Recruitment Pack

Neighbourhood Housing Assistant Part Time, Job Share – 18.5hrs per week Wellingborough Homes

July 2016

Wellingborough Homes 9f Silver Street Wellingborough NN8 1BQ Email : [email protected] www.wellingboroughhomes.org

Contents

Page No. 1. About Wellingborough Homes ........................................................................................ 3 2. Job Advert....................................................................................................................... 4 3. The Role ...................................................................................................................... 5-7 4. Remuneration, terms and conditions .............................................................................. 8 5. The recruitment timetable ............................................................................................... 8 6. Further information.......................................................................................................... 8 7. How to apply ................................................................................................................... 8 Appendix one – diversity monitoring and declaration form............................................. 9-10

1. About Wellingborough Homes Wellingborough Homes is a not for profit housing association. Mission and Objectives Our mission sums up what we’re all about: Wellingborough Homes will work successfully with its customers and communities to provide great services and high-quality living environments. To deliver this mission, we have a five-year corporate plan underpinned by six strategic objectives, to:      

produce and use effective, high quality, accurate and timely data establish an investment measure for social and financial return ensure investments generate optimum social and financial value reduce costs and drive efficiency ensure operational performance is maintained at a high level develop key strategies.

Meeting these objectives will make us a well-run housing association that:      

is efficient and provides quality, value-for-money services for its customers undertakes its core business of letting and managing homes with a high degree of competency makes a significant contribution to increasing the supply of affordable housing in Wellingborough looks after its existing homes and invests wisely in them and the areas where they’re located understands the communities we work in and contributes intelligently to supporting them as a good neighbour. is swift and fleet of foot so we can respond rapidly to opportunities or threats

2. The Job Advert

Neighbourhood Housing Assistant FTE Salary: £18,945.52

Pro Rata Salary: £9,472.76

Hours: 18.5hrs per week

Salary Band: 4

Wednesday: (1.30pm – 5.00pm)

Thursday – Friday: (8.30am – 5.00pm)

A fantastic opportunity has arisen for a Neighbourhood Housing Assistant to join our neighbourhood housing services team. As a Neighbourhood Housing Assistant you will be carrying out a wide range of administrative duties to support the housing team to ensure that the Association provides a high level of customer service - we’ve been given an opportunity to create something dynamic, different and vibrant for Wellingborough. And we’re working hard to make that happen. Your responsibilities will include: 

Providing general administrative support including answering telephone calls and dealing with customer queries, attending meetings (occasionally out of hours) and taking minutes, co-ordinating lettings & mutual exchanges, preparing tenancy references whilst supporting the neighbourhood housing team with general administrative tasks. The use of spread-sheets, photocopying, filing, faxing and scanning; and undertaking delegated tasks to ensure continuity and a seamless customer service.



Assisting with the preparation of neighbourhood plans, customer and estate profiling.



Updating and maintaining, accurate computer and manual records including the input of data.



Updating rent accounts in respect of Housing Benefit and Universal Credit entitlement.

You don’t have to have housing experience for this role but you do need to be passionate about helping us achieve our goals, highly proactive with a positive attitude and you want to learn and to develop new skills, To be considered for this post you must be able to demonstrate in your application form: 

Experience in an administrative role



Proficient in a range of computer packages including Word and Excel



Excellent communication skills, comfortable with face to face and telephone interactions



Attention to detail, and able to work with multiple deadlines



Be a real team player, happy to roll up your sleeves and pitch in whenever duty calls.

CLOSING DATE: Your completed CV, Supporting Statement and Diversity Monitoring & Declaration form must arrive no later than 12 noon on Monday 25th July 2016. INTERVIEW DATE: TBC

3. The Role

Wellingborough Homes Job Description Post Title:

Neighbourhood Housing Assistant

Salary Band

4

Responsible to:

Neighbourhood Housing Team Leader

Responsible for:

None

Main purpose of the Job: 1. Delivering a high performing, customer focused, housing management service within a given geographical area. 2. Assist in the delivery of day to day neighbourhood housing services within your area. This includes:       

Allocations and void management (general needs) Leasehold, shared ownership and market rent management Income management (all stock except IMA/HMO) Tenancy, estate and neighbourhood management (general needs) Anti-social behaviour (general needs) Customer involvement and community investment All relevant administrative duties in support of an area team and the Neighbourhood Housing Manager.

3. Help the association meet its corporate objectives by delivery of a range of customer focused housing related services.

