Community Development Officer Jobs

JOB SUMMARY 

Job Title: Refuge Support Worker

Location: Lichfield Staffordshire

Contract Duration: Permanent Position

Salary: £23,870

Hours of Work:  2 x Positions available (26 hours per week & 30 hours per week)

(30 hours per week  PRO RATA £19,096)

(26 hours per week  PRO RATA £ 16,550)

This post is open to women only, under the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.  We value diversity and are committed to ensuring that our organisation is an inclusive place to work. We encourage applications from women from all backgrounds and communities and actively welcome applicants from Black, Asian, or other ethnic minority backgrounds and women with a disability.  

 About Pathway Project

We are a domestic and sexual abuse service based in Lichfield & Tamworth, Staffordshire. We offer a range of support services and run two refuges in confidential locations. We have been operating for over 30 years helping adults and children overcome domestic abuse, and to build a future where they live in safety and are free from fear. Since our founder, Kathy Coe MBE, created Pathway Project, we have helped over 25,000 people, with 5,814 hours of support provided in the last year. We offer a wide range of services, including adult and children outreach and community support, mental health, wellbeing and financial advice. We support the relatives of those who have experienced domestic and sexual violence and offer specialist counselling, advocacy and care to all who need us. Pathway Project believes in working as a cohesive team and are service user led. Our helpline is access to all and is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Why work for us?

Pathway Project is an inspiring place to be, we are a charity with big ambitions and huge energy. We are currently evolving a bold new strategy and a passion for excellence in service delivery. Supported by a driven and energetic board of trustees the new Chief Executive is leading Pathway Project through their ambitious plans. It’s a really fantastic time to join our amazing charity as we move into the next phase of our exciting journey. We are a flexible and supportive employer, committed to the personal and professional development and wellbeing of our employees. We welcome applications from women with lived experience of domestic abuse and from minority or under-represented groups.

We offer the following benefits:

· 25 days paid leave plus statutory holidays (pro rata)

· A competitive pension scheme

· Employee Assistance Programme delivered by Health Assured which offers incredible support to staff and their families

We value our colleagues and are constantly reviewing our policies and practice, looking for ways in which we can better demonstrate this. We also recognise the potential impact of working in this field and provide clinical supervision to all of our employees, whatever their role.

About the role

We are recruiting for two staff positions to join our dedicated team of professional staff who deliver support for women and their dependent children, who are escaping domestic abuse through accommodation in one of our Pathway Project intensive support centres.

Working within a framework of support the post holder will be able to deliver social, emotional and practical support to individuals to support them on their journey to being a survivor. The ability to support clients in this circumstance is an absolute privilege and our clients deserve and receive the very best support the team are able to provide.

The postholder will join this supportive and caring team working a shift system  to ensure there is 24/7 support available in our intensive support accommodation based in Lichfield. This will involve working flexible hours, covering a rolling shift pattern which includes weekdays, weekends, evenings and overnight sleeping shifts.  The postholder will support clients by handholding and supporting attendance at external appointments as well as supporting their emotional and practical recovery. This is an incredibly challenging role which is immensely rewarding.

Access to transport and a full clean driving license is an advantage.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

o To admit victims of emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse, into one of our intensive support centres, as well as any children who may be in their care, and handle any subsequent emergencies in line with Pathway's standards and procedures.

o To provide advice and guidance to service users within the refuge and on the helpline.

o To keep and maintain accurate records with regards to service users. This paperwork will be consistent across both sites and will be subject to a monthly case review.

o To chair house meetings with service users.

o To provide support and advocacy to service users of the project, including transporting to and attending necessary appointments and court.

o To provide one to one support to deal with a variety of emotional and practical needs that service users may present with.

o To liaise with other agencies both statutory and voluntary, on behalf of service users, to enable them to access services.

o Representing Pathway and their service users at CAF’s, core groups and case conferences.

o To ensure that the cleaning rota is adhered to, and that accommodation is clean and all relevant equipment provided is maintained.

o To support management, or where necessary to conduct yourself, the delivery of disciplinary action. This may also include evictions.

o To ensure that service users abide by their license agreement and house rules and to make recommendations to management with regards to disciplinary action required where service users have breached their license agreement and house rules.

o To help review health and safety regulations and conduct fire drills.

o To maintain confidentiality and information sharing protocols in line with Pathway’s policy and procedures.

o To help with the resettlement of service users in the local community, to secure a successful transition.

o To assist service users with benefit claims and advice.

o To work closely with other support workers within Pathway and to ensure that service users have full access to all available services.

Essential Experience

• Formal qualification appropriate for the area of work or 12 months relevant work/volunteer experience. 
• Working knowledge of voluntary/statutory sector
• Knowledge of voluntary and statutory agencies relevant to women suffering domestic abuse. 
• Confident in dealing with multi agency work. 
• Ability to work with people and relate across a wide range of individuals and organisations. 
• Confident and assertive manner 
• Effective communicator bith verbally and written
• Reliable, confident and able to cope under pressure
• Non judgemental and accepting of others
• Ability to relate with empathy to clients
• Able to cope with emotionally charged pressurised work 
• Must agree to an enhanced DBS check 
• Must be able to participate in a rolling shift pattern which includes weekdays, weekends and overnight sleeping shifts. 
• Ability to be flexible to meet the demands of the organisation. 
• Ability to keep accurate records. 
• Ability to work in a team, motivating and supporting other team members. 

Desirable Experience

• Good knowledge of welfare rights and legislation affecting this client group. 
• Understanding of Safeguarding and or experience of application of a Safeguarding policy 
• Must have a driving licence and access to a car for work use. 
• Physically fit and able to use stairs

Other information:

Pathway Project is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes diversity across our services. All of our employees are required to adhere to our Equality & Diversity policies and to challenge discrimination wherever it is appropriate.

We strive to be as inclusive as is possible and look to recruit individuals with the right skills, experience and attitude, however, for genuine occupational requirement reasons we are looking to appoint a female only for this post (exemption under the Equality Act 2010 Part 1 Schedule 9.

The role is subject to receiving satisfactory references, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, plus a probationary period.

How to apply:

Please send a full CV together with a covering letter indicating why you meet the essential criteria In no more than 2 sides of A4 by email.

       Closing date – 5pm  Sunday 17th November 2024

ShareAction is an independent charity and an expert on responsible investment. We work to build a world where the financial system serves our planet and its people. We set ambitious standards for how financial institutions, through their investment decisions, can protect our planet and its people and campaign for this approach to become the norm. We convene shareholders to collectively push companies to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature, improve workers’ rights and shape healthier societies. In the UK and EU, we advocate for financial regulation that has society’s best interests at its core.

Position

Reporting into the Head of Communications, this is a strategic and hands-on management role responsible for driving ShareAction’s media function and acting as a key business partner for colleagues across the organisation. Using your experience of developing media strategies, you will advise teams on how to enhance ShareAction’s position as a thought leader on responsible investment, support organisational goals to influence decision-makers and engage target audiences and help manage ShareAction’s reputation by advising on risk and mitigation. You will line manage a Media Manager and Senior Media Officer in the UK and provide guidance to a Media Advisor in Brussels to design and deliver high-quality media relations activity and ensure the effective operation of ShareAction’s press office and internal processes, including media monitoring and reporting.

You'll play a key role in the development of campaigns to hold global companies to account for their impact on people and planet and promote research and recommendations to support our vision of a world where responsible investment is the norm. With excellent interpersonal skills, you’ll be able to work collaboratively, supporting colleagues to engage effectively with the media.

If this sounds of interest, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll bring to the team

We want to hear from you if you have substantial experience working in a press office or as a journalist, with recent experience at a senior level, and a strong track record of securing positive coverage to achieve brand, engagement and influencing goals. This role would suit someone who is skilled in developing and delivering media strategy to support organisational objectives – including thought leadership activity for specialist audiences – and has the interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with colleagues at all levels across the organisation and win support for your recommendations. You’ll be a highly regarded people manager who has a proven track record of developing junior team members and putting in place the structures and support for them to succeed. You’ll be passionate about using the power of communications to help drive a better future for people and planet.

