Job Description

Senior Independent Living Adviser

Kingston Centre for Independent Living (KCIL) is a small charity based in Kingston-upon-Thames. We have been campaigning for the rights of disabled people for over 50 years.

KCIL's Senior Independent Living Adviser will support direct payment users through the process of becoming an employer and managing a direct payment through home visits, on-going support and advice; ensuring that service users understand their rights and responsibilities. We are seeking to recruit a dynamic and enthusiastic full time, Senior Independent Living Adviser to join our team. This is a 1 year contract with the possibility of extension.

Our ideal candidate will have experience working in advice, information and guidance and providing outreach support. We seek someone who has a good understanding of equality and diversity, equal opportunities and a good understanding of personalisation; benefits, direct payments and personal budgets. A basic understanding of employment law and the social model of disability would be beneficial to this post.

Main Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for working with people across the London Borough of Kingston to support them to set up as a direct payment user or other aspects of independent living.

Our Senior Independent Living Adviser will be expected to research local services for adults with disabilities, understanding disability related issues; and to attend network groups for the voluntary sector and will support KCIL to deliver awareness about direct payments and personal budgets to local people and stakeholders.

• To provide support, advice and information to service users regarding direct payments via a combination of approaches including outreach, office based working and community based drop-in sessions.
• To manage a caseload of services users who currently have or are seeking to apply for a personal budget or direct payment.
• To make first initial contact with service users and arrange home or office visits in order to support them in setting up on a direct payment or other aspects of independent living.
• To provide guidance to service users on the required paperwork for becoming an employer stressing the importance of compliance with legal responsibilities including support with payroll, insurance, contracts and agreements.
• To arrange, advertise and facilitate monthly information ‘drop-in’ sessions at venues across the Borough of Kingston upon Thames aimed at providing information and advice about direct payments.
• To provide support at quarterly Direct Payment user group meetings and other meetings as required.
• To attend regular team meetings, supervision and any training that may be required.

Benefits

•Salary - £27,027 - £29,969 (pro rata)

•Pension scheme

•25 days’ holiday per annum (pro rata)

This post is for 28 - 35 hours per week and hours are negotiable. The successful candidate will be willing to travel in and around the London Boroughs or Kingston-upon-Thames and Richmond-upon-Thames.

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check

Closing date: 27th November 2019

KCIL is a disability confident employer and we would practically welcome applications from disabled people.

Please note we do not accept CV's. All applicants must complete an application form to be considered for shortlisting.

Previous applicants need not apply