Job pack
Information and Advice Worker Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham
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404 ID9 This pack contains the following sections:
1) About Age UK
2) What we do
3) Our story
4) Equalities and diversity policy
5) How to apply
6) Role description
7) Our competency framework
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About Age UK
Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged. The Age UK family includes Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI and there are also more than 170 local Age UKs. The creation of Age UK means that a stronger, leaner and fitter organisation is ready to deliver better outcomes for older people, especially during a time of very substantive spending cuts and unprecedented economic uncertainty. In the future, it will be more important than ever for older people to have a strong champion working with them and on their behalf. Our aim is to establish Age UK as the pre-eminent organisation for people in later life – and we are pleased with the progress we have made in our first year and a half. The new organisation we created in April 2009 brings together almost 120 years of combined history of working with and for older people.
1940: The Old People’s Welfare Committee (renamed the National Old People’s Welfare Committee [NOPWC]) is formed to help vulnerable older people.
1961: The Help the Aged Refugees Appeal (renamed Help the Aged) is set up to help older refugees. Later it expands to include UK projects including housing.
1970s: Age Concern begins to develop services for older people from ethnic minorities.
Help the Aged develops successful fundraising and awareness-raising initiatives, including Adopt a Granny and Gifted Housing. Twelve specially adapted minibuses are donated to community groups.
1971: The NOPWC is renamed Age Concern. As time goes on many local groups take on the name 1973: Yours, the first national monthly newsletter for older people, is published by Help the Aged.
1977: Help the Aged (Trading) Ltd is launched
1980s: Age Concern becomes a national agent for local job-creation and training schemes and highlights the plight of unemployed older people.
Help the Aged continues fundraising through national appeals including the launch of the Seniorlink personal alarm.
1990s: Age Concern and Help the Aged launch websites. 3
Help the Aged’s free telephone advice line, SeniorLine, and the Handy Van home safety and security services are launched.
1998: The Heating or Eating appeal raises over £1 million, leading to the Government’s decision to make winter fuel payments to older people.
2000–present: Help the Aged’s successful campaigns include the Just Equal campaign to end age discrimination and a campaign against elder abuse.
2000: Age Concerns form a federation of autonomous but interdependent organizations. Age Concern England, as the national federation member provides support and leadership in areas like campaigning and policy.
2001: Help the Aged merges with Research into Ageing.
2006: Help the Aged launches Cows ’n’ Things, an ethical gift range to support their overseas work.
2007: Help the Aged launches Intune, a company specializing in financial products for the over-50s, and engage, a business network helping companies to become age- positive.
2009: On 1 April Age Concern England and Help the Aged merge to create a new charity dedicated to improving later life for everyone.
2010: The charity is now known as Age UK.
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About Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham
We have been working for older people for over twenty seven years and provide a wide range of practical services and activities that promote wellbeing and independence. We aim to promote the wellbeing of older people and to help make their life fulfilling and enjoyable experience and we are committed to reducing poverty and fighting disadvantage, defeating ageism and recognising diversity, addressing social exclusion and promoting more effective and responsive public services for older people.
Our vision
A community in which older people flourish and where older people will
• Be equal citizens with equal rights • Have enough money for a secure and decent life, and have access as consumers to the products and services they need at a price they can afford • Have access to the healthcare and social care they need • Have the opportunity to live healthier longer lives and to enjoy a sense of well- being • Live in homes and neighbourhoods that are safe and comfortable and which enable them to lead fulfilling lives • Have opportunities to participate and contribute as volunteers, active citizens, good neighbours, family members, and workers • Enjoy the benefits of longer life, wherever
Our mission
Our aim is to improve the quality of life and promote a positive view of all older people in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Our values
The older person is at the center of all we do. We encourage and enable the active participation of older people in the development and design of our services and we strive to create a supportive environment within which people can develop and realize their individual and collective potential.
Enabling We assist older people to live independently and exercise choice
Influential We draw strength from the voices of older people and ensure those voices are heard
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Dynamic We are innovative and driven by results and constantly deliver for older people
Caring We are passionate about what we do and care about each individual
Expert We are authoritative, trusted and quality orientated
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About Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham
Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham is a Company Limited by Guarantee governed by its Memorandum and Articles of Association. In November 2011 we rebranded and became Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham (we were previously known as Age Concern Hammersmith and Fulham).
We are registered as a charity with the Charity Commission and we are one of the leading voluntary sector providers of services to older people in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.
Our vision We believe in a world where everyone can love later life. Age UK is here to inspire, enable and support older people to help people make the most of later life.
Our mission To ensure that everyone in Hammersmith and Fulham has the opportunity to make the most of later life, whatever their circumstances, wants and needs.
Our delivery of this aim is guided by three key objectives:
1. To enable and support older people in Hammersmith and Fulham to love later life and change it for the better, to stay independent and keep doing the things that they enjoy.
