Carers Support And Development Worker Jobs

We are looking for an expert who can bring their enthusiasm and knowledge of autistic learners with complex needs to join our team as our resident complex needs expert. You will work with a group of learners who have a combination of conditions and differences that make learning more challenging in all areas of life. It may be ADHD, Down’s syndrome, OCD or a genetic difference, but all our learners have the opportunity to make their life into what they want it to be. Your role will be to enable this and remove the barriers. Do you want to be an enabler of independence, work skills and functional skills?

This role reports to the Aspirations Manager, and you will be responsible for the necessary work for your small group of learners. None of our groups are above 7 learners, all groups have support workers, and some have 1:1 support. There will be a team with you leading and working to celebrate the achievements and find solutions to the barriers our learners face.

Who we are:

At Red2Green, we have a vision that everyone should be confident in their own ability, be part of a community, enjoy their life, have the best possible access to independence, and, if they desire to, should be able to work.  We offer a range of opportunities to support and promote adults with autism and/or learning disabilities in Cambridgeshire to learn new skills, enjoy lots of different leisure activities, make new friends, gain confidence, and prepare themselves for employment where possible. We also work to raise awareness of the potential of people with disabilities to make a positive and valuable contribution to society.

Our Aspirations Service supports autistic clients to:

• gain maximum benefit from meaningful activities
• integrate with their peer group and encourage social inclusion
• increase independent living skills
• reach their targets and outcomes in accordance with their Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) and annual reviews
• feel supported in the workplace in regard to their autism

 Key duties and responsibilities of the role:

· Tutors Aspirations learners, leads the complex needs group and manages the staff within their group

· Supports learners needs and behaviours by creating and utilising positive behaviour support plans, risk assessments and staff’s knowledge of individuals within the group

· Organises, attends and takes a lead at EHCP reviews for their group, writes EHCP offers and provides professional reports when needed

• To promote good practice to upskill all relevant staff by using own training and knowledge, and is the resident complex needs expert

· Works as Deputy Designated Safeguard Lead (DDSL) for the complex needs group and stand in DDSL for Aspirations service when the Aspirations manager is absent

• Builds professional relationships with other agencies, provisions and professionals
• Builds good relationships with learners’ families/carers to make sure that they are involved (as appropriate) in developing learners’ skills and abilities

Person specification:

You will have:

· Experience teaching autistic learners and a good understanding of the complexities that come from having more than one diagnosis

• Experience of working with people with learning disabilities
• Experience of working with those who may display challenging behaviours
• Experience of leading support staff

· Understanding of Education Health Care Plans

· Understanding of safeguarding duty

· Qualification for teaching (adults or QTS)

Benefits:

· Red2Green is located in a beautiful rural environment, with free and ample parking,

· We contribute 4% employer pension contributions

· Paid 20-minute break

· As a member of our support staff, you are provided with Red2Green T-shirts and hoodies.

· Training is provided and undertaken during working hours.

· We make staff wellbeing a priority, with 3 Mental Health First Aiders, and regular supervision sessions with managers.

It is a requirement for this post that an enhanced DBS disclosure check will be undertaken for the successful candidate.

 

In this varied and rewarding role, you will engage with a range of groups; providing support through a variety of methods, you will empower and help them to clearly identify issues and design and co-produce their own sustainable solutions. This will include working with for example, seldom heard groups such as children and young people; promoting active community involvement and supporting initiatives to ensure their neighbourhood is a great place to live.

We are looking for someone who can quickly build relationships with people, create activities they want to take part in and identify ways these activities can be sustained.

You will be passionate about building capacity and resilience and be enthusiastic about sharing knowledge with people in an accessible and creative way.

You will have excellent communication skills and be comfortable working with local residents, volunteers and other stakeholders. You will have experience of community work and a track record of achieving positive outcomes at a neighbourhood level.

You should be comfortable in taking the lead, with an open and supportive style that encourages community participation and volunteering.

You will have a desire to get things done and a passion for people.

You'll develop and strengthen our work with children within our passionate, inclusive and diverse faith community, particularly but not exclusively within our Sunday gatherings.

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One Church Brighton is quite an unusual church! We are messy, organic and entrepreneurial; we have a variety of projects all trying to tackle social justice issues; and we seek to encourage people to get involved with issues that they are passionate about, rather than directing the agenda from ‘the top’. We have a wonderfully eclectic worshipping church community who appreciate the space to ask awkward questions and embrace different views. We are known for expressing an inclusive theology -  if you are not open to embracing and welcoming people of different sexualities, different beliefs, different attitudes and behaviours you will find it very hard to work for One Church. If however this is the kind of thinking that thrills you, then you’ll find a wonderfully affirming community who are genuinely trying to build God’s kingdom here in Brighton. 

