Social Welfare Jobs in South East

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Job Purpose:

Women in Prison’s Advocates deliver high-quality, trauma-informed, independent advocacy for women in communities and in prisons, which focuses on early intervention, and holistic provision as part of a ‘whole system’ multi-agency response that looks to address the root causes of women’s offending.

The primary purpose of this role is to provide in-depth, ongoing support to a caseload of women who have been referred for support by prison staff, predominately the Mental Health In-Reach Teams and Primary Care Teams.

Key Responsibility Areas:

1. Provide high-quality, trauma-responsive advocacy and support to women in contact with the criminal justice system.

2. Maintain case management systems to ensure accurate and timely data recording.

3. Develop effective relationships with key stakeholders such as statutory and voluntary sector agencies.

Citizens Advice Tandridge District have an exciting opportunity to join our small friendly advice team as an Advice Service Manager, working in our Caterham and Oxted offices.

The successful candidate will be responsible for and have:

· Great interpersonal skills and an advice background to manage our advice services.

· They will be responsible for the day to day delivery of our advertised advice services, including supporting training, overseeing and supervising the quality of advice given and managing performance of staff and volunteers.

· The ability to bring out the best in the team, as well as to ensure the highest quality of advice across our core service and varied projects.

· Be a trained Advice Session Supervisor/ or knowledgeable generalist adviser/caseworker and/or willing to complete the appropriate training.

· You will be part of the senior management team, inputting into the running of the office, developing relationships with relevant stakeholders and funders where appropriate and promoting our service.

· You will ensure new initiatives are implemented smoothly and that volunteers, staff and supervisors are appropriately supported and developed.

· The role includes providing cover for Advice Session Supervisors and filling short-term gaps in staffing as necessary.

· We will consider applicants who have experience of working in the advice sector and of managing volunteers

Joining Citizens Advice means becoming part of a team dedicated to making a real difference in people’s lives. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside passionate professionals in a supportive environment that values integrity, support, inclusion and collaboration. If you’re ready to take on a pivotal role that impacts every people’s live and contributes to a greater cause, we’d love to hear from you.

The Citizens Advice service values diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people, as they are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

Finance Manager | £50,000 - £55,725 | Permanent | Fully Remote / Home Based

For the UKs largest not-for-profit social enterprise in the employment and social mobility sector, we are recruiting a Finance Manager. This role will provide high quality financial information and analysis to stakeholders, supporting decision-making. This is a highly commercial role and will ensure service quality is maximised, and financial performance targets are achieved. The Finance Manager will manage a Management Accountant and will suit someone happy to work fully remotely whilst developing excellent relationships across a large, multi-location organisation.

Main Duties:

• Partner with stakeholders ensuring robust business plans and financial targets are achieved
• Work with Senior Finance Managers to identify risks and opportunities impacting the delivery of business plan performance
• Partner with stakeholders to present and interpret financial and non-financial analysis, assisting in decision-making
• Support the business in planning and implementing cost and performance improvements
• Review, assess and report on performance to budget and forecast and provide monthly key variances in budget, actual and forecast and key KPI variances for consolidation
• Support and lead annual divisional budget setting process and the production of annual forecasts
• Support year-end close-down processes, supporting the annual report and accounts
• Work with external commissioners and funders in providing reporting and financial returns
• Drive continuous improvements to processes, automation and financial controls
• Line manage and develop the Management Accountant

Person Specification:

• CCAB Qualified with substantial experience of working in financial management across a complex organisation
• Experience producing management accounts, budgets and forecasts
• Experience supporting annual accounting cycle and longer-term financial planning requirements
• Experience of financial planning, costing, and option / investment appraisals
• Experience of planning, reporting, and supporting budget holders
• Ability to work proactively in a fully remote / home working environment
• Experience supervising or managing staff
• Excellent Excel and ideally Agresso BW experience

________

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps, we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.

About Us

The Refugee Council is one of the leading organisations in the UK working with people seeking asylum and refugees.

Our operational teams based in various locations throughout England provide advice and assistance across a wide range of issues, including helping people seeking asylum through the complexities of the asylum system, addressing issues of destitution, and assisting refugees and people seeking asylum to access key services including housing, welfare benefits, health, education and employment.

