Job pack. Technical Advice Support Officer Housing. Age UK, Services, Service Delivery - I&A Resources Department, September 2014 ID9404

Transcription

1 ID9404 Job pack Technical Advice Support Officer Housing Age UK, Services, Service Delivery - I&A Resources Department, September 2014

2 This pack contains the following sections: We re Age UK About Love Later Life Equalities and diversity policy How to apply Role description Terms and conditions Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 2

3 We re Age UK There are more people aged over 60 than ever before, and we re the fastest growing group in society. As we grow older we face new challenges, and maybe even illness, loneliness or poverty. But that doesn t stop us being ourselves. We still want to laugh, love and be needed. We want to stay independent and keep doing the things we love. We all want a fulfilling later life. That s why we re here. We stand up and speak for all those who have reached later life, and also protect the long-term interests of future generations. We believe that living longer should be celebrated and everything we do is designed to change the way we age for the better and enable everyone to be part of the solution. Together, we can create a world where everyone can love later life. Age UK Group The Age UK Group comprises of Age UK, and its subsidiary companies and charities, dedicated to improving the lives of people in later life. Our network includes the three national charities Age Cymru, Age NI and Age Scotland and more than 160 local Age UK charities. Our vision A world where everyone can love later life. About Love later life Age is different for everyone and, of course, the challenges and the demands are different for everyone, too. At Age UK, we are many things to many people a source of advice, information, companionship and support, among many other things. But one thing is the same for everyone: we re always here. Wherever you are in your life, whatever the demands and challenges, no matter how big or how small, ageing is a journey we ll take together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder. If we are to truly make a difference to the way age is enjoyed, then we need everyone young and old to hear why those in later life have earned our love and respect and to help us enable everyone to live a life that s the best it can be. We all know that life s road isn t always an easy one. But by working together, we can start to create a world where everyone can love later life. Watch the Love Later Life advert Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 3

4 Equalities and diversity policy Equality of opportunity is an important part of Age UK s recruitment and selection policies and procedures. All recruiting managers must ensure that they are familiar with Age UK s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy, and that they have accessed appropriate guidance and training on recruitment and selection. Age UK will strive to take all practical steps to prevent discrimination (on any basis), to identify and address inequalities affecting specific groups and to promote equality during the course of its work, providing a respectful, inclusive, positive, supportive, challenging and empowering environment for all. Age UK will monitor the conduct of actions taken under the framework of all our policies, including recruitment, in order to identify inequalities and formulate plans to address them, ensuring fairness of treatment at work under the 2010 Equality Act and our cultural values. How to apply Please ensure you first read our guidance notes on how to apply. You can apply electronically, by downloading and completing an application form, which can be returned to us by . Please ensure that your supporting statement demonstrates how your experience skills and abilities meet the selection criteria set out in the Role Description. A Role Description can be found in the next section of this pack. Please also ensure you complete the equal opportunities monitoring section at the end of your application form. Completed applications should be returned to us by 9am on the closing date. Applications received after that time will not normally be considered for short listing. Completed electronic applications must be sent to recruitment@ageuk.org.uk ensuring you clearly mark the post you're applying for. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 4

5 Role description Job Title: Technical Advice Support Officer Housing Age UK Current Division Name: Current Department Name: Current Location: Type of role (*delete as applicable) Contractual Status of Role: Services Service Delivery - I&A Resources Tavis House Individual Contributor Permanent p/t 21 hrs Job Title of Line Manager: Senior Advice Support Officer Job Titles and number of any direct reports e.g. Administrator (3) Job Purpose: To support the delivery of I&A projects, services, activities and resources across the Age UK Network by providing technical advice support specifically around Housing. This includes providing technical guidance, training, briefings and advice / case law to I&A staff and volunteers across the Age UK network, identifying issues and suggesting solutions, developing and commissioning I&A resources and representing Age UK in areas of expertise. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 5