Key Achievement Areas: 1. Assist in delivery of high quality housing management services within a defined geographical area, ensuring the provision of a high performing customer orientated service, ensuring the service meets the needs of, and is accessible to all customers. 2. Assist in day to day management of the Association’s general needs housing stock (including leasehold, shared ownership and market rent) within an identified area. 3. Respond promptly when dealing with enquiries from customers, their representatives and internal/external stakeholders. 4. Ensure that general needs accommodation is allocated in accordance with the Association’s Allocation Policy and in accordance with any agreed nomination arrangements with the appropriate local authority. 5. Assist in the management of empty properties; supporting your team in delivering the voids, allocations and lettings process, keeping re-let times to a minimum. 6. Complete the process of advertising properties on Choice Based Lettings systems. 7. Assist in the processing of mutual exchange, succession and assignment requests. 8. Identify and refer concerns in relation to child protection and vulnerable adults in line with safeguarding protocols with the support of your line manager. 9. Complete PCOL applications and subsequent customer court letters that follow this process.

10. Assist in updating rent accounts in respect to housing benefit entitlement and subsequent customer letters that follow this process. 11. Assist in creating a culture of payment amongst our customers. 12. Promote the reporting of ASB, logging all cases on the relevant system within specific timeframes. 13. Work with colleagues across the Association to ensure a seamless service is provided to customers. 14. Provide general administrative support, including answering telephone calls, typing letters, typing meeting minutes photo-copying, filing, faxing and scanning. 15. Assist in the management of team’s calendars, arranging or re-scheduling appointments and meetings at their request. 16. Keep up to date with legislation, regulations and good practice associated with the role. 17. Promote the Association internally and externally so as to ensure a positive external image and a highly motivated workforce. 18. Promote the service by advising on and developing information and publicity material.

Corporate Responsibilities To actively and effectively promote the organisations corporate values of respect, trust, one team, efficient and effective and empowered. Role modelling appropriate behaviours and acting with the highest level of professionalism and integrity. Play an active role in contributing to effective cross team working/departmental projects and provide cover for colleagues as required. To maintain confidentiality with personal information and data regarding our customers, employees and stakeholders at all times ensuring compliance with the Data Protection Policy. To ensure regulatory compliance and effective risk management within your role inline with the Risk Management Policy. To uphold the Associations commitment to Equality and Diversity. To be aware of your personal responsibilities regarding the Health and Safety at Work Act and ensuring that the Associations Health & Safety policy is adhered to in all aspects of your work. Act at all times within the organisation’s rules, policies, procedures, standing orders, financial regulations and Code of Conduct.

Other This profile only contains the main accountabilities relating to the job and does not describe in detail all the duties and tasks required to carry them out. The post holder may be expected to: 

To carry out other duties not specified in the job description that are commensurate with this position, as requested from time to time  Occasionally work outside normal office hours to attend meetings and/or respond to out-of-hours emergencies Job Descriptions are a snapshot of requirements at the time of writing; content may change from time to time to ensure that roles continue to meet the changing needs of the Association.

Wellingborough Homes Person Specification – Neighbourhood Housing Assistant Essential Qualifications

GCSE education or equivalent through relevant training/experience.

Experience

Experience of working in an administration/office role.

Skills/Knowledge/ Behaviours

Good administrative skills.

Other

*A = Application

Desirable

Experience of housing management services. Knowledge and understanding of housing management.

How Assessed* A A/I A/I

Commitment to delivering high quality customer services and commitment to continuous improvement. Good numerical and analytical skills and an ability to understand and interpret information. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

A/I

Understanding and commitment to equality and diversity.

A

Effective and positive relationships and networks with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to work under pressure, dealing with competing priorities.

A/I

Good organisation skills.

A/I

Be committed to Personal Development and Learning plan.

A

Willingness and able to work a flexible working week including some weekends and evenings. Basic DBS Disclosure Statement (acceptable to Wellingborough Homes)

A/I

*I = Interview Stage

A A/I

A/I

A

4. Remuneration, terms and conditions The salary band for this role is 4, starting at £18,945.52 progressing to £20,840.07. Pro Rata actual salary as £9,472.76   

23 days (pro rata) holiday rising to 28 days over 5 years (plus statutory days) Pension: Social Housing Defined Benefit CARE scheme or Social Housing Defined Contribution scheme Local Gym membership

Note: A full statement of the main terms and conditions of employment will be supplied with any formal offer of employment. The above information may be helpful to applicants as a guide, but should not be treated as a substitute for a full contract and are subject to change.

