registered care setting
Experience of delivering personal care / assistance.

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 120 services, providing support to around 6000 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, young people 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.

We're looking for two kind, compassionate and resilient Mental Health Support Workers to join our Mental Health service in Hackney.

£27,352.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel valued? 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. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Felstead Street is a CQC registered care home, which has a heavy focus on supporting customers with enduring mental health care and elderly needs. We provide 24hr high support to 24 customers both female and male. Our building is a purpose-built home on two floors, offering customers individual bedrooms and the use of shared communal facilities and gardens. The service is commissioned by East London Foundation Trust with the care contribution from London Borough of Hackney.

As a Support Worker at Felstead Street you will play an integral role in supporting our customers to making their lives interesting and enabling to manage their social, physical and emotional well being. You will support our customers with a range of activities and health support throughout the day and to live in a safe living environment. You will be part of a team which is very supportive of one another.

The successful candidate must be able to work some weekends and bank holidays as allocated. This role involves working 5 days a week. Each shift is 8 hours, 8am-4pm or 2.30pm-10.30pm, as allocated on the rota. You must be able to work 9am-5pm for 2 weeks every several weeks as required by the rota.

If you enjoy making a difference and passionate about mental health, why not join us?

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 and creating a positive atmosphere in the home.
- Following lone working protocols and maintaining high levels of awareness to health and safety for self, colleagues and customers.
- Supporting customers to maintain a healthy and clean living environment, where appropriate, provide assistance to maintain their living areas are clean and safe from hazards.
- Providing support and assistance to customers during the day who may be experiencing difficulties with their own mental health and seeking appropriate support.
- Providing support with daily living activities including practical assistance to customers who may require this.
- Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
- Support customers actively in the community and engage with the local area.

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
- Approachable and open behaviour
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- 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
- Flexible
- Open to feedback and self development
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments

What you'll bring:

Essential:

- Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector

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 120 services, providing support to around 6000 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, young people 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.

Please see our website for full job description.

Purpose and Scope of the Role

We are seeking a dynamic individual to join our team and take on the role of providing professional and impactful advice and guidance to individuals and families accessing RMC services. As part of this position, you will be instrumental in supporting the team and management in fulfilling the needs of our beneficiaries and achieving organisational targets.

The successful candidate will excel in delivering personalised support that meets the unique requirements of each service user, ensuring their journey with RMC is both productive and fulfilling. Additionally, they will play a vital role in collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders to drive collective efforts towards meeting our overarching objectives.

If you are passionate about making a positive difference in people's lives and thrive in a collaborative environment, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities;

Working within the team  

· To ensure the professional and organisational requirements are respected and met during the delivery of advice.

· To assist the senior colleagues and Operations Manager in order to drive efficiency, quality, systems improvement and target achievement. 

 Casework and advice  

· To offer advice, advocacy and support to service users with various aspects related to their welfare as requested by the management of RMC and funders’ requirements.

· To maintain confidentiality in all dealings with service users and ensure their needs are met in a satisfactory and sensitive manner. 

· To provide appropriate support and mentoring to any volunteers under supervision. 

· To represent RMC at external meetings and events when required by the senior colleagues.

· To maintain effective working relationships with partners and stakeholders. 

A DBS check will be carried out for this post.

Flexibility

In order to deliver the stated aims of for this post, a degree of flexibility is needed and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above, such duties will fall within the scope of the job and be directly related within the appropriate pay grade. The job description will therefore be subject to periodic review with the post holder to ensure it accurately reflects the duties that are being performed

Person Specification

Experience and Skills

Desirable

Essential

Experience of advice work dealing with asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants

X

Ability to communicate complex information clearly to distressed clients.

X

A proven high standard of communication skills, including written, oral, presentational and inter-personal skills.

X

Ability to produce high quality written work to deadline, organisational skills and the ability to manage and prioritise a demanding workload.

