October 2009

A chara

Thank you for your interest in the post of Advice and Outreach Worker. Please find enclosed an application form for this post.

The London Irish Women's Centre has been in existence for over twenty five years. It has a strong track record of dedication to getting a better deal for Irish women in London and has provided a range of vital services to clients.

The organisation is continuing its development with the Management Committee and staff working together to ensure that the Centre remains relevant and focussed on the needs of Irish women in London. Substantial funding support from both the London Councils and the Irish Abroad Unit of the Irish Governmenthas enabled us to build on our successful front-line services and to expand our policy workrepresenting and empowering Irish women to take part in shaping their own future in London.

The Advice and Outreach Worker post is currently part-funded by the London Councils and part by the Irish Abroad Unit. The London Councils Tackling Homelessness project is commissioned until 2011 and the Irish Abroad funding, applied for annually, currently runs to July 2010.

Applications for Job Share will be considered.

To help you with your application for this challenging and rewarding post we have enclosed:

  • Job Description
  • Person Specification
  • Application Form
  • Annual Report

You should return your application to the Administrator, London Irish Women's Centre, 59 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0AR. The closing date for applications is 5pmon the 5th November 2009.

Please note that this post is restricted to women of Irish birth, Irish origin, or who consider them selves to be of Irish ethnicity under section 7.2 (e) of the Sex Discrimination Act and section 5 (2) (d) of the Race Relations Act. All staff are required to have a satisfactory enhanced CRB Disclosure which can be arranged by LIWC.

Yours faithfully

Tish Collins

Director

The London Irish Women's Centre

Job description: Advice and Outreach worker

Salary: £23,264 (inc ILW) plus 7.5% employers pension. This post is funded full-time to July 2010 and part-time to 2011. Additional funding will be sought to maintain a full-time position.

Hours: 35 hours a week

Location: 59 Stoke Newington Church Street, London, N16 0AR

(and anyother locations which the Management

Committee may approve)

Reports to: Advice Co-ordinator

Summary:

This post will be responsible for providing Quality Marked, Culturally sensitive advice and advocacy services to disadvantaged and excluded Irish women in London. The service will be provided both at the London Irish Women's Centre and at venues across London. There will be networking and development opportunities within the post. Support and management will be provided by the Centre’s Director and Advice Co-ordinator.

Responsibilities:

  1. To be responsible for providing regular drop in advice sessions, one to one appointments and telephone advice, primarily on housing and benefit rights, but covering other areas such as family law (domestic violence, divorce etc.), debt, legal and health issues as required. To represent clients at benefit tribunals.
  1. To network with Irish, statutory and voluntary sector agencies and to develop outreach advice services for target groups.
  1. To provide outreach sessions at community venues and carry out home visits as and when required to meet the needs of groups with particular needs such as older women, disabled women and Travellers.
  1. To liase with colleagues to ensure that the advice service has adequate staffing cover between 9am and 5pm five days a week.
  1. To maintain and update case files, case notes and monitoring statistics on clients and to enter statistics on clients into a computer database (AIMS).
  1. To keep up to date on existing, new and proposed legislation/guidance relating to housing, benefits and other issues as required.
  1. To be aware of appropriate agencies for referrals and to liase with agencies making referrals and receiving referrals from the Centre.
  1. To be aware of and adhere to organisational policies and procedures particularly those relating to equalities, client confidentiality, and safety.
  1. To undertake public information sessions and awareness seminars concerning the needs of clients.
  1. To contribute to policy development work, strategy and networking with other services as required.
  1. To attend and participate in case work, supervision sessions and training as appropriate.
  1. To attend regular team meetings and keep colleagues informed of activities and issues arising out of the advice service duties.
  1. To produce reports for Management Committee meetings on the work of the service and to occasionally attend meeting as required.
  1. To carry out administrative tasks associated with the duties of the post.
  1. To carry out other duties as required by the Director or Management Committee.
  1. Evening and weekend work may be required and time off in lieu granted.

The London Irish Women’s Centre

Person specification – Advice and Outreach Worker

Experience

  • At least 18 months experience of giving housing, welfare advice and tribunal representation in a voluntary or paid capacity.
  • Experience of supporting women who are experiencing crises and are distressed.
  • Experience of negotiation and liaison with welfare and housing agencies and statutory bodies.

Skills/abilities

  • Able to interview clients in need from all backgrounds in a sensitive manner.
  • Able to communicate clearly verbally and in writing with clients, the general public and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
  • Able to represent and advocate for clients with a range of agencies including tribunals.
  • Able to develop and deliver outreach services in community setting.
  • Able to record and maintain client information on case files and in computer monitoring systems.
  • Able to gather and maintain information on relevant legislation, support services and rights.
  • Able to write reports on the work of the post and the needs of the clients.
  • Able to work on your own initiative.
  • Able to work as part of a staff team.
  • Able to work collaboratively with other agencies and advice workers.
  • Computer literate.

Knowledge

Essential

  • Housing legislation, housing systems, policies and procedures.
  • Benefits legislation and benefits system.
  • Statutory and voluntary sector support services across London relevant to the needs of the clients.
  • The Irish community in London and issues relating to the experience of Irish women in London.
  • Promoting equal opportunities.
  • Community Legal Service systems and the Quality Mark requirements.

Desirable

  • Law and services for disabled people.
  • Family Law.
  • Pensions and services for older women.
  • Employment law.

JOB APPLICATION FORM

Post applied for:

Where did you see this advertised?

PERSONAL DETAILS

NAME
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
HOME
MOBILE
EMAIL
DATE OF BIRTH

EDUCATION

DATE / SUBJECT / LEVEL
DATE / SUBJECT / LEVEL

TRAINING

Please tell us about any other training or courses which may be relevant, or membership of a professional organisation.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Please outline how your skills, qualifications and experience are relevant to this position.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

DATE / EMPLOYER / POSITION / DUTIES / REASON FOR LEAVING / SALARY

HEALTH

Do you have a health problem or disability which is relevant to your application?

Summarise any serious illnesses, operations or disabilities:

Number of days sickness in past two years:

On how many occasions:

DISCIPLINE

Please detail any disciplinary procedures pending or disciplinary record in last 24 months:

CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS

Do you have any criminal convictions?

If yes, please give further information:

REFERENCES

Please give full contact details for two referees, one of whom must be your most recent employer. All appointments are subject to receipt of satisfactory references.

NAME
POSITION
ORGANISATION
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
EMAIL
RELATIONSHIP TO APPLICANT
NAME
POSITION
ORGANISATION
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE
EMAIL
RELATIONSHIP TO APPLICANT

If you were offered this position how soon could you start?

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Please use this space to provide any further information to support your application.

Short listing will be based on the information you have provided and successful candidates will be those who most closely fit the person specification. Please note that not all your experience need have been gained in paid employment.

If you have any questions please contact the Centre on 020 7249 7318

Equal Opportunities Monitoring

LIWC keeps records of all applicants to ensure that everyone is treated fairly regardless of their race, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, creed or age. This information will be detached from applications and will not be used in the selection process.

Please describe your ethnic origin:

Gender:

Age:

Do you have a disability: