Housing S&P Officer - Asylum Seeker Service

This opportunity is currently being offered on a fixed term contract basis of 12 months; however, if budgets allow the contract length may be extended and/or become permanent, though this is not guaranteed. If an internal council employee wishes to apply for this role, a secondment opportunity may be considered (please state this on your application).

We are currently recruiting for a Housing S&P Officer - Asylum Seeker Service on a one year fixed-term contract,

• To provide a coordinated service to individuals and households placed in Medway under a variety of government schemes. This will include Homes for Ukraine, Afghan Resettlement Scheme (ARAP) Sudan, the Home Office Asylum Dispersal Scheme, amongst others.
• To support households with cultural orientation activities such as shopping, access to healthcare and social activities. To provide practical and emotional support to the families in regards to their general integration into the Medway community.
• To work closely with local partners to influence change in the way that organisations provide services to people seeking asylum. To network with other agencies and develop professional relationships in order to work towards continuous improvement of the Medway asylum service approach.
• Develop and maintain an in-depth knowledge and resource of the local services available for people in asylum schemes (including any access criteria) and assist in the identification of gaps in provision.
• Ensure all services engaged in Medway to have a true understanding of the required partnership activities to support people seeking asylum.
• Attend operational groups to discuss the needs and situations of people seeking asylum, to enable swift access to appropriate services and ensure that barriers are addressed so that service users can access suitable services.
• To work with voluntary and statutory sector organisations to develop a personalised approach for people with multiple disadvantages who are seeking asylum.
• The post holder will collate appropriate monitoring data to measure the success of the service and report on progress.
• In conjunction with other partners to coordinate, develop and deliver positive outcomes for people seeking asylum based on the evidence of best practice

The successful post holder will be subject to a Standard DBS check.  

If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please e-mail Tracy Partridge on tracy.partridge@medway.gov.uk 

In return we offer you: 

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Generous local government pension scheme package
• Access to wider training and development qualifications
• Flexible working scheme
• Travel plan discounts
• Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker 
• Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
• Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
• The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency.  Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change.  

Our organisation: 

Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.

Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.

We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.

Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in. 

Important Information- 

Applicants must be able to demonstrate all essential requirements as listed in the job profile

Equal Opportunities Commitment Statement

Medway Council is committed to creating an inclusive work environment with a diverse workforce. All appropriately qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, marital status, family commitments, sexual orientation, age, HIV status, religious or political beliefs, social class or trade union activity or irrelevant spent conviction. 

For further information please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online. 

Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted.   All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email. 

Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.