Barnet Centre for Independent Living - Peer Support Broker

Barnet Centre for Independent Living - Peer Support Broker

Salary: £22,000-£24,000 or pro rata for part time

Based in Colindale, NW9 and working in locations across the London Borough of Barnet

About Barnet

Barnet is the second largest borough in London with a large mix of diverse minority ethnic communities and a strong voluntary sector. It encompasses urban centres such as Brent Cross, Golders Green and the Finchleys as well as the Southern fringes of Hertfordshire and has a total population of approx. 320,000.

About Barnet Centre for Independent Living (BCIL)

Empowering people to make informed choices independently.

Barnet Centre for Independent Living is developing as a new, independent, user led, third sector organisation that promotes accessibility for disabled people (including those with mental health problems) by breaking down barriers to employment and social inclusion.

BCIL is developing a range of services for people with any form of additional need, including mental health and issues around aging, living or working in the London Borough of Barnet. It is an independent and safe way for individuals to get information from peers, especially where there could be some hesitancy about contacting the local authority or health service providers.

BCIL will be working with the London Borough of Barnet to deliver support services to customers for the Right to Control. The Right to Control is a new legal right for disabled people. It gives disabled people more choice and control over the support they need to go about their daily lives. Disabled adults living in seven test areas, including the London Borough of Barnet, will be able to combine the support they receive from six different sources and decide how best to spend the funding to meet their needs.Helping to create Support Plans for Right to Control customers and brokering the plans once approved will be a key part of the role.

Purpose of the Job

The main purpose of the Peer Support Broker role is, after comprehensive training, to assist customers with support plans under the Right to Control. They will also provide information and advice about other services and sources of support, and will perform outreach activities in the community and engage with relevant professionals as required.

Reports to:Peer Support Brokerage Team Manager

Main relationships:

• Works with Right to Control customers and individuals with additional needs.
• Liaises internally across the organisation with fellow Peer Support Brokers and with volunteers.
• Builds co-operative relationships with statutory organisations (eg Barnet Council Adult Social Care, Job Centre Plus, Primary Care Trust) and voluntary sector partners (eg local organisations working with vulnerable adults).

Responsibilities and tasks

General Enquiries

• Deals with general enquiries and self-referrals to BCIL.
• Uses the eligibility checklist to determine whether customers are likely to be eligible under Right to Control.
• Refers to the Right to Control multi-disciplinary team where appropriate.
• Participates in holistic assessments with the customer when requested to do so.
• Provides other appropriate referrals to potential funding streams and voluntary sector service providers.

Support Planning

• Establishes what is important to the customer and what outcomes they want to achieve through their support plan.
• Helps the customer develop and design a support plan that shows how they will achieve those outcomes.
• Helps the individual explore what is available and look at different, innovative and creative support options.
• Helps to put arrangements from support plans in place if required.
• Looks at personal support networks and explore how these can be kept in place and developed.
• Translates support plans into a specific format for statutory approval.

Support Sourcing

• Networks with other agencies, organisations and groups to develop a good knowledge of resources and services available – locally, regionally and nationally.
• Researches and provides information about local services, networks and activities, community resources and opportunities in response to needs and aspirations identified through support planning.
• Works with representatives from statutory and non-statutory agencies in order to improve access and outcomes for disabled people.
• Presents a range of service options, with costs, from a range of suppliers.
• Liaises, negotiates and helps to set up serviceswith providers.
• Identifies gaps in service provision and feeds back information to community networks, service development and commissioning colleagues and where appropriate works collaboratively to create new services.

Support Management

• Provides or helps people access technical or specialist advice and support as required. This may include advice about employing and managing staff including obligations in relation to employment law and health and safety, managing finances and direct payments, setting up specialist arrangements or services.
• Provides advice and information to ensure people understand their responsibilities and obligations in managing their personal budget.
• Keeps up to date with relevant legal and regulatory changes.
• Identifies any safeguarding concerns.

Outreach

• Develops ongoing and accessible relationships with service users, being mindful and respectful of diverse cultures and faiths.
• Delivers surgeries and drop-in opportunities in different locations around the borough, and makes home visits where appropriate.

Other duties

• Carries out additional tasks that may be required from time to time to achieve agreed service outcomes and personal appraisal targets, as agreed with the Peer Support Brokerage Manager.
• Undertakes continuous professional development and training, constructively participating in meetings, supervision and other events designed to improve communication and assist with personal skills development within the role.
• Ensures that duties are undertaken with due regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act and other legislation.
• Maintains confidentially of all information and records relating to the work of BCIL and work undertaken for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Person Specification

Essential / Desirable
Experience
Personal lived experience of disability – whether physical or sensory impairment, mental health issues, learning disabilities or issues around older age. / 
Experience in using Word, Excel, Outlook and Powerpoint to organise and communicate effectively / 
Experience of supporting disabled people, both individually and in groups. / 
Experience of providing professional advice or advocacy to vulnerable adults. / 
Experience of working in the voluntary or community sector in a paid or voluntary capacity. / 
Experience of providing accessible services across a range of cultures and faiths. / 
Skills & Abilities (see competency profile)
Delivering quality / 
Managing complexity / 
Customer service / 
Team working / 
Self awareness / 
Adapting to change / 
Confident decision making / 
Professional competence / 
Knowledge & Qualifications
Understanding of independent living philosophy and the social model of disability. / 
Knowledge of self directed support systems, including direct payments and individual budgets. / 
Knowledge of services available to adults with additional needs living and working in the London Borough of Barnet. / 
Knowledge of safeguarding issues for vulnerable adults. / 
Other Requirements
Willingness to undergo necessary training and development / 
Capacity to travel across the Borough / 

Peer Support Brokers – Competency Profile

The following competency profile will be used in recruitment, assessment, selection, development and appraisal of the BCIL Peer Support Brokers.