6 Main Responsibilities/Deliverables: To research, develop and maintain a detailed knowledge of legislative and regulatory frameworks in England but with a working knowledge of UK wide issues relating to your specialism. To be aware of national and local practice and how it interacts with a range of issues affecting older people. Act as a focal point for issues relating to your specialism. Develop initiatives for ensuring relevant information is shared and disseminated across the Age UK network and make recommendations for I&A delivery. Provide technical guidance, strategic advice and case law to I&A staff and volunteers across the Age UK network. Identify training and technical advice needs. Develop and deliver training, briefings and other technical communications as required on your area. Represent Age UK internally and externally on issues relating to I&A delivery. Develop, build and maintain networks with key contacts relating to your area. Be able to demonstrate the value of these relationships. Act as a peer reviewer for external organisations. Support Age UK Radio and other media / PR initiatives by providing recommendations for discussions relating to your specialism, drafting, checking and approving content, and recording content for shows. Keep up-to-date with other relevant organisations and I&A delivery in your area of specialism. Undertake competitor research when required, scanning the external environment to identify new information relevant to Age UK and its service users. Be aware of information, research, knowledge that will influence Age UK I&A in the short and long term. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 6

7 Plan, develop, commission, produce and peer review creative and innovative information and advice resources aimed at professionals, advisers and the general public. Update existing materials and products as required and in a timely manner. When required this will be for bought in areas as well as your area of technical knowledge. Be responsible for the accuracy of all materials relating to your area. Identify and resolve inconsistencies between individual products and ranges. Proactively work with colleagues in External Affairs and other departments to seek out and identify issues that may impact on the delivery of I&A and older people. Develop responses to these issues. Ensure that all information products comply with both internal Age UK guidelines and external legal requirements (e.g. data protection and copyright law) and are cost effectively produced and distributed to high quality standards working with key internal colleagues as required Comply with Age UK financial procedures, setting and monitoring individual product budgets and reporting on these as required. Ensure that the views and preferences of older people and advisers are built into I&A product development. Support and work with colleagues across the Charity and the wider Age UK Group to deliver strategic objectives and goals. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 7

8 Perform any other tasks appropriate to the grade of the post as requested by the Head of Services Quantitative Aspects of Role: I&A Resources team currently produce 80 Factsheets and 40 information guides annually. Age UK Advice answers some 300,000 calls a year and the most requested advice enquiry areas are money including welfare benefits, residential and non-residential care, housing, legal and health issues. Age UK currently provides 170 local partners with some 30 training courses, 5 I&A induction and skills packs and other advice resources including a monthly newsletter. Local Age UK s provide advice on money and benefits, social care and housing. Attendance at a minimum of 9 I&A Network meetings and / or training events per annum. Experience. Substantial relevant experience working in an information or advice role providing services to quality standards. Experience of working proactively and autonomously with a track record of building networks and spotting opportunities. Experience of engaging with service users to inform development and delivery. Experience of managing individual projects and meeting targets and budgets. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 8

9 Experience of developing and delivering training sessions and briefings in your area of specialism and of supporting advisers with technical knowledge and case law. Experience of representing an organisation externally including developing relationships with government and advice sector specialists and of presenting e.g. at conferences, round tables, working groups and / or radio and other media. Experience developing, writing, checking and peer reviewing a range of I&A resources aimed at consumers and /or professionals and a range of audiences e.g. factsheets, guides, training resources, online tools, web copy. Experience of horizon scanning and analysing data, identifying trends and proactively using this information to identify its impact on I&A delivery and resources to be developed. Knowledge & Skills Detailed knowledge of legislative and regulatory frameworks, national and local practice and how it interacts with a range of issues affecting older people with a particular focus on XYZ. Excellent presenting skills including the ability to represent the organisation at a wide range of stakeholder events and on the radio. Creativity including the ability to identify gaps in current delivery and create new training courses and resources. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 9

10 Excellent oral and written communication skills including the ability to write clear, concise and creative text, presenting complex issues in an accessible style both verbally and in writing. The ability to effectively project manage multiple projects, working flexibly and autonomously, ensuring individual tasks and projects meet organisational objectives and achieve deadlines. Accuracy and attention to detail including the ability to ensure all products meet policy and legal requirements. To work autonomously and be responsible for identifying and prioritising technical advice. Positive, flexible proactive approach, problem solving and resolving issues. To be able to act or reprioritise quickly to get things done in short timescales. Effective team working skills including the ability to work in virtual teams and across the Charity Directorate. Good IT skills including advanced Microsoft Office and use of Raisers Edge and other databases. Proven ability to analyse data and identify trends and make recommendations based on findings. Qualifications Additional Circumstances: To be able to demonstrate technical knowledge in area of specialism. Travel, overnight stays and working outside of normal working hours will be required in order to fulfil the function of this role. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 10

