Has your considerable experience of providing telephone and email advice, possibly including having worked in a housing related environment, given you the ability to work with a wide variety of stakeholders both statutory and non-statutory? Then join Shelter Scotland on a fixed-term contract as a Senior Empty Homes Adviser and you could soon be playing a leading role within our Empty Homes Advice Service.

About Shelter Scotland

A home is a fundamental human need, as essential as education or healthcare. Yet over a million people in Scotland struggle on a daily basis with homelessness, bad housing conditions, soaring rents, discrimination and the threat of eviction. So, we are striving for change, with individuals, in communities, across society, and leading the way to a safe home. We need ambitious, best-in-class individuals who are passionate about our cause to join us at this exciting time. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

At Shelter Scotland we are united by our purpose to defend the right to a safe home. Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. We believe that to win that fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement for change. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent.

We have committed to combat racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland and welcome you on our journey to becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.

About the Team

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is hosted by Shelter Scotland, and has been funded by the Scottish Government since 2010. The current funding commitment runs until end of March 2024. The Partnership works to deliver a number of strategic objectives. These include helping to implement its Housing to 2040 strategy and encouraging every Local Authority to adopt a strategic approach to bringing empty homes back into use. Another key objective is the delivery of an Empty Homes Advice Service (EHAS) that takes queries from members of the public, as well as practitioners engaged in empty homes work.

About the role

As Senior Empty Homes Adviser, you’ll be responsible for the effective delivery of the Advice Service and the line management of an Adviser, delivering a professional, impartial, pragmatic and outcome focused telephone and email advice service to empty homeowners, those with concerns about, or interested in buying and renovating, empty homes, plus empty homes practitioners. Highlighting key themes, trends and barriers and best practice to colleagues in the Partnership to support the overall project aims will be an important aspect of the role, as will supporting the work of the wider Partnership. Gathering and analysing data, providing evidence-based information and leading activities which market the service – all are aspects of this interesting and varied role.

About you

Your proven relevant background will need to include some experience of staff supervision. You should also be able to manage your time effectively to prioritise different areas of your work to meet project objectives. Confident in your ability to interact effectively with professionals and members of the public using your strong soft communication skills, proficiency using casework recording systems, or a willingness to learn new IT systems, is also required.

How to apply

Please click the link below to apply. You are required to submit a CV and a supporting statement. The supporting statement should include responses to the ‘About You’ points in the job description of no more than 350 words each. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviour below throughout your responses:

We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

Any applications submitted without a supporting statement will not be considered.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (pro rata), enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter Scotland helps over half a million people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help.

To find out more about the role and the benefits of working for Shelter Scotland please visit our website. Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Safeguarding is everyone’s business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

The role of Practitioner in our women's services is vital to help us achieve our aim of ensuring, everyone has a home, a place in their community and a network of positive relationships that, support them to build the life they want.

Practitioners recognise people’s strengths and work alongside them to build their confidence, self-efficacy, resilience, and motivation and help them feel safe and to heal from trauma they have experienced. Practitioners also support people to develop practical skills, maximise them, income, develop healthier coping skills, problem solving skills, social skills, and employability skills that will assist them in creating the life they want.

This role will be within one of our women's accommodation services supporting women who. have experienced domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence and will require shift working.

About you:

• To be proactive, highly organised, a problem solver, have a positive outlook, be approachable, friendly, patient, confident.
• Experience of working within a safeguarding framework working with vulnerable people who may have complex support needs.
• Strong personal and professional values that align with our organisational values of integrity, excellence, dignity, and support.
• Good understanding of domestic abuse and other forms of gender-based violence, homelessness, trauma, and adversity and how it impacts life outcomes.
• A commitment to learning and developing and putting this into practice.
• A commitment to individual supervision and appraisal processes and motivated to action the personal development plans.
• Membership of regulatory bodies required of the role and application of the codes and standards to their practice.
• Experience as a keyworker and commitment to undertaking all duties required of this role.
• Experience of completing casefiles to ensure they are up to date with clear and concise information.
• A commitment to learning and developing and putting knowledge and skills into practice.
• Regular attendance at reflective practice group sessions, engagement in regular casework review meeting with the Senior Practitioner or Service Manager.
• Engaged in the wider organisation’s activities, commitment to working in partnership with other organisations and professionals to support people.
• Honest, trustworthy, and respectful to colleagues, people they support, partners, commissioners, and all other stakeholders.
• Committed to excellence and engage in improvement plans for the services and wider organisation.
• Keep up to date with and follow and apply policies and procedures, standards, and codes of practice.
• Proficiency using a range of IT tools to carry out your work, including using case management systems, Microsoft Office applications, the Internet and email.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with people who use our services, colleagues, and partners.
• Have a good standard of English and maths and able to produce clear written communications in the form of case notes, reports, diary entries, case studies timeously.

The Organisation’s benefits to Practitioners:

• 35 days holiday, rising to 40 after 5 years.
• Pension with People’s Pension (employees 3%; employers 5%)
• Access to advice and support through our Employee Assistance Programme
• 15% shop staff discount plus free delivery for items purchased in our furniture store.
• Access shop discount offers.
• 20% café discount (food and soft drinks)
• Access to a staff support fund to help with unexpected one-off costs.
• Free travel costs (up to £100) for the first month of employment for those joining from education or unemployment
• Involvement in Four Square’s strategy planning

We are looking for a skilled digital communications professional to join our team.

Could you help to raise our profile, support our relationships and motivate a wide range of audiences to get behind our mission to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness?

About the role

You will develop our digital and off-line content to raise awareness of our work, tell our stories, positively contribute to public debate surrounding homelessness and social exclusion, and support Cyrenians appeals to raise vital donations. This will include gathering information from across the organisation and developing clear and impactful communications.

About you

You will be highly organised, at ease working within a busy working environment and have the ability to multi-task and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines. You should have a creative approach, excellent communication skills, an eye for detail and confidence to work across a range of platforms.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about digital communications and have the ability to demonstrate Cyrenians values of compassion, respect, integrity and innovation in the work that you do.

How we'll support you

As part of the Relationships Team, you’ll be collaborating with experienced colleagues who share your passion to tackle homelessness and its root causes. You’ll be directly supported by the Marketing and Communications Manager and the Senior Relationships Manager, whilst also working closely with colleagues from across the organisation. You will have the opportunity to attend training and networking events to further your network, keep up to date with developments in digital communications and deepen your knowledge of the issues surrounding homelessness and social exclusion.

You’ll also have access to wider Cyrenians support, including our learning and development programme, and staff wellbeing services.

About us

At Cyrenians we tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness. We understand that there are many routes into homelessness, and that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to supporting people towards more positive and stable futures. That’s why all our work is values-led and relationship-based.

Read more about our values here.

Website: cyrenians.scot