About our Children’s Services

The Children’s Service are responsible for delivering services to separated refugee children. The service also leads on raising the profile of their clients and advocates on their behalf. Supporting this work, the service also promotes good practice to statutory and voluntary agencies and supports the Refugee Council Advocacy and Engagement Team to influence government to improve policy decisions and policy making at a national level.

About our Independent Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children Support Service

The focus of the Service is to offer advice and support to separated children, particularly around their asylum application, and to signpost and refer children to statutory and voluntary agencies, working with local authorities to ensure that appropriate services are provided. This service is contracted by the Home Office.

Your Main Duties and Responsibilities

We support separated children across England and part of our service is a team of staff based at the port of Dover, working 24/7 to provide a temporary safeguarding service for children arriving there, ensuring that their basic needs are met while they await transfer to the care of a local authority. The unit is reactive to the needs of clients, who may arrive at any time, and staff are expected to cover a variety of shifts.

You will be expected to:

•  Work in the best interests of the child.
• Assess the basic needs of newly arrived clients and provide an appropriate service, including food, clothing, and access to hygiene facilities.
• Recognise indicators of confusion or distress, and respond according to the needs of the situation.
• Ensure all safeguarding issues are responded to, reported and accurately recorded using the appropriate internal recording mechanisms.

For more information on the role and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. 

Closing date: 22 October 2024. 

Ensuring that the Refugee Council is an inclusive and accessible place to work is important to us. We want to enable people from different backgrounds to apply and thrive with us. We believe our recruitment process enables that and are also happy to make adjustments on request. 

Responsible to: Projects Manager

Salary: £27,1727 – £31,659  full time equivalent salary depending on experience. (Lower rate for trainee, higher rate for qualified supervisor, mid range for trained adviser).

Hours: Full time, Part time considered

Location: Hove Town hall – blended and remote working also considered

Job outline:

Citizens Advice Brighton & Hove are currently seeking to recruit trainee or qualified Debt Advisers to join our thriving charity. We would also consider someone able to offer Technical Debt Supervision as part of the role. 

The purpose of the role is to provide tailored advocacy, advice and support to individuals and families struggling with debts, and provide them with help to overcome and prevent them from falling into similar situations again. This is a local service, working with communities within Brighton & Hove. For more details about this rewarding opportunity and how to apply please go to our website to read the full job inormation pack.

We’re here to give advice to everyone, and understand that diversity in  our workforce is the best way of understanding the varying needs of the  city around us, so we welcome applications from all communities. 

Qualifications: The successful candidate will ideally have the required specialist debt advice accreditation and have completed training to caseworker level. for trainees, full training would be provided for the right candidate, although some experience of advice giving or knowledge of financial services would be beneficial. 

Application deadline: 28th October 2024 at 9am

Expected interview date: 4th November 2024 

Age UK is recruiting! We have a fantastic opportunity for a Store Manager to join our friendly and supportive team in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire.

Utilising your previous retail experience and excellent managerial skills, you will manage the day to day running of our store - maximising store sales and profits while ensuring our customers receive an excellent service. In doing so, you will be helping to raise funds for Age UK and the incredible services and support they provide to older people.

As Store Manager, you will manage our brilliant team of staff and volunteers, providing effective leadership, training, and development.

If you are a motivated manager with a passion for retail and would like to use your skills to support a charity that helps thousands of older people across the UK, this may be the role for you!

Due to the nature of this role, you will be required to handle/lift bags of stock (up to 10kgs.)

To ensure the smooth running of our stores, we will be conducting interviews throughout the advertising process. Early applications are advised.

You will have:

• Experience in a performance driven retail/customer centric environment
• Experience of managing people
• Ability to lift and carry bags of stock up to 10kg's
• Ability to build, retain and develop a team
• Strong drive to achieve results through others
• Ability to delegate, coach and listen
• Ability to manage time under conflicting priorities
• Ability to motivate self and others
• An open and adaptable approach to change and be able to support others through it
• Experience of communicating with a diverse workforce and customer base
• Ability to establish and maintain successful retail processes and merchandising
• IT literacy and numeracy skills

What we offer in return:

• A 35 hour working week
• 25 days holiday + bank holiday allowance
• A generous pension - we will contribute 8%
• Great discounts and rewards through Blue Light Card and BenefitHub
• Life assurance, Bupa health cashback plan
• Tickets for Good - Free and discounted tickets for events

Additional Information

To comply with UK legislation, we cannot accept applications from candidates under the age of 18 as the successful candidate will be required to work on their own in the shop without the aid of other staff.