The outcome of this theological thinking has shaped a set of values that we  believe in wholeheartedly and shape all that we do as a church. These values are:

Intimacy with God 

Involvement in the world 

Interdependence with one another 

Inclusion of everyone

and Integrity in all we do. 

We are hoping to find a very special person to join in the journey of One  Church, helping us to develop our children’s work so all in our church family are equipped and nurtured to live out the ethos and values of our faith as we  follow Christ. Specifically, we want someone who translates all that’s good about One Church and communicates and embodies that to the younger generation who call this church their home. Working alongside the Associate Minister, we want someone to share the overall responsibility for the spiritual health and discipleship of our children’s work. You will be passionate about children, and also able to encourage other people to engage with and nurture this generation in their expression of faith. 

Key responsibilities 

To work alongside the Associate Minister and Youth Worker to ensure that strong, proactive pastoral care exists across the children and youth by  coordinating and delivering a high-quality children’s (0-11) programme on Sundays and beyond.

Whilst supporting a great team of volunteers you will oversee and nurture the children’s work across One Church including the development of age appropriate curriculum to be used on Sundays. As a Church that openly questions, we want to encourage this ethos across the whole family and  especially our children and young people. Therefore, you must have a real  heart for children and their spiritual formation and be comfortable chatting  with them, as well as their parents, about their faith and experiences of God,  giving them a real sense of belonging within the wider church family. 

The linking of our children’s work and the teaching themes on Sunday aim to  ensure we always reflect our key values so they make sense in the real world.  You will lead this work through our Sunday children’s groups – Buds (pre school), Saplings (school years r-2) and Forest (school years 3-6) – as well as supporting children’s activities in our wider church events such as the church weekend away.

Sunday children’s work development.

To nurture our children on their faith journey, in a way that reflects the values and ethos of One Church. In practise, this will involve:

• Organising great kids work content that is dynamic, creative and inclusive,  and that enables every child to make sense of faith in the real world.

• Pulling together a curriculum of content that helps the kids grow in, question, and express faith. This will involve drawing on external resources where helpful, but also developing resources where there aren’t suitable children’s group work curricula available. 

• Ensuring that our church space is a suitably equipped, bright, attractive  place that is child friendly and accessible for everyone including those with additional needs. 

• Being creative and thinking ‘outside the box’ about what kids work in a  church should be - we don’t want to be bound by the way things have  always been done.

Discipleship and community outside of Sundays.

We have a wonderful group of children, and our heart is to provide more  spaces for them to grow in love, community and discipleship together beyond  Sunday mornings. This might look like meeting up to fly kites together,  forming some regular Journey Groups or mentoring relationships to do life  and faith in meaningful ways, taking trips to Rock Farm (our therapeutic  smallholding in West Sussex) to get some dirt under their nails, or  alternatively just getting together to watch a movie and paint their nails!  Whatever it looks like, we believe that a life of faith is a life best done together,  and we want our kids to have that sense of being a part of a family in which  they are completely welcome to be themselves, to bring their faith and their  questions, and to see the whole of life as a part of their spiritual journey.

We are particularly keen to invest in our Key Stage 2 group as they transition to become part of our youth work. We also encourage collaboration with our Youth Group and joint sessions to explore and develop mentorship opportunities across the age groups. You, alongside the Youth Worker will be responsible for how this comes together  to develop a strong pathway between the groups.

Supporting families.

Parenting is rarely a walk in the park, and helping kids find their feet in faith can be tricky at the best of times. To add to this, though, many of the parents and carers in our church are asking questions around what it looks like to support our kids in faith when their own understanding of God and the Bible is often uncertain and full of more questions than answers! How do we pass on the great bits of our faith without some of the more problematic baggage that often comes along with it? This isn’t an easy question and it’s not one that you’ll come sailing in with an answer to, but it is one that you’ll need to be able to engage with with as you spend time carefully listening to, and encouraging  our children and their parents.

Volunteer Recruitment and Support.

Recruiting, training and developing volunteers is absolutely essential to this role! Without a team of inspired and enthusiastic volunteers your job will be impossible. Working out strategies, communicating with passion and vision and following people up in informal and fun ways are key to getting people to volunteer and you’ll need to invest well in this task for the success of the children’s work for One Church. You’ll

hold regular meetings with your team of volunteers to provide support and motivation, with help from our Volunteer Coordinator, Head of Operations and Associate Minister. 

Communication.

We need to tell others about all that is happening in the life of our children’s work! Part of this role will be communicating with parents and the wider church family about how One Church is equipping and nurturing their children through their spiritual journey and Christian faith. Alongside one to one chats, this will also involve the ability to inspire through ‘up-front’ verbal communication in a variety of settings including children’s talks/activities on Sundays, as well as web-based and printed communications.

Administration.

Self-organisation, good time-keeping and an attention to detail will be key. The coordination and support of a rota and clear plan for our children’s work is crucial. The better our children’s work is organised, the easier it’ll be for parents and volunteers to be engaged and to feel supported.

