15 January 2016

Dear applicant,

Re: Supported Housing Officer

Thank you for your interest in employment with YMCA North London. This is the Application Pack for the above position. This pack contains the following:

· YMCA North London Briefing Sheet

· Guidelines on completing your application

· Information on Short Listing and Selection

· Application Form

· Person Specification Form

· Equal Opportunities Form

· Declaration of Criminal Convictions Form

· Data Protection Act agreement

Please refer to the job description (which is a separate document) for an organisation chart for this post.

Please read all of the information thoroughly before beginning your application. Please complete your application in full, either electronically or using a black pen before returning, as failing to do so may result in your application not being progressed. YMCA North London will only accept completed application forms, and not Curriculum Vitae’s.

Our preferred method for accepting applications is via email. Please either complete the form electronically and return or attach your completed application to an email and address it to:

If you are unable to email your application to us, please post your completed application form to:

Emma Williams

HR Initiatives Limited

PO Box 501

The Nexus Building

Broadway

Letchworth Garden City

Herts

SG6 9BL

The closing date for completed applications is 9:00 am on 7th March 2016 and interviews will be held on 10th March 2016.

If you would like us to acknowledge receipt of your application please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope with your application.

Short listing will be based on the Person Specification Form, in your supporting statement. Please show how you meet the selection criteria.

Thank you again for your interest in working for YMCA North London and I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours sincerely

Shamira Mohamed

EA & HR Administrator

For and on behalf of YMCA North London

Applicants Pack Page 2 of 27 February 2016 V 2

A WELCOME TO APPLICANTS

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for the interest you have shown in this role at YMCA North London by downloading this recruitment pack. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a bit more about the organisation.

We currently operate mostly in the borough of Haringey and aspire to work in the North London boroughs of Barnet and Enfield.

YMCA North London

YMCA North London is an autonomous charitable organisation affiliated to YMCA England along with 113 other YMCAs. Collectively our work is focused on young people and communities in 5 areas:

·  Health and Wellbeing

·  Training and Education

·  Family work

·  Accommodation

·  Support & Advice

You can find out more about YMCA activities and values on our own website and those of YMCA umbrella bodies (e.g. England, Europe, World Alliance)

YMCA North London is the trading name of two legal entities. All of the activities for which this post is responsible are managed within one of them, Hornsey (North London) YMCA Housing Society Limited, Homes and Communities Agency No. HO/995 and Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies No. 14948.

The post is accountable to the Services Manager of YMCA North London within the Housing Department.

YMCA North London provides services to men and women and to people of all faiths and none. There is no requirement for the post holder to be a Christian but they should be comfortable working within our values.

We offer a range of programmes and activities including:

Hostel

The focus of our work is on helping disadvantaged young people, aged 16-35, who are homeless or in housing need, to achieve the transition from dependence to independence. The approach to the young person’s needs is holistic. The YMCA North London offers integrated access to affordable accommodation, training, personal development, guidance and job searching facilities. The relationship with the young person is based on a formal agreement as to how the facilities and local community resources will be used in making the transition to independence, commitment to which is a condition of continued residence.

In addition to the hostel, there are a number of projects that support the hostel and its residents:

·  Canteen: located on the ground floor with TV and lounge area. Residents receive breakfast and dinner every day.

·  Learning Centre: located on the ground floor. Providing access to the computers and the internet between 9am and 9pm on weekdays and between 10am and 10pm at weekends.

·  Activity Hub: located on the 4th floor and has a kitchen, music room and activity room. Activities are scheduled on weekly basis where residents are encouraged to take part in.

·  Training Opportunities: we offer the chance to develop residents’ skills in literacy, numeracy and IT.

·  Support Services: Hostel staff provide residents with advice on housing, life skills, training and resettlement. We are running pilot support programmes, funded by Haringey Council; one is a Housing-related support service for vulnerable young adults and the other is a Foyer for those over 16 years of age. The Foyer service is based on the model offered by Crewe YMCA and recognised as a centre of excellence by the Foyer Federation. It focuses on informal learning delivered through the Life Academy programme. The aim is to improve confidence and self-esteem and to equip vulnerable young people with the life skills necessary for independent living and a fulfilled work life

Life Academy

The aim of the Life Academy is to run exciting and interesting activities which engage young people living at North London YMCA. We help residents to develop skills and attributes needed to support them to move on positively from the hostel. Sessions are based around a personal development plan and are delivered through an informal learning approach. The activities are run by Support Officers, trainers and occasional guest speakers from the community.

If you are interested in being part of our transformational work with young people in North London please do take the time to apply. We can offer you a fulfilling role in an organisation with real ambition for the young people and adults we serve.

If you want to know more about the services we currently provide you can contact Jayne Stonely on 0208 340 2345.

Further details about all the above can be found on our website. If you have queries about the recruitment process please contact our HR consultants HRi.

Yours sincerely,

Jayne Stonely

Services Manager

Guidance Notes

for completing an application for employment with YMCA North London

INTRODUCTION

The application process is in 2 parts in order to serve 2 separate purposes:

a) The main Job Application Form asks for detailed information about you and your work history. The purpose of the form is to make sure that, as far as possible, applicants who might be at risk to children or young people are not considered for appointment. The detail that is asked for complies with national guidance on safe recruitment procedures for appointments.

b) The Person Specification Form is the key document that is used for short listing and selection.

