Volunteer Advisor Jobs in Liverpool

Skylarks charity is seeking a SENIOR SEND EDUCATION ADVISER who will be part of a small enthusiastic and growing team supporting children with additional needs and their families. This post will complement our existing services and grow our organisational capacity.

Since launching in April 2020, The SEND Advice Service has supported over 1000 families who need legally-based advice in relation to the education needs of their child or young person with SEND. We are adapting to meet demand. This is an excellent opportunity to develop your skills in a rewarding role and gain a strong sense of achievement.

As the Senior Send Education Adviser, you will provide high-quality information, advice and support to children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 years and their parents and carers in line with the SEN Code of Practice and associated legal framework. You will answer queries from the public and provide support in a range of areas relating to SEND education. Most of our queries are in relation to Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs)

You will manage a small team and oversee the caseload. Your line manager will provide support, guidance and additional training opportunities.

No two days are the same and this is an interesting and varied role that would suit someone who has a good working knowledge of SEN Legislation and the statutory guidance. You will have relevant experience providing support and giving legally-based advice to people seeking help in relation to EHCPs, SEND education and associated matters.

Ideally, the candidate would have completed all of the IPSEA SEN Law training levels 1-3.

The majority of the service is delivered via phone or via video call appointments across the working week during office hours. We also provide weekly in-person meetings which take place at our centre in Twickenham or occasional outreach centres, including our new centre in Hounslow opening next spring. The role will also involve providing training for parent-carers via F2F workshops and webinars.

You will be required to:

• interpret complex information;

• be able to explain complex concepts;

• record the advice given;

• liaise with other key professionals;

• compile formal letters;

• support parents in meetings with other professionals (usually via video call)

• deliver webinars to train parents/guardians on key topics.

Skylarks works in conjunction with a third-party organisation, AMC LTD, on occasion where more specialist advice is needed. Skylarks is looking to increase the knowledge and support offered in-house but will continue to utilise the third party for more complex cases. We also work closely with other education advisers, law firms and statutory services such as SENDIASS, to ensure the best possible outcomes for families and this role will involve building on those relationships.

We currently do not provide support with appeals to the SEND First Tier Tribunal, but we are looking to do so. It would therefore be an advantage if you had some experience in supporting individuals with appeals.

About the Role

The aim of Advice Service Supervisor is to maintain a consistent quality of advice and help for clients by providing support, guidance and feedback on a day to day basis. There are 3 main areas:

• ensuring quality - actively supporting the quality of advice by guiding the team to information sources, checking that all aspects of a client's situation have been considered, checking that follow up work is progressed, and that research and campaigns issues are identified
• providing support - actively supporting each team member to develop their skills and competences, by explaining, guiding, demonstrating, encouraging, suggesting, coaching, giving constructive feedback and challenging appropriately - adapting the level of support to individual competence and need, and taking account of the team as a whole
• managing the practicalities - overseeing and managing all practical issues relating to the session - allocating the team to face-to-face work or other communication methods, checking waiting times or interview lengths, and if necessary, dealing with client or Citizens Advice emergencies

Requirements

1. Recent experience of advice work including issues involved in interviewing  clients
2. Ability to effectively manage and support people to meet individual and team objectives
3. Ability to monitor and maintain Quality of Advice standards including checking accuracy of advice and benefit calculations.
4. Good understanding of safeguarding principles and willingness to adhere to  them
5. Experience of using ICT systems and packages, and electronic resources in  the provision of advice, record keeping and document production.
6. Ability to work on own initiative
7. Demonstrable understanding of the issues affecting society and their implications for Citizens Advice clients and service provision.
8. Ability to create a positive working environment in which equality, diversity and inclusion are well managed, dignity at work is upheld and staff are empowered and motivated to do their best.
9. The ability to commit to and work within the aims, principles and policies of the Citizens Advice service and the vision of Citizens Advice Liverpool

About us

Citizens Advice Liverpool is a charity that provides free, confidential and impartial advice to people who live and work in the city. We depend on a workforce of paid staff and over 120 trained volunteers. We give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem. We are the leading provider of advice and advocacy services in Liverpool and have helped clients with over 106,000 issues in 2022/2023.