Task competencies

Delivering Quality

Captures data so that external quality standards are met.

Aware of legislative requirements and ensures that these are addressed.

Abides by relevant policies and procedures for BCIL, being particularly mindful of safeguarding issues.

Proactively identifies improvements that can be made

Pays attention to detail.

Clear on what is needed and gets things done.

Uses resources efficiently.

Managing Complexity

Gathers information from a broad range of sources

Focuses on practical solutions

Generates creative and innovative service options

Picks up new information quickly and understands the implications for BCIL

Effectively negotiates to ensure the work is completed.

People competencies

Customer Service

Knows and communicates what BCIL can offer.

Adopts different communication methods according to need.

Builds listening and responsive relationships with customers and partner organizations.

Uses sensitive questioning so that service users can identify their own solutions.

Understands and values people with different skills and from different social and cultural groups.

Summarises complicated issues in accessible ways.

Communicates well in writing and in person.

Challenges discrimination and barriers to access.

Team Working

Respects and supports members of the team

Listens carefully, asks questions and offers constructive views

Sensitive to group dynamics

Shares information openly and appropriately

Willing to offer help and support to others

Self Management

Self Awareness

Identifies sources of personal stress and acts to minimize them

Effectively balances work and personal life

Recovers quickly from setbacks

Confident and knowledgeable about own strengths and cultural identity

Seeks advice, feedback and help from others

Identifies new skills and knowledge needed to move forward

Adapting to Change

Approaches new tasks with energy and enthusiasm

Remains positive and optimistic in times of change

Open minded and supportive of new ways of doing things

Recovers quickly from setbacks

Relates existing knowledge and skills to new problems

Willing to replan at short notice

Confident Decision Making

Acts consistently and with integrity

Refers decisions upwards when appropriate

Maintains confidentiality

Decisions are transparent

Undertakes tasks independently and with confidence

Prepared to act decisively

Professional Competence

Seeks professional development.

Respected within, and beyond, the team for their skills and knowledge.

Aware of sources of information and services – locally, regionally and nationally.

Proactively stays upto date with developments in local policy and legislation as they apply to BCIL.

SUMMARY OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Job Title:Peer Support Broker – Barnet Centre for Independent Living

Salary Scale:£22,000 - £24,000 per annum depending on experience, or pro rata for job share

Probation Period:3 months

This may be extended at the discretion of the line manager.

Hours:Full time 5 days per week, or part-time hours as agreed.

Expenses:Staff may claim travel expenses, at the agreed rate, for journeys which are necessary in the course of their work. Claims for additional expenses will be reimbursed in accordance of our expense policy.

Annual Leave:26 days per annum, excluding bank holidays

Based at:Colindale, and working in locations across the London Borough of Barnet

Other conditions:To act in accordance with BCIL policies and standards, in particular our Equal Opportunities, Health & Safety and Confidentiality Policies.

GUIDANCE NOTES

This information is available in large print. Other adjustments to the application and interview process can be made, based on your needs.

General Information:

Thank you for your interest in this vacancy. You will find enclosed a job description, person specification and competency profile with background information on Barnet Centre for Independent Living and a summary of terms and conditions for the post, together with an application form.

The information you provide in your application is the only information we will use in deciding whether or not you will be shortlisted for an interview.

Job Description and Person Specification:

The vacancy advertised is based on the job description which lists the main duties of the post. The person specification describes the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for. Please read these carefully so that you know what the job involves and the range of expertise required. It is appreciated that the successful applicants will not necessarily have all the experience sought, but the selection process will be seeking in candidates the potential to develop any outstanding skills.

Application Form:

Please ensure you make a note that the application form needs to be returnedto Charlie McKenzie, Peer Support Brokerage Team Manager, by 5pm on the 14th December. Charlie can be contacted at or at BCIL, The Concourse, Grahame Park, Colindale, London NW9 5UX. Interviews will be the week of the 19th, and the start date for the role will be the 9th January. If you do not hear anything by the 19th December, you can assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.

Application forms should be filled in as completely and clearly as possible. Please donot substitute a CV. The important thing is to tell us about your relevant skills, knowledge and experience to do the job. Please give examples to illustrate these, providing us with actual evidence, and be as specific as possible. Give details, and explain how you have gained the experience we are looking for and demonstrate your skills and knowledge.

Please ensure that you complete all sections of the form, and that the information is correct. If completing the form by hand, please use black ink and write clearly.

Short-listing and selection

Applicants’ details given on the first page of the form will be detached for shortlisting purposes so that the selection panel will be assessing candidates purely on skills and experience.

After the closing date, all applications will be considered by the panel to see how each candidate’s skills and experience relate to the job requirements. Applicants who meet these requirements will be invited for interview.

The selection panel will normally be made up of 2 to 3 people who will be asking set interview questions of each candidate, covering key aspects of the job including the competencies needed. This is intended to allow the candidate to expand on his/her application and to show the panel how far they meet the requirements of the post. Candidates will have an opportunity to ask questions about the job, Barnet Centre for Independent Living, conditions of employment, etc.

There may be second interviews with some of the shortlisted candidates.

The panel will keep a record of their assessment of each candidate so that the reasons for their decision are clear, consistent and justifiable. Candidates will be informed about the outcome of the interview as quickly as possible.

All job offers are made subject to satisfactory references and an enhanced CRB check, which will be sought once an offer has been made. Once these have been received, the offer will be confirmed.