BUILD Project – Support Officer
Are you passionate about making a difference in your community and have any experience in supporting individuals?
Hours: 2 posts, Full-Time, 35 hours per week. Fixed Term to 31 August 2026
Salary: £26,595 per annum plus enhanced benefits
Closing date: 15/07/2024 5:00 pm
Interview dates: w/c 22 July 2024
Organisation: Voluntary Action LeicesterShire
BUILD Project – Building up Individuals for Life and Development
Join the Our Team and help to transform lives
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) helps people in local communities to change their lives for the better, through direct service delivery and by supporting the local voluntary and community sector.
The Building up Individuals for Life and Development (BUILD) Project partnership is funded to provide comprehensive support packages for individuals aged 19 and over. BUILD will work across rural Leicestershire cluster areas identified by our extensive knowledge of and engagement with areas where there are gaps in community based services. The Project will work with those who are disengaged, feel socially excluded and face multiple barriers, offering a varied, supportive and bespoke skills and personal development approach.
This role will play a crucial role in supporting participants. You will identify project participants and conduct person-centred assessments with them. You will be responsible for creating strength-based personal development plans as well as providing ongoing support and guidance in order to help the participants grow in confidence, build skills and gain control of their lives. Your role will work to increase participation in volunteering and advice on selfemployment and entrepreneurship, building networks to share best practice through shared learning.
You will be expected to collaborate with our experienced partners Rural Community Council (RCC) who work to improve wellbeing, increase resilience and tackle disadvantage across rural areas and CASE who work to promote social enterprise and rural community development. You will make a tangible impact on individuals’ lives and local communities, fostering sustainable change.
Applicants will need to demonstrate a passion for and experience in supporting individuals to identify and achieve personal goals combined with an established understanding of barriers preventing individuals from accessing support. Proven skills in engaging and motivating individuals (both face to face and remotely), networking to achieve outcomes and an ability to develop high quality information and resources are also necessary.
Experience of delivering work readiness workshops to groups and tailored individual interventions in support of personal skills development would be a great advantage. The role requires confident communicators with experience track in providing impactful support and training, working in diverse communities across the County.
You will have a proactive and dynamic approach, excellent organisation skills, a keen eye for detail combined with the ability to process detailed information, manage relationships, prioritise and multitask. The project team will work to KPI’s, so flexibility and a “can do” attitude are a must.
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire (VAL) is a sector leading diverse and ambitious organisation, with a vision for growth. You will benefit from a competitive salary, a flexible and supportive working environment, 25 days annual leave, rising with service, plus bank holidays and a 6% employer pension contribution.
Closing date: Monday 15 July 2024, 5pm
Interviews: Week commencing 22 July 2024
How to Apply
A detailed job description, person specification and application form for this role can be found at our website.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking for a dedicated and conscientious individual with experience of giving advice to people in vulnerable circumstances and who can relate to others in a sympathetic and understanding way. Experience of giving energy related advice is not essential as you will be provided with extensive training as well as mentoring support from an experienced colleague.
Pay and conditions
- The role is full-time (37.5 hours per week).
- The salary for the role will be £27,121 rising to £29,803 after six months.
- You will be entitled to 25 days paid holiday (plus statutory holidays).
CSE offer a range of benefits including, subsidised bike purchase and Tech Scheme, Life Assurance, Health Cash plan, retail discounts and discounted breakdown cover and many more.
We will pay fees and expenses on relevant training courses.
Specific responsibilities
An applicant appointed to the role will be expected to:
- Engage with disadvantaged households who need help with energy issues.
- Improve the understanding and confidence of households in fuel poverty to better manage their energy use.
- Reduce the financial hardship and stress of households in fuel poverty by supporting their access to lower tariffs (where possible), grants for heating and insulation improvements and income maximisation.
- Improve the wellbeing and safeguarding of households in fuel poverty whose health conditions are exacerbated by living in a cold home.
- Identify energy improvements that can be made to the home and refer to installers who can fit them.
- Refer households onto other organisations in the area as appropriate for further support.
- Advocate on behalf of householders when communicating with energy suppliers, including making formal complaints on behalf of clients where necessary.
- Manage several complex casework cases over a period of time with minimal support.
- Maintain appropriate client confidentiality at all times in accordance with relevant policies and procedures.
- Carry out outreach activities and/or explore networking opportunities if demand for the service is too low.
To see a more detailed list of responsibilities please see the supporting documents attached. These documents are also available to download from our website.