X

Commitment to equality and diversity

X

Strong commitment to work towards OISC regulation

X

To be fluent in at least one of these community languages – Arabic, Kurdish, Farsi, French, Amharic, Tigrinya, Polish, Russian, Lithuanian, Romanian, Punjabi, Urdu. Essential. 

X

An ability to self-motivate and work independently.

X

Experience of working in a multicultural environment and sensitivity towards other cultures

X

Educated to degree level or equivalent

X

A proven record of team work and flexibility

X

Excellent listening skills and ability to empathise as well as establish boundaries to avoid emotional over-involvement

X

Age UK is recruiting! We have a fantastic opportunity for a Store Manager to join our friendly and supportive Bicester team.

Utilising your previous retail experience and excellent managerial skills, you will manage the day to day running of our store - maximising store sales and profits while ensuring our customers receive an excellent service. In doing so, you will be helping to raise funds for Age UK and the incredible services and support they provide to older people.

As Store Manager, you will manage our brilliant team of staff and volunteers, providing effective leadership, training, and development.

If you are a motivated manager with a passion for retail and would like to use your skills to support a charity that helps thousands of older people across the UK, this may be the role for you!

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to handle/lift bags of stock (up to 10kgs.)

You will have:

• Experience in a performance driven retail/customer centric environment
• Experience of managing people
• Ability to lift and carry bags of stock up to 10kg's
• Ability to build, retain and develop a team
• Strong drive to achieve results through others
• Ability to delegate, coach and listen
• Ability to manage time under conflicting priorities
• Ability to motivate self and others
• An open and adaptable approach to change and be able to support others through it
• Experience of communicating with a diverse workforce and customer base
• Ability to establish and maintain successful retail processes and merchandising
• IT literacy and numeracy skills

What we offer in return:

• A 35 hour working week
• 25 days holiday + bank holiday allowance
• A generous pension - we will contribute 8%
• Great discounts and rewards through Blue Light Card and BenefitHub
• Life assurance, Bupa health cashback plan
• Tickets for Good - Free and discounted tickets for events

Additional Information

To comply with UK legislation, we cannot accept applications from candidates under the age of 18 as the successful candidate will be required to work on their own in the shop without the aid of other staff.

All CVs will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role at Age UK. Please note that our system is unable to anonymise cover letters, and we would therefore ask that to support the work we are doing on making our recruitment selection process fairer and more unbiased, that you remove any personal information from your cover letter/supporting statement, including your name before uploading this. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us once you are invited for an interview.

Is this the job for you? We know that men, of all backgrounds, and men and women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are currently under-represented in our workforce, and we want to change this! So, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants from these groups.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please note that on occasion, due to high numbers of applications, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Who we’re looking for

You will be an excellent communicator, as well as a practical, well organised and hardworking individual, preferably with experience in the voluntary sector or equivalent transferable experience.

Reporting to the Regional Service Manager, you will support the Service Manager with managing the Cardiff Support Through Court service. You will provide support to volunteers and oversee the daily running of the service when on duty to ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly. 

Due to funding requirements, the successful applicant must be fluent in Welsh.

About Support Through Court

Support Through Court is an independent charity providing practical and emotional support to people facing the court process without the benefit of legal representation. Most people are unfamiliar with - and may be frightened of - the courts, and may be facing serious issues that could affect their children and relationships, finances, or the security of their homes. Our staff and volunteers empower people facing court alone, helping them to go through the court process with dignity and confidence. Together, we can ensure that no one faces court alone.

Citizens Advice Kingston is an innovative, welcoming and friendly local Citizens Advice office, and we provide a high quality advice and information service to local people across a range of topics. 

We operate a hybrid model of working which is heavily reliant on digital elements. The post holder will work with the Chief Executive and other senior staff to lead the team in maintaining and developing effective models of administration. 

The ability to work remotely as required and also support and supervise others using remote systems is essential to this role. Remote working systems rely significantly on the use of IT over a range of applications so a positive and creative approach to digital services and systems is essential. 

