3 March 2015

Dear Applicant,

Re:Housing Advice Team Leader

Thank you for your interest in the above post.

Enclosed is a job pack containing the following:

  • Welcome to Applicants
  • Job Profile
  • Policy on the Recruitment of Ex Offenders
  • Guidelines for working with Young People and Vulnerable Adults
  • Aims & Purposes of the YMCA

I have also enclosed an application form for your completion. Please be aware that the closing date for this vacancy is Monday 23rd March at 9am and the interview date is to be confirmed.

Please return email applications to or hard copies by hand or post to Human Resources, Reed House, 47 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2BE.

When completing the application form, make sure you refer to the requirements of the role as set out in the job profile, as short listing for interview rests on how well you meet these criteria.

We look forward to receiving your completed application. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application was not successful on this occasion.

YMCA DownsLink Group requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Yours faithfully,

Emily Whiter

Recruitment & HR Systems Co-ordinator

Job Pack

Job Title / Housing Advice Team Leader
Reporting to / Advice Services Manager
Service Area / Support and Therapeutic Services
Location / Ovest House, Brighton
Contract Type and Employment Period / Fixed term until 31st March 2016
Part time – 30 hours per week
Salary (FTE) / £27,902 (pro-rata) (Band C2)

Job Purpose:

The post holder will be expected to ensure the effective day-to-day running of the Youth Advice Centre’s single point of access Housing Advice Service for young people who are homeless, threatened with homelessness or insecurely housed. The post holder will be responsible for meeting performance targets, remaining within budget and for the supervision and line management of the housing advice staff team.

Responsibilities:

  • Leadership to and line management of the housing advice team in Brighton and Hove to ensure a high quality service is delivered.
  • Ensure the smooth delivery of the daily housing advice drop-in through effective rota management and to provide additional cover during busy times.
  • Demonstrate expert skills, best practice and knowledge that are shared with the team to raise their performance within quality standards, such as MATRIX.
  • To maintain the Housing Advice Learning Manual, ensuring that operational policies are correct and up to date with local and national strategy and law.
  • Overseeing the participation of clients to review and develop the service to improve engagement and achieve positive outcomes for them.
  • Working closely with the Volunteer Coordinator to ensure effective support of the volunteers and the smooth running of PRASS (Private Rented Advice Support Service), the universal advice service and those of external agencies.
  • Work effectively with internal colleagues and external partners in the wider delivery of the organisations support, therapeutic and housing services and to take a lead in making strategic decision to the benefit of clients.
  • To work with Advice Services Manager to respond to new commissioning opportunities and develop exiting provision through grant funding.
  • Represent the organisation positively at external meetings with the strategic decision-making responsibility, and have knowledge of the external environment in which YMCA DownsLink Group works.
  • To work with the Advice Services Manager and Human Resources to recruit and induct new staff, ensuring the relevant safeguarding checks are made.
  • Organise, prioritise and manage a complex and varied workload autonomously and to encourage staff to do the same.
  • Work closely with the Projects Manager to set budgets and implement robust financial systems to manage project expenditure.
  • To maintain and update accurate information on monitoring systems in relation to client contact notes, safeguarding, multi-agency work and incident recording.
  • To participate in appropriate staff development, training and supervision as required and to facilitate the engagement and development of the team.
  • To adhere to YMCA DownsLink Group policies and procedures, particularly around Safeguarding, Information Sharing, Equalities and Diversity and Health and Safety.
  • To carry out from time to time any other appropriate duties as directed by the Line Manager to support and promote the work of YMCA DownsLink Group in accordance with the post holders capabilities.

Nature and Scope:

The Team Leader needs to be a strong and supportive leader, proactive in the day to day operations, and take responsibility for decision-making in relation to their team and clients. The Team Leader needs to be able to identify, assess and manage risk and support staff to do the same. They need to remain positive, solution focused, and creative in the support of clients and staff, and to contribute to the broader YMCA DownsLink support, therapeutic and housing operations. The post holder will liaise closely with local authorities, commissioners, other relevant agencies and residents to ensure positive relationships are developed and maintained.

