Recruitment Pack
Employment Support
Adviser
Oct 2015
Contents
Page
Welcome letter
3
About Hexagon
4
About the Community Investment Team
6
Job description
7
Person specification
9
Organisation chart
12
Principal terms and conditions of service
13
Key dates and the selection process
14
The advertisement
15
Welcome letter
October 2015
Dear Candidate
EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT ADVISER
Thank you for your interest in working for Hexagon Housing Association.
If you require a copy of this document in an alternative format please contact us on the
details below.
As a provider of high quality housing and care services, we believe it is important to recruit
talented individuals who share our vision to be the provider of choice.
We know that attracting and keeping the best people is the most effective way to build a
successful business, so we are committed to investing in you and your future, offering a
competitive remuneration package and providing extensive learning and development
opportunities throughout your career.
This pack gives background information on Hexagon and the role you are applying for.
Please make sure your application reaches us by Sunday 22nd November 2015.
You will be contacted within ten working days of the closing date if you have been
shortlisted. If we do not contact you, then please assume that you have been unsuccessful
on this occasion.
Good luck!
Hexagon Human Resources
Tel: 0208 768 7941
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.hexagon.org.uk/careers
About Hexagon
Hexagon is an innovative and responsive
Housing Association working in partnership
with a range of local authorities to meet
housing and care needs across South East
London. With a turnover of £25.78m and 154
staff, Hexagon is continually improving the
quality and range of our affordable homes and
services.
As an organisation, we are concerned with
people, their homes and communities. We
make good quality, affordable housing and
services available to people in South East
London, and work to extend opportunities and
improve the neighbourhoods they live in.
With over 3,800 homes for rent we offer more housing choices in areas of high demand.
We are building new homes and taking part in major regeneration initiatives in London.
More than 300 vulnerable people use our specialist housing and one-to-one care and
support services.
Like all housing associations, Hexagon is a not-for-profit organisation and is regulated by the
Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Hexagon's driving aim is: 'To meet housing, care, and support needs in South London and
North Kent, and assist with economic and social regeneration'.
Our values include:
•
•
•
•
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We foster equality of opportunity and
embrace diversity in everything we do.
We are committed to ensuring
affordability of all our homes and
services.
We strive to be open and accountable
to our customers and partners.
We place the interests of our residents
and service-users at the heart of what
we do.
We value our staff and are committed
to them achieving their potential.
Only by having a clear and understandable mission statement and values, can we measure
our own success and progress. Our mission & values statements allow our customers to
know what they can expect from Hexagon.
Our Corporate Objectives are:
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•
•
•
•
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To continually improve the quality and range
of our affordable homes and services through
innovation and best practice.
To be cost effective, efficient and competitive.
To be amongst the best in the provision of
housing, care, support and related services.
To be financially secure.
To develop, motivate, and retain staff.
To be socially responsible in the way we run
our business, and in particular, to focus our
efforts on promoting environmental
sustainability.
About the Community Investment Team
Information for Employment Support Adviser post
About Hexagon Housing Association’s homes and services
Hexagon is a community-based housing association with 3500 homes for rent or
low-cost home ownership working in 5 boroughs in South East and South London.
Our Community Investment team focus on employment support services for our
residents, financial inclusion and digital inclusion services, and working with our
residents to help build neighbourly communities.
The small team works closely with the Housing Management, and Resident Involvement
and Care and Support teams in the Operations Directorate. The team also work with the
New Business and Development teams in the Development Directorate in relation to the
provision of job and work experience opportunities with our contractors. Hexagon offers
our residents a range of work experience opportunities under the banner of the Hexagon
Academy and this means that the Community Investment Manager works with all of
Hexagon departments to ensure these work experience opportunities continue to be
made available and are working well.
