· Web viewCV1 2JZ. Selection Process. After the closing date we will consider all applications carefully and invite those candidates who appear, from the information available,

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Recruitment pack

Post Title: Integration CaseworkerDate: 21/02/19

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Contents:

Introduction from Kate Algate, Chief Executive Page 3

Our Values Page 4

About Citizens Advice Coventry Page 5

Terms and Conditions Page 6

How to Apply Page 7

Selection Process Page 8

Job Description & Person SpecificationPage 10

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Introduction from Kate Algate, Chief Executive

Thank you for taking the time to consider applying for a job at Coventry Citizens Advice. We are one of the largest Citizens Advice organisations in the country, helping around 25,000 people per year to make society fairer. We do that with each client, helping people solve their individual problems, and by influencing how the polices of the local authority, government and the private sector impact on our clients.

The world is changing quickly. Most people’s incomes haven’t grown for years or are being squeezed by inflation and welfare reform. Many people are struggling to pay back debts and tackle employment, family, consumer, housing and other issues.

We have been able to re-invent our services and develop many innovative models of service delivery that improve access to the citizens that we serve. We have also explored ways to prevent problems from happening through early referrals from housing providers and utility companies, through our campaigning work and through providing new tenants with practical support and money skills.

We are always looking for ways to improve our services and work more closely with partners. This means new opportunities to experiment locally through co-design and partnerships across a range of different sectors.

Looking ahead, there are some huge challenges for our clients and our service. Perhaps the biggest of these is the introduction of Universal Credit alongside further welfare reforms. Coventry Citizens Advice is always at the front line as these are rolled out and thousands will rely on our support.

Most importantly our clients increasingly need our help to access our services through different channels. We will draw on our strengths, including our extraordinary local reach and awareness, high satisfaction rates, dedicated volunteer and staff base and high quality services that change the lives of thousands of people each year.

Thank you for your interest in joining Coventry Citizens Advice at what is a very exciting time for us. We look forward to receiving your application.

Our Values:

Our core values as an organisation are: Professional, Accessible, Innovative and Empowering. We look to embed them in every aspect of the work we do, how we behave and how we support

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each other. Together we ensure that our values are brought into behaviours that we demonstrate every day so that we can offer the best possible service to our clients.

ProfessionalWe are passionate about delivering high quality services. We take ownership, we keep promises and we show our integrity.

We take individual ownership for our own performance and continuing development.

We take responsibility for our actions and decisions. We have a strong commitment to the success of Coventry Citizens

Advice and we inspire others to do the same. We exercise sound judgement by being realistic and inventive.

AccessibleWe are open, we communicate and we listen to each other.

We communicate openly. We value difference and respect others. We listen to each other, to partners and the communities that we

serve. We make sure our services meet the needs of the people of

Coventry.

InnovativeWe keep questioning and thinking in order to improve the way we do things.

We welcome fresh ideas and we test new ways of working. We are more creative through having diverse teams and skills. We challenge fairly and maturely and work together to improve our

services.

EmpoweringWe take responsibility and support each other to deliver the best possible service.

We encourage leadership through every level of the organisation. We treat colleagues, clients and partners with respect. We support each other in developing skills and knowledge. We anticipate change and work through changes together.

About Coventry Citizens Advice

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Coventry Citizens Advice is a progressive organisation that has been able to continually innovate and develop new services over the course of recent years when public and charitable funding has been much reduced. Coventry Citizens Advice has been able to demonstrate excellence in a number of areas and been commended for its volunteer training, information service and partnership working. We are multi, local and national award winners in areas of Research & Campaigning, Service Development and Money Advice. Coventry Citizens Advice has a Trustee Board of 10 people, all of whom bring professional skills and knowledge of the city and are responsible for setting the strategy and budget for the service. Day to day responsibility for the running of the organisation sits with the Chief Executive who, alongside the Operations Director, oversees the day-to-day running of local Citizens Advice office services. The organisation has around 80 paid members of staff and is proud to have in excess of 80 volunteers working for it in some capacity throughout the course of the week.Our busy core service operates on a daily basis and deals with around 40 people a day. Clients can also contact for advice on line and on the telephone and can expect to have their enquiry dealt with within 3 working days through our www.advicebuddy.org service.In recent times, the organisation service has embarked on exciting new partnerships with a range of private sector organisations such as Severn Trent Water in launching the Big Difference Scheme which helps vulnerable customers of Severn Trent Water access discounts and money advice. We work with a range of energy and power suppliers to offer energy advice and support, and with banks to help increase digital inclusion. We continue to work with existing and new partners across all three sectors to deliver quality services to the most vulnerable in our society such as an Integration Project to support refugees, a holistic service with emphasis on benefits and debt advice project in foodbanks, advice and information to young people in need and housing projects to help those out of crisis.

We aim to provide the advice people need for the problems they face and improve the policies and practices that affect people’s lives.

We provide free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination.

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Other benefits

We also offer a range of additional benefits:

Other benefits

We also offer a range of additional benefits:

Childcare Voucher Scheme Bike to Work Scheme Flexible working arrangements Fees paid for membership of relevant professional bodies Regular professional development Health & Wellbeing services provided through Occupational Health Free eye tests and contribution towards lenses/spectacles for

Computer users if appropriate

Security Clearance

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory completion of a security and pre-employment checks. Further information about the security checking procedure is available on request.

Health Clearance

Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory completion of a Health Questionnaire and should you disclose any health issues, then any offer of employment will be subject to a satisfactory assessment by Occupational Health.

Nationality and Immigration Control

This post is open to Nationals of States within the British Commonwealth and the European Economic Area (EEA). There must be no employment restriction or time limit on your permitted stay in the UK.

