Community Connector

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Fixed term till 31/05/2027

Salary: £30, 852

Location: Kingsland Hub, Hackney, E8 4DG

Peter Bedford Housing Association (PBHA) is a housing association with charitable aims that creates positive change in people’s lives. As well as homes and support, we empower people to learn, access work and discover their creative talents. Based mainly in Hackney and Islington, we work with people who are homeless, have mental ill health, learning difficulties and multiple needs. Our work enables people to move on and lead independent lives.

We are committed to an asset based and psychologically informed approach to our work. Mutual support, participation and personal development for both staff and service users is key to this.

The programme is funded by East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT), managed by Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest, and you will be part of a multi-disciplinary neighbourhood team, working closely with mental health services and key health and social care services, as well as

local community and voluntary sector partners.

You will support people with mental health issues to access appropriate mental health services and to link into voluntary services and community activities in their local area that meet their wider needs, such as finance, housing or employment; as well as to those that will provide them with meaningful engaging activities that suit their skills and interests.

As a Community Connector, you will become a local expert, gathering and sharing information about local opportunities, activities and support. You will be led by individuals themselves, to develop a personalised programme of support, building on their own personal strengths and assets.

Key duties and responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one assessments, either in-person, over the telephone or online
• Help people identify what is important to them, their interests, skills, life goals and any areas of support that need to be tackled such as housing, finance or health
• Assist people to identify the wider issues that impact on their health and wellbeing, such as debt, poor housing, employment circumstances and unemployment, loneliness, isolation and caring responsibilities
• Based on the above, agree support plans with people and assist them to complete their actions
• Ongoing assessment and management of risks within an attitude of positive risk taking
• Identify barriers to people accessing services and help them to overcome these
• Work collaboratively with the partners in the Neighbourhood team including statutory mental health services
• Discuss referrals and feedback on outcomes from the support you have provided
• Build a good knowledge of statutory mental health services and help connect people to these
• Monitor and record outcomes of all those accessing the service
• With the wider team, gather and collate statistical and other information and data as required, reporting on activity and outcomes
• Promote and support tenants/participants to access PBHA’s participation and co-production opportunities
• Adhere to lone-working procedure
• Participate in key meetings
• Contribute to policy development, income generation, strategic and annual planning, corporate and cross-team activities, external partnerships and promotional activities as required
• Promote, develop and support PBHA’s ethos, values and impact
• Provide cover for other managers and workers

Person specification:

• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and build effective working relationships across departments
• Willingness to support the recruitment, selection, induction, and training of new employees and volunteers
• Commitment to participating in training and development activities, supervision sessions, performance reviews, and team meetings
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, ensuring compliance with all PBHA policies and procedures, including those relating to equality, diversity and inclusion, data protection, health and safety, financial controls, sustainability, recruitment, absence management, disciplinary processes, supervision, and performance management
• Ability to plan, prioritise, and organise workloads effectively with minimal day-to-day supervision
• Flexible approach with the ability to undertake other reasonable duties

PBHA offers in return:

• 26 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, rising to 30 days with service
• Company pension scheme with employer contributions up to 5%
• Eye care vouchers
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced company sick pay

To apply, please register your interest and we will send you an application form to complete. Using an application form supports equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices.

Peter Bedford Housing Association is an Equal Opportunities employer who supports an inclusive culture and diversity for their staff and those they represent. They are committed to encouraging further growth from diverse groups, and welcome applications from people of all abilities and under-represented groups. Currently, PBHA have an underrepresentation from men and disabled communities. As such, they particularly welcome applicants from these groups.