Tenancy Management Officer Jobs

This is a great senior management role for someone eager to make a significant difference to an amazing arts and mental health charity. Our team expertise is in the field of youth work, therapeutic arts, mental health and community development.

We are looking for someone with a flexible and creative approach who is open and proactive in working with external partners to deliver high-quality work for the community.

Using the resources we have and the new ones we'll be creating, you will bring your own skills, creativity and passion, to make your own mark. 

If you are that person, then we can offer you an outstanding opportunity to develop your career whilst making the Ark-T Centre a beacon of excellence, ensuring a better, brighter and more prosoerous future for all those in Oxford and the wider community.

Specific Duties:

Strategic Planning and Development

Alongside the Board of Trustees and the Senior Management Team:

• Monitoring and updating the Business Plan
• Developing and implementing a financial strategy for the Business Plan
• Oversight and updating of organisational Theory of Change, ensuring KPIs for all programmes are in line with our vision and mission, and are achievable as well as ambitious
• Continued development and monitoring of the new Community Hub Programme in partnership with other local strategic partnerships
• Prioritising the articulation and communication of the Ark-T methodology and approaches to using the arts for improved wellbeing and mental health across our programmes and sharing best practice across the team
• Prioritising the reach and engagement of Ark-T programmes to a larger and more diverse audience representative of our surrounding communities
• Recruiting an increasingly diverse team of Trustees with the skills, contacts and time to contribute effectively to the running of the charity

Management of Staff, Freelancers and Volunteers

• Recruiting key staff and others.
• Leading, managing and developing direct reports and supporting them in managing their key workers – staff, freelancers and volunteers.
• Ensuring that processes for the recruitment and management of volunteers are developed and maintained
• Liaising with external HR consultants to update procedure and processes appropriately and managing staffing matters arising
• Enabling a safe, stimulating and supportive workplace where teams and activities can flourish and work standards and practices are maintained.
• Taking steps to ensure that staff and freelancers attain high standards of work.
• Ensuring that staff have, or can develop, the skills and abilities they need to carry out their jobs competently, safely and effectively.
• Maintaining and updating safeguarding standards and procedures and working with staff to ensure that staff and users are, and feel, safe.
• Acting as one of the two Safeguarding Leads for the charity and managing concerns from staff, users and visitors to the centres.

Finance & Fundraising

• Researching and writing funding bids to secure both restricted and unrestricted funds
• Exploring other possible sources of funding for programmes and core costs, including individual donors, corporate sponsorship and commercial opportunities.
• Working with the  Finance Manager, Treasurer, and external
Bookkeeper, including using Xero software, to monitor the finances of the charity to ensure that sufficient funds are attracted to run planned programmes, meet the commitments of the charity within agreed budgets, and produce regular reports.
• Maintaining adequate reserves for the charity in line with policy.
• Preparing the annual report and accounts for submission to the Charity Commission to be independently examined alongside the Chair and the Bookkeeper.

Management of the Buildings

• Overseeing relationship with Landlords and tenancy agreements
• Managing Centre Manager to ensure efficient and cost-effective operations.

Partnerships & Representing the organisation

• Represent Ark-T as a leader in arts for improved mental health and wellbeing, driving change, particularly diversity and inclusion through influencing and contributing to the key meetings.
• Maintaining relationships and strategic partnership agreements with OX4 Food Crew Alliance, Oxford Community Action, Donnington Doorstep, Safe! and Waste2Taste.

Communications

• Overseeing the marketing and communications for Ark-T.
• Ensuring that key stakeholders are kept informed of the progress of the charity,
including the publication of an organisational wide impact report in 2024.

Chalk Farm Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) is looking for a competent leader with a passion for social housing to manage our housing organisation.

Located close to the historic Camden Market, the TMO provides housing services and community activities for residents of the estate. Sustainably funded by Camden Council long term, this is an ideal opportunity for a candidate with experience in management and a real interest in social housing, who values the autonomy of working in a small and close knit organisation.

