Job: Development and Skills Coordinator

Job purpose

• The key task for this role is to manage a caseload of up to 22 companions and to ensure that new companions receive the information and support they need to help them settle quickly and easily into our community and actively contribute to Emmaus Bolton Social Enterprise.
• The development and skills co-ordinator role is central to the Emmaus Bolton team and close effective teamwork is essential.
• The development and skills co-ordinator will undertake direct support work with Companions, developing personal support and development plans to help achievement of their personal goals and ambitions.
• Ensuring compliance with Bolton Emmaus ethos, strategic aims, organisational objectives, policies and procedures is essential to the success of this role.

Principal accountabilities
1. Companions:
a. Assist the Community Manager with administration of the companion referral process.
b. Manage a caseload of up to 22 companions to reach their potential through both practical and emotional support, acknowledging they may be struggling with addictions, mental health and wider health and wellbeing issues.
c. Tailor plans to meet individual needs – setting goals, assigning actions and taking a holistic view of each person and their aspirations.
d. Facilitate and encourage in-house and external training and development for companions.
e. Guide induction and exit processes for companions – to ensure that they understand the core principles of the offer at Emmaus with a view to move onto long term, sustainable accommodation.
f. Support companions in making and attending appointments (e.g. health, legal, housing, training, benefit-related).
g. Assist with incident response, including responding to risk, e.g. anti-social behaviour, mental health concerns etc.
h. Liaise with external providers to ensure that specialist advice and guidance is sought where needed.

2. Operational:
a. Use Inform (CRM) to maintain accurate records in line with internal policy and with consideration for GDPR principles.
b. Assist in the effective running of the community.
c. In the absence of the Community Manager provide companion updates at the weekly staff meetings.
d. Ensure activities meet and integrate with organisational requirements for quality management, health and safety, legislation, best practice standards, policies and general duty of care and professional boundaries

3. Staff and Volunteers:
a. Be flexible and willing to carry out any reasonable duties needed to assist the community and business operations, including assisting in business operations, holiday/sickness cover and on-call duties, participation in team meetings, attending 1:1’s and appraisals
b. Assist with the effective implementation and ongoing compliance with Emmaus Bolton’s policies and procedures.

4. General Requirements
a. Act as a representative of Emmaus Bolton and maintaining a positive the Community reputation.
b. Act in accordance with Emmaus Boltons ethos on reuse and environmental policy.
c. Adopt a flexible approach to occasionally undertake tasks requested by the management team.
d. A willingness to work flexible hours when needed.

Person Specification
Essential Experience

• Recent proven experience supporting vulnerable adults with varying complex needs (which may include drug, alcohol or other addiction; mental health issues) to achieve their goals, using a person-centred approach.
• Ability to deliver effective support sessions and deal effectively with challenging behaviours.
• Knowledge of legislation and best practice standards relating to homelessness, housing and social inclusion and their application within the charity sector.
• Experience of building strong interagency relationships.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal and listening skills.
• Willingness to work flexibly within a team environment.
• Conflict resolution and de-escalation knowledge, skills and competence.
• Experience to include some/all of the following - counselling, support work, social work, healthcare, mental health, housing
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development, e.g., drug and alcohol awareness, safeguarding, health and safety, first aid, managing challenging behaviour.
• Information technology skills to include word, excel, email and use of websites.

Personal Attributes

• Proven experience of effective team working.
• Commitment to attending training and progressing personal development opportunities.
• Experience of maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality
• Can demonstrate ability to identify and manage own priorities and conflicting schedule demands
• Flexible and adaptable to meet the ongoing need of the community and business.
• Enthusiastic, with the ability to recognise, respond and adapt to change
• Strong emotional resilience and able to identify when external support is needed for self and others

Terms of Employment
Development and skills officer Salary: £26,500-28,000
Hours of Work: 37 hours per week
Work pattern: Normal – Monday to Friday
Holidays: 25 Days per year (+ bank holidays)
Training & Development: A full induction and training in all relevant areas
An Enhanced DBS check will be required