Safeguarding.

This role will, with support from the Associate Minister and the Safeguarding team, be responsible for ensuring good practices around child-protection and safeguarding as well as the health and safety of our kids and team.

Team Work.

We have a diverse and broad staff team, your role will sit within the Sundays and Church Community Team (Minister, Associate Minister, Development and Wellbeing facilitator and Youth Worker). You will need to be good at, and committed to, working with others. This might be quite intensive times of working one-on-one with a colleague or it might be simply being aware of the work of another team, but either way your role will help foster a strong sense of togetherness and a supportive culture where nobody’s work is more important than anyone else’s. You’ll also be a part of our weekly wider staff meeting.

Kids work in the community. 

We’ve always dreamed of increasing our kids work to benefit more people in our local area and across the city, whether that’s by exploring options to support struggling children in local schools, meeting and building relationship with families that use our café, supporting the work of Chomp, or any initiative that helps families at their point of need. This might be tricky to fit into 16 hours a week, but funding dependent, we’d be really open to expanding the role to include this area of work. 

Official bits. 

Benefits 

• 5% pension on qualifying earnings 

• Development of the post holder towards their full potential 

• An annual retreat will be encouraged and paid for by One Church 

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays (on a pro rata basis) 

• The chance to be part of a fun and energetic team. 

One Church reserves the right to vary or amend the duties and responsibilities of the post holder at any time according to the needs of the church.

EYPDAS Social Care Link Worker

Permanent contract but funding for this role ends on 31st March 2025 (with the potential for extension subject to funding)  

37 hours per week  

£29,855.00 per annum  

Essex - Countywide role 

The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We run local services that support young people when they are at their most vulnerable and in desperate need of help. We're there for young people, every step of the way.  

This role sits within our children and families directorate, which works to provide immediate one-to-one and group support for young people who urgently need support. Your role will be to help us maintain and develop innovative practice to support our work in our services within the Essex area.  

We wish to recruit a Social Care Link Worker to join our established Essex Young Peoples Drug and Alcohol Team (EYPDAS) supporting young people aged 8-24 who are using or misusing substances.

You will provide direct therapeutic support to vulnerable young people, vulnerable adults and families who are affected by substance use. Support offered will include one to one, targeted group work & online support across the County. You may also facilitate training around substances for statutory and voluntary agencies across the County.  You will link closely with Social Care to ensure effective pathways into the drug treatment system for young people, parents and carers.

The young people will require a skilled practitioner who is experienced in working with hard to reach, vulnerable young people at risk and using trauma informed therapeutic approaches. You will have experience of facilitating groups with knowledge of the issues and legislation affecting young people who are using or misusing substances. 

What we are looking for...

-You will have substantial experience in working with vulnerable young people either in a paid or unpaid capacity. To be able to evidence your ability to build positive relationships with groups of young people to raise awareness about substance use and the associated risks and impact. 

-You will have experience of carrying out individual and group work interventions with young people & adults. 

-You will have experience in using Microsoft Office Applications and other relevant data systems.  

-You can demonstrate the ability to work on your own initiative as well as be able to contribute to a multi-agency approach so as to enable effective interventions with young people, including delivering training to a range of professionals. 

As well as a strong commitment to your development, we offer a generous holiday entitlement, a contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working. 

The Children's Society runs over 100 local services that help thousands of young people who desperately need our support, and we campaign to get laws and policies changed to make young people's lives happier and safer.  

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with.  As such, all posts are subject to a safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records and vetting checks.  We ensure that we have a range of policies and procedures in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practices across our services. 

Candidates applying for work in our Youth Impact Domain will be required to complete an “Employment history" form, which will be emailed to shortlisted candidates prior to interview.  

The closing date for applications is the 16th June 2024. If after 14 days, we have received enough applications we reserve the right to close the vacancy from 24th May 2024 onwards.

Interviews to be held face to face on 25th June (all day) and 26th (AM).

Salary up to £43,316 depending on experience

37.5 hours per week

Location: This role will cover Stevenage and Essex (Hybrid working)

We have a fantastic opportunity to join our team and a growing fostering service in the Eastern Region where you will be able to contribute to achieving positive results for young people.

About Us

Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.

St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man.  We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do.  We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.

We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong.  We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities.

About the Role

As a Supervising Social Worker, you will contribute to the growth and development of St Christopher’s fostering services by playing a key role in the recruitment, training and assessment of foster carers and by building positive relationships with referring authorities and other professionals.

Applicants should have:

• CQSW, DipSW, BA Social Work or equivalent professional qualification, and registration with the Health and Care Professions Care Council (HCPC).
• Experience of working in fostering or adoption.
• Knowledge of relevant child care legislation.
• Ability to manage your caseload effectively and to plan and priorities work to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication, motivation and team work skills.
• Ability to travel independently to all areas required by job responsibilities.
• Passion for building brighter futures for vulnerable young people and delivering the highest quality services possible.

