Affordable Warmth Project
Energy Outreach Agents
Additional Information
This project is funded by the Scottish Power Trust as part of their commitment to
reducing fuel poverty. It will be delivered by Community First and Warwickshire Rural
Community Council, both of which are part of the National Rural Community Council
Network, which works to support rural communities. The aim of the project is to
provide advice about energy efficiency and affordable warmth to rural communities.
The project will employ two part-time staff working in two rural areas in Wychavon
and Stratford Districts, which have relatively high levels of fuel poverty and poor
access to local services. The aim of the project is to bridge the gap between the
local community and the statutory and voluntary organisations able to offer them help
and support.
Agents will be recruited locally and trained to provide face-to-face information and
support which helps individuals to make informed choices about their energy use.
They will do this through surgeries in village halls or other suitable venues, by
making links with village clubs and societies or by home visits where appropriate.
The project will be publicised locally but personal contact by the agents will play a
key role in encouraging communities to get involved.
Some agencies are already working in these areas and it will be important to work
with them, providing ‘added value’ for the project. Some communities may also be
involved with local activities such as community planning or environmental projects
which may complement this work and it will also be important to engage with them.
The service is primarily provided to help people reduce their fuel costs and to have
‘affordable warmth’ but, where appropriate, the Agents will also promote access to a
wider range of services, such as debt advice and home safety, and will identify unmet
need within the project communities. The Agents will receive training about the
services on offer and work closely with local service providers and other relevant
bodies to ensure that the information provided is relevant, accurate and appropriate.
The Village Agents project is designed to help both service users and providers. Its
main role is to provide better awareness of, and increased uptake of, energy
efficiency services in target communities, but it will also provide information for use
by service providers, to improve commissioning of services and service delivery for
rural areas.
The project is funded for two years. The Energy Outreach Agents will be in post from
September 2012 to May 2014.
ROLE DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
No. of posts
Rural Energy Outreach Agent – Stratford District,
Warwickshire
Whichford, Long Compton, Brailes, Tysoe, Quinton,
Salford Priors, Bidford on Avon, Long Marston,
Welford in Avon, Ilmington
1 x Worcestershire
1 x Warwickshire –
Reporting to:
Project Co-ordinator
Hours:
10 Hours per week – to be worked flexibly
Salary:
£10 per hour
Travel:
Mileage rate in line with Inland Revenue is applicable,
currently 45p
Location:
Working from home, within rural areas in Wychavon
District. A laptop can be made available and a mobile
phone will be provided.
Term:
18 month Fixed term contract subject to completion of a
successful 4 month probationary period.
Purpose
The Rural Energy Outreach Agent will work in the Wychavon area to provide advice
about energy efficiency and affordable warmth to rural communities. He/she will help to
identify households which might benefit from support – particularly those which are
eligible for help but not accessing it - and encourage them to take up opportunities to
reduce fuel costs. The Agent will also ‘signpost’ people to other support agencies where
needed to make sure that any other needs are met.
The Rural Energy Outreach Agent will also recruit and train energy efficiency volunteers
in each Parish who will act as energy champions in their community.
We are looking for someone able to:
1. Publicise the Affordable Warmth project within the communities of and get people
interested and enthused
2. Work within ten parishes in Wychavon (5 in yr 1 and 5 in yr 2) to provide robust
and useful information and signposting to those that need it. Your support should
be timely, user friendly, helpful, responsive, of high quality and focused on energy
efficiency
3. Engage with customers in a friendly, courteous, prompt and appropriate manner,
which includes being aware of and responding to the diverse needs of the whole
community. You will make particular effort to meet the needs of those unable to
access services directly and refer them to other services promptly and effectively
4. Build on and keep good working relationships with all partners and stakeholders
that can help with your role including parish councils, Worcestershire County
Council, District Councils, other service providers and other village/ energy
outreach agents
5. Get themselves up to speed with all the information and tools needed to make
sure communities can address their energy efficiency and affordable warmth
needs. This will include desk research, intelligence gathering and training
6. Use the monitoring forms provided to keep good records of those you are working
with, how you are helping them and what difference our support has made,
ensuring any communications and records are in line with data protection
7. Use the IT equipment provided, appropriately and effectively. Be familiar with
Word and able to use spreadsheets.
8. Adhere to all health and safety requirements both in the home and in the
communities taking all reasonable care not to do anything that may endanger
yourself or others
9. Take responsibility for your own time management and administration to ensure
the project is delivered successfully. Keep your Project Co-ordinator up to date on
progress and contribute to team meetings
10. Act as an ambassador for Community First, positively raising our profile on the
ground and providing a direct link for communities to access our other services
when appropriate
Working Pattern
The Energy Efficiency Outreach Agents will need to work flexibly to meet customer
demands, though it is expected that regular surgeries may be planned at fixed times
and locations. The Agent will be expected to manage their own time, working ten
hours per week within the community and from home. Access to independent travel
within the District is essential since there is little public transport.
PERSON SPECIFICATION – Village Agent
We would hope interested applicants will be able to demonstrate the following criteria
through either a written letter, summary or CV and selection interview.
You may not be able to demonstrate everything but make sure you respond to all of
the requirements where you can.
Please email your application to [email protected] by Fri 24th August 2012
Experience
Experience of providing information to members of the public and professionals
Desirable: Experience of working with people who may be distressed, angry or disinterested
Experience of issues affecting rural communities and taking action to address them
Skills and Abilities
Excellent communications skills in person, by telephone, in writing and publicly
Enthusiastic and personable, able to relate to and enthuse others
Use of initiative and ability to work alone
Ability to earn and maintain respect and trust amongst peers
Ability to quickly assess need, source useful information and make it accessible to the end user
Non-judgmental and able to maintain confidentiality
Ability to work as part of a team
Able to keep accurate records
Willingness to participate in training and acquire new skills
Qualifications
A good level of general education
Desirable: ‘Advice giving’ recognition such as NVQ Advice and Guidance
Knowledge
ICT literacy: use of laptop and mobile phone
Knowledge of the rural communities covered by the project and the issues affecting them
Other
Have an interest in , passion for or experience of ‘affordable warmth’ and fuel poverty issues
Access to independent transport
Full driving licence
Access to an itemised telephone line and internet connection
NB. The role will be subject to an enhanced CRB check