All CVs will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role at Age UK. Please note that our system is unable to anonymise cover letters, and we would therefore ask that to support the work we are doing on making our recruitment selection process fairer and more unbiased, that you remove any personal information from your cover letter/supporting statement, including your name before uploading this. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us once you are invited for an interview.

Is this the job for you? We know that men, of all backgrounds, and men and women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are currently under-represented in our workforce, and we want to change this! So, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants from these groups.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert at any time.

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please note that on occasion, due to high numbers of applications, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.

Age UK is committed to safeguarding adults at risk, and children, from abuse and neglect. We expect everyone who works with us to share this commitment.

Join our team as our Team Administrator and help improve lives. We are a dedicated charity committed to improving lives through making grants to individuals on a low income and making grants to organisation supporting those experiencing poverty. 

The National Benevolent Charity has been supporting people and families on low incomes throughout the UK for over 200 years through the provision of grants and is part of a national network of benevolence charities which operate throughout the UK. Last year we awarded 729 grants individuals in the UK and 42 new grants to organisations in Swindon & Wiltshire, Bristol, and Gloucestershire.

We are looking for someone friendly, professional, and experienced to help our small dynamic team with administration and communications, to increase the number of grants we can make.

You will have excellent written and verbal communication skills and be comfortable in managing contact with the public by telephone and email. You will also need experience in office 365 and using a database. You will also need to be happy working from home, within a small team and have an open, pleasant flexible manner, compassion, and a desire to improve lives

So, if you want to join a small ambitious team, collaborating closely with trustees, believe you have the necessary skills and experience and want to Improve Lives we would be pleased to hear from you. 

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter to our email address.

Your covering letter should outline why you feel you are suitable for the role, using the job description as a guide. Unfortunately, unless we receive these, we will not be able to take your application any further.

The closing date is midday on 23rd October 2024.

We particularly welcome applicants from the underrepresented and diverse communities we support in Buckinghamshire/ Milton Keynes.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job title: Young Carers and Young Adult Carers Team Leader

Job aim: Our carers, aged between 5 and 25, provide support to a parent, sibling or other family member due to disability, a long-term illness, poor mental health and/or addiction. You will lead and provide day to day operational management to the Young Carers (YC) and Young Adult Carers (YAC) team so that they can effectively provide support to these young people, whilst also raising awareness of Carers Bucks services across Buckinghamshire.

Location: Hybrid. A minimum of 2 days a week from home with the other days working flexibly from home or in the community, as agreed by your line manager, with attendance at our Aylesbury office as and when required.

Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave (which increase with long service) + bank holidays.

Benefits: 3 Christmas closure days

Up to 5 days paid Carers Leave

               Employee Assist Programme

Free annual flu jab

Free annual eye test

Work equipment (laptop/phone)

Salary: £27,918/ annum

Hours: 37 hours per week (you will need to have flexibility to work on occasional weekends and the evenings for pre-planned events for which you will receive TOIL

Duration: Fixed Term for 1 year, with possible extension.

Responsible To: Young Carers and Young Adult Carers Service Manager

Main Responsibilities:

These include, but are not limited to:

• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and attend regular training and refesher courses.

• Day to day management of the YC/YAC team- establishing and maintaining a positive and effective working environment and dealing promptly with any interpersonal issues

• Day to day operational responsibility for the effective running of the YC/YAC services.

• Ensure that all new referrals, and all queries from current registered YC/YAC, are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner, and to the highest possible standard.

• Carry a caseload, both individually and alongside your team.

• Ensure that staff have the support and resources they need to run targeted sessions, clubs and activities which effectively meet the needs of YC/YAC.

• Ensure there are enough staff to cover the service at all times and assist with recruitment when required.