In return we offer:

• Salary up to £43,316 depending on experience.
• Flexible working arrangements.
• A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
• 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
• Industry Leading training programme including access to level 3 qualifications, children’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health and Social Pedagogy,
• Contributory pension scheme, Enhanced Maternity and Company Sick Scheme.
• BUPA Employee Assistance Programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
• Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme.
• Discount shopping scheme at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
• Discretionary Funded Training Programs.
• Employee Awards based on performance and length of service.
• Fantastic opportunities to develop your career within our range of services.

After gaining additional funding we are seeking to appoint a part-time Liaison Officer to support individuals who are recognised as being in the last year of life and those important to them.

As part of the team, you will be devoted to:

• Achieving the optimum quality of life for patients and their families facing a terminal illness
• Helping patients live meaningfully in the time they have left.
• Supporting patients to have control and choices over decisions about their care & keep their independence.
• Supporting patients to have a ‘good death’.
• Providing emotional, practical support to both patients and loved ones to help alleviate stress, anxiety, and social isolation.
• Helping loved ones to plan and prepare for life after the death of their loved one.

You will have:

• Sensitivity and understanding
• The ability to work well with others.
• Patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
• Customer service skills
• Experience in a similar role within the voluntary sector.
• Experience of delivering a frontline service
• Experience of working with volunteers

Key Purpose:

Engage with staff and volunteers at a local and national level across RABI as well as with key external stakeholders and partners to influence compliance with safeguarding policies and procedures. Support the Senior Service Delivery Manager to implement RABI’s reporting through maintenance of effective internal recording and reporting systems (CPOMS). Promote a high level of safeguarding awareness and related training throughout the organisation guided by priorities highlighted in the safeguarding action plan. Provide a high level of safeguarding support to all staff and volunteers and embed a strong culture of safeguarding across RABI. Act as the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead in the absence of the Senior Service Delivery Manager.

Key Responsibilities:

· Work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead to develop and enhance safeguarding practice within the organisation.

· Act as one of the first points of contact for all staff, volunteers and external queries in all matter of safeguarding.

· Daily oversight of our safeguarding system CPOMS. Follow up on any queries relating to CPOMS and develop training materials to support staff and volunteers in this area.

· Provide the Designated Safeguarding Lead with monthly report to feed into longer-term safeguarding planning.

· Work alongside the Designated Safeguarding Lead to develop and deliver safeguarding training and support sessions for staff and volunteers to create an annual training plan.

· Effectively engage with staff and volunteers at a local and national level to ensure safeguarding escalations and approaches are understood through the organisation.

· If required travel to RABI volunteer groups to provide safeguarding support.

· Work with external stakeholders and partners to understand the main thematic areas of safeguarding that are impacting the community that we support.

· Work collaboratively within RABI to share information about safeguarding trends that are happening locally or nationally.

· Lead of providing safeguarding support to regional teams and provide practical guidance on managing a range of operational safeguarding risks, increasing confidence in safeguarding practice across RABI.

· Champion safeguarding practices and procedures across all Departments, ensuring compliance and driving engagement and awareness.

· Develop working relationships with key internal stakeholders e.g. volunteering, partnerships, campaigning and fundraising to offer safeguarding input to any emerging projects.

· Maintain up to date knowledge of current practice changes and any relevant changes to wider guidance, policy and legislation; including proactively engaging with other organisations and external experts to ensure RABI’s approach is informed by and contributes to best practice within the sector.

· Manage all referrals to RABI’s counselling provision ensuring all external and internal SLA’s are adhered to.

· Undertake any other task relevant to the job purpose.

Person Specification:

Essential

· Experience of working as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

· Relevant up to date training in the specialist area of Safeguarding

· Knowledge of safeguarding practices and legislation

· Knowledge and experience of statutory agency practices and multi-agency working

· Ability to distinguish between observation, facts and information gained from others and confidently assess risk in a time sensitive manner

· Excellent communication, report-writing and recording skills

· Experience of providing safeguarding support to staff and volunteers working with adults and children who may be at risk of harm, their families and carers

· Experience of using data recording systems

· Confident working on own initiative and in communication and presenting to a wide range of staff and volunteers

· Highly organised and can manage multiple tasks and priorities

· Flexible, resilient and solution focussed working with sensitivity, integrity and without prejudice

Desirable

· Farming background or knowledge of the farming community environment.

This role profile is not exhaustive and is subject to review in conjunction with the post holder according to future developments at RABI.

Early applications are encouraged for this position as shortlisting and interviews will take place on a rolling basis. We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a suitable application prior to the deadline.