This role would suit someone who has outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with a flair for breaking down complex issues and the ability to use framing and messaging techniques to produce high-quality content that can resonate with target audiences and inspire action. You’ll enjoy working in a fast-paced, changing campaigning environment and have excellent organisational skills to be able to manage multiple projects at once. You might have previous experience developing media activity within a campaigning or advocacy organisation or on social, environmental or financial issues.

While we hope we’ll find someone with the majority of these skills and experience, we’re keen to hear from you even if you don’t have them all. We appreciate lots of skills are transferable, and we welcome opportunities to explore different ways of achieving our goals.

We are currently formalising our hybrid working policy; however, as this role involves a lot of close collaboration with London-based colleagues, there is an expectation that you will be able to come into the office once a week. The whole Communications team meets together in person at least once a month.

What we will do for you

We are a fast-paced organisation that has grown substantially over the past few years. We recognise that our people work hard to advocate for responsible investment and drive meaningful engagement with those who have the power to create a brighter future. Every day, they bring their expertise, passion and persistence to build a world where the financial system serves our people and planet. We want to ensure we provide the right environment for our colleagues to thrive, and we are committed to improving our employee offer where possible.

Currently, we are pleased to offer:

• A commitment to flexible working: over 60% of our employees have some sort of flexible working arrangement in place.
• Hybrid working: we are committed to supporting our staff to work in a way that suits their lifestyle and meets the requirements of their role.
• Internal promotion and development opportunities: we offer a range of ways to improve your skills and focus on what you love, including promotion, secondment, or sideways development opportunities. For some levels of roles, we also offer direct progression.
• The opportunity to help make a difference: we tackle some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges. We offer opportunities for you to develop your skills and experience in a friendly, flexible and supportive working environment.
• A unionised work environment: our staff have the opportunity to join the union and are supported by our recognised union, Unite. We regularly consult and negotiate with our employees on workplace matters ranging from working conditions to pay.
• Regular in-person meetings, including all-staff away days, retreats and directorate strategy days to create connected teams.
• 8% non-contributory pension: invested with NEST and their green funds.
• A healthcare cash plan with Westfield that gives you money back on your healthcare costs.
• An employee assistance programme: advice and support, lifestyle discounts and short-term counselling.
• 25 days’ annual leave (increasing with length of service) plus office closure at the end of the year, ensuring everyone gets time to switch off together.
• Enhanced family leave pay: up to 18 weeks paid at 90% for either parent.
• Enhanced sick pay starting at 5 weeks’ full pay from day 1.
• Season ticket loan and cycle-to-work scheme.

ShareAction values and respects all differences in people (seen and unseen) and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences and abilities, and we are working hard to provide an environment where all can bring their authentic selves to work. We know that some people won’t apply for a role unless they meet all the requirements listed in the job description. If this is the case for you, but you think you would excel in this role, we want to hear from you!

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

Closing date: 9.00 am on Monday 25th November 2024.
First-round interviews: Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December 2024.
Second-round interviews: Thursday 12th and Monday 16th December 2024.

To be considered for this post, you must be legally eligible to work in the UK; unfortunately, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Please be aware that when shortlisting, we are really keen to get a sense of your unique voice and individual experience, especially if you are using generative AI tools as part of your drafting process.

About Impetus

Impetus transforms the lives of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds by ensuring they get the right support to succeed in school, in work and in life.

We find, fund and build the most promising charities working with these young people, providing core funding and working shoulder-to-shoulder with their leaders over the long term to help them become stronger organisations.

At Impetus we focus on the critical factors that influence the education and employment outcomes for disadvantaged young people in the UK, working with charities that have the potential for impact at scale, helping their leaders to deliver lifechanging, benchmark-beating, sustained outcomes.

