Hours: Full time, Mon to Fri, (37.5 hours per week)
Contract: Permanent
Location: Based at CAML offices in Mitcham and Morden and outreach locations. The post-holder may be required to work anywhere in South London
Salary: £29,930 - £33,256 dependent on experience
Annual Leave: 25 days, Charity Day, plus public holidays
Pension: The charity operates a pension scheme
The charity offers an employee assistance programme
Deadline: 6pm, Sunday 2nd June 2024
Citizens Advice Merton and Lambeth (CAML) is the leading advice charity supporting individuals and families primarily across the London boroughs of Lambeth and Merton but also wider London. We provide a range of information, support and advice services. We also work to raise awareness and understanding of the challenging issues affecting our clients and communities.
We are looking for an experienced Adviser/Caseworker or Supervisor to join our team in this new role. If you are passionate about supporting individuals and families in need, relish supporting valued team members to reach their potential, have minimum of one year Citizens Advice Adviser (post certification) experience, are a natural team leader, enjoy delivering training and are interested in joining a dedicated professional team we would love to hear from you.
This role will support people with mental health difficulties referred by South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) as part of their Community Transformation Programme. The service will support adults aged 18 years and over living in Merton who are experiencing mental health challenges and the carers of those individuals.
You will deliver a service providing advice for people that are referred from the Trust’s Single Point of Access (SPA) and other teams. You will manage an active caseload of people, providing a comprehensive advice and casework service to people experiencing mental health issues on issues such as benefits, income maximisation, debt and housing.
The service will also support people to access a range of opportunities in their community including services that support their social and emotional well-being, employment and volunteering opportunities and money and debt advice if needed.
The role will work in partnership with a team of health professionals and peer support workers, part of the role will be in supporting these professionals to identify where referrals are appropriate through feedback. Initial training will also be provided to all professionals on what outcomes we can achieve for service users.
Principal Responsibilities
Advice and casework
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Offer one off advice and casework (as applicable) to all clients referred via face to face appointments, online or telephone
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Ensure all clients are aware of the purpose and where to attend their appointment
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Ensure that all casework conforms to the Citizens Advice quality standards.
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Maintain case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.
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Ensure that all work conforms to our systems and procedures.
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Interview clients using sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and empower them to set their own priorities.
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Being sensitive to clients’ needs and limitations to access support.
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Ensure income maximisation through the appropriate take up of income and application for discounts, including those relating to utilities, benefits, tax and housing.
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Provide full budgeting advice and where necessary refer for specialist debt advice and casework
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Research and explore options and implications so that clients can make informed decisions. Act for the client where necessary using appropriate communication skills and channels.
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Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other adviser/s (for example DRO intermediary) or specialist agencies as appropriate.
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Ensure that all work conforms to Financial Conduct Authority standards, the Advice Quality Standard and the requirements of the funder.
Project Management, co-ordination and partnerships
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Attend health management meetings (e.g. the Daily Integrated Allocations Meeting (DIAM) for referral discussions)
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Establish and manage an effective referral process from the SPA team and other SWLSTG teams/roles (e.g. Older Peoples Mental Health Team OPMH
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Keep in touch with local issues, developments and changes in procedures of other agencies including SWLSTG, other health service and the local authority.
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Build relationships with peer support workers on the project
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Work to achievable targets in line with the criteria set by the funder.
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Refer clients to other advice services CAML offers and/or other local services for other associated issues e.g immigration advice
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Gather statistics and feedback in order to monitor and evaluate the service, ensuring that appropriate monitoring and data collection mechanisms are in place to demonstrate impact, outputs and outcomes and providing reports as required to the steering group, funders, and partners.
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Work with Head of Advice Services to produce reports and monitoring information about the service for the funder.
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Ensure that work reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service's equality and diversity strategy.
Capacity Building and Training
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Deliver information sessions for peer support workers and NHS mental health teams to share knowledge about mental health and advice
Research & Campaigns
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Have responsibility for tracking and reporting on research and campaign issues. Assist with policy work by providing information about clients' circumstances.