RABI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and aims to ensure that all employment practices secure equality of opportunity and that no prospective or current employee receives less than favourable treatment at RABI as a result of their sex, sexual orientation, age, race, religion, belief, ethnic origin, disability, marital, or for any other reason which cannot be shown to be justifiable. Our recruitment process strives to ensure that individuals are selected only based on their relevant skills, experience, qualifications and abilities.

Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis? Are you calm, non-judgmental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?

Can you demonstrate our values of Hope, Courage, Together, and Responsive and want to be part of our mission to create opportunities for individuals to make choices, find their own solutions, build resilience and manage their whole life and wellbeing?

If the answer to all of these is yes, we want to hear from you.

Mental Healthcare Support Worker – Helpline & Crisis Cafés - Evening and Weekends
Reference: 198
Responsible to: Crisis Cafe Coordinator
Working Base(s): Watford, Stevenage and Ware (expectation to travel whenever necessary with mileage paid when not working at home base)
Salary: £22,347 - £24,024 per annum, FTE
Hours: Full time or part-time positions (30 or 22.5 hours) available in addition to Bank hours.
Work pattern: A full-time pattern will be working 5 out of 7-day rota, working 17:30 - 01:30

About the Service 
Our Nightlight Service is proud to provide urgent support, crisis intervention and emotional support to people experiencing a mental health crisis in Hertfordshire as an alternative to statutory pathways.

We provide support to adults across Hertfordshire 7 days a week, 365 days a year through our helpline, crisis centres, crisis cafes and a weekend Crisis House. We aim to provide a safe space for people in crisis to talk and feel supported, be listened to without judgement, access relevant support with problem solving and facilitate access to external services when necessary.

The objectives of Hertfordshire Mind Network’s (HMN) Nightlight Mental Health Crisis Services are:

• To improve the mental wellbeing of people experiencing mental health crisis in Hertfordshire.
• To increase early access to help for people experiencing mental health crisis in Hertfordshire, by providing a clear and effective pathway to services provided by Herts Mind Network and other third sector and statutory providers.
• To contribute to an improvement in individual mental wellbeing.
• To remain a source of independent support for all clients.
• To provide an alternative pathway to people in distress and crisis to support better outcomes and reduce the demand on statutory crisis services and emergency services.

About the Role 
Mental Healthcare Support Workers are key members of staff delivering the Nightlight Mental Health Crisis Service, taking part in a rota covering 7 days per week, ensuring the delivery of quality crisis support services and instilling Hertfordshire Mind Network’s values throughout the crisis cafe and helpline provision. Working closely with other staff (bank staff, volunteers), coordinators, team leaders and Crisis manager to ensure services are of the highest quality and support the continued growth and development of the service.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing emotional support and developing, alongside clients, flexible and realistic crisis support/person-centred plans within agreed guidelines with support from leadership team (including assessments of need, risk, crisis support plans and review forms), often where risks are significant.
• Liaising with statutory agencies to ensure appropriate intervention is obtained for individuals.
• Drawing upon own lived experience as appropriate to inform the delivery of person-centred support.
• Providing immediate advice and information to clients to support with crisis presentations.
• To support individuals both through telephone support (helpline) and face to face support (crisis café).
• Liaising with Nightlight management and external services e.g. police, ambulance service, Crisis Resolution Home Treatment Team, Single Point of Access, Safeguarding Out of Hours Service, Mental Health Liaison Teams, Adult Community Mental Health Services etc .as needed in terms of accepting referrals and proactively recognising the indicators of deteriorating mental health and facilitating appropriate support.
• Completing appropriate signposting/onward referrals to both internal and external services in accordance with identified needs and risks.
• Supporting clients with making drinks and beverages as needed when visiting the crisis café.
• Assisting with housing keeping/cleaning tasks as necessary and reporting any maintenance problems.
• Contributing to the co-development of the service by supporting service user, family and carer involvement by obtaining feedback and supporting where necessary chances to be involved in wider service reviews.

We offer:

• Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
• An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
• Ongoing training relevant to your role.
• An Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.

Closing date for receipt of applications is 6th May 2024
Interviews shall take place the week commencing 6th May 2024.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if sufficient applications are received so would encourage early applications.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation. In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.

Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. We recognise and value the unique combination of skills, knowledge and perspective that employing people with a lived experience, at all levels across the organisation, brings. We create an environment where the sharing of experiences and vulnerabilities to support others and create positive change is welcomed and work towards breaking down the ‘them’ and ‘us’ culture. The organisation is committed to nurturing peer relationships that allow all staff to thrive.

We are delighted to have been accredited as a Living Wage Employer.

No agencies please.

About us:

Community ConneX is a campaigning organisation and a multi-project service provider working across West London. We support autistic people, people with a disability, and people and families experiencing barriers to live healthier, happier, and inclusive lives. We do this by ensuring their needs, rights and aspirations are met.

Advocacy 1st is a free, independent service provided by advocates who specialise in the Care Act, Mental Capacity Act and the Mental Health Act.