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and you will be responsible for the smooth running of the administration of the organisation. 

We are looking for someone with strong administrative skills and excellent computer skills, who is an effective communicator with experience of building relationships at all levels. You must also have experience of managing a diverse workload, and have strong planning and organisational skills.

Closing Date: 5pm on 21st May         Interviews:  24th May

About Earlsfield Foodbank

At Earlsfield Foodbank, our mission is to create a profound and lasting impact on our community. We are an independent foodbank set up in 2013 and are part of the Independent Food Aid Network.

We are dedicated to providing essential support to those facing crisis, delivering foodbank sessions, offering wraparound services, and engaging our local community to promote our mission. In the next 12 months, we have ambitious plans to tackle some of the wider poverty indicators that lead people to need Foodbank support.

Earlsfield Foodbank is entering an exciting phase of development as we strive to make a positive impact in our community. As demand for the foodbank grows, we're looking for an experienced Operations Manager to join our team and be a catalyst for change.

Summary of Role

Work in collaboration with the Head of Service to manage and coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Foodbank. You will manage and support a team of volunteers, leading by example to ensure the Foodbank operates smoothly and the continuity of delivery standards within the guidelines of EFB policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate will have experience of working or volunteering in a Foodbank. They will be a strong leader and be hard-working, organised, collaborative and confident. They must be passionate about tackling poverty, deprivation and injustice and have a non-judgemental and positive attitude towards people who require support.

We are looking for an Advice Service Manager to join our passionate and hardworking team. The successful candidate must have an in depth understanding of refugee and asylum seeker support needs. Key elements of the role include:

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Management Team:

• As part of the Management Team to oversee the function of the organisation and its strategic development, especially in relation to SRS’s advice service

Service Development

• Be responsible for developing the advice service according to organisational needs and strategy

 Team Management:

• To line manage and develop a team of Advice Workers and Reception/Admin Officer, to ensure they are suitably trained and supported to deliver a high-quality advice service across the county
• To line manage the Employment and Training Coordinator to ensure the employment and training team delivers an effective and cohesive service, which complements the work of the advice team

 Management of Advice Service and Direct Service Provision:

• To ensure that the advice service promotes equality of access to all asylum seekers and refugees (clients) seeking advice and that they feel welcome and effectively supported
• To manage the advice team across the following areas:

1. To assess clients’ needs and propose actions to address these needs (e.g. writing letters or emails and/or making telephone calls) in a professional manner
2. To ensure that clients have access to advice about all aspects of living in the UK and to ensure they understand their rights and responsibilities under UK law
3. To work to achieve agreed outcomes which will bring about positive changes in our clients’ lives
4. To promote independence on the part of the clients and actively empower them to help themselves according to their individual abilities
5. To direct clients to other services provided by Suffolk Refugee Support and / or external agencies (making appointments where appropriate)
6. To respond to telephone requests for information from clients, statutory, voluntary, and private sector organisations and the general public

The Advice Service Manager will:

• Guide the advice service team on complex casework, where needed
• Building on the advice team’s expertise, and with the support of the HR and Training Officer, ensure that their team is up to date on the latest legislation and procedures that impact the asylum seekers and refugees we work with
• Be responsible for decision making and for ensuring that direct funding and grants to clients are in line with policy

Newly arrived asylum seeker support

• To keep abreast of numbers of new arrivals of asylum seekers into Suffolk
• To facilitate clothing donations to those in most need, ensuring that stocks are maintained
• To ensure that clients in asylum accommodation across Suffolk can access our services
• To develop and oversee positive activities for asylum seekers, such as sports and music groups (in liaison with SRS's Operations Manager)

Immigration support lead

• To develop good relationships with immigration legal services and solicitors to ensure that clients can access the information they require and that clients understand the processes they are going through

 Vulnerable Client & Safeguarding Lead

• To be the support lead for very vulnerable clients or where there are cases with safeguarding concerns