Employment support
We have a dedicated Employment Academy providing a person centred approach to
supporting residents back into employment. The Academy is Hexagon’s core
employability service, focussed on work experience placements, information, advice
and guidance (IAG) support and access to courses. . The Academy has been
successful not only in supporting many residents into employment, but has also had
a substantial impact on the age profile and working environment at Hexagon with
several people who started off with the Academy now working for us.
We support residents who are unemployed, economically inactive or underemployed
(in receipt of a top-up benefit, such as housing benefit) in developing skills and
accessing training opportunities in order to enter into, and sustain, employment.
We provide sustained support for residents who are further away from the labour
market, supporting them over a period of time. We offer a mentored approach,
focusing on the strengths, skills and aspirations of individuals, we then work with
them to develop a pathway to their goal(s), identifying any barriers that may prevent
them from moving forward, and developing plans to help get over the barriers and
reach their goal. We believe this approach helps to increase the number of residents
who move into sustainable employment.
Job Description – Employment Support Adviser
Responsible to:
Community Investment Manager
Purpose
Provide information, advice and guidance to residents who are looking to develop their
skills and employment opportunities.
Create and deliver innovative activities to improve the employment prospects of residents
To provide sustained support for individuals to secure sustained employment
OPERATIONAL DELIVERY – ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
1.
Provide information and advice to residents on issues facing them, in order to help
them make decisions concerning their future.
2.
Work in close consultation with the Financial Inclusion Advisor to offer financial
guidance where appropriate to ensure that customers are fully informed about the
financial benefits of returning to work.
3.
Manage a caseload of residents and provide a holistic service
4.
Provide on-going support that builds residents confidence and self esteem
5.
Use different approaches in establishing relationships with customers to gain their
trust and to help them plan their future.
6.
Use of a variety of techniques to diagnose residents need for support, referring to
specialists to assist in tackling their personal barriers and achieving their personal
goals.
7.
Develop with residents an Individual Action Plan that summaries personal needs
and goals.
8.
Introduce goal setting with customers, and support them in to achieve these with
stepping stones.
9.
To support customers into, further training and further job search and access to
further employment support.
10.
To provide on-going support to residents who secure work through regular in work
support interventions.
11.
To further support customers by providing a range of interventions including
employability, confidence and motivation workshops and job clubs.
12.
Involve and engage Hexagon residents and members of the wider community in
community investment activities with specific aims and objectives that enable
them to address their needs
13.
To ensure that opportunities for sustained employment for customers are
maximized and provide in-work support to all customers who have gained
employment, for six months.
14.
To closely monitor and record the progress of all customers who are supported.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
15.
Research the barriers residents have in returning to work or learning.
16.
Develop outreach opportunities to enable community engagement and project
development ensuring that links are developed with other members of the
Community Investment Team and local agencies.
17.
Develop a network of support agencies & providers who will contribute to and
support the positive progression of our customers.
18.
To keep up to date with legal changes and policy initiatives and good practice.
19.
Identify and develop work placement opportunities within Hexagon and in external
agencies and contractors. Build and maintain positive relationships with
participating teams, departments and partners.
EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT
20.
To maximise employment, apprenticeship and other opportunities with partner
contractors and internal departments.
GENERAL
21. Ensure that activities related to the programme are regularly communicated to
residents through medium such as Home news, digital media and resident events
22.
Carry out all duties with regard to Hexagon’s Equality & Diversity and Health and
Safety Policies.
23.
Any other related duties as assigned by the Community Investment Manager.
NOTE
1.
All tasks within this Job Description may be carried out on behalf of Hexagon
Housing Association Limited, its subsidiaries and any associated organisations.
2.
Post holders will always be consulted before Job Descriptions are amended.