• Ensure that staff work in an integrated way with their colleagues in the Adult Carer Team, and at our sister charity Carers MK, in order to achieve the best possible outcomes for carers of all ages across the region.

• Ensure that all data relating to carers is stored correctly using our internal database, Charity Log.

• Create and review reports using Charity Log, for the purposes of monitoring and to help identify gaps in the service.

• Work with the Service Manager to develop services and maintain an in-depth understanding of the needs of the YC/YAC who are accessing our services.

• Actively promote inclusive practice.

• Lead and facilitate team meetings.

• Provide staff with feedback regarding their individual performance via quarterly supervision sessions and annual performance reviews.

• Provide staff with information relating to the organisation’s performance against operational targets during your regular team meetings.

• Work with the team to support and supervise volunteers recruited on behalf of the YC and YAC service.

• Ensure the team have had all the training they require to perform their duties and liaise with the Service Manager to source external training (or deliver internal training) where appropriate.

• Be proactive in assessing your own training needs and undertake relevant training accordingly.

• Be committed to representing and supporting the diverse communities in the local area and actively promote our services to those communities and groups who may not currently be accessing them, ensuring that our offer is in line with their specific needs.

• Develop and maintain relationships and referral pathways with Health and Social Care, Education and other voluntary sector organisations, and ensure staff have a good understanding of these.

• Check and authorise staff expenses, supplier invoices and credit card spend and liaise with the Operations Manager on these matters as needed.

• Manage activity budgets in line with Service Manager’s requests.

• Represent Carers Bucks at promotional events, conferences and relevant networking meetings, and actively participate in activities that we run ourselves e.g. our AGM, Carers Week and Young Carers Action Day.

• Work cooperatively with the fundraising and communications team in order to maximise donations and ensure that our website and social media presence remains relevant and up to date.

• Deputise for the Service Manager when required.

• Any other duties as reasonably required by Carers Bucks.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Experience

• Experience of managing a team (E)

• Experience of working with young people (D)

• Experience of working with educational and social care professionals (D)

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and verbally with both professionals and service users (E)

Knowledge and Understanding

• A clear understanding of the issues affecting YCs and YACs and their support needs (E)

• Demonstration of a commitment to, and a good working knowledge of, equality, diversity and inclusion (E)

• Experience of Children’s and Adult’s Safeguarding policies (D)

We are looking for a three experienced Face to Face (F2F) Managers for the Northeast of England, Scotland and the South Coast of England to join an award-winning charity. 

About the roles
These roles each manage a team of face-to-face fundraisers who will sign up regular supporters, an opportunity to develop a talented team of fundraisers and inspire many new supporters for this lifesaving charity. 

You will manage and develop a portfolio of fundraising locations either for:

The Northeast coast of England, from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Humber.

The South central region from Weymouth to Brighton

Scotland on the East coast (Scottish boarders to Aberdeen) with main hubs of activity in Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen. 

The team meetings will be in person 3 times a year and you will be on the ground with your fundraising team & colleagues 1 day per week.

As a F2F Manager you will be tasked with focus on the following areas:
Recruit, train, and performance manage a team of motivated paid F2F Fundraisers.
Measure and analyse Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as fundraising targets and budgets.
Create and execute detailed delivery plans, mitigating for risks and opportunities.
Maintain and develop internal and external stakeholder relationships.

About you
We are looking for a motivated and focussed candidates with a full driving license
Evidence of managing and motivating a team of paid staff or volunteers to achieve goals/targets
Experience in managing own workload and prioritising & adapting to reactive work.
Ability to manage budgets
Good understanding of Microsoft packages such as Excel, Word & PowerPoint.
Experience in face-to-face fundraising either from having been working for a charity or a fundraising agency.

You will receive the following benefits:
A company car & mobile phone will be assigned to you to help you perform your role
Generous holiday entitlement 26 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
Accommodation support, ongoing training and development, mental health and wellbeing support with bi-annual staff feedback surveys & employee forum
Access to occupational health services
Outstanding pension scheme (contributions of up to 16% of basic salary)
Life assurance
Health and dental cashplan

Our aim is to respond to all successful applications within 5 days. If you havent been contacted within 5 days your application has been unsuccessful and your details will not be held further but we positively encourage you to apply for any other positions that you may see in the future.