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Gather and provide as necessary information about clients circumstances, case studies and statistical information on the number of clients and nature of cases where is an issue.
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Monitor service provision to ensure that it reaches the widest possible client group.
Professional Development
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Keep up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training
Other duties and responsibilities
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Carry out any other tasks that may be within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
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Ensure wider Citizens Advice Merton & Lambeth colleagues/partners aware of this service.
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Demonstrate commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service.
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Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.
Person Specification
Essential
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Experience of supporting people with mental health issues and the ability to empathise, and to deliver advice in a kind and compassionate way.
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A minimum of a year’s post certificate experience in delivering advice at a local Citizens Advice or similar.
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Understanding of the link between mental health and other protected characteristics particularly in the context of Merton demographics
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Ability to act on clients behalf and negotiate with external services where necessary in writing and on the telephone
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Knowledge, experience of, and demonstrable ability to provide good quality advice and casework and write ups that meet Advice Quality Standards (AQS)
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Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines and manage caseload.
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Good interpersonal and communication skills, verbally and in writing.
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Proven ability to build relationships with partners.
Desirable
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Experience working in partnership with the Health Sector
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Ability to deliver training
This job description and personal specification does not form part of any contract.
Professional Development
The successful applicant will receive comprehensive induction to the charity and our work. We support team members in their professional development to ensure we’re up to date with legislation, case law, policies and procedures relating to benefits and debt and undertake appropriate training as agreed with your line manager.
If you’re interested in the role and joining us, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please follow the link to our website for more information and to find out how to apply. The deadline for applications is 6pm, Sunday 2nd June 2024. If you do not hear from us, we are afraid your application was unsuccessful.
We are registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our online Privacy Policy for more information on how your personal data will be processed and stored.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
An inspirational charity is seeking an inspirational CEO. The Amber Trust is a unique charity, dedicated to funding music opportunities for blind and partially sighted children and young people.
Job title: Chief Executive Officer
Reporting to: Board of Trustees through the Chair
Location: Flexibility to work remotely with at least one day per week in our SW London and other locations for meetings as required
Hours:,30 – 37.5 hours per week TBA with candidate
Contract: Permanent
Salary range: £55 - £60K pro-rata (depending on experience)
Charity overview
The Amber Trust provides musical opportunities for blind and partially sighted children, including those with additional disabilities, via its Music Awards and Music Services.
Amber Music Awards fund instrumental and singing lessons, the purchase of musical instruments and specialist software, funding for concert tickets, and travel to musical activities for vision impaired children throughout the UK. In addition, there are structured programmes in its Music Services.
‘Little Amber’ is a service that offers music resources and quarterly sessions with a specially trained music practitioner to children under five and their families. ‘AmberPlus’ provides music resources and sessions offered on a termly basis to children over five who also have complex needs.’ ‘With Music in Mind’ is a new service for visually impaired children and young people with life-limiting neurodegenerative disease. Amber’s workshop scheme offers music sessions for groups of children in schools, charities and community organisations.
We have also developed extensive online music resources for teachers that are freely downloadable from anywhere in the world.
The Charity has a turnover of around £400k, employs a small central administrative team, and, for the music services, works through a large network of self-employed practitioners.
Role purpose
The Chief Executive Officer is responsible to the Board of Trustees for leading The Amber Trust, developing and realising Amber’s vision and strategy, and playing a key ambassadorial role with funders and other senior stakeholders. The CEO is responsible for the management of the charity and its staff and the execution of Amber’s targets, plans and policies, ensuring that resources are used to best effect in meeting the needs of beneficiaries. The CEO is responsible for initiating and overseeing new initiatives that will ensure Amber plays a leading role in the field of music and blindness in children and young people into the future.