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How to Apply

Instructions

The closing date for applications is 19th March 2019

Interviews: to be held Week Commencing 25th March 2019

Coventry Citizens Advice interviews will draw out the skills and competencies required for each role. If you are required to undergo a technical test as part of the process, we will provide details in the invitation to an interview.

Please complete the Application Form, ensuring that you answer every question, and that your personal statement addresses each element of the Person Specification outlined in the Job Description.

Please email your application to:

[email protected]

If you are unable to make an electronic application, you may submit your application on paper and post to:

Julie Faulkner Citizens Advice CoventryKirby HouseLittle Park StreetCoventryCV1 2JZ

Selection Process

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After the closing date we will consider all applications carefully and invite those candidates who appear, from the information available, to be the best-suited for the post to interview.

It is important therefore that your application gives a full but concise description of the nature, extent and level of the responsibilities you have held.

If selected, details of the interview process will be sent to you by email or letter.

Expenses

We will refund travelling costs at the rate of a standard rail fare for the journey, or mileage rates as follows: Cars, 25p per mile.

Please note that proof of purchase will be required for all public transport expenses. We cannot cover the costs of an overnight stay.

Data Protection

We will use your application only to inform the selection process. Applications are kept on record for 12 months after which we will destroy it. If you are successful, it will form the basis of your personnel record with us and we will store it in a manual file. We will hold any data about you in completely secure conditions with restricted access.

We will include data that you provide on the diversity monitoring form in a general database for statistical monitoring purposes only enabling us to monitor our effectiveness of our policy on Equal Opportunities and Employment. Individuals will not be identified by name.

We shall consider that by submitting the enclosed forms you are giving your consent to the processing of your data in the ways described above.

Religious Divergence

We respect the diversity of our employees and that they come from a variety of religious backgrounds. Our policy is to respect all religious faiths and we will, where reasonably practical, be supportive when staff want to follow their regular practices connected with their religion.

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Job Description & Person Specification

Coventry Citizens Advice

Job Title Integration Caseworker

Salary: £23,166pa

Hours: 37 per week Fixed term contract initially for 12months

Responsible to: Senior Integration Caseworker

Employed by: Coventry Citizens Advice

Based at: Sun Alliance House, Little Park Street, Coventry, CV1 2JZ

Purpose of the Job

To support as a key worker, individuals and families in their resettlement into life in Coventry.

To support individuals and families through 5 stages of integration to include: preparation, housing, finance, education, health and employment.

To work with key partners across the city to ensuring migrants are referred/signposted into appropriate support services and networks.

Job Description

Preparation for arrival

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To ensure family is welcomed and to carry out an initial assessment of immediate need.

To set up key appointments with required services e.g.; DWP, GP’s, schools, dentists and other medical professionals

To support arrangements for collection and transportation to Coventry and accompany when necessary

Agree budget and report all setting up costs with Project Manager

Integration

To support all of the family to apply and maintain appropriate benefits. This will include some reconsideration and appeals work

To support the family in attending appointments with GP’s, school, dentist, Job Shop, college/university and DWP.

To support the family to access the Structured programme managed by Coventry City Council which includes orientation sessions and ESOL

To introduce the family/individual to the City and its communities. To support the family in accessing any clothes, furniture, food or

social groups that they require. To promote social inclusion through ensuring that the client

understands Coventry and the history of the City. Running a programme of financial capability training including

advice on savings, buying/renting a property, purchasing credit, insurance.

Supporting family members in improving their skills, developing their CV and applying for jobs.

Put together a support package for the family/individual that supports the current needs and review monthly with your Line Manager.

Engaging with Partner Services

To support migrants in accessing key support services according to the client’s needs.

To work in partnership with Coventry City Council, Coventry Refugee and Migrants Centre and Coventry Law Centre in sharing best practice and providing peer support to key workers working with the same client group in each organisation.

Work and liaise closely with Coventry City Council in receiving referrals of families/individuals.

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Social Policy

Identify any key social policy issues, particularly with regard to this client group.

Support the Project Manager and partners in any evaluation and research into the delivery of the project.

Professional Development

Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training, particularly with regard to migration.

Undertake cultural awareness training for the groups that you are working with so that you fully understand their culture and have some understanding of the support needs they will have.

Administration

Use IT for record keeping and record all meetings in Outlook calendar.

Prepare for and attend supervision sessions, team meetings, staff meetings and meetings with external partners.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Undertake such other duties and tasks as may lie within the scope of this post.

To demonstrate commitment to the aims, principles and policies of the Integration Project.

Abide by Health & Safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.

There will be a requirement to work flexible hours to meet the requirements of the service, which includes an “on call” service that operates outside of normal working hours.

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Person Specification:

 CRITERIA

ESSENTIAL

1 Experience of providing advice and support to vulnerable people.

2 A strong understanding of services available and the needs of migrants moving into the UK.

3 A willingness to learn quickly and develop new skills to support your client group.

4 Good understanding/experience of the processes in relation to the Benefits System, housing and financial management.

5 The ability to prioritise tasks to identify and work to deadlines and to manage time effectively under your own initiative.

6 The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with clients.

7 An understanding for the need of confidentiality and a non-judgemental approach to service delivery.

8 Able to work as part of a team and with partners across the city.

 9 Ability to use ICT, particularly with regard to Word, Excel, Outlook and the case management system.

10 Work flexible hours to meet the needs of the service11 Car driver with access to a vehicle12 Experience of managing a caseload with regard to

Benefits, Housing or Debt.

 DESIRABLE13 Experience of working directly with Refugees and Asylum

Seekers.14 Experience of delivering training, particularly with regard

to financial capability.

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15 Experience of working with Interpreters16 Arabic Speaker