We apologise that we cannot contact everybody in person but thank you in advance for your interest.

Third Solutions encourages applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK. Third Solutions acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment & an employment business for temporary recruitment as defined by the Conduct of Employment Agencies & Employment Business Regulations 2003.

We are looking for an exceptional Communications Officer (Fundraising) to join our Marketing and Communications team, with a focus on raising awareness amongst existing and potential stakeholders and fundraisers. Working closely with the Fundraising team, you will be responsible for researching, sourcing, and writing powerful fundraising stories and case studies, ensuring consistency with our brand and messaging, that bring the RNRMC to life which engender support and drive engagement.

About the RNRMC

RNRMC is the Navy’s principal charity which exists to support every sailor, marine and their families, for life. We do this by offering grants to and working with, other organisations to deliver programmes that meet the needs of our beneficiaries. We work hard, engaging with supporters to help raise awareness and funds to deliver the outcomes required for today and tomorrow. 

Experience and Background

You will have previous experience within a communications, marketing, or PR role along with a good standard of education, excellent written and verbal communication skills, along with good attention to detail.  You must possess strong story-telling skills with the ability to translate the complex and nuanced work of the RNRMC into clear and concise narratives that increase understanding of the charity. You will have excellent interpersonal and engagement skills, with a welcoming and collaborative approach to working with colleagues and the ability to maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. You will be highly organised with the ability to prioritise and manage a busy workload, juggling consecutive projects and often conflicting deadlines.

Please see the job description for full details on the duties and responsibilities.

Hours of Work

Hours of work are 35 hours per week, 09:00 – 17:00 Monday to Friday.

Frequent travel to meet and interview beneficiaries will be required, along with a willingness to work outside normal office hours to obtain the story.

We have a friendly, supportive, and inclusive environment with a hybrid working framework involving the opportunity to work from home and in the RNRMC offices. There will be a small number of roles where employees will be required to work only from our offices, but typically most employees will be able to work remotely on average 40% of their working week. All employees are welcome to use our office for their whole working week if that is their preference.

Salary

The full time equivalent annual salary range for the post is between £26,500 up to £29,000 per annum based on experience.

Benefits

Free on-site parking 

Cycle to Work Scheme & BHN Discounts Scheme

Free Access to HMS Excellent Fitness Centre 

Employee Assistance Programme to give you confidential support 24 hours a day

Life Assurance (after one year’s qualifying service) 

Private Healthcare Scheme (after one year’s qualifying period) 

A generous non-contributory Pension Scheme (7% contribution after 3 months qualifying period) 

Enhanced Maternity Leave Package (after 2 year’s qualifying period) 

An exciting opportunity to join our friendly team at Groundwork South and help carry out a wide range of green spaces projects across the Colne Valley Regional Park and in surrounding areas.

Project Officer - Conservation & Green Skills
Ref: POCGS0924
Location: Colne Valley Park Visitor Centre, Denham, UB9 5PG
Contract: Permanent
Salary: Circa. £25,000

Summary of role: This is a varied role which will see the successful applicant working outside on practical grounds maintenance and conservation tasks in some of the most beautiful parts of the Colne Valley.

You will be joining the Green Team who carry out a range of projects across the Colne Valley Regional Park. These include nature reserve management, grounds maintenance, corporate volunteering events, volunteering events for the public, hard landscaping tasks, and conducting Green Skills Courses to educate long-term unemployed individuals. Your role will assist in the delivery of this work.

We are a creative, committed and enthusiastic organisation with a great track record of project development, fundraising and delivery, so there are always opportunities to grow and develop your role within our friendly team. We will offer work-based learning and training.

In return we offer you:

• A competitive salary
• Generous holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum plus public holidays
• Health Cash Plan and 24-hour online access to a GP
• PERKS scheme – such as discounted gym membership and shopping discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme - including mental health helpline and face to face counselling.
• Salary sacrifice schemes including cycle to work and pension contributions
• Family friendly policies to support work/life balance with time off in lieu for out of hours activities
• Business travel expenses

Groundwork South

Groundwork South works with communities across the south of England to transform their lives and the places where they live. We have been at the forefront of social and environmental regeneration for over 25 years, and today we have a simple mission: to create better places, improve people’s prospects, and promote greener living and working.