Location: Remote based in Oxfordshire

Key duties:

· Recruiting, training and providing ongoing support to volunteers

· Working with the children and young people to assess their service requirements

· Working with stakeholders to raise awareness and recognise and identify care leavers and young people in need of the Independent Visitors and Care Leavers service

· Looking at opportunities to engage and work with services to identify care leavers and independent visitors

· Reporting and discussing all safeguarding concerns with the service manager

· Completing initial assessments and matching volunteers to young people

· Raising the profile of the Independent Visitors and Care Leavers service

Our ideal candidate:

· Has qualifications relevant to the role

· Has experience of working with children and young people.

· Is aware of legislation such as Care Act 2014, Children and Families Act 2014, Children Act 1989, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child (UNCRC)

· Has excellent communications and writing skills, and the ability to tailor written and verbal communications to a wide range of different audiences

· Can maintain existing relationships and develop new relationships with clients, families, colleagues and volunteers

· Can generate reports and make presentations

In return we offer a range of benefits including:

· Pension contribution up to 5%

· Death in service insurance

· Employee assistance programme

· Bluelight Card

· Cycle to work scheme

· 23 days of annual leave + bank holidays (increases after 2 years of service)

· Gym membership

· Healthcash plan

· Professional development

We are committed to safeguarding and equal opportunities, and we guarantee an interview to all applicants with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the post.

We also want to ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable facilities to participate in job applications or interviews to perform essential job functions. To support this, we are a Disability Confident committed employer.

Are you passionate about supporting people to uphold their rights?

Disability Advice Service Lambeth (dasl) is Lambeth’s peer-led Disabled People’s Organisation.  

We want to appoint a Professional Advocate who shares our ethos and values and is committed to supporting Lambeth residents achieve their legal rights.

dasl have provided an advocacy service for Lambeth Council for 12 years and since 2020 we have played a key role in the Lambeth Advocacy Hub, a single point of access for all statutory independent advocacy services for Lambeth residents aged 16 and over. We manage referrals and enquiries and provide independent Care Act advocacy and a range of non-statutory advocacy.

We provide a high quality service - we hold the Advocacy Quality Performance Mark. You will hold, or be working towards, a qualification such as the Certificate/Diploma in Independent Advocacy (Level 3), or be able to show the necessary skills and relevant experience in a formal or informal advocacy role. 

dasl’s success comes from dedicated work of our skilled staff, many of whom are Disabled people. You will be valued for who you are in our supportive and friendly team.

We work flexibly between home and office. Our office in Brixton is accessible.

This is a rolling recruitment - applicants will be shortlisted and interviewed as soon as possible. We encourage you to apply as soon as you are able.

WHO WE ARE

We are a leading mental health charity on a mission to support Londoners with mental health challenges find and remain in good employment as part of their mental health recovery journey.  We have been changing lives for almost 30 years and we have just secured a large contract, submitted in partnership with Shaw Trust and Smart London, to provide Employment Advisors to support NHS Talking Therapy teams across West London.  This is therefore an incredibly exciting time to join a thriving organisation at the beginning of an innovative mental health support service.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are now inviting suitable candidates to apply for the role of Service Lead.  This position will manage a team of around 20 Employment Advisors (EAs) and Senior Employment Advisors (SEAs).  The role will be guided and supported by a Head of Services, as well as Twining’s established and experienced Senior Leadership Team and Trustees.

THE OFFER

In return we offer a friendly and supportive working environment, flexible working, career development opportunities, a comprehensive training and induction programme, a generous holiday entitlement and competitive financial rewards.  We also practice what we preach in terms of creating a positive working environment to support our own employee’s wellbeing.

Working format – based at NHS Talking Therapy sites, as well as some possibility of working from home

THE ROLE – SERVICE LEAD

You will be responsible for the ongoing day to day leadership and management of the Employment Advisors (EAs) and Senior Employment Advisors (SEAs) in Talking Therapies service across Ealing, Harrow and Hounslow.

You will liaise with managers, clinicians and GPs across the NHS primary care pathways to ensure that services are coordinated and pathways into, and out of, the service are managed effectively and efficiently.

You will ensure the service operates in line with national guidance related to Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies and gives consideration to wider disability employment and retention support models, whilst striving to achieve and maintain national best practice in this field.

You will ensure the team develops in a manner that facilitates clients being referred to the service quickly, so they do not remain unsupported whilst on sick leave, and then support them to return to work swiftly (where appropriate), or to follow the destination that is best suited to their circumstances, enabling individuals to achieve positive service experience outcomes.

You will work in partnership with key stakeholders and contract managers.

This role will require someone experienced in leading the delivery of a mental health support programme, whilst managing and meeting commissioner performance expectations.

SERVICE LEAD RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

1. To develop and manage the Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies Service, providing high quality, timely assessment and support interventions, including signposting for specialist external advice such as ACAS, welfare benefits advice, union or specialist employment law advice.