2. To be the voice of older people in Hammersmith and Fulham, influencing decision makers and raising awareness of the contribution that people in later life make to our community.
3. To ensure that older people benefit from a well-run, sustainable organization that involves them in the running and design of services
Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham have substantially increased the range of services offered to people in later life. Currently we provide and facilitate:
• Active Age activities that include a Community Café, Cyber Café, • Information and Advice Service • Campaigning and influencing – Local and Vocal Project • In Touch Befriending Scheme • Upcycling Project and Charity Shop
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Equalities and diversity policy
Equalities, diversity and disability are areas of great importance to Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham. It is fundamental that people are treated fairly with respect and dignity. Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham will not tolerate any discrimination, victimisation or harassment on the grounds of age, disability, gender or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation.
Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham will strive to take all practical steps to prevent discrimination (on any basis) and promote equality during the course of its work, providing a supportive, challenging and empowering environment for all. We will monitor the conduct of actions taken under the framework of all our policies, including recruitment, in order to identify inequalities and formulate plans to address them, ensuring fairness of treatment at work under the 2010 Equality Act and our cultural values.
Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham recognises that every person has different needs, preferences and abilities and we must reflect this diversity in everything we do. This includes making our services and products inclusive and accessible to older people from all sections of the community and attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. By positively valuing these differences and harnessing different life experiences, attributes and contributions Age UK will be a better place to work.
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How to apply
Please ensure that your supporting statement demonstrates how your experience‚ skills and abilities meet the selection criteria set out in the Job Description and Person Specification. These can be found in the next section of this pack.
Your CV and supporting statement should be sent to:
Derec Craig
Email [email protected]
Please ensure you clearly identify the post that you are applying for.
Applications received after that time will not normally be considered for short listing.
We will email applicants who are short-listed but due to the high cost of postage‚ we regret we shall not be able to write personally to applicants who are not short-listed.
Interview Process
If you are successful we will write to you as soon as possible after the closing date to let you know what the interview process will entail.
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Job Description
Job Title: Information and Advice Worker Manager
Hours: 14 hours per week
Salary: £25,000 pro rata
Reporting to: Operations Manager
Responsible for: Information and Advice Volunteer
Annual Leave: 26 Days (pro rata)
Location: 105 Greyhound Road, London W12 8NJ
Purpose of the job
To be responsible for the delivering the Information and advice service for the older people of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham.
Job Purpose:
To be responsible for the running and provision of an Information and Advice service for the older people of the London Borough of Hammersmith
Main Tasks
• Interview clients in person or by telephone. • Explore the nature of the problem raised by the person and, where appropriate, their wider circumstances. • Identify and research information relevant to the clients’ situation, drawing on information resources available. • Present and discuss information with the client in an accessible form, enabling them to identify a suitable solution. • Where appropriate and at the clients’ request, to act on their behalf and represent their interests with third parties by letter, telephone or in person. • Inform people about services that may be available to them and how to access them, including Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham’s services; and where appropriate to refer people to other agencies and sources of help. • Give help with letter writing and completing forms. • Maintain statistical and case records using manual and electronic systems. • Liaise closely with the Operations Manager other Information and Advice Worker, seeking advice, guidance and support where required. • Where appropriate, to work with other relevant local agencies in developing information & advice services. • Participate in training sessions and meetings as necessary. • Develop a working knowledge of the information and office systems supporting the service, use them effectively and contribute to their improvement. • Keep up-to-date with relevant laws, policies and procedures – locally and nationally.
General
• Attend meetings and training courses as required, including regular supervision meetings and annual appraisal with the Operations Manager
• Undertake from time to time such other tasks as may be required including administrative duties in connection with the post
• Uphold and implement the policies and procedures of Age UK throughout all aspects of the work of the organisation
• To provide a high level of customer service at all times
• To use his/her initiative, work effectively with others and maintain confidentiality
• To comply with all Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham’s policies and procedures
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• Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham is committed to achieving Equality of Opportunity in its activities, services and employment – the post holder will demonstrate commitment to Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham ’s policies on equalities and promote these in all aspects of the work
• To undertake other duties as may be reasonably required by the Chief Executive or Board in the pursuit of the aims and objectives of Age UK
• Carry out tasks according to Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham’s policies, procedures and standards, in particular on confidentiality, anti-discriminatory policies and Health & safety. • • Work as part of a team with other Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham District volunteers and staff.
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• Hammersmith and Fulham
The Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham Competency Framework
Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham have 5 core competencies. These have been developed to shape our culture through the way we work. These are:
• Achieving Results
• Effective Communication
• Championing Age UK Hammersmith and Fulham
• Focusing On The Customer
• Change & Innovation
Note that as part of our recruitment process you may be asked competency based questions in your interview.
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