Client representation

• To promote the views and experiences of SRS’s clients at external meetings and advisory boards, by participation in face to face and virtual meetings and in giving occasional presentations, using on-the-ground knowledge

Partnership working

• To develop and maintain good working relationships with external service providers and agencies, and to oversee joint working and services development

Monitoring, Evaluation and Donor Reporting

• To ensure services given and outcomes achieved are recorded on internal monitoring systems and that data protection regulations are adhered to
• To provide monthly summary reports for the Charity Manager and board of trustees
• To compile reports in reference to our funders’ outcomes and targets
• To help with the development & administration of written information produced by SRS for our clients’ benefit
• To contribute to development of new services and funding applications

Debt Advice Case Manager

Do you want to help lift some of the most marginalized and vulnerable in our communities out of poverty? We are seeking a Debt Advice Case Manager to work with a small, compassionate, dynamic charity, to help transform lives.

Our client offers comprehensive debt & benefit advice, helps build financial resilience through money education and budget coaching, and offers mentoring to clients with open-ended holistic support to increase their mental wellbeing and social mobility.

If you are passionate about helping people, then this role could be for you. It is much more than just a job - you'll get to see peoples' lives changed and dignity restored!

Internal Job Title: Debt Advice Case Manager

Location: Hounslow, London (will consider hybrid/remote working options)

Salary: £30-34k (FTE) based on experience and location

Contract type: Permanent (6-month probationary period)

Benefits: Enhanced pension scheme, holiday allowance, family-friendly policies, flexible working, learning and development, health and wellbeing.

Closing Date: 3rd June 2024

About the Role:

The primary purpose of this role is to provide debt advice and money education on a case management basis and to support the provision of advice by volunteers. The post holder will be expected to manage their own cases and lead appointment sessions.

The organisation’s mission is to ‘Restore Dignity and Renew Hope’ to those in our communities brought down by poverty and debt. The job holder will play their part in bringing this vision to reality, supporting clients through what at times can be emotionally difficult situations, to get back on their feet and realise their full potential.

The role combines both technical and pastoral elements. The role will involve building a client case, untangling sometimes complex situations, liaising with creditors, providing guidance for volunteers, and discerning and communicating the appropriate choices and strategies for the client. But you will also need to lead client appointments and support clients through what at times can be emotionally difficult situations.

About you:

We are looking for someone with prior debt advice experience who ideally has experience in leading and supervising volunteers.

Essential skills and experience of the Case Manager include:

• Previous experience in providing regulated debt advice on a case management basis
• Being a DRO intermediary would be an advantage
• Demonstrable experience in providing person-focused support to clients who may be vulnerable
• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to show empathy, compassion and patience
• Sound IT skills with a strong command of the Microsoft Office suite

Above all else, our client is looking for an individual who is keen to support and play their part in implementing their vision and be an enthusiastic advocate of the work they do to alleviate poverty. They are a faith-based charity and although being a practicing Christian is not an occupational requirement, they are looking for someone comfortable with its Christian ethos and champions its core values. If this sounds like you, then apply today with a CV and cover letter explaining how you are a good fit for the role!

About the organisation:

The organisation was established in October 2009 and saw it’s first client in January 2010. Since then, they have provided advice and support to thousands of families and individuals in difficulty. Set up originally as part of the social action work of Holy Trinity Brompton church in London, the organisation has since expanded, opening up new branches in partnership with numerous churches and running appointments from locations throughout London and the South of England.

Every day the organisation see individuals and families who have been broken by their circumstances, be that illness, bereavement, loss of employment, mental health problems or family breakdown. Through circumstances that any of us would struggle to deal with, they have found themselves facing the prospect of being evicted from their home, struggling to keep the power on, or unable just to meet their basic day-to-day needs.