2. To have specialist knowledge and understanding of employment support and retention to be able to promote an early intervention model, which predominately focusing on supporting people into their preferred job choice, supporting them to remain in work, or enabling them to gain early access to advice and support to reduce the risk of not starting or losing their employment.

3. To manage the performance activity, data quality and service delivery of the team and ensure they provide an integrated and effective service.

4. To ensure the staff have an understanding of the process and philosophy of the positive benefits that work can have on an individual’s health, as well as understanding the benefit of early intervention and support for those at risk of losing their employment due to poor mental health, disabilities, health conditions or issues at work.

5. To oversee the development of new initiatives within the Employment Advisors in Talking Therapies Service in line with national best practice and planning capacity for the team to meet the anticipated increases in demand for the service as a result of changes in the economy or incidence of poor mental health.

6. Ensure the service works within national and locally agreed frameworks and develop key performance indicators if none exist.

7. To ensure that the team has appropriate arrangements in place to guarantee that efficient, effective, equitable and economical services are provided to all clients.

8. To respond to complaints and suggestions from clients and carers in accordance with policies and procedures, and to participate as appropriate in the investigation of complaints, grievances, significant events and disciplinary manners in accordance with polices and present the outcome of the investigations to the relevant personnel.

9. To lead the team in the development of knowledge, ideas and work practice.

10. To monitor the workload and performance of team members using electronic systems to monitor performance.

11. Provide reports to senior managers and stakeholders regarding activity and exception reports for information.

12. To provide regular line management supervision to members of the team.

13. Ensure all team staff receive annual Appraisals and have personal development plans in place.

14. To participate in own Appraisal to ensure development and planning.

15. To agree and monitor explicit performance targets with staff relevant to service delivery.

16. To monitor staff sickness and absence and offer appropriate counselling or appropriate actions.

17. To recruit new staff to vacancies that may arise within the service.

18. To promote and foster good relations with other teams and agencies and stakeholders, ensuring that any issues are addressed at the earliest stage.

19. To ensure that full and appropriate use is made of information systems and that all relevant activity and intervention is recorded appropriately to enable access to information regarding individual clients and also aggregated data.

20. To attend regular management and planning meetings, workshops and conferences relating to health issues and employment, as appropriate.

21. To remain well informed about the national agenda for Employment and Retention, health and social care, and the economic picture.

22. To keep abreast with current best practice in the field and continue to foster a network of specialist support for those who are employed but need support.

23. To make presentations, where appropriate, to staff, clinical colleagues or management groups regarding current national or local issues.

24. To implement and support any performance management systems agreed by senior managers. To regularly monitor and audit systems and records to ensure compliance with procedures and standards.

25. To take note of and, where appropriate, act upon any external audits or reviews that are of relevance to the team.

26. To take responsibility for the efficient use of resources within the team.

27. Provide the team with specialist advice for more complex cases as required.

28. To undertake any other duties of a similar nature consistent with the responsibilities of this post and as required by your manager.

The role holder must also:

1. Pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an Enhanced level.

2. Possess excellent IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software, as well as experience updating and maintaining databases.

3. Maintain accurate and up to date records of activity and outcomes in line with service performance requirements, ensuring the IT database is up to date and paperwork compliant.

4. Receive regular supervision and training to meet individual, team and organization’s needs.

5. Contribute to the development of a service that is locally responsive and supports minority/disadvantaged communities.

6. Comply with and actively promote all Twining policies and procedures including Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding, Data Protection and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only.  The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with their line manager.

The role will receive comprehensive training at induction, and ongoing career development and support as part of a structured performance programme thereafter.

The purpose of this role is to offer an information, advice, and casework service on a range of cost-of-living issues for disabled people with complex needs. The post-holder will also deliver training on welfare benefits to other organisations and their helpline staff. You will be responsible for ensuring the service is delivered to the highest standard, accessible, and quality assured.

You will provide a person-centred information, advice, and casework to disabled people with complex needs on cost-of-living support, welfare benefits and to access small grants.

As the lead welfare benefits worker within the organisation, you will work with relevant staff and organisations to provide an accessible welfare benefits service, across the borough, with flexible hours and access routes to meet the needs of the client base i.e., internet, phone, email.

Working with the User Involvement Officer, you will ensure the service is user-led and people with complex needs are supported to be involved in the development of the project.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website via the ‘Apply’ button.

Closing date: 9.00am on Monday 20th May 2024.

Interviews: Wednesday 22nd May 2024.

Join our team at Alexandra Wellbeing House, where we're committed to revolutionising
mental health care in partnership with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation
Trust.

What You'll Do: -

Collaborative Pathway Development: Partner with Complex Emotional Needs (CEN) team to deliver operational pathways that guide service delivery, ensuring seamless transitions within the Acute Therapy Service (ATS) model.