We provide these charities with the funding and the tools to grow and deliver on their promises to the young people they serve. We also seek to influence government and the wider sector to back effective support for young people and invest with other like-minded organisations to tackle the most difficult and under-supported challenges. We are resolutely focused on outcomes and impact, driven by quality evidence.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

About the Investment Team

The Investment Team is responsible for selecting charity partners, managing our charity investments and supporting our charity partners to improve and scale their impact.

The Investment Team also leads the Impetus Leadership Academy, a leadership development programme to support talent from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK youth sector to progress into senior leadership roles.

The team is made up of 18 people, including former teachers, charity chief executives, charity impact leads, management consultants, social investment portfolio managers and impact consultants.

The team is led by a Portfolio Director who sits on the Senior Management Team. The Portfolio Director has 5 direct reports: a Deputy Portfolio Director, three Sector Leads (who lead our work in School engagement, School attainment and Employment Sectors) and an Impact Lead. Sector Leads line manage 6 Investment Directors. Investment Directors line manage Investment Managers (currently 5). Investment Directors and Investment Managers tend to primarily focus on a sector but might have mixed portfolios, depending on need, experience and interest.

The Investment Team has a good track record of role progression. All four Leads and a number of our Investment Directors were promoted from within the team.

The team is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We come from a range of backgrounds and bring a broad mix of perspectives.  We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve.

Job description – Investment Director

The Investment Director (ID) is a key member of the Investment Team, playing a leading role in identifying, assessing, and supporting portfolio partner charities and other non-profit organisations to deepen their impact and scale their outcomes. This role works closely with other Investment Directors and Investment Managers to deliver external facing support to portfolio partners as well as internal projects to support the development of the investment model and portfolio strategy.

Investment Directors use strategic thinking, analytical rigour, and senior relationship skills to support a portfolio of amazing organisations that, together, will help shift the life chances and outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in the UK.

Key responsibilities

Finding high potential charities and non-profit partners for our portfolio

• Identifying potential charitable organisations for investment.
• Leading in-depth due diligence process to assess and build partnership foundations with potential partners – covering leadership and governance, and their impact, scale, and partnership potential.
• Modelling from first contact of origination, our approach to engaged and trust-based investment management support.
• Developing and championing high quality investment propositions to our Investment Committee.

Managing partnerships with portfolio partners

• Managing relationships with partner Chairs and CEOs 
• Agreeing Service Funding Agreements, including appropriate annual investment milestones to allow for a clear assessment of re-investment potential at end of phase 
• Regularly monitoring and assessing partner progress / risks against milestones and making recommendations for progression or exit
• Escalating key risks on performance, leadership and safeguarding
• Conducting annual partnership review with Sector Leads and partner CEOs
• Working with Impetus Finance colleagues to ensure timely distribution of grant payments, in line with Service Funding Agreements.

Supporting portfolio partners

• Providing direct support to CEOs and senior colleagues on key strategic topics, using a mix of at least monthly one-to-one meetings and group facilitation to:
  • clarify theory of change
  • define long term ambition
  • develop growth strategy
  • achieve a step change in the delivery and performance management of outcomes
  • strengthen leadership (individual and collective) and governance capabilities
  • develop path to scale
  • build financial resilience
• Scoping and project managing pro bono capacity-building projects (in addition to providing direct management support). Ensure projects are delivered to a high standard and contribute to charity progression
• Identifying engagement opportunities for our donors and supporters with charity partners that are aligned with the charity’s activities and do not distract or undermine their core work
• Collaborating with Impetus philanthropy team to develop new funding streams (additional to direct Impetus grant funding) that support our partners’ ability to deliver impact at scale
• Effectively leveraging the support of investment managers to advance the objectives developed for each charity partner that is managed by an Investment Director
• Identifying engagement opportunities for our donors and supporters with charity partners that are aligned with the charity’s activities and do not distract or undermine their core work
• Collaborating with Impetus Philanthropy team to develop new funding streams (additional to direct Impetus grant funding) that support our partners’ ability to deliver impact at scale
• Effectively leveraging the support of investment managers to advance the objectives developed for each charity partner that is managed by an Investment Director. 

