Special Projects Manager
Recruitment Pack
SECTION 1
21th August 2015
Special Projects Manager
Thank you for your interest in this position.
Enclosed is the information you will require to assist you in applying for the role.
To apply please:
· Fill out the application form
· Include a supporting statement detailing how you are a good candidate for this post and how you fulfil the role profile & person specification
· Fill out the equal opportunities monitoring form
· Indicate if you cannot attend any of the interview dates.
Please ensure your full name is on all documents and ensure you place the title of the role you are applying for in the subject heading of your email.
Applications should be e-mailed to
Good luck with your application.
Jakki Moxham
Chief Executive
Housing for Women
SECTION 2 INFORMATION FOR YOU
Housing for Women – a brief background
Housing for Women is an independent organisation supporting women in London and challenging the inequalities they face. As a charity and a housing association, we are proud to have housed London’s women for 80 years; providing secure, affordable housing and related services to help them make the most of the opportunities they have. We also provide targeted housing and support for women who have suffered domestic abuse, been trafficked or released from prison.
We own 881 homes across 8 London boroughs. The majority of our accommodation is for women and their families nominated by the local authorities where we operate. The Association only gives tenancies to women and we provide a range of general needs housing options. Our housing management/maintenance teams are trained in the particular needs of our client group to provide gender sensitive services
Domestic violence and abuse damages and disrupts the lives of thousands of women and their children. We provide immediate support and refuge for women and their children in several sites across South East and West London. Our refuges provide safe accommodation for 65 women and 100 children each year and support to a further 50 women who chooseto stay in their homes.
Re-Place is the only project in London offering second stage housing and support for women who have been trafficked for sexual exploitation or domestic servitude. These women are some of the near-3,000 women trafficked for prostitution in the UK at any one time.
Re-unite is a project where we work with female ex-offenders who would otherwise be homeless and lose custody of their children on release from prison. The project offers a programme of tailored support to tackle the problems they face in order to break the cycle of reoffending.
We have a dedicated worker who provides advice and support to older tenants living in our properties. She helps with a range of issues from welfare benefits, ensuring tenants receive appropriate social care and advising on housing options. We also provide support to the Older Women’s Co-Housing Group.
Our vision is to we work to empower women through providing good homes and services and challenging inequalities faced by women. This vision is guided by a set of values:
· Women Centred – Tailoring our services for women
· Empowering Women – To exercise choices and take control
· Respect – Mutual consideration between the Association and our residents
· Integrity – Honesty and Fair Dealing
· Adaptability – Meeting change without sacrificing our values
· Keeping our Promises – Doing what we say
· ‘Can-do’ attitude – finding solutions rather than problem
Our Strategic Objectives for 2013-16 are:
To provide excellent services in partnership with customers, achieving year on year improvement in customer satisfaction, annually delivering our ‘local offer ’and
improving digital inclusion for our residents
To do more to address the housing and support needs of our target groups of women; Developing a pipeline of 38 new homes to increase provision for London’s Women, increasing core domestic violence services by 30%,facilitating access to planned move-on for 55 women a year, and increasing by 20% pa number of women receiving non-accommodation based support
To become financially stronger: maximising income, controlling operating costs, recycling funds for development through our asset management strategy and increasing the contribution of our fundraising
To develop our people and our organisation: improving efficiency and managing change, investing in our external voice, campaigning and corporate impact, developing a new ICT strategy, increasing the contribution of volunteers
Working at Housing for Women
With around 70 staff and volunteers, we are not a large organisation so every single member of staff is vital if we are to deliver on our vision and values. This requires a high degree of commitment from our people and a passion for what we do. Below, some of our team share their stories of their time with the Housing for Women.
“I am always proud to say where I work as the name, Housing for Women, says exactly what we do and it always gets a positive reaction. I have worked here for a long time because I believe in the values we promote and that is to give women in London safe and secure homes so that they can build great lives for their families.”
“Housing for Women is a dynamic and fun office to work in where you can see first-hand the work that is carried out to support vulnerable women and their children in London. All of the teams work closely together and it is great to gain knowledge of how other areas of the organisation work.”
“Being a woman working for an organisation that has morals that I understand, that is passionate about improving the lives and environment of its residents, and with close regard for its staff is where I want to be.”
“We all work together as one big team, sharing ideas and listening to each other, and all working to the same goals.”
Our offices are based in the heart of Brixton, with its lively shopping hub and foodie reputation, 5 mins walk from the tube
Benefits we offer
We have set out the details of the formal terms of employment in Section 3. Here, we cover some of the additional benefits that we offer to people who work with us.
· Pension
All staff who have completed their 6 months’ probationary period are eligible to join the company pension scheme. Housing for Women contributes up to 10.5% dependant on the level of employee contribution. The minimum employee contribution is 1%.
· Performance related pay scheme
We may award a discretionary payment each year for good performance. This is a non-consolidated payment to reward specific achievement against personal and team targets.
· Death in Service benefit
We give free Death in Service benefit, to all staff who have completed their probationary period, of 3 x annual salary.
Additional benefits
· Season ticket loans
After you have completed your 6 months’ probation period you would be eligible to apply for a season ticket loan that you pay back in equal monthly instalments during the year.
· Childcare vouchers
From day one you would be eligible to “sacrifice” some of your gross salary in return for a maximum of £243 per month in childcare vouchers. You benefit from a slightly higher value voucher than the income you have “given up” and a small reduction in tax. You must use these vouchers with registered childcare providers.