As estate manager, your main duties will be to:

1. Give the TMO the strategy it needs to deliver an excellent housing service for residents.

2. Ensure that the TMO is adequately and responsibly resourced.

3. Ensure that the TMO complies with the Management Agreement signed with Camden Council, all applicable legislation, and current best practice.

4. Provide effective day-to-day leadership, management and supervision of staff.

5. Uphold a service culture which puts residents’ satisfaction at the heart of delivery. 

6. Ensure the effective delivery of the TMO’s housing management functions.

7. Work in partnership with the committee to deliver continuous improvement and good value across all TMO managed and contracted services.

This could be you if you have:

• 4 years+ experience of managing staff, and at least 2 years experience of reporting to a board;

• good knowledge of housing law or current issues relating to social housing;

• experience in procuring contracts and managing contractors;

• a proactive, can-do attitude, and an ability to motivate a team;

• excellent numerical and IT literacy, including a record of preparing and scrutinising budgets;

• Either a Level 4 Certificate in Housing, or an undergraduate degree (2:1 or above), and are prepared to enrol in the 1 year online Level 4 course by the Chartered Institute for Housing. 

The TMO is prepared to fund the Level 4 course, and to support a bright manager with a successful track record of delivery to transition into social housing.

Please download the job description and person specification, and send your CV and Cover Letter by the closing date.

JR007578

You have substantial experience of working in a supported housing or general needs housing management environment and a good understanding of mental health, domestic violence, drug and alcohol issues. You’d also like to be part of an organisation that counts on the professionalism, insight, expertise and passion of its staff to inspire individual recovery for the people they work with. Welcome to Richmond Fellowship as a Housing Management Officer.

We know that recovery can look and feel very different to each and every one of us. But we also know that if we provide the right support, at the right time, we can inspire recovery nationwide and that recovery is possible for everyone. That’s where you come in.

Join us as a Housing Management Officer and you could soon be providing vital support to our Housing Manager Lead, as together you help us plan and organise all regulatory housing management activities. We’ll also rely on you to lead on day-to-day tenancy management, work with Area and Service Managers to support housing related services and ensure the compliance of housing related activities. Conducting regular inspections on properties, overseeing void reporting and assisting with the delivery of relevant data and analysis of voids – these are just some aspects of this interesting and varied role that’s all about delivering good quality homes and services to our tenants and residents.

To succeed, you’ll need Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) Level 3 Certified Practitioner status (or equivalent) and an excellent understanding of void management, bad debt and maximising income, plus the relevant regulatory requirements.

You’ll also need experience of working in a customer-focused environment or service and an understanding of the issues associated with individuals who may have complex support needs. Comfortable working in partnership with other key agencies and local communities, you’re also adept at identifying and monitoring key compliance in respect of health & safety requirements relating to properties and tenants. What’s more, you’re well organised, great at negotiating and developing effective working relationships with a variety of stakeholders and happy to provide housing training to colleagues.

In return for your skills and enthusiasm, this role comes with some really great benefits and excellent training and development opportunities. 

This is a permanent full-time role requiring the post holder to work 37.5 hours per week. 

To apply please visit our website via the apply button. 

It is a mandatory requirement of the application process for this post that candidates submit a CV and Supporting Statement, thus only candidates that provide this, and who meet the essential criteria within the person specification, will be considered for an interview. 

This is a rolling recruitment process. Candidates will be interviewed as and when they are shortlisted.

We are committed to increasing our diversity and welcome applications from those with Lived Experience.

Richmond Fellowship is part of Recovery Focus, a national group of charities highly experienced in providing specialist support services to individuals and families living with the effects of mental ill health, drug and alcohol use, gambling and domestic violence. From 1st June 2024 Richmond Fellowship will be merging with the mental health charity Humankind to form a single organisation that provides the joined-up mental health, housing and drug and alcohol support we’ve all known has been needed for decades. In October 2024, Humankind will then be renamed to reflect the new, bigger and better organisation.

Senior Housing Officer

We are looking for a Senior Housing Officer who can oversee our specialist supported housing programme. They’ll handle the day-to-day management and maintenance of our houses, engaging with tenants and contractors, monitoring and acting on arrears and line-managing our tenant support officer.