Other roles you may have experience with could include: Debt Case Manager, Welfare Case Manager, Welfare Advisor, Debt Advisor, Benefits Advisor, Benefit, Debt & Money Advisor, Debt Recovery Advisor, Debt Service Coordinator and Adviser, IVA Advisor, Senior Advisor, Housing Advisor, People Advisor, General Advice Caseworker, Caseworker Supervisor, Senior Benefits Manager, Benefits Lead, Social Welfare Adviser, Benefits Specialist, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

About Challenge Works

Challenge Works exists to design and run challenge prizes that help solve pressing societal problems that lack solutions. We shine a spotlight where it matters and incentivise people to solve these issues.

We are independent supporters of change to help communities thrive and inspire the best placed, most diverse groups of people around the world to take action.

We support the boldest and bravest ideas to become real, and seed long term change to advance society and build a better future for everyone.

Challenge Works is looking for a Programme Coordinator to join its growing team and work across several of its programmes. This role will be key to support the development and delivery of challenge prizes across a broad range of social and technology themes including: disruptive tech, environment, international development, global health and government innovation.

Our projects are usually complex with a high public profile, they have significant impact on the lives of many thousands of people, and involve working with an exciting mix of tech entrepreneurs, civil society organisations (not for profits and public interest organisations) and government bodies

We have launched prizes that include improving outcomes for Nepalese farmers, improving access to energy for refugees and the £10m Longitude Prize for antimicrobial resistance. Some of our current prizes include the EU Social Innovation Competition, the Toyota Mobility Unlimited Challenge and prizes aimed at using tech to reduce social isolation, improving access to justice and giving people control over their financial data in order to access innovative products tailored to them.

Job purpose

We are looking for a Programme Coordinator to support all aspects in the delivery of Challenge Works programmes. An enthusiastic team player with a knack for problem solving. Someone who is able to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment, moving effortlessly from day-to-day management to supporting the team on planning and strategy. The ideal candidate will have some programme assistant experience, including experience of developing, maintaining and revising systems, budget and financial monitoring, relationship management, communications and management of social media channels.

The Role

Programme Coordination

• Work closely with Programme Managers to enable smooth day-to-day programme execution.
• Monitoring of milestones, evaluation and finance to keep check of project budgets and deadlines. Flagging action points to the Programme Manager when necessary.
• Develop, maintain and revise (as necessary) systems that will underpin the delivery of the prizes.
• Carry out procurement activities end-to-end, including development of contracts, legal documents and CRM
• Development of key documents relating to the delivery of the prizes.
• Manage internal and external meetings, including developing agendas and writing minutes.

Stakeholder Management & Teamwork

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective delivery of the prizes.
• Day-to-day management of external relationships, from stakeholder networks to high-profile individuals and prize entrants.

Communications & Events

• Help support communications activities of various challenge prizes, for example, managing monthly newsletters, social media and updating websites.
• Help create opportunities for public engagement activities.
• Help to create events, workshops and to deliver them to a high standard.
• Work with diverse Nesta departments including financial, legal, and communications.
• Take on ad-hoc projects and tasks to support the team and its prizes as necessary.
• Occasional International travel and out of hours work.

The Person

Strong programme and client coordination

• Solid organisational, prioritisation and time management skills with the ability to coordinate multiple projects simultaneously.
• Initiative and drive, proactively identifies tasks that need to be actioned to enable effective delivery of the programme.
• Ability to coordinate and control aspects of large projects, along with general office support/administrative capacity
• Experience of working to tight deadlines, delivering high quality outputs across multiple projects and tasks.
• Good attention to detail and high standards of accuracy; a good completer finisher
• Ability to help organise and run events.

Excellent communications skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills,
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of high profile partners, clients, team members and stakeholders.