Essential attributes for this role include:
- Minimum Maths and English GCSE or equivalent.
- Experience of giving advice.
- Experience of customer service.
- Experience of taking a lead on the delivery and coordination of project-based act
- Ability to respond to vulnerable clients in a respectful and engaging manner.
- Ability to demonstrate active listening skills in order to correctly identify the support needs of clients.
- Ability to present complex information in an accessible and appropriate manner.
- Ability to work in a team and able to identify areas where their skills complement others.
- Ability to maintain admin systems independently and accurately.
- Able to work independently and use own initiative.
- Highly organised at managing time and workload.
- Skilled in use of MS Office applications including Word, Excel and Outlook.
Please note, the above is an overview of the skills required for this role. To see the full list of essential and desirable skills please see the attached job description.
How to apply
To apply and find out more about the role, please download and complete the supporting documents available on our website. Your application should demonstrate your suitability for the role against the criteria outlined in the person specification.
The closing date for applications is Monday 22 July 2024.
Interviews are expected to take place Thursday 1 August. Please note the interview date may change should we have a high volume of candidates.
If invited to interview, we will ask you to provide evidence of eligibility to work in the UK.
As a Youth & Mentor Facilitator, you will play a crucial role in creating safe and engaging environments for young people to learn, grow, and thrive. Your responsibilities include leading BelEve workshops, activities, and discussions that promote skill development, personal growth, and positive social interaction among young people within our community.
Reporting to the Programme Officer you will serve as a mentor and role model, offering guidance, support, and encouragement to help young people navigate challenges and reach their full potential. Additionally, you will collaborate with colleagues, community partners, and stakeholders to design and implement effective programmes that address the unique needs and interests of the youth demographic. Through your passion for youth development and commitment to empowerment, you will make a meaningful impact on the lives of the next generation.
The duties listed below all feed into a business development objective with the aim of reaching more schools & participants, attract new funders, build brand equity, grow portfolio of current offerings to reach both financial and impact goals detailed in the 5 year strategy and beyond.
This challenging but rewarding role has great opportunities to make a difference and develop personally and professionally.
This role will be based in South London and may require attendance at training events and meetings in the evening.
Your responsibilities will include:
1. Facilitate BelEve Programmes
Lead or assist in leading various programmes, workshops, or activities designed for the young people with our community. These could include educational sessions, recreational activities, skill-building workshops, or support groups.
2. Engaging Youth Participants
Create a welcoming and inclusive environment where young people feel comfortable expressing themselves and participating actively. Encourage engagement, participation, and collaboration among youth participants.
3. Providing Guidance and Support
Offer guidance and support to youth participants, both individually and in groups. Listen to their concerns, offer advice, and provide resources or referrals as needed. Able to foster a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where girls feel empowered to express themselves and build positive relationships.
4. Mentoring
Keen advocate in mentoring youth participants. Build positive relationships with youth participants, providing guidance, support, and advocacy.
5. Developing BelEve Programme Content
Collaborate with other staff members to develop programme content and curriculum that aligns with the needs and interests of the youth demographic.
Adapt materials and activities to suit different age groups and learning styles.
6. Implementing BelEve Safeguarding Policy
Enforce and implement Safeguarding across all BelEve programmes to ensure the safety and well-being of all participants. Address any behavioural issues or conflicts that arise in a fair and respectful manner.
7. Building Relationships
Establish positive relationships with the young people within our community, their families, and the wider community. Foster trust and rapport to create a supportive network for young people.
8. Report & Evaluation of BelEve Programmes
Assess the impact and effectiveness of our programmes through participant feedback, observation, and evaluation metrics. Use this information to make improvements and adjustments as necessary.
9. Collaborating with Stakeholders
Work closely with other youth workers, volunteers, partner organisations, schools, and community leaders to coordinate activities and resources for youth development.
10. Maintaining Records
Maintain clear & concise session notes, keep accurate records of programme attendance, participant demographics, and any incidents or concerns that arise. Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and reporting requirements.
11. Professional Development
Stay informed about best practices, trends, and developments in youth work and related fields. Seek out opportunities for professional development and training to enhance skills and knowledge.
12. Advocacy
Support and advocate for the needs and rights of young people within BelEve and the broader community. Raise awareness about issues affecting youth and work towards positive change.
13. Administrative Tasks
Perform administrative duties such as impact studies, end of programme reports as needed to support the smooth operation of our programmes.
BelEve is a girl-focused charity with a mission to empower girls to become leaders of their world.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.