Position: Senior Housing Officer

Location: Stanmore / Hybrid

Hours: Full time - 35 hours per week

Salary: £29,000 - £32,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Please note – the organisation will be interviewing candidates as they apply and the role may close early, so early applications are recommended.

To succeed, you’ll understand the importance of suitable housing and be passionate about making that a reality for our tenants. You’ll have excellent communication and administrative skills, be tenacious at ensuring works are carried out on time and be comfortable juggling a busy and varied workload.

Every four hours, someone is paralysed by a spinal cord injury. Aspire is a national charity providing practical support to those affected and our Supported Housing Programme is a key service in our work.

Your Own Place CIC is now seeking to appoint a new CEO to lead this social business into its next decade. You will build on our solid foundations and continue its drive towards being a sustainable and impactful social enterprise.

Chief Executive Officer
Location: Based in Norwich/Hybrid & Flexible Working
Salary: £45,000 - £50,000 per year, depending on experience
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week*
Contract: Permanent

About us

Your Own Place is an award-winning social enterprise delivering Money, Housing, Tenancy and Cost of Living support to prevent homelessness. Our work centres around the development of confidence, knowledge, skills and resilience through our engaging workshops and support to achieve our mission and theory of change.

About the role

If you have had experience of managing a small social business, or charity, or you are looking for your next opportunity to take on a pivotal leadership role, we would love to hear from you.

We know that CEO/founder shoes can feel like big shoes to fill, we also know that when people are given trust and opportunity, they shine. This goes to the core of Your Own Place. You will be supported by an incredible team, a Board of Non-Executive Directors, and have access to a professional coach. You will bring new skills and strengths, vision, personality and drive to a ten-year-old award-winning social enterprise.

If you’re interested, we invite you to talk to us. Take steps to talk to others about us and find out about us through our social media accounts, website, impact reports and speaking to people - because this is how we communicate. You’ll see that we're a bit different in how we work and have embraced a digital and virtual world for everything it has to offer alongside the power of face to face connection. So will you. No matter how, we start from an asset-based approach and from people and relationships.

We are looking for a CEO who embodies the values, puts people first, seeks innovative partnerships and solutions and supports the team to achieve the mission.

A full, clean driving licence and access to a car with business insurance cover or equivalent is required for this role and business fuel costs will be covered at HMRC rates.

*open to a part-time conversation for the right candidate

Closing date – Midday 26th April 2024
Interviews – 7th and 8th May 2024

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 and submit a CV and covering letter for this position. 

All posts offered by Your Own Place are subject to a clear, enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

No agencies please.

Housing Officer

Are you passionate about providing exceptional support to tenants and ensuring their housing needs are met with care and efficiency?

A leading provider of specialised supported housing, is seeking a dedicated Housing Officer to join their team.

Position: Housing Officer – Specialised Supported Housing

Location: Tankersley, Barnsley (with travel from Durham to Worcester)

Salary Range: Circa £28,000.00

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

About the role:

As a Housing Officer, you will be the primary point of contact for tenants, providing general and intensive housing management services. From tenancy sign-ups to addressing property concerns, your role will be vital in sustaining excellent communities and ensuring tenant satisfaction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Delivering housing management services, particularly for vulnerable tenants
• Handling general and intensive housing management responsibilities, including tenant engagement and resolving any tenancy breaches
• Building and maintaining positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including tenants, support providers, and local authorities
• Ensuring delivery of excellent customer service tailored to individual tenant needs
• Collaborating with colleagues and partners to achieve shared objectives effectively

About you:

To be successful in the role of Housing Officer you will need the following skills and experience:

• At least 3 years’ experience working with the Tenancy Standard, Tenant Involvement and Empowerment Standard and the Neighbourhood and Community standard
• Knowledge of regulatory standards relevant to the role
• Experience of delivering excellent customer services that meet individual needs.
• Strong IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively to achieve objectives.
• Problem-solving skills with a focus on customer service and satisfaction.
• The ability to drive and have a reliable vehicle available to use for work purposes with business insurance.
• CIH, IRPM, or equivalent qualification or degree (desirable).

