Salary: £26,000 - £28,000 per annum.
Duration: Full Time 35 hrs per week, permanent contract
Tackling the root causes of homelessness in East London
For homeless people, or those at risk of homelessness, finding employment and housing opportunities can feel like an uphill battle, even more so if they’re affected by physical, mental health or substance misuse issues.
Providence Row works with more than 1800 homeless and vulnerably housed people a year in East London, offering an integrated service of crisis support, advice, recovery and learning and training programmes. Our aim is to ensure that people who are so often excluded from mainstream services gain the support and opportunities they need to create a safe, healthy and sustainable life away from the streets.
We provide: a resource centre for people who are rough sleeping, with breakfast, showers and access to IT; advice and support for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; recovery and progression for people whose mental health and substance misuse issues are affecting their ability to find and stay in accommodation; and trainee schemes to help people with complex needs to move into regular learning, volunteering or work. Central to our work are our core values of Compassion, Respect, Inclusiveness, Empowerment and Justice. These inform the content, style and delivery of all of our services.
The Learning & Training Service
Most people experiencing homelessness want to find work and be meaningfully occupied. However, they might not necessarily have current experience or some of the skills required. At Providence Row, we believe that training, employment and volunteering are key to independent living and remain the most effective route out of homelessness. Through our Learning and Training Service we have an excellent track record of improving our clients’ employability and helping them to achieve their career and education goals through accredited training schemes. Our Learning and Training Service also helps our clients to express themselves through a wide range of classes such as music, gardening, writing, photography and the provision of counselling.
The Ideal Candidate
To be considered for this post it is essential that you possess an NVQ level 3 in IAG or equivalent. You should be able to demonstrate experience of employability work, knowledge of welfare to work sector and of working within the homelessness sector or vulnerable adults setting. With exceptional communication skills, you’ll competently be able to promote the service internally and externally.
It is essential that you have a good understanding of our customers, their different communities and their different needs in order to fulfil the outcomes of this role, as is an understanding of the importance of accurate record keeping.
Key Responsibilities
Support the delivery of training and work experience for clients engaged in the charity’s Training schemes (20%)
Provide regular 1:1 structured support including help with job searches, CV building and other employability work, regularly reviewing progress with trainees and updating client records;
Link trainees with other colleagues and external services, where appropriate, including our Advice & Support Team and substance misuse services (RESET Outreach & Referral Service);
Link clients into further learning, training, volunteering and employment
Help develop additional training opportunities as the Team’s work grows.
Develop the team’s move on options with employers and other learning and volunteering providers (30%)
• Develop a good understanding of volunteering opportunities in the local area
• Ensure there are volunteering opportunities for trainees within Providence Row where appropriate
• Manage the relationship with the Andaz Hotel, so that work experience placements and regular visits are available to trainees, managing risks appropriately
• Develop other move on options as agreed within the Enterprise and Training Team
• Manage relationships with FE/training and employment organisations, to ensure a variety of move on options for trainees and other referrals
Run employability group work with clients with a focus on helping them to find a job (25%)
• Plan and schedule regular groups (Job Club, Working On It) to be included in the charity’s Learning and Wellbeing programme where appropriate
• Research and share information on job vacancies for trainees to consider
• Co-ordinate engagement from volunteers in group work, in order to provide additional 1:1 support and a different perspective on the world of work
• Promote engagement in group work by clients across all Providence Row services
• Research into best practice in delivering employability activities for vulnerable people, developing new approaches as agreed with the Enterprise and Training Team.
Fundraising and Marketing (10%)
• Attend networks and external meetings to establish best practice and promote the charity
• Provide information, case studies and other relevant support for fundraising appeals
• Support the charity’s work to have positive relationships with neighbours and other services through involvement in wider community events.
Monitoring and evaluation (10%)
• Regularly update client information on the Salesforce Inform database system and other team monitoring systems
• Share information about client progress across the other Providence Row Service Teams
• Work with colleagues to develop methods to track client progress after they have left the service
• Collate information for presentation to the Senior Employability Coordinator and other Leadership Team members to use in reports to the Board and to funders.
Other Duties (5%)
• Work across teams to support clients’ needs ensuring all relevant staff are updated on client concerns
• Participate in the production and implementation of the Enterprise and Training Team’s Service Plan and resulting personal objectives.
• Take on occasional tasks as agreed with the post’s line manager
• Work in accordance with the Providence Row’s values, policies & procedures. Undertake necessary induction and training to enhance personal development.
• Attend evening and weekend meetings and functions as required.
Person specification
Knowledge and Experience
Previous experience working in a Healthcare or Social care setting - Desirable
Previous experience developing and maintaining strong working partnership with external organisations such as Jobcentre Plus, GP practices, Employment services, Training providers, Local authority and community organisations. - Essential
Knowledge of the local area/ local labour market (particularly Tower Hamlets Borough and City) - Desirable
Previous experience working with employers and supporting with occupational health/ reasonable adjustments - Essential
Previous experience of IPS and delivering individualised employment support - Essential
Understanding of the Welfare Benefit systems – UC/PIP/Permitted Work/ Access to Work funding/BOC - Essential
Ability to provide excellent, proactive and tenacious 1:1 support to vulnerable people who may demonstrate challenging behaviour - Essential
Ability to structure and run group work sessions with vulnerable people - Essential
Experience of promoting activities to internal and external audiences using credible, professionally produced publicity - Desirable
Understanding of the employability sector including issues, key organisations and services in all sectors. - Essential
Experience in developing and delivering portfolio and vocational qualifications - Desirable
Excellent experience of support planning with vulnerable people, often in conjunction with other colleagues - Essential
Strong organisational skills and the ability to work autonomously with some guidance from relevant managers - Essential
Ability to create partnerships with key organisations in the interests of adding value to our service for clients - Essential
The ability to monitoring and evaluate work, providing accurate information for colleagues and reflecting on results - Essential
Qualified to a level 3 IAG standard, or similar qualification - Essential
Excellent IT skills - Essential
Excellent verbal and written communication skills - Essential
Excellent time management skills and the ability to work to deadlines - Essential
Competencies
Is able to communicate, negotiate and influence appropriately with a range of stakeholders - Essential
Demonstrates emotional intelligence, understands the needs of others and recognises the impact of their behaviour on others - Essential
Is accountable for the performance of the organisation, their team and their own performance (trustworthy, dependable & inspires confidence) - Essential
Is proactive and takes the initiative to gain the information needed for the role, with a flexible and “can do” attitude - Essential
Is emotionally resilient, self aware and reflective. - Essential
The closing date for this post is 10th April. Interviews for successful applicants will commence from 18th April 2022.
The information provided in this Job Description outlines the expectations of the post holder. It is not intended to be prescriptive in every detail and as such it describes the main elements of the role only.
Providence Row is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales; company number 07452798 registered charity number 1140192.
