Dear Applicant s6

October 2015

Dear Applicant

Post Title Scheme Assistant - Older Persons Hours Per Week 36.25 Service (Support Worker – Housing Management) Company Spire Homes Location Rutland

Thank you for your interest in the vacancy above, should you wish to apply please complete our application form. You can download an application form from our website and post to the address on the application or email to [email protected]

Please do not submit your CV as this will be removed prior to short listing and not taken into consideration.

Please refer to the Job description and Person specification for details about this particular vacancy. Further information about working for the Longhurst Group of Companies can be found within this pack or on our website: www.longhurst-group.org.uk

If you are successful in being selected for interview, we will write to you to confirm the time and location of your interview. Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to interview everyone who applies for employment within the Group.

If you feel you have the qualities and attributes we are looking for with this vacancy, please return your application as soon as possible. The closing date for this vacancy is 18th October 2015 at midnight.

If you do not receive a response to your application, you can assume that your application has been unsuccessful. It is the organisation’s policy not to confirm receipt of application forms or non-selection for interview.

Please note that Interviews for this post will be held on 2nd November 2015.

If you have any questions about our recruitment process, please contact a member of the HR team on 01205 319623.

Yours sincerely

Human Resources

Longhurst Group

Additional Information

Equal Opportunities

The Longhurst Group is an equal opportunities employer and it is the policy of the Group to provide equality of opportunity to all, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, religious belief, marital status/civil partnership, disability or age.

Information you supply to us on these issues will be treated as confidential and used for statistical purposes only.

Data Protection Act 1988

In relation to the Data Protection Act 1988, we ask you to provide certain personal data on the application form. This information is used for statistical purposes only, in relation to equal opportunity monitoring, best practice and the law. Longhurst Group conforms to requirements under the Data Protection Act and all unsuccessful applications are confidentially stored and destroyed after 6 months.

Pre Employment Checks

In accordance with our recruitment policy, the successful applicant will be offered the position, subject to satisfactory employment references and may be subject to Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) clearance, (formerly CRB).

Recruitment and Rehabilitation of Ex-Offenders

A request for standard/enhanced disclosure of information from the Disclosure Barring Service may be made. Please note: the disclosure will list both spent and unspent convictions.

Longhurst Group adhere to the Disclosure and Barring Service Code of Practice and, as such, a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment. A copy of the Code of Practice and our Policy is available upon request. Alternatively further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found here.

Applicants with Disabilities

Longhurst Group is committed to the employment of disabled people. We will offer an interview to anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the job.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 defines a person as having a disability if he/she has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities.

If you are selected for interview, you should inform us if you have any particular requirements for interview or selection test, such as building access.

APPOINTMENT OF: Scheme Assistant – Older Persons Service (Support Worker – Housing Management)

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

1. The annual salary will be up to: £17,250.75 pa (starting salary subject to qualifications / experience) payable monthly on or immediately prior to the 25th of each month direct into your bank account.

2. The possession of a valid UK driving licence is essential for this post. A mileage allowance is paid for which details will be available on appointment.

3. Salaries are reviewed in April of each year.

4. The post-holder will be required to work 36.25 hours per week.

5. Annual leave 25 days and 3 Concessionary days per annum plus statutory bank holiday, increases to 30 days after 5 years’ and 10 year’s service up to 31 days. Please note this entitlement would be pro-rota if working part-time hours.

6. Appointments are subject to an appropriate level of Disclosure and Barring Service check and the receipt of 2 references which the organisation deems satisfactory, and a 6-months’ probationary period, during which you will be expected to demonstrate your suitability for the post.

7. Membership of a contributory pension scheme is offered to all staff. Details of which will be supplied on appointment.

8. Longhurst Group of Companies operate an ‘occupational sick’ pay scheme, which applies to employees following completion of their 6-month probationary period of service.

9. One month notice of termination of employment by the postholder. Job Description

Job title Scheme Assistant

Base in Rutland

Reports to Team Manager/ Senior Support Worker

Responsible for N/A

Salary scale Up to £17,250.75 plus a Company Car

Purpose of the post

 To help with the management of Spire’s older persons schemes, ensuring they provide a well- managed secure environment for residents.

 To provide a front line service on our older persons schemes and scattered properties, providing a contact and response to residents.

 To build positive relationships with residents and provide reassurance to residents through maintaining a regular presence on schemes.