If you're ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of tenants and contribute to the organisations mission of providing exceptional housing support, apply now to join the team!

You may also have experience in areas such as: Housing Advisor, Housing Officer, Tenant Support Advisor, Tenant Support Officer, Customer Contact Advisor Housing, Housing Advisor, Housing Options Advisor, Housing Advisor - Supported Housing, Housing Customer Services Advisor, Tenant Support, Tenant Liaison, Housing Adviser, Housing Advice, Housing, Social Housing, Tenant Support, Tenant Support Coordinator, Housing Support Officer.

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

About us 

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We know that homelessness is not inevitable. We know that together we can end it. 

It has never been a more important time for Crisis. With homelessness reaching record levels and a general election around the corner, we have an opportunity to secure commitments from the main political parties to the policy solutions that we know can build a future free from homelessness. This role will play a key role in delivering our priority general election campaign – the ‘Make History’ campaign. Beyond this, you’ll be helping to establish Crisis’ relationship with a newly elected Parliament and Government 

Location: London - You will be required to work from the London office once a week or twice a fortnight. 

About the role 

As Senior Campaigns and Public Affairs officer, you will be responsible for the shaping Crisis’ political influencing strategies for our national campaigns.

Through our research of what works both in the UK and internationally, and our work supporting thousands of people who are homeless or at risk each year, Crisis has developed the solutions needed from Westminster Government to reverse the rising levels of homelessness and we campaign to secure the policy changes needed. With the right political will and leadership, homelessness can be ended.

This role will oversee design and delivery of creative public affairs tactics that will inspire politicians to support our campaigns. This includes overseeing our work to provide the secretariat for the APPG for Ending Homelessness, managing our monitoring and stakeholder relationships and proactively identifying local and regional influencing opportunities.

The role sits within the Campaigns Team in the Policy and Social Change directorate, but you’ll collaborate with a wide range of teams across the organisation to identify influencing opportunities, ensure our campaigns and public affairs activity have maximum reach and ensure people with lived experience are at the heart of our political influencing activity.

We’re a passionate and supportive team, dedicated to our mission of ending homelessness. 

About you 

You will have significant experience of working with politicians in Parliament or Government and will have experience of designing and delivering political influencing strategies to secure policy change.  To be successful in this role you will have solid understanding of Parliamentary process and have worked on a range of tactics to raise the profile of issues in Parliament, with excellent political judgement and intuition.

Effective communication and ability to manage a range of internal and external stakeholders will be vital in this role in order to work collaboratively to further our campaigning objectives. You will have good ability to understand policy solutions and how best to communicate them to a range of audiences. Line management experience is desirable, but more crucially you will have experience of motivating teams or individuals to deliver results.

Understanding or knowledge of homelessness or housing policy is desirable. You may have experience in; public affairs, policy, communications and public relations.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities and backgrounds. 

Working at Crisis 

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including: 

• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy 

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5% 

• 28 days and option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave 

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay 

• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm 

• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website) 

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience and career. 

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How to apply 

If this sound likes the opportunity for you, please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. 

Closing date: Sunday 21 April 2024 (at 23:59) 

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 May 2024 

Accessibility 

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help. 

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094 

About us

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We know that homelessness is not inevitable. We know that together we can end it.

Crisis is currently recruiting for an Employment Brokerage Officer within the London-wide Services Team. This is a chance to be part of a unique service working towards ending homelessness through employment.

Location: Based in our Crisis Skylight London, 50-52 Commercial Street, E1 6LT

About the role

As Employment Brokerage Officer, you will be passionate and understand your role in ending and preventing homelessness by engaging and partnering with employers and other stakeholders who share our mission to end homelessness. You will work closely with all Client Service teams across London to identify employment needs of members and find employers who can deliver opportunities which meet these needs.

