Application Pack
Thank you for your interest in Crisis
Before you start filling out your application form, please take the time to read through this information and the job description carefully. If anything is unclear, please get in touch - we’re always happy to help.
If you would like more information or to find out about employment support available from a Crisis Work and Learning or Job Coach, please contact your local Crisis Skylight. Contact details can be found at the end of this pack.
Crisis
Crisis has over 500 employees in a variety of roles across the UK. We have 11 Crisis Skylights which are based in Birmingham, Coventry & Warwickshire, Brent, Croydon, Edinburgh, London, Merseyside, Newcastle, Oxford, South Wales and South Yorkshire.
Our head office is in London where we have staff working in roles in fundraising, research, campaigning, policy and many others. We also have four charity shops in London.
Crisis Trainee Scheme
Crisis trainee scheme posts are 18-month fixed-term contract which is paid and full time. Trainees will work in one of our teams and take part in training and development, including working towards a relevant qualification.
In 2017 Crisis is recruiting 5 trainees:
One Trainee Fundraiser
Four Trainee Progression Coaches based in Crisis Skylights in Coventry, London, Merseyside and Newcastle
The trainee placements focus is to provide experience and training that will prepare trainees to go on to further employment after their placement at Crisis.
Who can apply for the scheme?
The Crisis trainee scheme is for people with lived experience of homelessness.
The trainee scheme is open to anyone who has personal experience of having been homeless and who is a current Crisis Member or anyone who has accessed other homelessness services within the last two years.
Applicants to the Crisis trainee scheme must be able to meet the person specification for the trainee role they are applying for.
We want trainees to get the most out of their placement and complete the full placement. Candidates should read the Job Description carefully and consider how taking on a full time job will affect them including any financial, housing or health-related factors. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact your local Skylight for help.
The trainee roles will require good literacy, numeracy and IT skills. This means you will need to have the level of ability to carry out the tasks for the role.
Most importantly we are looking for people with the passion and commitment to take on a trainee role and make the most of the 18-month opportunity.
Why have a trainee scheme?
Crisis is committed to ensuring that people with lived experience of homelessness are involved in developing and delivering our services.
In our last staff survey 24% of people who responded had experience of homelessness. We know that people employed with us who have lived experience of homelessness bring unique skills, knowledge and experience and can improve the way Crisis works.
We know many of our members are interested in working in the homelessness sector and we want to maintain Crisis’s high standards of employment while providing accessible employment opportunities for people with experience of homelessness.
Training and accreditation
Trainees will be members of staff and take part in the Crisis induction and core training (including Health and Safety Awareness, Safeguarding and Data Protection).
In addition trainees will take part in regular development training to support them in their role and to build new skills.
Trainees will work towards a relevant accreditation:
Trainee Progression Coaches – Information, Advice and Guidance Level 3
Trainee Fundraiser – Introductory Certificate in Fundraising from the Institute of Fundraising
Support
As well as having a line manager, trainees will have a mentor at Crisis. Mentors will support trainees to make the transition into fulltime employment at Crisis and deal with life issues that impact on their work. Mentors will also give trainees practical support to prepare for moving on after their placement at Crisis.
Crisis trainees will be paid members of staff and will not be able to continue as members of Crisis once they start their placement. There will be support from your mentor and line managers to make the transition into this role and if you choose to you will be able to access some Crisis services for a limited period to support you in maintaining your employment, for example housing support to find or sustain a new tenancy.
Moving on
There is no guarantee of a job at the end of the placement but the trainee will have gained a year’s experience and a qualification. Trainees will receive support from a mentor who will work with them throughout their placement year to develop their employability skills and, towards the end of the placement, will support the trainee to plan and take practical action to achieve their employment goals.
Why work for Crisis
By working for Crisis you will be contributing to our mission to end homelessness and making a real difference in people’s lives.
We think Crisis is a great place to work. In our most recent staff survey nearly all our staff said they would recommend Crisis as a good organization to work for.
We also offer an attractive range of benefits including:
· Interest free season ticket loan
· Interest free bicycle loan
· Rent deposit loan scheme
· Childcare voucher scheme
· 8% employer contribution pension
· 25 days annual leave
· Employee assistance programme
· A commitment to staff training and development
Our Values
The work we do is varied and different jobs require different skills. But whatever the role, we all base our work and behaviour around these six values:
Inspiration
We can and we do change the lives of homeless people. Through this work we inspire others to help end homelessness.
Integrity through knowledge
Our integrity is grounded in our unique knowledge base, which comes from our research and years of working directly with thousands of homeless people.