Role Description
Accountabilities: To develop, lead and manage The Amber Trust, in particular:
Strategy
• to develop and deliver innovative projects and services in accordance with Amber’s strategy.
• to ensure Amber flourishes, meeting all its charitable objectives and its legal obligations as a charity and a company limited by guarantee, and to honour its duty of care to its staff, beneficiaries and other stakeholders;
• to maintain Amber’s ethos of providing individual and personal support to beneficiaries and their families;
• to lead Amber in the development and implementation of its long- and medium-term strategy and annual business plans in accordance with the strategic direction and policy framework agreed by the Trustees;
Fundraising and events
• to attend, represent and promote Amber at meetings, conferences and other events, enhancing its profile across the UK – occasional evening and weekend work and travel may be required for this;
• to manage volunteers and liaise effectively with fundraisers and individual donors;
• to engage in fundraising and income-generating activity to ensure the sustainability and growth of Amber, including bid writing activity;
• to monitor and evaluate the services offered by Amber as required by external funders and Trustees, writing and submitting reports to deadline
Operations
• to manage and support operations and services and to be hands-on where required to ensure these are delivered;
• to be pro-active in maintaining digital media relating to Amber and its work, including (but not limited to) its web page, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube;
• to manage the budget prudently to ensure Amber’s financial soundness;
• to ensure efficiency and effectiveness externally in service delivery, and internally in its systems, resources and infrastructure;
• to communicate effectively and in a timely manner with Trustees, organising and contributing to regular meetings for the Board, and its Investment, Fundraising, Digital Media, Music Awards and Music Services subcommittees, including the provision of reports, financial information, data on service delivery and all other matters to enable the Trustees to fulfil their governance role.
People management
• to manage staff, setting their objectives and ensuring that these are met, and that colleagues appreciate the ethos and values of Amber, and work in accordance with its strategic objectives, with regular update meetings and an appraisal cycle, and to monitor and recommend to Trustees appropriate remuneration;
• to ensure all staff are aware of current national policies and procedures relating to safeguarding in relation to the children and young people that Amber serves, and are given training annually.
Also to undertake other such duties as may reasonably be required from time to time by the Trustees.
Person specification
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate that they have the following essential requirements:
Essential criteria
· Proven leadership experience in the third sector
· Proven management experience in at least two organisations
· Demonstrable passion for music
· Experience of measuring the impact of charitable services and driving quality improvements
· Degree level education or equivalent
Knowledge, skills and experience
· Experience of working with trustee boards and an understanding of their role and governance experience
· Experience of programme development and the management of grants
· Familiarity with UK charity law and governance issues
· Awareness of disability issues
· A track record of successful fundraising
· Experience of staff management including personal development, objective-setting, recruitment and performance management
· A high level of computer literacy in standard office packages and CRM systems such as Salesforce ;
Competencies and personal qualities
· The capacity for innovative thinking
· The ability to motivate self and others – of developing a vision and enlisting others to share it
· The ability to see ideas through from concept to implementation and evaluation
· The capacity to operate at a strategic level and to analyse and understand complex issues;
· The ability to prepare and manage budgets;
· Strong organisational, written and oral communication skills, including experience and confidence in public speaking and in effective report writing
· The ability to work in a self-directed manner, and to develop good working relationships with stakeholders
· A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, treating people from all backgrounds with respect, dignity
· The right to reside and work permanently in the UK
Desirable criteria
· Experience of working with or caring for people with visual impairment
· Familiarity with the UK education system, and in particular, music education
· Knowledge of and familiarity with special education provision, incl]uding special schools
· Familiarity with other regional and national music organisations working in the field of music education.
The closing date for all applications is 9:00 am Monday, 20th May 2024. Initial interviews are planned to take place face-to-face in London on Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th May 2024.
To apply to the role, please send a CV and covering letter, outlining your motivation for applying for the role and how you meet the essential criteria.
To apply to the role, please send a CV and covering letter, outlining your motivation for applying for the role and how you meet the essential criteria.