About you

This is a unique opportunity and would be perfect for someone with experience working in Local Authorities, Job Centres, Learning and Development training providers, corporate or community-based organisations which focus on training and employment skills. This is your opportunity to use this experience to support people out of homelessness via sustainable employment. We are looking for someone who…

• Has experience in engaging and supporting clients with specific needs and vulnerabilities.
• Can demonstrate experience in developing and managing relationships with local/national organisations to provide opportunities for vulnerable clients.
• Understands homelessness and the barriers people face in accessing employment opportunities.

• Possesses strong communication, presentation skills and understand its importance in both participant relationships and stakeholder engagement.
• Can manage multiple deadlines and work towards job placement targets whilst possessing excellent customer care, problem solving and negotiation skills.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days and option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay
• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.  

How to apply

If this sound likes the opportunity for you, please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below.

Closing date: Sunday 21 April 2024 (at 23:59)

Interviews will be held on Thursday 9 May at Crisis Skylight London, 50-52 Commercial St, E1 6LT

Accessibility

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.

 
Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094

Are you an influential, analytical and ambitious individual with excellent leadership skills and a proven record of working in homelessness or social justice? Do you have experience of service delivery and project planning, budget setting and management, and stakeholder engagement? If so, consider moving to Shelter as our new Strategic Lead for Sheffield and you could soon be making a real difference to people affected by the housing emergency.

This role is being advertised as Housing and Homelessness Strategic Lead but on appointment your job title will be Strategic Lead.

About Shelter

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet millions of people across Britain struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the team

Shelter Sheffield provide housing advice and support to people across the city with a focus on emergency homelessness, intensive support for children and families, people experiencing domestic abuse and people with multiple and complex needs. We take a holistic approach to help people deal with interrelated issues that can impact their ability to keep a home.

About the role

You will be the local leader for Shelter’s Community Services, leading a multidisciplinary team in implementing Shelter’s strategy locally, delivering the local response to the housing emergency and empowering the local community in Sheffield to fight for home.

You will take the lead on the delivery of services and contracts to provide consistently high levels of performance, and plan and deliver service development strategies, including seeking business development opportunities that align with our strategic aims, both across Community Services and in partnership with the Lead Solicitor.

As the strategic lead for your locality, you will promote and direct systems change activity, so we better understand what is influencing people’s experience of homelessness and bad housing, and so we have effective plans to influence change.

You will act as an ambassador for Shelter within your region, representing the organisation through media, networks, and local stakeholder engagement.

Alongside this, you will plan and implement resourcing plans for your Hub, including staffing, volunteers, and engaging people with lived experience, and will manage the Hub Leadership team. Ensuring there are multiple and ongoing opportunities for people with lived experience of homelessness and bad housing to be part of Hub development, activities, and learning is a key element of this role, as is upholding and promoting a learning culture with the Hub.

About you

A natural leader, who can inspire, support and motivate individuals, communities, and your own team to advocate for change, you will have a proven working knowledge of homelessness, housing and related issues affecting local communities. You will possess sound experience of managing and delivering contracts, partnerships, and services, and of being involved in implementing and reviewing change management, whilst demonstrating excellent budgeting and financial reporting skills.

The ability to proactively develop and maintain key relationships and having impressive analytical skills to use insight and evidence to present data, manage performance and to identify and implement systems change are vital to this role, as are impressive interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

Home is everything. We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Join us in ending the devastating impact the housing emergency has on people and our communities.

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

Thursday 25th April – 11am-3pm

Pembury Community Centre, 1 Atkins Square, Dalston Lane, London E8 1FA

You will get an interview on the day!

£26,512 pa + benefits

Weekly shifts: 37.5 hours in total between 8am and 10pm, including some weekends and bank holidays

Start a career that makes a difference!

We’re looking for Support Workers to join our team. You will be working with a team of highly motivated compassionate and dedicated colleagues supporting a caseload of vulnerable customers who are recovering from mental health issues. Together you will deliver a high quality and effective support service which promotes the independence, wellbeing and inclusion of our customers. 

We’d love you to come to our Recruitment Day where you can:

• Meet the team
• Discover why a career as a Support Worker with Peabody is so rewarding
• Apply for a role in our mental health service – you will get a job interview on the day!