5. The recruitment timetable The recruitment timetable is as follows: Date 12pm on Monday 25th July 2016 TBC

Activity Closing date Interviews

6. Further information If you require any further information about this role please contact a member of HR team in the first instance on 01933 231324 or email [email protected]

7. How to apply You are asked to submit the following documents to be considered for this role: i.

A detailed CV (no more than 1,500 words) including details of positions held (and dates); size of budgets, teams managed and key achievements, as well as qualifications.

ii.

A supporting statement (no more than 1,500 words) addressing the Person Specification and evidencing your experience and knowledge.

iii.

Full contact details (name, job title, organisation, phone and email) for two referees (including your current employer). Please note we will not take up references without your prior permission.

iv.

A completed diversity monitoring and declaration form (attached at Appendix One and available in Word format on the Wellingborough Homes website address above). Please note, this information is for monitoring purposes only and will not be seen by the shortlisting panel.

We look forward to receiving your application before 12pm on Monday 25th July 2016.

Appendix One

Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form Wellingborough Homes are committed to promoting equality and valuing diversity. APPLICANTS: The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes to enable us to gain a clear picture of the equality impact of our recruitment and selection policy. SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS/EMPLOYEES: The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes to enable us to undertake Equality Impact Assessments and Audits. POST(s) APPLIED FOR: Year of application:

Month of application:

SURNAME:

NAME:

AGE: _

GENDER IDENTITY at birth Male _ Female _

GENDER IDENTITY today Male _ Female _

DISABILITY STATUS A disability is defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day to day activities”. Disabilities can be hidden and include long-term conditions which can be controlled through medication, for example epilepsy, asthma, heart conditions, diabetes. Do you have a Disability? Yes: _ No: _ SEXUAL ORIENTATION Bi-sexual

_

Gay

_

Heterosexual

_

Lesbian

_

Other

_

Prefer not to say

_

ETHNIC GROUP Choose a section from A to E, then tick one box within that section that best describe your ethnic group or background. A – WHITE Welsh/English/Scottish/Northern Irish/British Irish Gypsy or Irish Traveller Any other White background

B – Mixed/multiple ethnic groups White and Black Caribbean _ White & Black African _ White & Asian _ Any other Mixed/multiple _ ethnic background

_ _ _ _

D – Black/African/Caribbean/Black British African _ Caribbean _ Any other Black/ African/ _ Caribbean background

_

Bangladeshi

_

Chinese

_

Any other Asian background

Arab Any other ethnic group,

_ _

Jewish Muslim

_ _

_ _

Sikh Other

_ _

England, Catholic, Protestant and all other Christian denominations )

Buddhist Hindu

Pakistani

E- Other Ethnic Group

RELIGION OR BELIEF Tick one box that best describes your religion/belief. No religion Christian (including Church of

C – Asian/Asian British Indian _

_ _

What is your employment status? Tick one box to best describe your current status. Career break returner School, college or University leaver Unemployed

_

Employed (full time) Employed (part time)

_ _

_ _

Employed (zero contracted hours or casual) Employed (fixed term/temp)

_

Currently Employed by Wellingborough Homes Apprentice/ Internship Any other

_

_

_ _

Appendix one continued.

DECLARATION BY APPLICANT Criminal Records It is Wellingborough Homes’ policy to require all applicants for employment with Wellingborough Homes to disclose all convictions which would be considered to be “unspent” under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and 1986. The information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to your suitability for the post you are applying for. Offence

Date of Conviction

Sentence

Evaluation of our spend on advertising Where did you first see or hear about this job opportunity (please tick one only): Social Media

Internet Search

Print

Place/event

_ Wellingborough Homes Facebook page

_ Jobs Today website

_Local newspaper

_ Rose Event (job fair)

_ An advert on Facebook

_ Internet Search (e.g. Google)

_ National newspaper Please specify

_ Open day (Wellingborough Homes)

_ Wellingborough Homes Website (job page)

_ LinkedIn

_ Professional journal or magazine

_ Job Centre

_ Twitter

_ Other Jobs Website Please Specify

_ Other

_ Other job/careers fair

Declaration by applicant   

NAME DATE

I confirm that to the best of my knowledge the information provided on this form is accurate and complete. I understand that if any information is found subsequently to be incorrect and/or falsified, any job offer made to me may be withdrawn. I understand that should I commence employment with the company and if any information on this form is found subsequently to be incorrect and/or falsified, I may be subject to disciplinary action which may result in the termination of my employment.