We are passionate about creating a future where every neighborhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny, and no-one is held back by their background or circumstances. This vision drives the work that we do. Each year we deliver over 100 innovative projects, tackling the biggest issues facing our communities and creating real and lasting, positive change.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 20th October at midnight

Interview date: Thursday 24th & Friday 25th October

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 for this position.

Appointment to this role is subject to an enhanced records check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

 Groundwork South is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of the community.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we interview every disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria for the job. Once you’ve applied, please send us an email stating that you have a disclosed disability, and we’ll interview you.  If you need any support or adjustments with your application or attendance at interview please let us know.

No agencies please.

Citizens Advice Milton Keynes is a local charity that helps people to resolve their legal, money and personal problems. The organisation has been providing free, confidential, and impartial advice since 1972 and helps approximately 10,000 local people every year.

Since the pandemic, many of the local and national services that our clients need have been, or are being, moved online. This can disadvantage people who do not have the necessary knowledge, skills, or technology to access and use online services.

Working within our training, skills, and employability division – Works for Us, our Digital Skills Officer (DSO) will help people to access and use online services and support them to develop the skills and confidence they need to use digital technology effectively and safely. They’ll also need to be confident and able to provide coaching and training support to small groups of service users on a sessional basis.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, committed, and confident person to join our small, team of staff. The successful candidate will provide support and coaching to local people, on a one-to-one basis, course support and delivery, including those living in the community who could be considered vulnerable adults, that are digitally excluded and/or unemployed.

Applicants need to:

• Be competent and confident in using IT, and specifically using IT applications and resources on websites.
• Have clear and accurate communication skills, both spoken and written.
• Be able to listen, understand and use information.
• Be able to work in a team, be organised and manage time effectively.
• Be open to utilising emerging technologies and understanding its impact on recruitment.
• Be confident in working towards performance targets.
• Be able to recognise the limits and boundaries of the role.

A background in advice giving, coaching, or tutoring is desirable but not essential. Full training and induction will be provided.

The successful Applicant/s will be asked to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Interviews:TBC

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives by providing expert guidance and support in the pursuit of employment, training, and personal development?

Citizens Advice Milton Keynes is seeking an enthusiastic and dedicated individual to join our Works for Us team as an Information, Advice and Guidance Officer (IAGO).

Citizens Advice Milton Keynes has been a cornerstone of support for the community, offering free, confidential, and impartial advice since 1972. Our Works for Us team is committed to delivering a reliable, high-quality, multi-channel service to individuals in Milton Keynes, focusing on improving their skills, accessing employment-focused training, and engaging in personal development activities.

As an IAGO, you will work closely with the Works for Us Team Manager to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of employability services to the public. This includes providing face-to-face advice, phone support and email services The role demands adaptability to fast-changing priorities, compliance with quality standards, and a commitment to delivering in-depth employability advice and guidance.

The successful candidate will also need to be confident and able to provide coaching and training support to small groups of service users on a sessional basis.

Applicants need to:

• Be competent and confident in using IT, and specifically using IT applications and resources on websites.
• Have clear and accurate communication skills, both spoken and written.
• Be able to listen, understand and use information to conduct effective client interviews.
• Be able to work in a team, be organised and manage time effectively.
• Be confident in working towards performance targets.
• Be able to recognise the limits and boundaries of the role.

A background in advice giving, coaching, or tutoring is desirable but not essential. Full training and induction will be provided.

The successful applicant/s will need to complete a Level 3 Qualification in Advice and Guidance as part of their initial training.

We are open to considering part-time and ‘job share’ arrangements for this post.

The successful Applicant/s will be asked to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Interviews: TBC
Please note interviews will be held face to face

This role will play a key role in delivering our ambitious policy influencing programme, helping to develop and advocate for the policy changes needed to reduce, prevent and eventually end the need for food banks in the UK. It will focus on developing Trussell policy positions in either employment support (especially for people with barriers to work) or disability and sickness benefits. The role will also lead the development and implementation of influencing plans in that policy area.

