Home Energy Advisor /Advice Team Lead

This role combines direct energy advice for residents with day-to-day team leadership. It would suit an experienced advisor who is ready to take on additional responsibility, support colleagues and help maintain high standards across Selce’s award winning energy advice services.

This is an exciting opportunity for a practical, compassionate community professional who wants to help households reduce energy costs, improve comfort at home and build resilience during a challenging time for many residents. Trusted, face-to-face advice in people’s homes is central to the role, particularly for households at risk of fuel poverty who may need impartial support to access the help available to them.

As an experienced Home Energy Advisor, you will carry out home visits across Greenwich, Lewisham, Bromley and Bexley, as well as providing advice by telephone and at community events. You will tailor practical support to each household, helping residents use energy more efficiently, reduce bills where possible, and keep their homes warmer in winter and cooler in summer.

You will be a confident communicator and empathetic listener, able to understand the specific challenges faced by vulnerable households and respond with clear, positive and practical solutions.

Alongside advice, you will help residents install simple energy-saving measures such as LED bulbs, draught excluders and radiator reflectors. You will also signpost households to wider support, including funded retrofit measures, financial and debt advice, and health and wellbeing services.

This role would suit someone who is organised, proactive and motivated by making a tangible difference to local people. You will be comfortable working independently in residents’ homes, collaborating with colleagues and partners, and contributing to a community-led organisation committed to a fairer, greener future.

Alongside your direct advice work, you will act as Team Lead and mentor for Selce’s team of energy advisors, helping colleagues feel supported, confident and equipped to deliver effective services.

As Advice Team Lead, you will help ensure our advice services are delivered to a consistently high standard. You will help coordinate, motivate and support staff to deliver quality services and achieve agreed targets and objectives.

Experience of people management is desirable, but the role may also appeal to an experienced energy advisor with strong technical knowledge who is looking to develop supervisory skills and support holistic service delivery across related advice areas.

Excellent organisational and communication skills are essential, along with a solution-focused approach and an understanding of how to motivate individuals to succeed. You will bring a positive, collaborative approach to leading a team and working with others to achieve wider organisational goals.

The Role:

·       Provide clear, practical and impartial energy advice to residents, tailored to their individual circumstances, through home visits, telephone support and outreach events.

·       Deliver home energy support to vulnerable residents, including low-income households, older people, disabled people and families with young children.

·       Use initiative and sound judgement to identify residents’ energy-related challenges and recommend appropriate solutions.

·       Install simple energy-saving measures in homes, such as LED bulbs, draught excluders and radiator reflector panels.

·       Support householders to access additional help, including funded retrofit measures, financial and debt advice, health and wellbeing services, and other relevant support.

·       Advocate for householders with energy suppliers where appropriate, helping residents to resolve issues, reduce costs and access available support.

·       Recognise safeguarding concerns and follow organisational safeguarding procedures, escalating concerns appropriately.

·       Handle sensitive personal data safely and confidentially in line with organisational data protection policies and procedures.

·       Complete accurate records of all resident engagement, support provided and outcomes achieved using the appropriate systems.

·       Manage a diary of appointments, visits, meetings and outreach activity, ensuring visits and calls remain focused while demonstrating empathy and understanding.

·       Work effectively with Selce colleagues, partner organisations and community groups to deliver joined-up support for residents.

·       Act as Team Lead for Selce’s energy advice team, providing day-to-day guidance, encouragement and practical support to advisors.

·       Support advisors to manage caseloads, prioritise work appropriately and deliver timely, high-quality support to residents.

·       Provide mentoring, coaching and informal supervision to energy advisors, helping colleagues develop confidence, knowledge and good practice.

·       Monitor service quality, casework standards and resident outcomes, identifying improvements and sharing learning across the team.

·       Contribute to planning, reporting and performance monitoring for funded projects and wider advice work, helping the team meet agreed targets and objectives.

·       Support induction and training for new advisors, including sharing technical knowledge, service procedures and safeguarding expectations.

·       Work closely with the Operations Manager to escalate risks, resolve operational issues and support continuous improvement.

·       Develop and maintain relationships with local partners to support regular referrals into the project.

·       Maintain awareness of wider local support networks and make appropriate referrals to services that can assist residents with their wider needs.

·       Monitor and maintain stock levels of materials, tools and equipment, ensuring they are used safely and kept in good order.

·       Carry out administrative duties accurately and to a high standard, including data inputting, paperwork and reporting.