CAL have achieved accreditation with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, showing we are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our workforce. We've also gained an award for outstanding contribution by an employer to workplace health and wellbeing 2022 by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust.

We've gained awards from Citizens Advice National recognising our Advising Margainalised Communities Team for championing equity, diversity and inclusion in both 2021 and 2021. We were also named volunteer team of the year in 2022.

As well as a competitive salary CAL also provides access to:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Hybrid Working Scheme
• Interest free travel loans
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Lifestyles Gym Membership (20% corporate discount)
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave pay

Closing date: 4th January 9am

This is an exciting time for Parkinson’s UK, we want to reach as many people as possible so we can improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s. We are looking for people to join our network, make genuine connections, and be part of a larger team that works together to support the Parkinson’s community. 

About the role

We are recruiting for two roles to join our Northern Ireland team, both are offered on 25 hours per week. 

You’ll empower your clients to take actions for themselves or will advocate on their behalf for better service, support and outcomes, so they can live their life with Parkinson's in the way they choose.

You’ll deliver tailored information and support through a range of channels including telephone, video and email and, where appropriate, home visits and in community settings.

You’ll be responsible for building excellent relationships with healthcare professionals and other relevant agencies, as well as our network of volunteers and groups.

What you'll do:

• Provide professional person centred, in depth support to clients by a range of means, ensuring the most efficient and effective use of resources.
• Provide support on a variety of health and social care issues, including appropriate emotional, employment and welfare benefits support and advocating with and on behalf of clients. 
• Work flexibly across the service responding to enquiries through a range of channels.
• Work closely with clinicians, specialist nurses and other professional colleagues to raise the profile of the service, increase depth of support and achieve improved outcomes for people with Parkinson’s.

What you'll bring: 

• Experience of managing and delivering individual case work, including advocating for clients and supporting people to navigate the health and social care system 
• Experience and understanding of safeguarding and your role in keeping clients safe and  implementing organisational policies and procedure
• Ability to be calm and use emotional intelligence in challenging casework
• Demonstrable digital competence, with experience of effective use of a range of tools including online case management systems
• The ability to build effective working relationships with others including working within multi disciplinary teams internally and externally 

Candidates must live in Northern Ireland in order to carry out this role. 

We are operating rolling recruitment for this vacancy and reviewing applications as they are received. We reserve the right to close this vacancy when we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The successful candidate will be required to: 

• live in the area specified (Northern Ireland), hold a full driving licence and be able to travel freely and flexibly throughout Northern Ireland and occasionally further afield without reliance on public transport
• provide occasional cover on Saturdays and/or Bank holidays
• provide their own broadband service with a minimum download speed of 2Mb 

This role will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You’ll be required to apply for one; refusal to do so will result in the offer being withdrawn. 

Anyone can get Parkinson’s. It’s vital that the people who work for Parkinson’s UK are representative of our diverse community. We actively encourage people from all sections of the community to apply, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.

Maternity Cover position from January to October 2024

Full-time

Homebased working in the UK

The Director of Development and Engagement is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and works in partnership with the CEO to lead the development, delivery and co-ordination of the organisation’s strategy.

In this role, you will have oversight across several areas including fundraising, membership engagement, finance and governance and will take the lead in generating income and ensuring the sustainability of the organisation.

The post also holds line management responsibility for three members of staff delivering across multiple areas of work including fundraising, finance, and communications. 

For more information, please download the job description below or visit our website via the ‘Apply’ button.

To apply, please download and complete our application form below. CVs will not be accepted.

This is an ongoing recruitment and interviews will be held as applications are received. We reserve the right to close this advert at any time.

STOPAIDS is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive positive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sex characteristics, HIV status, national origin, genetics, disability, or age. We are open to considering applications for a part-time role that would require a job share.