It is separated into 2 parts to avoid unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, religion, disability, age and sexuality, but also discrimination for reasons that are not related to the ability to do the job.

You must complete all parts of the application form. Curriculum Vitaes (CV) are not acceptable; neither is an application form that simply refers to an enclosed CV.

The post for which you are applying will bring you into direct contact with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults. During our recruitment procedure we take steps to assess an applicant’s suitability for such a position of trust. It is important that you understand the nature of the checks that we will make and when we will make them.

HOW TO COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FORM

If the Post Applied for is not completed, please complete it yourself.

1.  PERSONAL DETAILS

The information given here will be used to contact you and to identify you accurately when contacting referees. The information will not be used in the selection process.

YMCA North London does not discriminate on grounds of age. Dates of birth and employment/education dates are requested in line with the Safeguarding Children – Safer Recruitment and Selection in Education Settings Guidelines.

YMCA North London ask for information on any disability you may have to enable us to consider any adjustments that we can make, either to the recruitment process itself, or in employment, in order to assist you.

2.  CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

Please give us the details of your current employer and post or your college or university if you are a student. Complete this section also if you are employed in a voluntary capacity. If you are currently not in employment, then say so here. Please be as accurate as possible in the from and to dates, and provide us with a reason for leaving.

3.  PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

It is very important that you list your previous employment in chronological order. All employment, including self-employment, consultancy, part-time and temporary jobs and unpaid employment, must be included.

4.  PERIODS NOT ACCOUNTED FOR IN PREVIOUS SECTIONS SINCE AGE 18

Your application needs to give a complete picture of your working career, including periods when you were not in employment. In this section, you need to explain any gaps, such as raising a family or extended travel.

5.  EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS

There are 4 sub-sections here. Make sure that you give all of the information needed, including qualifications and training that, whilst not essential, are useful and relevant to the job.

6.  VOLUNTARY WORK

This section is for you to tell us about any voluntary work you do. If you have gained any skills, knowledge or experience that is relevant to this post, please tell us about it in this section.

7.  REFERENCES

YMCA North London request that references be taken up at short listing stage and before interview, so you need to be sure that your referees are willing and able to provide a reference. If you would prefer us not to contact your current employer until a conditional job offer has been made to you, please state this on the form. Any job offer will be made conditional until this reference has been received. One referee must be your current employer.

The ‘Status’ of each referee would be, for example, ‘current employer’ or ‘university tutor’. Each referee must be able to comment on your professional abilities.

Note that references from friends or relatives are not acceptable.

We may approach previous employers who have not been identified by you as a referee and may seek further information from referees who have supplied a reference. Previous employers will be asked whether there are any concerns about your suitability to work with children or young people.

8.  LEISURE INTERESTS

This is your opportunity to describe any interests or experiences that could be relevant to the post for which you are applying.

9.  GENERAL INFORMATION

From which source did you learn of this vacancy?

Your answer to this will help us to identify how best to target applicants for similar posts in the future.

Are you a relative or partner of any employee of Trustee of YMCA North London?

We need to know this in order to ensure a fair selection process. If you are related to anyone at YMCA North London, then we will avoid asking your relative or partner to be part of the selection process.

Has someone completed this form on your behalf?

Please let us know whether you have completed this form yourself or someone else has completed this form. Note that your certification that the information is correct will be valid whether or not the form has been completed by you.

Have you had any previous contact, or do you have any current contact, with YMCA North London?

Again, we need to know this in order to ensure a fair selection process. If you have worked at YMCA North London, then we will avoid asking anyone you previously worked with you to be part of the selection process.

I certify that the information given is correct to the best of my knowledge

Your application will not be considered unless you sign this paragraph.

NOTES ON COMPLETING THE PERSON SPECIFICATION FORM

You are requested to complete this form (using supplementary sheets if there is insufficient space for your entries). It is essential that you complete and return this form with your application. This form is your chance to show us how well you can do this job.

In the Knowledge/Education/ Qualifications section, please provide us with details of your knowledge, education and qualifications basing your responses on the details provided in the Job Description

In the Experience section, please provide examples of when you have demonstrated the essential and desirable attributes detailed in the Job Description enclosed with this pack.

In the Skills and Abilities section, please give examples of when you have demonstrated the skills and abilities required of the role you are applying for:

NOTES ON THE EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY - MONITORING FORM

YMCA North London is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To help us monitor our policy, we would be grateful if you would complete the details on this monitoring form.

Completion of this form will help us fulfil our general duty under the Equality Act 2010 to eliminate unlawful discrimination, to promote equality of opportunity and promote good relations between people of different racial groups, and our specific duty under the Act to monitor, by reference to racial group, applicants for employment and staff in post.

The information you give on this form does not form part of the selection procedure. The form is separated from the application form and is only used to help us monitor effectively. It will be kept on a computer file.

DECLARATION OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 sets out to help people who have been convicted of a criminal offence and have not been convicted again in a specified period. This period is known as a rehabilitation period. Once a rehabilitation period has expired and no further offending has taken place, a conviction is considered to be ‘spent’. Once a conviction is spent, the convicted person does not have to reveal it or admit its existence in most circumstances.