· Gym membership
After you have completed your probationary period, we will contribute £15 a month to your gym membership.
· Eye tests
If you use computer screens as part of your job here, we will pay for annual eye tests. If you find that you do need new prescription lenses we may pay contribute half of the cost up to a maximum of £30.
· Professional Subscriptions
We may pay subscriptions to professional bodies if that membership brings a benefit to the organisation. This is at our discretion and it would count as a taxable benefit.
· Immunisations
We offer immunisations against Hepatitis B and Tetanus for those staff who we have determined that it is advisable to do so given the work that they do.
· Sabbaticals
When someone has worked here for 5 years or more we will consider unpaid sabbaticals of up to 6 months.
· Buying and Selling Annual Leave
You would be able to buy or sell 5 days annual leave in a holiday year. You will need to apply for this by 31 August each year.
· Professional Qualifications
Housing for Women is committed to the continual Learning & Development of all staff and will consider funding or part funding of any courses or qualifications, which may be beneficial to the employee or Association.
SECTION 3 THE ROLE AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Job Description
Job Title: Special Projects Manager
Department: Supported Housing
Reports to: Director of Supported Housing
Responsible for: Support Workers
Children’s Workers
Through the Gate Workers
Volunteers
Location: Head Office Brixton and other locations as required
Overall Aim
· Responsible for the overall effective and efficient delivery of Housing for Women’s (HfW) Special Projects including; Re-Unite and Re-Place support services both in HfW accommodation and in the community in line with contract/ funder requirements.
· To ensure that service users and their children are provided with time–limited secure, safe, supportive and culturally sensitive services in line with policies and procedures and best practise.
· Lead on partnership working within the boroughs of operation especially prison and probation, safe house and NASS accommodation providers and other statutory and voluntary partners.
· Lead on service improvements in response to service user and stakeholder feedback and changes in the operating environment.
· In conjunction with the Director, to strategically develop the services and raise the profile of HfW and the issues of women offenders and trafficked women.
Key Responsibilities
1. Responsible for the operational development and management of the services, ensuring effective reporting to the Director as appropriate
2. Responsible for budgeting, risk management and financial control within the team
3. Responsible for the performance of team, and high standards of customer care, setting appropriate KPIs and targets, monitoring and management of performance.
4. To be an inspiring role model and manager within the Supported Housing department ensuring effective line management and a positive culture.
5. To act in accordance with the values and aims of Housing for Women
6. To promote and implement Housing for Women’s policies and procedures
Key result area
Managing the business
· Ensure that referrals for the projects are effectively assessed for the projects.
· Ensure that individual support plans and risk assessments are developed, delivered, monitored and reviewed in line with the required quality & regulation standards and that service users lead on the development and review of their support plans.
· Ensure occupancy levels in accommodation managed by HfW are maximised and that an effective move-on strategy is in place for service users.
· Identify strategies and develop proposals to enhance services within the projects.
· Provide information as required to contribute to wider policy and procedure and to meet the requirements of funders and other stakeholders and to prepare reports on finance, personnel and strategic developments as required.
· Ensure all Health and Safety requirements are monitored, reviewed and implemented, in respect of the following:
o staff risk assessments and lone working
o children’s events and activities
o SU events
· To plan and set budgets and monitor expenditure to ensure that spending is kept within the agreed budget. To adhere to financial policies and procedures including those on recording, authorisation and cash handling.
Managing people
· To recruit and induct staff and to manage and provide regular supervision, support and feedback to all project staff. To ensure adequate cover for all services.
· To work with the Volunteer Co-ordinator to recruit and induct volunteers placed in the projects and adequately supervised.
· To ensure that all staff have the adequate skills, information, resources and knowledge to undertake their work.
· To ensure all staff and volunteers undergo a DBS (Disclosure and barring) check in line with Safeguarding procedures and that they are renewed in accordance with the DBS policy.
Developing teams and individuals
· Ensure that all staff have a clear learning and development plan
· Ensure that staff attend training/refreshers on core policies including:
o Safeguarding
o Equality and Diversity
o Risk Assessment & Support Planning
· Encourage staff to develop a specialist area of support and share their skills and expertise through team meetings and other forums.
Managing quality standards and resources
· Carry out regular file audits on service user files to ensure that quality standards are being maintained and work with other Managers in the department to carry out service reviews across all services.
· Ensure all monitoring and financial returns are accurately completed in a timely manner in line with contract/funders and internal monitoring timeframes. Analyse and monitor KPI’s, outcomes, impact of service and referral patterns and disseminate results in relevant reports for internal and external use.
Customer Focus
· To ensure that individual support plans are developed, delivered, monitored and reviewed in line with the required quality & regulation standards and that service users are involved in the development and monitoring of their own support plans.
Communication
· Provide clear and concise reports and correspondence.
· Deliver training and presentations internally and externally.
Taking personal responsibility
· Deal with queries or complaints regarding services provided, and to keep the Director informed of these. To assist in the collection and make use of feedback from service users.
· Promoting awareness and vigilance for any safeguarding and child protection issues arising within the service. Respond to any concerns in accordance with HfW’s policies and procedures and statutory legislation.
Working with others
· Foster and maintain good working relationships with external agencies and create effective relationships and interfaces with other departments of the Association to achieve service objectives.