Role responsibilities

·Lead the development of policy solutions and positions

Leading the development of credible policy positions and implementable recommendations in the specified policy area - either in relation to employment support and conditionality, particularly for groups facing significant barriers to work including disabled people and single parents; or in relation to the disability benefit system, particularly Personal Independence Payments and the Work Capability Assessment.

Working with the Policy and Public Affairs, Network Operations and Participation teams to ensure our policy influencing has a robust evidence base.

Where appropriate, developing policy in collaboration with food banks in Trussell’s network and lived experience partners. Building on success of existing participatory work to ensure it is rooted in the lived experience of individuals affected by poverty. This includes ensuring an ethical approach to policy development in line with our values.

Working effectively with other expert partners to strengthen policy development and build alliances to support influencing, including project management and oversight of joint policy development and positions.

·Planning and delivering impactful policy activity

Leading the development of an influencing strategy for the policy area aligned to a theory of change. Ensuring policy outputs are timely, high-quality and support engagement with key audiences, including national and local governments across the UK. Co-ordinating responses to reactive work in areas, including policy consultations, activity in Parliament, in the media or in response to network requests.

·Developing policy narratives and key messages

Co-ordinating the development of the narrative and key messaging in the areas, maintaining a key message bank, with tailored lines for target audiences as needed.

·Representing Trussell and promoting the organisation’s policy positions to external stakeholders

Working proactively with Research, Public Engagement and Network Operations teams to identify opportunities to promote the organisation’s policy positions and recommendations to key audiences. This could include presenting at policy and campaign events, workshops with food banks and media interviews.

·Building and managing strong relationships with key external stakeholders

Developing relationships, partnerships and networks to help raise the profile, credibility and influence of the Trussell Trust and our policy positions in the specified policy area, including with relevant policy makers, politicians, civil servants, sector partners and church-related organisations working in key policy areas.

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

· Track record of successfully developing policy solutions, including credible and implementable proposals in either the area of either employment support or disability and sickness benefits.

· Track record of successfully influencing politicians and key decision-makers to achieve strategic goals at different levels of government.

· Track record of delivering strategic policy influencing activity based on robust evidence, from development to evaluation.

· Demonstrates a detailed understanding of policies in relation to either employment support or disability benefits and the impact on UK poverty and hunger. Can explain policy motivations of main political parties and can advise on how to influence them most effectively on either area.

· Demonstrates an understanding of effective policy development and influencing, including knowledge of the machinery and structure of government (UK, devolved, local) and experience of informing campaigns activity to mobilise support for policy change.

· Excellent written and oral communication skills, particularly in demonstrating enthusiasm and experience when communicating complex topics to non-specialist audiences.

Behaviours and competencies:

· Works collaboratively, managing challenges in a constructive manner

· Balances competing priorities and work to tight deadlines

· Demonstrates a dedication to the values of the Trussell Trust

· Demonstrates empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially excluded backgrounds

· Role models inclusive behaviour, values and leadership

Key Stakeholders

· Wider Policy and Research department, including Senior Research Manager and Senior Policy Partnerships and Campaigns Manager

· Network Operations directorate, in particular, policy and public affairs and network leads for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland

· Organising and Local Mobilisation department

· Participation team

· Public Engagement and Strategic Communications directorates

· Key UK Government departments and local authorities in England

· Policy partners e.g. policy colleagues working in key sector organisations

· Food bank network

Our Values

Trussell is a charity that works to end the need for food banks. It is founded on and shaped by Christian principles.

Our values of dignity, justice, compassion and community, are central to all that we do and therefore supports our aim to be an organisation where the diversity of all employees is valued.  We welcome people of all faiths and none and those that are committed to these values.

We recognise that we have under-represented groups within our workforce. As part of our commitment to diversity and equality of opportunity we are actively encouraging applications from under-represented groups such as returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people who are LGBT+, from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, with a disability, impairment, learning difference or long-term condition, with caring responsibilities, from different nations and regions and those with a lived experience of poverty as well as any other under-represented group in our workforce. We are committed ensuring the safety and protection of our employees from all forms of harm.