Job Description

Job title:Peer support development worker

Main purpose and scope of the job: Todeliver a2-year ‘peer support development project’ funded by the Legal Education Foundation and Trust for London.

Reporting to: Lasa’s Head of Services

Main responsibilities:

  • Take lead responsibility for the development and delivery of a new peer support project, to be delivered through Lasa’s rightsnet website.
  • Develop project resources to support the delivery of structured learning and informal group sessions; one-to-one mentoring and support; and online learning and support.
  • Engage with frontline organisations to encourage and facilitate their participation in the project.
  • Work with advice and information providers in frontline organisations to identify and address the barriers to them taking advantage of online peer-to-peer case work support.
  • Work with frontline advice and information providers to improve skills and confidence to help them get the best results for their clients.
  • Be an ambassador amongst frontline organisations for the benefits that technology can offer in boosting organisational capacity todeliversocial welfare law services.
  • Develop and use social networks and other channels to support project delivery and the marketing and promotion of project services.
  • Maintain an interest in how information technology developments can assist in the delivery of advice services.
  • Ensure that the service is delivered to the highest standard, is accessible and quality assured and delivered in accordance with funder requirements.
  • Develop and maintain evaluation and monitoring procedures for the project.

Other Duties:

  • Contribute to Lasa activities as appropriate, including ensuring the project’scontribution to Lasa’s strategic planning process.
  • Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
  • Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
  • Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
  • Treat with confidentiality any personal, private or sensitive information about individual organisations and/or clients or staff etc.
  • Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the post.

Person Specification

This person specification sets out the essential, minimum qualities we are seeking for this post. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the criteria. You may include voluntary, unpaid and paid work.

You will have –

  • At least 2 years’ experience of working in the advice sector or a similarsetting.
  • The ability to take a lead role in project management and the development of project resources.
  • A good understanding of frontline social welfare lawadvisers’ learning and development needs, and experience of working with people to support their professional development.
  • An understanding of how information technology developments can support the delivery of advice services.
  • Exceptional command of written English, including the ability to convey complex material in plain English, excellent summarising and paraphrasing skills, and a good sensitivity to target audience.
  • Excellent verbal communication and presentation skills.
  • Good IT skills – in particular in relation to use of the internet - and the ability to develop new skills – for example in the use of web administration software.
  • The ability tobuild relationships with, andencourage and facilitate use of the service by, advisers and related professionals.
  • An ability to contribute to the continued development of the service,
  • Capacity to work well under pressure, and to prioritise and work to strict deadlines.
  • The ability to work well on own, and experience of managing own workload.
  • Very strong interpersonal and team working skills.
  • Ability to promote Lasa services.
  • An understanding of and commitment to Lasa’s equal opportunities policy and how this relates to service delivery.

September 2015