This role will require an Enhanced DBS check.

What we’re looking for: 

• The right values and empathy to work with our residents
• Experience and/or knowledge in supporting people who have a mental health illness or are vulnerable 
• Experience or knowledge of how to support residents to manage their tenancy/accommodation, promoting recovery and independence
• Great IT (Word/Excel) and communication skills. 

A bit about us: 

It started over 160 years ago with one man’s desire to improve the lives of poverty-stricken Londoners. 

Today, we have 107,000 homes and 220,000 residents across London and the Home Counties and around 20,000 care and support customers. But the desire remains the same – to create homes and communities where people can flourish.

Here are just a few of the benefits for working at Peabody:

• Up to 25 days’ annual holiday plus bank holidays
• Flexible benefits scheme, including options for Healthcare, Dental care, Critical illness cover, vouchers, technology scheme and access to a discount portal.
• 4 x Life Assurance
• Competitive salaries that are benchmarked regularly against current market rates  
• Professional development by access to "paid for" apprenticeship programs and qualifications
• Two additional paid volunteering days each year  
• Family friendly policies
• Up to 10% pension contribution matched 1:1

How to register your interest and apply

1. Please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button and you will be taken to our careers site where you can submit both your CV and a bit about why we should consider you for the role before the closing date 25 April 2024.

2. Then, come and meet us on the 25 April 2024 between 11AM and 3PM.

We’re looking forward to meeting you! 

The Margins Project, Union Chapel’s Frontline charity, work with people who are homeless or who are at risk of homelessness and helps address pertinent social justice issues these communities face.

The charity runs three integrated programmes:

• a community drop-in programme providing access to nutritious hot meals, and limited access to showers & laundry services.

• advice and engagement programme providing one-to-one as well as group advice service on benefits and housing, and onward referrals to pertinent services.

• support employment programme offers a paid catering training to 10 people who have had experience of homelessness, substance misuse, mental ill-health, and or imprisonment.

Our range of services are designed to help guests (service users) at varying stages, from having no roof over their head to getting back into employment.

This role offers an opportunity for an experienced adviser to help shape and evolve Margins services. Experiences on the ground at the drop-in programme inform the charity’s strategic direction. The role will involve expanding our partner network to link into pertinent statutory and other charitable organisations that provide services that will help our guests with their housing, substance misuse, recidivism, and mental health challenges.

We work closely with people on an individual case work basis to get guests off the streets, into hostels or temporary accommodation where possible, and work with private and social landlords on a range of issues. We support and represent the people we work with on the phone and in person, including at the council, the doctors, the job centre, and benefits tribunals.

Our drop-ins run on Mondays and Wednesdays 11:00am to 1:00pm where attendance is currently from 65 to 75 guests. The advice and engagement worker works more intensively with smaller numbers of up to 20. The demand for more follow up work and advocacy support has been increasing over the last two years and this in-house advice worker is critical for this demand.

Working collaboratively with the Drop-in Community worker (currently vacant), the head chef, and a small group of dedicated volunteers, you will be responsible for the support of a caseload of guests, some with complex needs, and will undertake key work responsibilities including registering the guests, identifying their housing, benefit and personal needs and conducting all necessary follow ups including occasional advocacy support, where deemed necessary.

Job Title: ADVICE AND ENGAGEMENT WORKER

Responsible to: Head of Margins

Location: Margins Offices at Union Chapel, Islington, London

Salary: £32,500 - £35,000

Terms: Full time 37.5 hours per week with 1 hour unpaid for lunch.

Three-month probation, two months’ notice.

23 days annual leave + bank holidays. Workplace pension scheme (NEST)

Start date: May 2024

Purpose of Job:

• To advise and assist guests (service users) with benefit claims and related issues, e.g., Housing Benefit, DLA, PIP, Income Support, ESA, Universal Credit, and other benefits. In particular, assisting them to claim Housing Benefit and UC to reduce risk of rent arrears.