 Facilitate regular resident meetings at schemes to provide a good communication link

 Undertake welfare visits to clients to ensure well-being when required.

 Organise and facilitate client activities, groups and involvement within communal areas and the wider community.

 Provide assistance with Lifeline Alarms in terms of welfare support, health & safety tests/monitoring, responding to demand in busy periods and in offering support in emergency situations.

 Provide occasional out of hours response to emergency situations that may arise on older person schemes.

 To monitor standards of services such as grounds maintenance and cleaning. If standards fall below Spire Homes or residents’ expectations standards, the Estate Assistant will liaise with appropriate staff to help ensure issues are resolved.

 To take prompt action to deal with issues and identifying problems with service provision; this will be achieved through scheme/estate inspections, site visits, resident contact.

 Establish links and develop partnerships with external agencies. Help facilitate the involvement of other agencies to provide community activity on older person’s schemes. Key Objectives of the Post

Spire Homes Responsibilities

 To be an identifiable landlord figure for residents and other agencies within the area. The Scheme Assistant will build positive relationships with residents and other agencies and act as a local source of basic advice, assistance on estate management and the Association generally.

 To visit and inspect allocated Spire Homes’ older persons schemes on a regular basis and report management/maintenance issues. Liaise as necessary with colleagues and residents to ensure the Association’s liabilities are minimised and services to residents are of the highest standard in order to create and maintain a safe and secure environment.

 Undertake water temperature tests and Legionella precautions at older persons schemes and keep appropriate records.

 Ensure regular testing of Lifeline equipment where residents have not self-tested, and for communal units.

 To report any faults or health and safety issues to the relevant staff member or contractor.

 To advise residents on their responsibilities and provide assistance to report repairs

 Undertake regular Fire Alarm tests at both older persons and general needs schemes in line with the established testing regime, and keep appropriate records.

 Undertake 6 monthly fire practice drill at older persons schemes.

 Undertake work place health & safety inspections at schemes.

 Where required liaise with contractors/other agencies to facilitate access to schemes.

 Assist with viewings of vacant properties.

 Help new tenants settle in to older persons schemes by providing a scheme induction and encourage integration into the scheme community.

 To manage and monitor the storage, issue and charging of fobs and keys.

 Assist the Housing Officer with where appropriate with any general housing management/anti- social behaviour issues as needed.

 Take meter readings for communal utility supplies, and at void properties where needed.

 Be aware of appropriate legislation and statutory requirements.

 Promote health and safety awareness and ensure a safe working environment, in line with Spire Homes policy at all times.

 The post holder must possess a current driving license and be prepared to travel to schemes and offices as required.

 The post holder will be required to undertake duties and responsibilities in addition to those set out in this job description that are appropriate to the level of the post. The post holder will respect confidentiality at all times and must always comply with current Data Protection legislation  The post holder will be required to have a flexible approach to shifts and weekend working.

 The post holder must ensure that their duties and responsibilities are conducted in a manner consistent with the Group’s value statements, equal opportunities policy, Health and Safety, and code of conduct.

 Other duties as may arise within the scope of this role.

Spire Homes reserves the right to alter the content of this job description to reflect changes to the Association or the services it provides. SPIRE HOMES JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION METHOD OF ASSESSMENT POSITION TITLE: SCHEME ASSISTANT Essential Desirable App Form Interview Assessment EXPERIENCE /KNOWLEDGE  Working with older and vulnerable people     Knowledge of Support Services & Supported Housing     Experience of completing person centred needs & risk assessments     Experience of developing support plans and conducting support visits     Experience of inter-agency working      Experience of completing Health & Safety checks and reporting repairs     Experience of facilitating involvement and community activities     Customer Care     QUALIFICATIONS  Good level of literacy and numeracy      Any relevant care, support or housing qualification    SKILLS  Effective Communication      Calm under pressure      Accurate record keeping and strong administration skills      Time management and organisation      Friendly and approachable with firm boundaries      Ability to work as part of a team      Proactive using own initiative      Broad and confident skills in ICT   

V1 –Feb 2015 Page 7 of 8 METHOD OF ASSESSMENT POSITION TITLE: SCHEME ASSISTANT Essential Desirable App Form Interview Assessment

GENERAL  UK Driving Licence and / or access to vehicle at all times    Reasonable travelling distance of Rutland    Commitment to Equal Opportunities and Diversity    Flexible approach to shifts and weekend working  

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