Excellent PC Skills (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint & Excel and/or Google Docs, Slides and Sheets)

What we offer

Salary: £26,500 - £38,500 (offers are expected to be made towards the bottom of the band) plus array of benefits, including private medical insurance, dental insurance, the ability to buy and sell annual leave, eyecare vouchers and more

Location: This role is based in London, Blackfriars, hybrid working arrangement with a minimum of two days in the office

Term: 2 Years, Fixed Term Contract

Hours: This is a full-time role but we offer a range of flexible working arrangements and encourage our people to take advantage of them. Many do.

Making an application

To apply for this role, please submit your application before 08.00am on Friday 17th May 2024.

Interviews will take place w/c 27th May 2024.

At Nesta, we believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more innovative, more creative and gets better results.

We want our workforce to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our workplace to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

This means that when we are recruiting, we actively seek to reach a diverse pool of candidates. It also means that we are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good balance between work and home life, so we do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, compressed or part-time hours, job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Job Description

Job Title:  Training Lead: Parents and Volunteers

Hours:         2.5 days a week 

Salary:    £32,000 for Cardiff Based/£34,000 for London Based

Reports to:     Head of Services

Location:        Cardiff or London (Brockley SE4)

We are seeking a motivated, compassionate and engaging training lead for our parent and volunteer training programs. The training lead for parents and volunteers will lead on the design, development and delivery of a program of training support for parents impacted by Child Sexual Abuse and will support with the delivery of the training for new We Stand volunteers.

Role Description 

To plan, develop and deliver parent training and workshops for protective parents and carers whose

children have been sexually abused; to support parents and carers to understand and process the impacts of child sexual abuse and learn strategies for supporting their children after abuse together with those who share similar experiences. To work collaboratively with We Stand colleagues, to provide support that is accessible, appropriate, timely and tailored to suit the needs of individual clients.

To contribute to the recruitment and selection of We Stand volunteers including student therapists on placement and helpline volunteers. To lead on the delivery of induction and training for all new volunteers and ensure that they are adequately prepared and supported to begin their placement with We Stand.

Parent Training: 

Parent training and workshops are designed to support parents following a disclosure of CSA. The training focuses on providing parents and carers with the useful information and strategies they need to manage and support their child or young person’s journey of recovery. Via 1:1 or group sessions, parents gain the knowledge they need to help them support their child and regain confidence in themselves.

Key Responsibilities

Design and development of content 

• Setting up an annual program of training and workshop delivery for parents and carers

• Ongoing review and development of content to ensure the program is up to date and tailored to the needs of clients

Managing referrals and Assessment of clients 

• Working collaboratively with We Stand colleagues to promote training and workshops to relevant parents and carers

• Managing referrals to training and workshops and assessing the suitability of clients for the program

• Be a point of contact for parents and carers on the waiting list for training and workshops

Delivery of group and individual training 

• Deliver We Stand’s 4-week training programme for parents and carers

• Be a point of contact and support for parents during and immediately after their involvement in the program

• Where appropriate, deliver 1:1 training slots to parents and carers who require this additional support due to e.g. those with additional needs, high levels of anxiety or a particularly complex situation (including sibling abuse)

• Keep accurate and appropriate records for every parent/ carer attending training and workshops

Monitoring and Evaluation 

• Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation processes are in place to capture the experience of all parents and carers attending training and workshops

• Analyse evaluation data against programme aims and objectives to ensure outcomes are being met and to inform service developments

• Take responsibility for continuous improvement of processes to support the effective delivery of training and workshops for parents and carers

• Contribute towards reports for funders, and the We Stand Board of Trustees 

• Contribute to relevant fundraising applications, as required

Volunteer Training 

We Stand relies on a team of dedicated and skilled volunteers to help us deliver life-changing support to families impacted by child sexual abuse. We are committed to ensuring all volunteers have the information, resources and support they need to carry out their role effectively and have a positive experience during their time with the organisation. This includes via a comprehensive training and induction programme and ongoing professional development.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment and selection

• Contribute to the recruitment and selection of new volunteers following a best practice volunteer recruitment process

Induction training programme 

• Oversee and coordinate an annual program of induction training for new and existing volunteers

