Information and Outreach Officer

Responsible to: Community Services Manager.

Location: Rookwood Hospital, Llandaff, Cardiff. Significant travel across South East Wales will be required.

Hours: 37 hours per week, may include some evening and weekend work.

Annual Leave: 22 days per annum plus Public Holidays, rising to 25 full time equivalent after 3 years’ service.

Pay Scale: £21,630 - £24,750 per annum (depending on experience).

Benefits: Childcare voucher scheme, 3% contributory pension and flexible working.

Term: Permanent (Subject to funding).

Closing Date: 9am, Monday 14th May 2018.

Date of Interviews: Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th May 2018

There are 2 posts available.
1 working in the Cardiff, Vale and Cwm Taff area,
1 working in the Aneurin Bevan Health Board area.
Please state your preference on the application form.

Headway Cardiff and South East Wales is a registered charity providing support and services to people affected by acquired brain injury and their families.

Working with the Community Services Team the post holder will be the first point of contact for survivors and their families; providing information, emotional and practical support and signposting.

Regular supervision will be provided in addition to training.

This post is subject to an Enhanced (Unregulated) DBS check.


Main duties and responsibilities

Outreach

·  Accept referrals as allocated by the Community Service Manager and undertake agreed actions.

·  Meet with people with acquired brain injury (ABI) and their families to identify their practical, emotional and wellbeing needs.

·  In collaboration with clients, agree goals and develop action plans to achieve these and address needs.

·  Support clients to complete personal actions and complete any allocated actions within these plans.

·  Provide emotional support to people with ABI and their family.

·  Provide people with ABI and their family with information about Acquired Brain Injury if required.

·  Support people with ABI and their family with welfare benefit applications.

·  Enable people with ABI and their family to access internal and external services that will be of benefit.

·  Make referrals to appropriate health services, social services, third sector organisations or other relevant professionals.

·  Support and advocate for service users in respect of other administrative, financial, health and social care issues.

·  Research and submit applications to Trust and Grant making bodies for individual service users.

·  Conduct individual and activity risk assessments.

·  Keep detailed, up to date and accurate client records within the CRM system to include details of goals, action plans, progress around these and outcomes.

·  Develop good working relationships and promote our services to a range of partner organisations.

·  Work collaboratively with the local Health Board neuro services.

·  Contribute and update a directory of resources to support the work of the Outreach and Information Officer.

·  Develop and facilitate social and activity opportunities for people with acquired brain injuries and their families.

·  Record accurate information relating to client attendance of these activities on the CRM system.

·  Co-ordinate, manage and support social and activity group volunteers, recording information relating to their activity for the Volunteer Co-ordinator.

Generic

Organisational Requirements

·  Support the implementation of Headway policies and any shared protocols to ensure that a safe environment exists for the staff and users of the service.

·  Represent the service and participate in any meetings as requested.

·  Represent the service in the wider community.

·  Support the induction and orientation of new staff.

·  Support the implementation of the Fundraising and Communication Strategies.

·  Support social and fundraising activities.

·  Support the service in raising awareness of acquired brain injury.

·  Other occasional duties assisting Senior Management.

·  Act at all times in accordance with the policies and code of conduct of the organisation.

Core Attributes and Competencies

·  Flexible and adaptable.

·  Co-operative.

·  Attentive and empathetic.

·  Respectful and empowering.

·  Sincere, trustworthy and just.

·  Clear and professional.

·  Competent, reliable and safe, complying with policies and processes, including:

Ø  Confidentiality

Ø  Data Protection

Ø  Health and Safety

·  Accountable

·  Open, self-aware and enquiring, maintaining and developing expertise and knowledge by:

Ø  Reading

Ø  Networking

Ø  Training

·  Challenging and courageous.

·  Resourceful, resilient and self-caring.

Person Specification

Essential / Desirable / Method of Assessment
Qualifications and training / GCSE English Literature or Language and Maths grade C or above (or equivalent).
Further academic development such as A’ Level or equivalent Vocational Qualification. / Graduate calibre.
NVQ Level 3 or 4 in Information, Advice and Guidance.
Counselling qualification. / Job application form.
Interview.
Production of evidence (certificates, etc.).
Skills and abilities / Able to work in a team as well as autonomously.
Proven organisational and time management skills.
Proven decision making skills.
Proven written and communication skills.
Proven interpersonal skills and able to adapt to different audiences and individuals.
Able to work effectively with people regardless of their ethnic, cultural, social backgrounds, their gender, age, religious belief, disability and sexual orientation.
Able to research and identify organisations and services that can meet the needs of service users.
Able to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in delivering clearly identified outcomes.
Proven IT skills in Microsoft Word, Email, Excel, Powerpoint and Internet Explorer.
Committed to learning and professional development.
Committed to delivering service excellence
The capacity and self-confidence to innovate. / Job application form.
Interview.
Service User Panel.
Experience/ Knowledge / Experience of providing information, sign-posting and practical support to people with specific needs.
Experience of supporting people to identify goals.
Experience of providing emotional support.
Awareness of issues relating to disability.
Experience of working with people with disabilities or with other specific needs such as neurological conditions, mental health issues or learning disabilities.
Experience of keeping client records.
Knowledge of safeguarding practices.
Knowledge of data protection and client confidentiality.
Experience of building effective relationships with partner services and stakeholders. / Experience of providing Welfare Benefit support, specifically with ESA and PIP applications.
The ability to measure hard and soft outcomes.
Knowledge of relevant local support to include health, local authority and third sector services.
Advocacy experience.
Experience of making grant/trust applications on behalf of individuals.
Experience of working with families.
Experience of developing and delivering services.
Specific knowledge of brain injury.
Experience of working with vulnerable individuals.
Experience of managing volunteers.
Experience of group facilitation.
Experience of recording in a CRM system.
Experience of conducting individual and activity risk assessments. / Job application form.
Interview.
Service User Panel.
Personal Qualities / Flexible and adaptable.
Attentive and empathetic.
Respectful and empowering.
Sincere, trustworthy and just.
Clear and professional.
Competent, reliable and safe.
Accountable.
Open, self-aware and enquiring.
Co-operative.
Resourceful, resilient and self-caring.
Challenging and courageous. / Interview.
Service User Panel.

N.B. A Full, current driving licence and use of a car which is insured for business use is essential for this role. (Mileage rate 45p per mile).

6