Support to Impetus

• Developing expertise about “what works” in the sector through cultivation and use of expert input and engagement as well as investigation into key research and evaluative literature
• Working closely with team colleagues to use learnings from our work and domain expertise to inform our strategy, our model and delivery over time
• Leading on and contributing to internal topics, such as team strategy development, digital transformation, or equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Contribute towards Impetus’ public affairs and philanthropy objectives through input into case studies, research and policy campaigns, donor reports and fundraising events
• Sharing the learning from our work across the team, across the organisation and externally working within Impetus strategy, policies and procedures
• Engaging in Impetus pro bono, communications, and advocacy events, and engage charity partners appropriately in these events
• Where appropriate, line-managing and supporting Investment Managers on the team to grow and develop, and achieve their project, role and team objectives.

Person specification

The successful candidate will need to show evidence that they meet many of the following skills, capabilities and experience.

Essential

• A commitment to Impetus’ mission
• Senior level responsibility and a strong track record of building trust-based relationships with senior stakeholders, advising them on key strategic decisions, and challenging them in a respectful and collaborative manner
• A talent for strategic thinking around complex issues
• Strong financial acumen and analytical skills
• Understanding of impact measurement and evaluation fundamentals
• Tenacity and initiative
• Ability to flex personal style to needs of charity and leadership
• Growth mind-set to seek out and act on feedback
• Proven ability to work independently, and to exercise good judgment
• Strong planning and time management skills
• Interest in partnering closely with charities that are doing what it takes to get better
• A commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

If you don't tick all these boxes, but still feel that you fit the profile, please apply anyway.

Desirable

• Experience in the non-profit (charity or social enterprise) sector, through work, as a pro-bono volunteer or Trustee capacity 
• Experience in consulting, investment management, senior charity management, or other in-depth grant making and advisory work
• Knowledge and expertise in UK education or youth employability sectors
• Board experience in private, public or third sector
• Understanding of or experience with commissioning impact evaluations.

How to apply

• Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form)
• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is 11.59pm Sunday 10 November 2024.

Interviews

First round interviews and an assessment task will take place on 18 and 19 November 2024.

Second round interviews will take place on 27 November 2024.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results.

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need in order to be successful.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, race, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation or marital status. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Endometriosis UK is the leading UK charity supporting those living with endometriosis. Formed in 1981, we offer information and support to women and those assigned female at birth with endometriosis, for example through our website and information leaflets, and via our local support groups, Helpline and online forum. As well as directly supporting those with endometriosis, we work to raise awareness of endometriosis amongst healthcare professionals, the public and the media; lobby for improved treatment and management; and support research.

The Communications and Campaigns team works to improve awareness of endometriosis and drive change for those affected by the disease. Our current campaigns and calls on Governments include getting menstrual wellbeing taught in schools across the UK, decreasing diagnosis times, improving rights in the workplace and improving access to treatment. 

This will be a busy, varied and important role working closely with the Head of Campaigns and Communications to raise awareness and increase the visibility of endometriosis and Endometriosis UK, and supporting campaigns that really make a difference across the UK. You will be working as part of a passionate team with a strong commitment to achieving change to help those with living with endometriosis.

You’ll be creative, resourceful and be able to create media opportunities that drive awareness and change for those with endometriosis. This is an exciting opportunity to help drive forward Endometriosis UK’s new strategy and boost our impact for the benefit of everyone affected by endometriosis

We are looking for a highly organised, pro-active and confident Communications Manager who creates opportunities to raise awareness of endometriosis with the media. You’ll be experienced in pitching stories across broadcast and print outlets, and have experience of working with case studies to share their story. You will also have a strong understanding of the UK political landscape, supporting policy and public affairs colleagues to create proactive communication opportunities to raise the profile of Endometriosis UK’s policies.