Person Specification

Knowledge, Job Related Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

Experience / Essential / Desirable
Substantial experience of working in a housing setting / *
Substantial experience working with vulnerable young people / *
Experience of managing a staff team / *
Experience of gathering, collating and presenting statistical data / *
Experience of working within in a positive, solution focused way / *
Experience of involving young people in service development and delivery / *
Skills and Abilities
Excellent interpersonal skills with people on a variety of levels / *
Excellent written and verbal communication skills / *
Excellent administrative, numeric and organisational skills including proficient use of IT systems including Microsoft Office / *
Ability to maintain a professional approach at all times / *
Ability to work in a trauma informed and strengths based way / *
Ability to prioritise and manage a diverse work load / *
Ability to manage challenging behaviour and situations / *
Ability to engage, motivate, inspire and empower others / *
Qualifications and Training
Educated to A-Level, NVQ 3 or equivalent standard / *
Recognised qualification in social work, youth work or related field / *
Management or vocational qualification / *
Safeguarding training / *
Knowledge
A working knowledge of issues effecting young people including mental health, substance misuse, sexual health, offending / *
An understanding of participation and service user involvement / *
An understanding of professional boundaries within social care / *
A working knowledge of housing and welfare benefits issues / *
A working knowledge of relevant housing legislation / *
Understanding of the effective maintenance of day to day financial procedures and record keeping / *
General
Ability to work weekends and unsociable hours if required / *
An commitment to safeguarding children & vulnerable adults / *
An understanding of the responsibilities around child protection and adult safeguarding issues and procedures / *
Car driver and owner / *

*Competence that involves the application of knowledge in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities performed in a variety of contexts and with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. Responsibility for the work of others and the allocation of resources is often present.

Key Competencies for this role

  • Team working and Co-operation

The Postholder will be expected to achieve and where possible exceed, project goals and objectives, demonstrating a co-operative and flexible attitude and being enthusiastic and responsive to new challenges.

  • Communication Skills

Formal verbal and written skills, developing and writing policies and guidance documents and information; using communication skills to motivate and influence team members. Develop and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally, using discretion, providing support and guidance and developing networks.

  • Customer Focus

Actively seek feedback from clients, making changes and improving services to meet customer needs. The post holder should be responsive, friendly and approachable, with a commitment to service user participation.

  • Planning and Organising Activities

The Postholder will be expected to organise and prioritise their own and the project team’s tasks and activities, and to plan the work to ensure that the project meets the requirements of YMCA DownsLink Group and relevant stakeholders.

  • Creativity/Adaptability

The Postholder will be expected to develop new systems and ideas to improve ways of working. This will include analysing data and gathering information from different sources, providing vision and direction to project staff.

  • Integrity and Ethical Behaviour

The Postholder will be expected to understand and respect the Christian aims and purposes of the YMCA, and our values and mission, including our commitment to equality and diversity, and to improving the lives of young people, children and families.

  • Self Management

The Postholder will be expected to set a good example of excellence in day to day conduct at work, understanding their own strengths and weaknesses and being committed to their continually improving their own professional development.

Management Competencies

  • Strategic Awareness

The Postholder will be expected to understand and contributes towards strategic thinking and development of strategic planning and direction.

  • People Management

The Postholder will be familiar with and put into practice the responsibilities outlined in the People Manager’s Charter.

  • Leadership and Influence

The Postholder will be expected to inspire and motivate the project staff, setting a positive example, promoting the values and ethos of the organisation and positively representing YMCA DownsLink Group.

  • Resource Management

The post holder will prioritise, organise and control budgets, premises and other resources effectively.

End.

Policy on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders:

YMCA DownsLink Group actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, with the right mix of talent, skills and potential, and applications are welcome from a wide range of candidates.

We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any applicant on the basis of a criminal record or other information revealed. Criminal records and other information will be taken into account for recruitment purposes only when they are relevant.

We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience. We ask all applicants called for interview to provide details of their criminal record. Depending on the nature of the position applied for, YMCA DownsLink Group may request details of your entire criminal record or only of ‘unspent’ convictions as defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

We request that this information is sent under separate, confidential cover to a designated person within YMCA DownsLink Group and we guarantee that this information is only seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process. We would point out that for the successful candidate, this information will be verified by requesting a Disclosure[1] statement from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.

