THE JOB ROLE DESCRIPTION

THE JOB ROLE TITLE:C.A.Assistant (Citizen Advocacy)

REPORTS TO:C.A Manager

SALARY:£17,505 Pro Rata(30 hours per week, £15,004 actual)

OFFICE BASE: Disability Can Do Centre

Due to the nature of this position, appointment will be subject to an enhanced disclosure via the WCVA CRU.

JOB CONTEXT

  • To assist in the implementation and delivery of the Disability Can Do Organisation strategic plan by providing support in the development, delivery, administration and promotion of the new Citizen Advocacy Service.
  • To support the public awareness of the work of the Disability Can Do Organisation in Caerphilly Borough and surrounding areas.
  • Support the volunteer team to provide a holistic and personalised approach to meeting the needs of beneficiaries.
  • To support the Citizen Advocacy ServiceManager to building good working relationships with the local authority, statutory and voluntary agencies and other key partners.
  • To build good working relationships between the Independent Advocacy Team and the Citizen Advocacy Support Services Team.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

Maintaining Operational Standards (Quality):

  • To support the aims and objectives of the Disability Can Do Organisation.
  • To comply with the culture and policies governing the Organisation.
  • To ensure operational standards are adhered to at all times.

Key Internal responsibilities:

  • To provide a professional administrative support and secretarial service to the Organisation’s Citizen Advocacy Service including comprehensive management of rotas and diaries as appropriate.
  • To be responsible for ensuring adequate security, operational data protection & safety systems are in place for the Citizen Advocacy Service, including ensuring in-house system back-ups are regularly and routinely performed.
  • Represent the Citizen Advocacy Service as the first point of contact in the office hub, undertaking office reception duties, both in person and on the telephone, including taking messages for other staff.
  • Provide a comprehensive administration and secretarial support service to the Citizen Advocacy Service.
  • Develop and maintain accurate, meaningful service user records for the purposes of service delivery and statistical analysis.
  • To assist in the organisation of conferences, and other events relevant to the Citizen Advocacy Service, including arranging refreshments, booking venues etc.
  • To be responsible for organising meetings of the Citizen Advocacy Service and other meetings as required.
  • To provide regular quantitative and qualitative information to the senior management team on the outputs and outcomes of the Citizen Advocacy Service.

Volunteers

  • To work alongside the Citizen Advocacy Manager in ensuring volunteers are comprehensively and effectively inducted into the organisation.(including administration of DBS checks/References as appropriate)
  • Ensure all project volunteers are appropriately supported in order to carry out their duties.
  • To support the Citizen Advocacy Manager in identifying volunteer training needs and maintain a training matrix to record the completion of training activities as appropriate to the service.
  • To ensure accurate, meaningful volunteer records are kept for the purposes of service delivery and statistical analysis.
  • Manage a system of reimbursing volunteers for all expenses they incur throughout their volunteering activities.
  • Provide the Citizen Advocacy Manager with administration support in respect of Volunteer Reviews and Supervision.
  • Assist the Senior Management Team in celebrating volunteer successes and achievements.

Key External responsibilities:

  • Develop an understanding of the client group and their needs within the local area.
  • Establish a rapport with the disabled adults and carers who use the service.
  • Develop and maintain a thorough understanding of other organisations services and activities within the area and work in a close co-operation with them to maximise the services and support available to the disabled community.
  • Working with the support of the Services’ Volunteers, deliver regular Information Sessions in the Community in order to enhance Service Users ability to access the service.
  • Monitor provision of services by statutory bodies, highlighting and addressing gaps and shortfalls.
  • Assist the Senior Management Team in promoting volunteering opportunities as widely as possible.
  • Ensure that knowledge gained and relationships established within the area are integrated into the wider knowledge base for sharing the overall benefit of disabled adults and their carers.

Contributing to Marketing/PR

  • To take an active role in the marketing sub-committee to ensure effective promotion of the Citizen Advocacy Service.
  • Actively contribute to the development of material promoting the Citizen Advocacy Service.
  • Developa portfolio of Citizen Advocacy case studies to assist with Marketing and PR activity.

Contributing to the Team:

  • To be a proactive member of the Disability Can Do Organisation Citizen AdvocacyTeam.
  • To advise and assist all Disability Can Do Organisation Staff/Trustees as and when required (this task applies to all members of staff).

Contributing to Fundraising:

  • Work closely with the fundraising team to ensure shared knowledge of plans and relationships and a co-ordinated approach.
  • Identify opportunities for the promotion of Citizen Advocacy activity in the fundraising arena.
  • Be proactive in assisting with the sourcingand securing of funding that will sustain the Citizen AdvocacyService activity at the end of the current funding term.

The post holder will be working in a developing environment and will therefore be expected to undertake other appropriate duties as required for the effective operation of the Organisation and its services.

Post-holders are expected to be aware of work pressures on other administrative colleagues and proactively offer to assist where their workload allows.

Person Specification: Citizen Advocacy Assistant

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Direct involvement in service delivery within a voluntary sector or health or social care organisation.
  • Proven experience (1 year minimum) of working alongside and supporting volunteers, including personal development and objective setting.
  • Experience of marketing and promoting a service to increase awareness and support.
  • Experience of multi-agency working – liaising with statutory and voluntary organisations.
  • Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the Advocate’s role
  • Ability to demonstrate an understanding of “disability” in accordance with the Equality Act.

Desirable

  • Wide ranging knowledge and understanding of disability and caring
  • Experience in working with, and providing the administration for, quality systems to ensure high quality services are delivered.
  • Demonstrable experience of a person centred approach in the delivery of advocacy support services.

Skills, Abilities and Competencies

Essential

  • Committed and highly self-motivated with ability to enthuse, inspire and motivate others in order to ensure the objectives of the Organisation are achieved.
  • The ability to work in a self-directed manner, and as part of a team, including ability to develop and build good working relationships with all stakeholders and partners.
  • Excellent organisational, written and verbal communication skills.
  • The ability to network and communicate with a wide range of personnel including staff, healthcare professionals, commissioners, disabled people, carers, families and the general public.
  • High professional approach to all tasks.
  • Ability to work under pressure, managing competing priorities, and ensuring deadlines are met.
  • Good administrative and time-management skills.
  • Imaginative, resourceful and flexible methods of working
  • Clear thinker and able to use own judgement in decision making
  • Respect the unique contribution of every individual and work positively in an equal opportunity and diverse environment.
  • Computer literacy in dealing with MS Office packages, including spreadsheets.
  • The job role may require occasional evening and weekend work. Flexibility with hours and travel is required. (including overnight stays)
  • The ability to visit multiple locations within the service delivery area during the working day.

Desirable

  • Educated to HNC level or equivalent.
  • Knowledge and understand of the issues affecting disabled adults and their Carers in the local community.
  • Social perceptiveness.
  • Fluency in Welsh.