• Lead on the delivery  of a 4-week programme to induct new volunteers

• Assist with the review and development of content to ensure the program is up to date and tailored to the needs of volunteers

Monitoring and Evaluation 

• Ensure that robust monitoring and evaluation processes are in place to capture the experience of all volunteers attending induction training

• Analyse evaluation data against programme aims and objectives to ensure outcomes are being met and to inform training developments

Other duties: 

• Attend regular clinical supervision, supported by We Stand

• Attend regular We Stand staff and team meetings

• Carry out any other reasonable duties required from time to time by the charity

Person Specification

Essential Skills, Experience and Qualifications

• Experience of design, delivering training programs for families impacted by trauma

• Understanding of the impact of trauma

• Experience of service coordination and project management

• Experience of providing support to volunteers

• Experience of working with clients who have experienced high levels of trauma

• High level communication skills, including experience of communicating effectively across cultures and with diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing

• An ability to develop, monitor, review and take responsibility for the implementation of a project plan including the monitoring and evaluation of projects 

• Excellent IT skills – with a good knowledge of Google applications

• Excellent organisational and time management skills

Personal Attributes and behaviours

• Empathy with We Stand’s clients

• Ability to manage own/ joint workload and prioritise tasks

• Conscientious, resilient and self-disciplined

• Ability to build rapport quickly and to understand needs, wants and expectations

• Ability to work to deadlines/targets for self and others

• Works effectively and calmly under pressure

• Attention to detail in all aspects of work

• Ability to work on own initiative

• Active team player

• Ability to guide, support and develop volunteers

• Non-judgemental

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Trauma Informed Care Specialist to join our homelessness & complex needs service in Hackney.

£28,486.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

East London Apartments provides 24-hour accommodation based support for up to 31 individuals with complex histories, multiple traumas, complex personality disorder(s) and a varied, disrupted housing history with experience of homelessness as well as individuals who have been diagnosed with severe and enduring mental health conditions who are under the Care Programme Approach (CPA).

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 and external partners, creating a positive atmosphere
Carrying out holistic assessments of new customers which incorporate relevant statutory referral information
Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
Key-working the most complex service-users with particular needs aligned with the post holder's specialism - Trauma informed Care
Create support plans for providing appropriate services based on on-going assessment and reflecting the services and resources available to enable customer to progress in their recovery
Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
Provide support and access to relevant services to enable customers to continue their recovery and empower customers to self-manage their medication regimes through individual re-enablement programmes and informed decision making
Undertake support work in partnership with external stakeholders to compliment their interventions, leading on partnering with specialist stakeholders;
Upskilling staff team in particular area of expertise - Trauma informed Care
Developing productive relationships with partner organisations to improve service outcomes

For the full list please see our website.

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:

Embraces a Psychologically Informed approach
Is capable of maintaining unconditional positive regard
Views challenging behaviour as a support need
A strong specialist support worker with excellent interpersonal skills
Socially adept, networks widely, well connected in sector, influential
Approachable, open & professional behaviour
At ease in directing others, is assertive and independent minded, will challenge others, and skilled in resolving conflict
Drives change, enjoys dynamic diverse environments and demonstrates entrepreneurialism, creativity and innovation
Demonstrates significant confidence and high levels of self-esteem
Demonstrates significant levels of emotional resilience and a positive attitude
Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
Is passionate and enthusiastic about the business
Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
Is Customer focused
We welcome applications from individuals with lived experiences of using services

What you'll bring:

Essential:

Up to NVQ Level 3 or equivalent in a relevant area (e.g. psychology, Health and Social Care, Mental Health) OR experience in the social care/charity sector.
Experience building and develop strong professional partnerships with external providers aligned to their specialism

Desirable:

2-3 years experience providing targeted recovery focused support to individuals with needs around trauma, mental health, substance use and dual diagnosis.

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 120 services, providing support to around 6000 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, young people 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.