Empowerment and Support: Serve as a beacon of empowerment and support for individuals accessing our service, providing personalised non-clinical wellbeing support and safety plans tailored to their unique circumstances.

Compassionate Guidance: Offer compassionate guidance and assistance to those navigating acute emotional distress, offering integrated solutions that prioritise their wellbeing and autonomy.

WHO WE ARE

We are a leading mental health charity on a mission to support Londoners with mental health challenges find and remain in good employment as part of their mental health recovery journey.  We have been changing lives for almost 30 years and we have just secured a large contract, submitted in partnership with Shaw Trust and Smart London, to provide Employment Advisors to support NHS Talking Therapy teams across West London.  This is therefore an incredibly exciting time to join a thriving organisation at the beginning of an innovative mental health support service.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are now inviting suitable candidates to apply for the role of Employment Advisor.  We need to swiftly build a team of around 20, so there are multiple opportunities available to applicants.  This new team will be guided and supported by Senior Employment Advisors and a Service Lead, as well as Twining’s established and experienced Senior Leadership Team and Trustees.

THE OFFER

In return we offer a friendly and supportive working environment, flexible working, career development opportunities, a comprehensive training and induction programme, a generous holiday entitlement and competitive financial rewards.  We also practice what we preach in terms of creating a positive working environment to support our own employee’s wellbeing.

Working format – based at NHS Talking Therapy sites, as well as some possibility of working from home

THE ROLE – EMPLOYMENT ADVISORS

The new Employment Advisors (EAs) will work within the West London NHS Talking Therapies provision.  They will work one-to-one with a caseload of clients referred by NHS Talking Therapies therapists to find employment, remain in existing work if they are struggling, improve their working environment, return to work following sickness or positively leave or retire from work.

You will primarily fulfil these duties by providing information, as well as advice and guidance to clients who choose to receive employment support.  The work should empower clients to make better decisions about their working lives, as well as communicate better with colleagues and managers in existing roles.  You will also signpost clients to other relevant support agencies, as appropriate.

This role would suit someone with a background in employment support, psychology, counselling, human resources or recruitment.

EMPLOYMENT ADVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

1. Engage a mixed caseload of clients at any given time serving 100-125 per year, with common mental health problems, to establish trusting, collaborative relationships to support them to find new employment or support them in, or to leave, existing employment.  Support will be provided face-to-face in Talking Therapies settings, via secure online meeting platforms or over the telephone.

2. Along with their NHS clinician, assess clients’ support needs with a view to creating, implementing, and adjusting a personalised action plan to help improve clients’ mental health and achieve their stated employment goals.

3. Develop and deliver a range of practical services to support clients to find work, including career guidance, job searching skills, CV preparation, application form completion, interview skills, advice on local labour market opportunities and advice on education and training to further their career.

4. Provide guidance to support clients to stay in existing work, including advice on mental health disclosure, negotiating reasonable adjustments to existing workplaces, creating wellness action plans, and improving productivity, support to return to work after sickness absence or to leave an existing role with dignity, and signpost clients to organisations that can represent them (EAs should only look to represent clients in exceptional circumstances).

5. Facilitate access to other advice in areas such as financial benefits, debt management, food banks and community food outlets and social housing providers, as necessary.

6. Work directly with partners like Jobcentre Plus, other employment providers, employers, trade unions and employment agencies to support clients to stay in employment and secure employment opportunities.

7. Build a constant flow of referrals from the clinical team to ensure a dynamic and mixed caseload.

8. Meet referral and performance targets in line with the specific KPI / SLA requirements of the service.

9. Regularly attend team and other meetings as reasonably expected.

10. Maintain accurate and up to date records of activity and outcomes in line with service requirements, ensuring the IT database is up to date and paperwork compliant.

11. Update and maintain NHS database (IAPTUS).

12. Receive regular supervision and training to meet individual, team and organization’s needs.

13. Contribute to the development of a service that is locally responsive and supports minority/disadvantaged communities.

14. Comply with and actively promote all Twining policies and procedures including Equality and Diversity, safeguarding and data protection.

15. Perform other tasks as required by your manager.

The role holder must also:

1. Pass a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check at an Enhanced level.

2. Possess excellent IT skills, including familiarity with Microsoft Office software, as well as experience updating and maintaining databases.

3. Maintain accurate and up to date records of activity and outcomes in line with service performance requirements, ensuring the IT database is up to date and paperwork compliant.

4. Receive regular supervision and training to meet individual, team and organization’s needs.

5. Contribute to the development of a service that is locally responsive and supports minority/disadvantaged communities.

6. Comply with and actively promote all Twining policies and procedures including Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding, Data Protection and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the main duties and responsibilities only.  The post holder will need to be flexible in developing the role in conjunction with their line manager.

The role will receive comprehensive training at induction, and ongoing career development and support as part of a structured performance programme thereafter.