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Outreach Officer
| Posting date: | 22 August 2024 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £14,625 per year |
| Additional salary information: | 3% pension contribution |
| Hours: | Part time |
| Closing date: | 10 September 2024 |
| Location: | Coventry, West Midlands |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind provides practical and social support to people with visual impairments from across Coventry. Based in Earlsdon, the charity offers a range of activities including the opportunity to learn new skills, take part in hobbies and other interests, to get a bit of exercise or simply just to gather for a cuppa and a chat. With more than 120 service users and over 80 volunteers, it is a friendly, welcoming environment where remarkable people achieve remarkable things.
The charity is thriving: we are looking for someone to help us reach further into the city and support our casework services. We are looking for a confident, creative, conscientious people-person, who wants to love the work they do.
The Outreach Officer position is part time, 3 days/22.5 hours per week. The post is funded by a grant and is guaranteed until June 2025. However we expect the grant to be renewed for at least two further years.
The role is to reach further into the various communities of Coventry to provide general information about sight loss, raise awareness of the challenges it presents for people and to signpost clearly further sources of support, including and especially the services provided by Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind. The role includes providing a significant amount of casework support. You will be based mainly at our centre in Earlsdon but will be out of the office frequently.
Please apply by sending a CV with a detailed covering letter telling us why you are the person we need.
Key Responsibilities:
- To hold information/contact sessions in local community groups around Coventry
* Maintain and develop consistent, comprehensive and accessible presentations
* Present clear signposting/referral routes
* Record events & attendance
* Provide advice and support to individuals as required
* Open case records for those requiring further support
- To hold monthly information desks at libraries in outer and underrepresented areas of the city
* Provide advice and support as required
* Open case records for those requiring further support
- To support the CRCB helpdesk service responding to enquiries via telephone and email, in-centre and at-home appointments, drop-ins and community contact sessions. Specifically:
* Deal with small issues & fixes
* Provide support with form filling etc
* Advise on referrals and processes etc
* Advise on benefits
* Advise on products
* Deal with any other issues that arise
- To capture and record data and outcomes for reporting and management in accordance with the Data Protection Act and GDPR
- To support the charity and volunteers at events, by arrangement, involving occasional out-of-hours work
Person Specification:
We don’t expect candidates to have all the attributes mentioned below and would welcome applications from people who fit most of our criteria, alongside an enthusiasm and ability to learn and develop. Training will be provided as necessary.
Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind is an equal opportunities employer and we particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience.
Experience & Knowledge
- Experience of speaking in public
- Experience of working with, enabling and supporting people with disabilities especially within the not-for-profit sector
- Experience of building and maintaining professional relationships with people and organisations
- Knowledge of benefits and the benefits system
- Knowledge of issues and support relating to sight loss
Skills
- Good communication skills, especially the ability to speak confidently and straightforwardly with people of all ages both individually and in groups
- Good organisational skills, including excellent time management, attention to detail and the ability to deal with multiple tasks and priorities
- Good IT literacy: the ability to use MS Office and willingness to learn the use of new software and phone packages
- Driving licence and access to a car (not essential)
Attitude
- Passionate and enthusiastic in helping to improve people’s lives, especially those who face disadvantage
- Kind, compassionate, open and with a good sense of humour
- Creative, having a problem-solving, can-do approach
- Willing to pitch in in other areas of the charity’s work and to thrive within a small team
- Eager for feedback and to continuously improve and develop
- Committed to our organisational values of empowerment, accountability, entrepreneurialism, creativity, sustainability and respect for each other and those we support
The charity is thriving: we are looking for someone to help us reach further into the city and support our casework services. We are looking for a confident, creative, conscientious people-person, who wants to love the work they do.
The Outreach Officer position is part time, 3 days/22.5 hours per week. The post is funded by a grant and is guaranteed until June 2025. However we expect the grant to be renewed for at least two further years.
The role is to reach further into the various communities of Coventry to provide general information about sight loss, raise awareness of the challenges it presents for people and to signpost clearly further sources of support, including and especially the services provided by Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind. The role includes providing a significant amount of casework support. You will be based mainly at our centre in Earlsdon but will be out of the office frequently.
Please apply by sending a CV with a detailed covering letter telling us why you are the person we need.
Key Responsibilities:
- To hold information/contact sessions in local community groups around Coventry
* Maintain and develop consistent, comprehensive and accessible presentations
* Present clear signposting/referral routes
* Record events & attendance
* Provide advice and support to individuals as required
* Open case records for those requiring further support
- To hold monthly information desks at libraries in outer and underrepresented areas of the city
* Provide advice and support as required
* Open case records for those requiring further support
- To support the CRCB helpdesk service responding to enquiries via telephone and email, in-centre and at-home appointments, drop-ins and community contact sessions. Specifically:
* Deal with small issues & fixes
* Provide support with form filling etc
* Advise on referrals and processes etc
* Advise on benefits
* Advise on products
* Deal with any other issues that arise
- To capture and record data and outcomes for reporting and management in accordance with the Data Protection Act and GDPR
- To support the charity and volunteers at events, by arrangement, involving occasional out-of-hours work
Person Specification:
We don’t expect candidates to have all the attributes mentioned below and would welcome applications from people who fit most of our criteria, alongside an enthusiasm and ability to learn and develop. Training will be provided as necessary.
Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind is an equal opportunities employer and we particularly welcome applications from people with lived experience.
Experience & Knowledge
- Experience of speaking in public
- Experience of working with, enabling and supporting people with disabilities especially within the not-for-profit sector
- Experience of building and maintaining professional relationships with people and organisations
- Knowledge of benefits and the benefits system
- Knowledge of issues and support relating to sight loss
Skills
- Good communication skills, especially the ability to speak confidently and straightforwardly with people of all ages both individually and in groups
- Good organisational skills, including excellent time management, attention to detail and the ability to deal with multiple tasks and priorities
- Good IT literacy: the ability to use MS Office and willingness to learn the use of new software and phone packages
- Driving licence and access to a car (not essential)
Attitude
- Passionate and enthusiastic in helping to improve people’s lives, especially those who face disadvantage
- Kind, compassionate, open and with a good sense of humour
- Creative, having a problem-solving, can-do approach
- Willing to pitch in in other areas of the charity’s work and to thrive within a small team
- Eager for feedback and to continuously improve and develop
- Committed to our organisational values of empowerment, accountability, entrepreneurialism, creativity, sustainability and respect for each other and those we support