• To develop significant contact and liaison with comparable housing and benefits advice organisations.

• To encourage guests engage with Margins activities, and where practicable, with the wider Union Chapel activities.

• To develop, facilitate and deliver group advice workshops/training programmes and open discussions forums to engage guests who historically do not engage with Union Chapel.

• To Refer Margins guests to relevant internal and external services.

• In liaison with the head of Margins and the chef to refer potential candidates to Margins’ Supported Employment Programme.

The Advice and Engagement Worker will have an active role in identifying and engaging guests as well as referring potential candidates to the Supported Employment Programme, a programme anticipated to expand beyond its current services in Margins catering.

Responsible For:

• Working with caseload of guests

• With the support of drop-in services community worker (currently vacant) to ensure the smooth running of the drop-in services

• Identifying opportunities to improve services both at a project and organisational level.

• Assist the Head of Margins in ensuring that the Margins Project remains GDPR compliant.

• Represent the organisation effectively internally and externally.

• Working in partnership with statutory and other charities to deliver co-ordinated support to guests.

• Identify relevant training opportunities in capacity building.

• Initial liaison with and acting as the first referral contact for the Supported Employment Programme

Key Duties:

• To encourage and assist guests achieve the maximum income from benefits to which they are entitled to, and to refer to relevant support services such as mental health, social services, community support.

• To advise guests on basic budgeting and where applicable to refer to Tenancy Support Officers or outside agencies for more complex help.

• To liaise closely with local authorities, social, and private landlords to try to achieve the best outcome for our guests.

• To identify if the guest is accessioning the right benefit that will support their long-term wellbeing.

• To support newly arrived refugees with their housing and benefit advice needs.

• To actively assist guests with formal appeals against Local Authority, DWP and HMRC decisions regarding benefit entitlement. Representing at Appeal Tribunals.

• To signpost guests to resources that can assist them in finding work.

• When needed, signposting guests to specialist providers in mental health or drug and alcohol support services.

• To Support guests on paying their rent, including providing advice on benefits and debt management.

• To Address breaches of occupancy agreements and develop strategies that would prevent and avoid eviction.

• To assist guests with backdated claims for Benefit by supporting their applications through to completion.

• To ensure all guests’ files are up-to-date and that data is captured on our management system.

• To provide written reports and statistics as and when requested.

• To attend supervision, training, and meetings as and when required.

• To provide advocacy support to guests as and when required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential:

• Good knowledge of the benefits system, including Universal Credit.

• Experience of working with homeless and marginalised people and understanding of the issues that face them.

• Experience of working or collaborating with people with mental health issues.

• Experience of working with refugees and their needs.

• Ability to manage challenging behaviours.

• Embrace a strength-based approach.

• A clear understanding of professional boundaries.

• A knowledge of the best practice in Safeguarding Adult procedures.

• Excellent written and oral communication skill.

• Ability to work proactively as part of a team.

• Ability to plan, manage and action follow-ups on time and manage and contain workload.

• Proficient in IT skills and competence in Microsoft Office applications.

• Committed to personal and professional development through ongoing training.

Desirable:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience of providing advice to vulnerable groups

• Experience of delivering provision for the benefit of vulnerable backgrounds

Equal Opportunities:

• Ensure consistent and effective implementation of Union Chapel Equal Opportunities & Diversity policy and procedures.

• Positively promote an environment which respects and values the diversity of staff, volunteers, and Guests.

This is a guide to the nature of the work required of the Advice and Engagement Worker. It is therefore not comprehensive or restrictive and may be reviewed with the postholder and the line manager from time to time. The post holder may undertake any other reasonable duties within the capabilities and scope of the post as specified by their line manager. In such circumstances appropriate training will be provided.

How to apply

Please apply with your CV and a support statement, both no more than two pages, outlining your skills and experiences to meet the criteria of the role, why you want to work for Union Chapel Project and your availability to start with “Advice and Engagement Worker” in the subject line. Please also complete our Equal Opportunities Form.

Closing date: Tuesday 30 April 2024, 8am

Interviews will take place w/c 13 May 2024