11 Notes: This role description is not intended to be exhaustive in every respect, but rather to clearly define the fundamental purpose, responsibilities and dimensions for the role. Therefore, this role description does not describe any individual role holder. In addition to the contents of this role description, employees are expected to undertake any and all other reasonable and related tasks allocated by line management. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 11

12 Terms and conditions Salary c. 33,000 per annum. Age UK operates a performance related pay scheme with and annual salary review date of 1 April. Location Hours of work Pension scheme Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9NA Standard office hours are 9am 5pm Monday to Friday and the standard working week is 35 hours, for full-time staff. Age UK s Pension Plan has received the highly desirable Pensions Quality Mark. Independently assessed, it means you can be confident that your money is being invested in a quality pension scheme. At Age UK, one of the important things we say to people young and old is save for your retirement. Age UK operates a Group Personal Pension (GPP) and will automatically enrol all employees aged under 74 into the Plan from the date employment commences. You will be auto enrolled into the Plan with an initial employee contribution of 1% being deducted from your salary and Age UK will pay 4% of salary. These contributions will increase in stages to meet the Workplace Pension Regulations minimum requirements of a combined total of 8% by You can pay a higher contribution if you want to get a higher employer contribution - if you contribute 3% we ll pay in 8% and if you pay in 4% or more we ll contribute 9% You will receive tax relief on your contributions and providing you meet the eligibility criteria contributions will be deducted by way of salary sacrifice. Life Assurance No matter whether you sign up to the Age UK Pension Plan or not, you automatically get life cover if you work for Age UK. Life Assurance is equal to 2 x salary which increases to 4 x salary if you are a member of the Pension Scheme. Because of the way it s set up, any payment can usually be paid direct to your beneficiary so it won t form part of your estate for inheritance tax purposes Annual leave 26 days plus Bank Holidays (from January to December) Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 12

13 Occupational Pay Sick 0-6 month s service: 6 months 1 years service: 1 week full pay 4 weeks full pay 1 years 2 years service: 9 weeks full pay 2 years 3 years service: 13 weeks full pay 3 years or more service: 13 weeks full pay & 13 weeks half pay BUPA Cash Plan Our cash plan means you can claim money back on a wide range of health benefits including dental, dental injury, optical, treatments such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropody and acupuncture, prescriptions, consultations, and hospital stays. You can also access an online health and wellbeing programme and an employee assistance programme which includes six face-to-face counselling sessions. You will also have access to BUPA s Healthline which enables you to speak directly to a qualified nurse 24/7. All employees are automatically enrolled onto the scheme which also covers up to four children. Employees have the option to upgrade to include partners at their own expense. Annual Season Ticket Loan With our annual season ticket loan you can spread the cost of commuting over six or 12 months, meaning you ll benefit from discounts that annual or six month tickets often offer without having to pay lots of money upfront. This is designed for people who have to spend a lot of money on their commute, so if you re working in and around London you re likely to be eligible. You need to be a permanent member of staff who has completed their probation to apply. Each month, a 6 th or a 12 th of the cost will be deducted from your salary. If you leave before you ve paid off the loan we ll just deduct the outstanding amount from your final salary Childcare Vouchers Our easy to use childcare voucher scheme which offers you an easy way to pay for your childcare and also saves you money. By choosing to have part of your salary paid in childcare vouchers, you can make big tax and National Insurance savings. The savings are also per person so you could double your money if your partner s employer also has a scheme! The vouchers aren t just for babies - they can be used for the Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 13

14 care of children up to 15 years of age (16 if they have a disability). This includes child minders, nannies, play school, crèches, after school/breakfast clubs and holiday clubs. Cycle to Work Scheme By allowing you to get a new bike and accessories worth 1000 or less absolutely tax free, you can make huge savings (and avoid your normal transport costs too!). You ll have a number of options including extending your agreement or paying a small percentage of your bike s market value to own it outright. Should you leave Age UK before you ve paid off the loan, we ll just deduct the outstanding amount from your final salary. Other benefits Discount on Gym Membership Perkz (online employee benefits scheme offering discount with UK retailers) This document is neither an offer of employment nor a statement of terms and conditions. Age UK Job Pack TASO Housing 14