Dignity
By giving people the tools to help themselves out of homelessness, we uphold their dignity. We act with compassion, a sense of common decency, and with humanity.
Fearlessness through independence
Our independence grants us not just the ability, but also the responsibility to be fearless and say what needs to be said to help homeless people.
Adaptability
We are curious, creative and adaptive, willing to change what we do when we know what works – and what does not.
Resolve to end homelessness
Be it through anger or compassion, we draw our resolve from the injustice that is homelessness in 21st century Britain.
Application process
The application
Make time to complete the application form fully. Do not underestimate how long this will take.
We use an online application which can be accessed at this web address:
www.crisis.org.uk/pages/jobs-at-crisis.html and clicking on Online Recruitment Portal
You can then search vacancies to find the trainee job adverts.
Instructions for completing the form are all online too.
We will not accept CVs so please do not send one in place of an application form. Only the information provided on the application form will be considered.
Please read all the information and questions carefully and try to answer as thoroughly as you can.
Check your work – make sure that you have completed all of the sections in the application.
If there are questions in this form that do not apply to you then just write N/A (not applicable) in the box.
Please note when completing your application that it will not save automatically. It is a good idea to save your answers in a Word document and copy and paste into the online form when you are ready.
Please ensure that you submit your application before the closing date and time. We will not accept applications received after the closing date.
Explaining gaps in your work history
One of the aims of our trainee scheme is to provide a route into employment for trainees who have been out of work or who have never worked, so we understand you may have periods where you were not working. Please make sure you let us know about any gaps in your work history and the reasons for them. These may be due to things such as periods of homelessness, education, caring responsibilities, travelling, being in prison or while you were looking for work. Please provide dates and information to help clarify the situation. If you have been involved in any learning or personal development activities in that time, such as studying or volunteering, please give us details.
We believe that personal experience of homelessness can give you valuable insight into working in the sector. We would encourage you to take your time answering this section, and to be honest with us.
Personal Statement: demonstrating your skills, knowledge and experience
This is the most important section of your application – you will be shortlisted for interview mostly based on the information you provide in this section.
We are looking for people who show excellent potential and who can show transferable skills, not necessarily someone who has worked in a similar position. You can use examples from any area of your life such as volunteering, organising personal events or activities and helping out friends or family.
You need to write a separate answer for each point in the person specification. Your answers should clearly demonstrate how you meet each point, taking into account the job you are applying for.
Provide examples from your personal, professional or academic experience, demonstrating that you possess the specific skills, knowledge, attitude or experience required. In doing this you should consider how the requirement relates to the job description.
Make sure you don’t just repeat the point from the person specification. For example, it is easy to say that you have worked in a team but it is more effective to give examples of the skills you used and the achievements you made.
Address your answer to every essential requirement in the person specification. For each person specification criteria please complete your answer in the corresponding numbered box.
Present your information neatly, clearly and succinctly.
Providing referees
Please give the names and addresses of two referees who should not be related to you. One of these must be your present or most recent employer or supervisor if you have had one.
Referees should be able give their opinion on how suitable you are for the role, based on your skills and abilities. Some examples of other referees that you might use are:
· key worker
· teacher
· hostel manager
· outreach worker
· volunteer supervisor
· probation officer
We will not accept personal references from friends or family, except in exceptional circumstances.
If you are not sure who could act as a referee for you, please contact us and we would be happy to help. Referees will not be contacted until an offer of employment has been made.
Declaring convictions
We promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome applicants from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience.
Your criminal record will only be taken into account if the conviction is relevant to the position you are applying for. We will not disregard your application because you have a conviction but we will need to consider the circumstances and the background of the offence in relation to the particular requirements of the job.
If shortlisted for interview you will need to inform us of any conviction(s) and prosecutions pending. Please give full details of the offence and the outcome and send it for the attention of the Head of HR, Crisis, 66 Commercial Street, London E1 6LT. This information will only be considered in the event that we would like to offer you the role. We guarantee that this information is only seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.
And finally...
Please note this role is being advertised for six weeks and you will not hear from us until after the closing date.
Once we have shortlisted, usually within ten days of the closing date, we will be in touch to let you know whether or not you have been selected for interview.
If you have not been selected for interview, or if you are unsuccessful at interview stage, we are more than happy to provide feedback on your application. We want to ensure that you have a positive experience of applying for a job at Crisis and if we can help you make your next application even better we’re happy to help!
Thank you and good luck!
Contact details:
If you have any queries relating to the online application process, please contact the HR team either by emailing or by calling 020 7426 3814.
All current Crisis vacancies can be found at www.crisis.org.uk/pages/jobs-at-crisis.html and clicking on Online Recruitment Portal