JOB DESCRIPTION
TITLE OF POST: / Engagement Advisor
Responsible to: / Day Centre Team Manager, Day Centre Deputy Managers
Responsible for: / Volunteers as agreed by the Day Centre Manager
Job Purpose: /
  1. Strengths based assessment, triage and case work with people who have multiple and complex needs
  2. Development and delivery of co-produced activities to support recovery and resettlement.
  3. Joint working across services to develop common approaches, policies and procedures.
  4. Monitoring and evaluation of service delivery to demonstrate impact.
  5. Volunteer management
  6. General

Salary and Scale: / Salary: £26,865 - £31,140 pa (including London Weighting) – Starting Salary £26,865
Scale: 6/ SO1 Points 26-31 – Candidates will be appointed at Point 26
Contract: / Permanent Full-time Position working within rota with shifts usually being conducted between 8.30am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday with approximately one in four weekends.

MAIN TASKS

1Strengths based assessment and case work with people who have multiple and complex needs

  1. Provide a high quality, efficient and professional “shop window” for clients, doing everything possible to encourage their engagement in services which will tackle the underlying causes of their homelessness as well as the initial presenting issues (including early intervention for risk management and safeguarding).
  2. Conduct initial assessments for all service users within 24 hours using a strengths based approach and contribute towards ensuring the appropriate case allocation, signposting or onward referral for service users.
  3. Strengths based recovery case work with people who have complex needs
  4. Taking on specific case work jointly with the Street Outreach Team (and potentially the Advice and Housing Team) in particular securing ID and following up benefits claims
  5. Contribute towards the development of strengths based practice including the development of strengths based tools.

2.Development and delivery of co-produced activities to support recovery and resettlement

  1. Significant role in the development and delivery of a programme of high-quality, engaging co-produced (with service users) groups and activitieswhich supports the early stages of recovery, resettlement and employability, based on co-production principles, working with Step Up volunteers.
  2. Investigating best practice across the homelessness, mental health, drug and alcohol recovery and criminal justice sectors and innovating practice across the Day Centre services.
  3. Engaging Step Up volunteers, community volunteers and specialist sessional staff to design, deliver and evaluate activities.
  4. Contribute towards the developmentand expansion of the the Step Up volunteer programme via the Day Centre, engaging those with lived experience of homelessness in supporting the recovery of others who use services.

3.Joint working across services to develop common approaches, policies and procedures

  1. Development of new and innovative approachesto work with people with multiple and complex needs including joint working with other teams within CSTM and across complementary services within Westminster
  2. Leading the development and implementation of common approaches with colleagues across the team sharing learning and best practice.
  3. Ensuring an efficient flow of clients from Day Centre presentations to other support including facilitating access to nutritious food and washing facilities and access to primary health care services in the building.
  4. Ensuring a strengths based approach to all client systems including incident management and the management of challenging behaviour.

4.Monitoring and evaluation of service delivery to demonstrate impact

  1. Participate in the development of a culture of evidence collection, review and continuous improvement
  2. Data input and case recording to support monitoring, evaluation and continuous improvement.
  3. Dissemination of learning across the organisation and wider sector.
  4. Support client involvement in, and feedback on the service.

5.Volunteer management

a.Recruitment, training and ongoing supervision of a small team of volunteers from the community/supporting businesses.

b.Engagement of company volunteers to support the activity programme.Disseminate information, research and external training opportunities to support the charity’s practice in client involvement.

c.Represent the Connection at St Martin’s at outside meetings as agreed with the Interim Director of Service Development.

6.General

  1. Implement The Connection at St Martin’s Equality Policy and all other policies in all areas of work.
  2. Ensure that Health and Safety requirements are complied with.
  3. Attend internal and external training courses as appropriate.
  4. Assist in the promotion of the work of The Connection at St Martin’s to its visitors and funders.

Job descriptions are intended to give individuals clear guidance on what they are expected to achieve. However, they rarely capture all tasks and responsibilities. The Connection at St. Martins by definition is dynamic. All staff are therefore expected to undertake occasional other duties not detailed above but within the scope of the job.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Engagement Advisor

This person specification sets out the essential experience and abilities needed by the successful candidate for this post. Please bear these points in mind when completing your application form, as these requirements will be taken into account at both the shortlisting and interviewing stages.

1. Knowledge
A strong understanding of the causes of homelessness and the needs of homeless people;
Knowledge of relevant external agencies, resources and facilities that would enhance both thinking and action on client involvement within CSTM;
Knowledge of current client involvement good practice and approaches such as personalisation, co-production and strengths based approaches;
2. Experience
At least 3 years full-time experience (or equivalent) of face to face work with vulnerable people within a charity setting;
Strong strengths based case work experience with people who have complex needs
Experience of running recovery based group work in a similar setting (Day Centre or similar);
Experience of working with peer mentors
Experience of co-production, personalisation and development of/work within psychologically informed environments.
3. Abilities and Skills
An enabling approach, with the ability to work effectively with people who have multiple and complex needs;
Ability to lead others at the same level through change, without having specific management responsibility;
The ability to prepare and present written reports, and to communicate information effectively, both verbally and in writing, to clients and other workers;
The ability to manage time and prioritise workload effectively;
The ability and willingness to work flexible hours where required;
The ability to exercise initiative and work under pressure;
The ability to respond appropriately and effectively when faced with challenging or violent behavior and the personal stress associated with this
Strong skills in data input and review (including good IT skills)
4. Desirable
Experience of volunteer management