Receptionist

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. In 2024 we embarked on our new 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Location: Based onsite in Crisis Newcastle Skylight, City House, City Road, NE1 2AF

Hours: 19 per week

• Wed - 10am to 4:30pm

• Thurs - 9:30am to 4:30pm

• Fri - 9:30am to 4:30pm

About the role

Demand for support for people experiencing homelessness is changing and we have a vacancy in our front facing Engagement and Assessment service.

This service provides first line support to people experiencing homelessness, assessing their needs, identifying support, and working with other staff and services to address their homelessness.

We need someone to join this team as a receptionist to increase our capacity to respond to new and existing members of Crisis.

As the first point of contact, our Engagement and Assessment service greets individuals who are experiencing homelessness or facing a risk of homelessness. You will be working in a fast paced and often challenging environment, explaining and guiding people through the Crisis service offer, and signposting to other local support services. You will need to create a welcoming and encouraging environment, to ensure that people seeking support feel understood and respected.

No two days are the same, and you will be greeting people, helping signpost to appropriate services, and responding to telephone and email enquires in a positive and supportive way. This is a key role as you will be part of a members journey out of homelessness, right from their first presentation.

About you

As a receptionist you have a real opportunity to demonstrate your compassion and empathy for people experiencing homelessness as our first point of contact at Crisis.

Sometimes visitors are distressed by their situation and this role would suit someone who is both resilient and compassionate.

You will need to have strong communication skills, be able to listen and respond even when people are demonstrating their distress through their language and behaviour. This is where you will demonstrate confidence in your ability to assertively challenge inappropriate behaviour and de-escalate conflict.

You will develop professional relationships with our members who regularly attend and become part of their progression out of the most difficult of personal circumstances. Our current team tell us how rewarding and motivating this can be.

You will need to be able to help manage the reception area, spot potential concerns and safety issues and respond to these to ensure that reception is a safe space for new and existing members, and other colleagues.

You will have experience of working with vulnerable people, balancing this together with an excellent level of customer service, IT skills and an ability to accurately record sensitive information.

You will be interested in evolving your skills and playing an active role as we continue to develop our Engagement and Assessment service further.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.

• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%

• 28 days annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.

• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.

• Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm

• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Tuesday 8 October 2024 at 23:55

Interview date and location: Either W/C 21 October or W/C 28 October 2024 at Crisis Newcastle Skylight, City House, City Road, NE1 2AF

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for my application?
We strongly discourage applicants from using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. This is so we can run a fair, transparent process which gives all applicants an equitable chance of success. We want to hear about your own experience and perspectives in your application and if shortlisted, during the interview too.

Accessibility

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W, SC040094