Failure to reveal information that is relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment or subsequent dismissal.

We ensure that all those in YMCA DownsLink Group who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. We also ensure that they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex offenders e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

At interview, or in separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matters that might be relevant to the position.

For those positions where a Disclosure is required, application forms and guidance notes will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event of the candidate being made a conditional offer of employment.

We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with YMCA DownsLink Group. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of any offences. However, as the nature of the YMCA DownsLink Group’s work brings its employees & volunteers into contact with young people (those under 18 years old) and/or vulnerable adults, a criminal record or other information which makes an application unacceptable for a position of trust will render the applicant unsuitable.

As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, this policy complies with the DBS Code of Practice.

Declaration of Criminal Background & Guidelines for Working with Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 sets out to help people who have been convicted of a criminal offence and have not been convicted again in a specified period. This period is known as a rehabilitation period. Once a rehabilitation period has expired and no further offending has taken place, a conviction is considered to be ‘spent’. Once a conviction is spent, the convicted person does not have to reveal it or admit its existence in most circumstances.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order) gives some exemptions from the Act, whereby details of ‘spent’ convictions have to be declared. One of these exemptions is working with young people and/or vulnerable adults. When recruiting people to work in such positions of trust an employer is entitled to ask for details of all convictions, spent and unspent.

If you are invited to an interview please bring with you a completed Declaration of Criminal Background Form which is enclosed in this application pack. It asks for details of spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings. You should complete the form and place it in an envelope marked ‘Private and Confidential’, addressed to the Interview Panel. Your name should be clearly stated on the front.

The information relating to criminal convictions will only be seen by the interview panel if we are considering offering you employment. If you wish to discuss the information that you have given, please mention this to an interviewer. Having made its selection, the panel may wish to discuss any information given with you. Having a conviction will not necessarily bar you from consideration for the post. Criminal records will be taken into account only when they are relevant to the position for which you are applying. The information you provide will remain confidential.

If you are made a conditional offer YMCA DownsLink Groupwill apply for an Enhanced DBS Disclosure depending on the nature of the job.

The DBS offers organisations a means to check the background of job applicants to ensure that they do not have a history that would make them unsuitable for the post. DBS Disclosures are provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, an executive agency of the Home Office. Enhanced disclosures provide details of a person’s criminal record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings; they also contain details from lists held by Government departments of those considered unsuitable for this type of work. Organisations using the DBS process must comply with the Code of Practice, a copy of which is available on request.

If you have any queries, please speak to a member of the HR team.

Vision, Mission & Values

Vision

To be an effective Christian charity creating a better future for children, young people and families.

Mission

To provide high quality services that meet children, young people and families at their point of need, enabling them to raise their aspirations and achieve their potential.

Values

  • An acceptance of each individual who will be treated with respect
  • A belief that everyone has the capacity to change
  • Acting at all times with integrity, justice and fairness
  • A belief that people who work for us are our most valuable resource
  • A willingness to persevere with individuals
  • Being brave and confident about what we do
  • A humility that accepts that we sometimes get things wrong
  • A belief in the values of working together with local communities and partners
  • Building a sustainable organisation
  • A commitment to care for and help sustain our environment

These Values Will be Achieved Through:

  • Developing services based on local needs and delivering those services in a person-centred way
  • Creating environments that are safe, welcoming to all, and culturally relevant
  • Treating our staff fairly and equally – encouraging their personal growth and development
  • Being a learning organisation where all staff are encouraged to share their views and help shape the organisation
  • Challenging injustice at all levels and delivering services that promote equality in our community
  • Helping children, young people and families to raise and realise their aspirations and develop confidence and self-belief
  • Reflecting Christian values in all that we do
  • Developing partnerships that are able to meet local need and add value to local communities
  • Finding creative ways of meeting needs that are not being met by other agencies
  • Listening to what others, particularly service users, say about us and being prepared to change
  • Developing services and policies that educate and contribute in practical ways to protect and sustain our environment
  • Building a robust and responsible organisation for the future

YMCA DOWNSLINK GROUP – Job PackPage 1 of 9

[1]Applicants for certain positions who are made a conditional offer of employment will be subject to a criminal record check – known as Disclosure – from the Disclosure and Barring Service