CASEWORKER

Caseworker (Kent & Sussex)

Job Role:

The Forces Employment Charity (FEC) delivers a specialist programme, OP Nova, to support veterans in the justice system who may be vulnerable, socially isolated, or need support to live or maintain a law-abiding life. FEC is seeking a dedicated and highly motivated Caseworker - Op Nova in Kent & Sussex to join our team.

Reporting to Op NOVA Regional Manager. The successful candidate will have experience in managing and supporting a caseload of vulnerable veterans in your allocated region. A strong customer focus and an ability to work independently to achieve targets and deadlines is an essential requirement along with strong communication and organising skills, knowledge of the local employment market, training, and adult education opportunities.

This position is full-time, 35 hours per week with a salary of £29,000 per annum. This role is peripatetic in nature. It involves regular travel across the operating region and working from home when not out in the community. The usual working hours are Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm; however, there may be an occasional need to work outside core hours to meet the demands of the role.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Contact all clients within 48 hours of allocation
• Undertake needs assessments and develop support plan within 5 days of allocation
• Carry out an assessment using the Outcome Star, understand and record Employment and Housing status, and other assessments as required by the Regional Manager.
• Review Outcome Star assessments at 3 monthly intervals to understand and demonstrate progress.
• Work with and empower client to engage with the support plan and goals agreed during their needs assessment
• Produce written report when requested highlighting support given to client and level of engagement
• Work as part of a team, together with Justice staff and partner organisations providing specialist support to your client
• Support the regional manager and national manager to create and maintain strong working relationships with referring organisations in the Op Nova Area, including the Police and NHS Liaison, Diversion and Probation Service.
• To participate and deliver presentations, making use of the media available, to statutory and non-statutory agencies as required.
• Work to identify and engage veterans with the service
• Deliver emotional and practical support to veterans working with partner organisations to provide specialist support for each individual
• Work with each client to identify future goals for employment, volunteering and or training
• Liaise with other FEC Employment Advisors to provide employment support
• Ensure that all activity is recorded on Salesforce case management system (CMS)
• Deliver any further activities reasonably required by your Regional Manager and the National Manager
• Produce Incident reports without delay as per the Work Instructions on Incident reporting

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Competencies:

• Highly motivated and independent, capable of working remotely across a wide geographical area.
• Resilient and able to work with individuals with complex needs and cope with the rigors that arise from working with veterans in the justice system
• Ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Highly organised with strong IT skills and experience of using Case Management Systems, Microsoft packages and outlook
• Commitment to working with each client without prejudice and in an equitable manner, including those who are arrested for violent or sexual offences.
• Excellent team player who will contribute to a diverse and dedicated team.
• Driving licence and use of own car.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills, verbal and written
• Empathy with and a good understanding of ex-forces personnel and the challenges they can face.
• Experience of soft skills: Public speaking, presentations, relationship building, and time management
• Strong communicator

Desirable Competencies:

• NVQ Level 4 Information, Advice and Guidance
• Experience of using Outcomes Star
• Salesforce case management system experience, this training will be provided for the successful candidate if they are not already trained
• A working knowledge of the Justice system and experience of working with offenders or ex-offenders.
• Experience of serving in the Armed Forces

Successful candidates will be required to undertake an NPPV level 2 police vetting, been a resident in the UK for over 5 years and an Enhanced DBS clearance. The job offer will be subject to a successful NPPV 2 and DBS enhanced.

We actively encourage people with personal experience of the criminal justice system or lived experience of the issues facing this client group to apply for this role.

Forces Employment Charity is an equal opportunities employer and values having a diverse workforce. We actively encourage applications from all qualified candidates.

If you meet the criteria and are passionate about this role, we encourage you to apply. The closing date for the position is Midnight, 13 January 2024.

Please note that this job advert may close early if a suitable candidate is found. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis as applications are received.