·       Promote the project within the community, including through energy advice cafés, events and other outreach activity.

·       Work towards agreed goals and targets with a minimum of supervision, while contributing actively to the wider team.

·       Provide excellent customer service and maintain a friendly, respectful and positive approach with all clients and partners.

·       Comply with all organisational policies, procedures and systems, and actively promote a positive image of Selce.

·       Undertake any other duties commensurate with the level of the post.

Person specification

Essential skills, experience and qualities

·       An energy advice qualification, such as NEA Level 3 Energy Awareness, Domestic Energy Assessor or Retrofit Assessor.

·       Knowledge of domestic energy efficiency, fuel poverty, retrofit, community energy or related advice services.

·       Experience of giving energy advice or supporting residents with financial, housing, energy-related or welfare issues.

·       Current knowledge of the energy efficiency and fuel poverty sector, including the roles of public, private and voluntary sector partners in tackling related challenges.

·       Active listening skills and a customer-focused approach, with the ability to respond calmly and empathetically in difficult situations.

·       Experience of working with diverse communities, including people who may face barriers to accessing advice or support.

·       Excellent organisational and coordination skills, including the ability to manage appointments, events, priorities and deadlines.

·       Ability to provide day-to-day guidance, support and encouragement to colleagues, helping them work confidently and effectively.

·       Strong coordination skills, with the ability to support team planning, allocate or prioritise work, and help ensure services are delivered to a consistently high standard.

·       Ability to monitor quality, identify issues or risks, and escalate concerns appropriately while contributing to continuous improvement.

·       Methodical, accurate and detail-focused approach to record keeping, reporting and administration.

·       Competence in Microsoft Office applications and confidence using digital tools, CRM systems or similar platforms to manage data and evidence impact.

·       Good understanding of confidentiality, data protection and media consent processes, and ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality.

·       Ability to adapt to changing project needs, solve problems constructively and remain solution-focused under pressure.

·       Self-motivated, proactive and collaborative, with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

·       Positive and collaborative leadership style, with the ability to motivate others, share knowledge and promote good practice across the team.

·       Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports, updates and publicity materials.

·       Passion for helping people and supporting households at risk of fuel poverty.

·       Willingness to undertake training and development in line with the needs of the role and the organisation.

·       Clear DBS check less than 12 months old, or willingness to obtain one before appointment.

Desirable skills, experience and knowledge

·       Strong presentation, facilitation and public-facing communication skills, with the confidence to engage residents, partners and community groups.

·       Ability to build, maintain and develop community-level partnerships and referral networks.

·       Experience in a communications, participation, community development or outreach role, particularly within the voluntary, community or public sector.

·       Experience of supervising, mentoring, coaching or supporting staff, volunteers or peers in a service delivery setting.

·       Experience of supporting team performance, including monitoring caseloads, reviewing service quality, contributing to reporting or helping colleagues meet agreed targets.

·       Experience of induction, training or knowledge-sharing within a team, including supporting colleagues to follow procedures and develop confidence in their role.

·       Experience of facilitating workshops, community groups or participatory activities that support positive community outcomes.

·       Good influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to work constructively with a wide range of partners and stakeholders.

·       Ability to communicate in another community language spoken locally.

·       Full clean driving licence and access to a vehicle.

About South East London Community Energy

South East London Community Energy (Selce) was born in 2014, when a group of people living in Greenwich & Lewisham became so concerned about climate change that they decided to come up with a formula that would help to create a clean and just energy future. 

Throughout our first ten-years, we have set up projects that address inequality and seek to reduce our collective carbon footprint at different points in the energy systems.

To date we have built 12 solar arrays on community buildings in SE London and 11 buildings’ lighting systems to be more energy efficient.  We are opening share offers this year for further lighting system upgrades and solar arrays on community buildings. 

We’ve helped well over 4000 house holds with their energy bills and we are pleased to now be able to help homeowners make their homes more energy efficient through the Love Lofts and Future Fit Homes pilot programmes.  

About Our Energy Advice Services

Almost one in ten households cannot afford to heat their homes adequately. Our award winning team of energy advisors provide practical guidance and support to households who are struggling to pay their fuel bills. They advise clients about how to reduce their fuel bills by switching suppliers or accessing discounts or changing behaviour or by fitting small practical energy-saving measures such as low energy light bulbs and draft proofing. They also support the householder to access funded home energy improvements such as loft, cavity wall insulation or heating upgrades.

Benefits:

25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
4% employer pension contribution
Flexible and hybrid working