Community Support Adviser – Person Specification
Skills Required
Level
Method of Assessment
Rank
E = Essential
D=
Desirable
Work Experience
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Skills/Knowledge/
Abilities
Personal Qualities
Proven experience of working with the long term unemployed
Proven experience of motivating and building confidence of individuals
Experience of working on joint collaboration projects
Experience of delivering generalist employability related advice
Experience of sourcing and shaping training provision to meet the needs of
the individual
Application Form/Test or
Presentation/Interview/
Reference
E
E
E
E
E
6. Excellent understanding of work related training provision
7. Able to deal effectively with a wide range of people, with an ability to
communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
8. Proficient in the use of IT including Word, Email and internet, social media,
basic ability in Excel
9. Ability to record and monitor outputs against agreed targets
10. Must possess or be working towards a relevant Advice and Guidance
Qualification
Application Form/
Interview /Test
E
E
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Application Form/
Interview
Ability to work on own initiative and to deadlines
A good team player and the ability to work within a team environment
Ability to adapt to the changing needs of residents
Commitment to the Association’s values on diversity
Commitment to the Association’s objectives.
Access to own vehicle (car, motorcycle, scooter, bicycle etc.)
Able to attend evening and occasional weekend meetings/events
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
You will only be short-listed from the details written on the application form if you meet all of the criteria ranked as E – Essential.
October 2015
Page 10 of 15
Organisation Chart – Community Investment Team
Community Investment Manager
Employment Support
Adviser
Community Development
Officer
Financial Inclusion
Adviser
Page 11 of 15
Principal terms and conditions
(For information purposes only)
Working for Hexagon
We pride ourselves on providing a working environment which allows people to enjoy what
they do, develop their skills and fulfil their potential. We are accredited by Investors in
People with Gold status, demonstrating our commitment to the development of our staff.
We offer excellent conditions of employment, and training programmes.
1.
Position
Employment Support Adviser – 35 hours per week
2.
Remuneration
£27,301 - £30,335 pa + essential car user allowance
3.
Our generous range of benefits includes:
Core Benefits
o
o
o
o
Pension scheme.
Career break scheme.
Free eye tests.
Free confidential counselling services.
Work life balance
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o
o
o
o
Flexi-time/TOIL.
Maternity, paternity & shared parental leave.
Adoption Leave.
Carers Leave.
Child care vouchers.
Other Benefits
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o
o
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Salary Sacrifice – Gym Membership Scheme.
Salary Sacrifice – Car Leasing Scheme.
Salary Sacrifice – Computer Scheme
Season Ticket Loan
Cycle 2 Work Scheme
Page 12 of 15
Rewarding our staff
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o
o
o
4.
A comprehensive corporate training and development plan.
Fully comprehensive induction and training for all employees.
Staff Excellence Awards.
Social Events.
Annual Leave
26 days plus 8 public holidays increasing by 1 day per annum up to 31 days
5.
Location
Your normal place of work will be our head office at 130-136 Sydenham Road
Sydenham, London SE26 5JY.
6.
Working hours
Normal hours of work are 35 hours per week.
Page 13 of 15
The advertisement
Employment Support Advisor
£27,301 - £30,335 pa + essential car user allowance
Committed, passionate, dedicated... are you?
Hexagon Housing Association is an expanding, locally-based, communityfocused organisation working primarily in South East London.
We are seeking a driven and passionate individual to join our busy Community
Investment Team who will work with unemployed and underemployed
residents to gain meaningful employment opportunities.
You will have demonstrable experience of advising and supporting
unemployed clients into employment or training. You will also have (or be
working towards) a Level 3 qualification or above in Information, Advice and
Guidance or Employment Related Services, and have experience of effective
partnership working and engagement through community-based working.
If successful, you will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and
Barring Service check.
For an application pack, please visit our website at www.hexagon.org.uk
Closing date: 22nd November 2015.
Interview date: 2nd December 2015.
No Agencies.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applicants from all
sections of the community. Registered Charity Number 19128R.
Page 14 of 15
Key dates and the selection process
Closingi.date:
Sunday 22nd November 2015
Short listing:
W/c 23rd November 2015.
Interviews:
2nd December 2015
Page 15 of 15