JOB DESCRIPTION

June 2016

Job title: Private Renting Practice CoordinatorDepartment: Client Services

Team: HousingJob holder: Vacant

Reporting to: Private Renting Advisory Service Manager

Aim

  • Plan, manage and deliver policy and research events and conferences relating to the Private Rented Sector
  • To identify and share best practice to inform the further development of practical models and supportive policy positions for accessing, securing and maintaining Private Rented Sector (PRS) accommodation for homeless people.

Circumstances

  • Fixed term post for one year
  • 35 hours per week
  • Some evening and occasional overnight staysmay be required and time off in lieu will be given in accordance with Crisis TOIL policy

Salary

  • £28,787 per annum

Background

Crisis have been funded by the Oak Foundation to deliver a series of events which will engage with practitioners and policy makers working with homeless and vulnerable people to support access to the private rented sector. This post will help us achieve this by drawing on these events and practice across the UK to inform Crisis’ policy and campaigns work and also the development of Crisis’ own housing services, which will act as a model of best practice in the sector.

Organisational chart

Please note the team structure is subject to change

Principal accountabilities

  • Undertake research into the use of the PRS as a housing option for homeless people, including site visits around the UK and attendance at relevant events and seminars.
  • Use learning to inform the development of Crisis’ own direct housing services supporting single homeless people in the PRS
  • Monitor the impact of organised events on the ability of Private Rented Sector access schemes to successfully find, secure maintain housing for single homeless people
  • Administer focused working groups following up on specific actions from larger events / conferences.
  • Maintain, manage and update the relevant sections of the Policy, Research and Campaigns areas of the Crisis website, including updating factsheets, ensuring accessibility of material and documents and producing and editing text as appropriate, and to support Crisis’ social media work
  • Assist with the production of articles, reports, consultation responses and briefings and presentations, which highlight our policy, positions and spread our influence, specifically an evaluation of these events and this specific funding programme.
  • Help draft and disseminate Crisis’ external policy communications on PRS policy including newsletters, a web forum and bulletins
  • Reconcile funding budgets, dealing with finance administration for the team and liaising with Finance colleagues
  • Publicise, organise and facilitate large scale (50 plus delegates) regional events and conferences engaging with housing professionals including content, set-up and co-ordination at different venues around the UK
  • Record detailed feedback from the events to assist the Policy Team in formulating policy and campaigns positions

General

  • Actively encourage and support member involvement within Crisis
  • Develop and maintain an understanding of Crisis’ work and the needs and circumstances of homeless people
  • Comply with Crisis policies and procedures, including Health and Safety policies, for which all employees owe a duty of care both to themselves and others, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act
  • Carry out any other duties that may reasonably be required in the light of the main purpose of the job

Person Specification

Essential

  1. Experience of planning and delivering large scale events (50 plus delegates)
  2. Awareness and knowledge of the work of Private Rented Sector Access Schemes
  3. Understanding of the private rented sector in England, specifically how it provides a housing option for low income households
  4. Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, and ability to communicate with a variety of audiences
  5. Ability to prioritise workload and work effectively
  6. Willingness and ability to travel extensively
  7. Ability to work co-operatively as part of a team
  8. Ability to work independently and use initiative
  9. Good working knowledge of word, excel and outlook
  10. Commitment to Crisis’s purpose and values including equality and social inclusion

Desirable

  1. Experience of using content management systems, bulk email systems, or Engaging Networks or similar online campaigning software
  2. Knowledge and experience of policy issues related to homelessness, housing and/orbenefits

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness.