Careers

Current Vacancies

VOLUNTEER MANAGER

Title: Volunteer Manager

Responsible to: Operations Manager

Hours: 35 hours per week                             

Salary: £30,000 to £35,000 pa (depending on experience and qualifications)

Based: Willesden (NW10 2JR), with travel throughout the borough of Brent and potentially Haringey

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: DBS check will be required

ABOUT THE ROLE

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? This is an exciting opportunity for someone working in the volunteering or community sector to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Volunteer Manager and help take our successful volunteer project to the next level.

BIAS’s volunteer project, funded through a grant from the National Lottery Community Fund, provides meaningful opportunities for people to get involved in BIAS’s work in a number of different ways. Volunteers can help out at our active ageing clubs, or work on administrative projects and other office-based tasks to help them build up their professional skills. In 2023 we also launched a successful ‘Be-A-Friend’ scheme, which aims to connect volunteers with older people who live on their own. Volunteers will drop in regularly for a cup of tea and a chat, providing friendship and companionship to those experiencing loneliness and isolation. BIAS’s volunteer project is currently based in Brent, but it will potentially be rolled out into Haringey in future years.

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic and empathetic person to take the lead on managing and growing our volunteer project. You will be responsible for all aspects of the project, including volunteer recruitment and induction, service-user relations, safeguarding and partnership development. You will also work with the Operations Manager on forward planning, delivery monitoring, promotion and reporting.

You will need to have strong people skills and the ability to build good working relationships with colleagues, volunteers, service users and partners, along with excellent organisational skills and the ability to work independently and take initiative. Previous experience of working with volunteers or running community projects would be an asset. If you work in a related field and are looking for a new challenge, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate as a training and development role.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Working with the Operations Manager to develop and deliver BIAS’s volunteer project.
• Line-managing the Befriending Coordinator and supervising the successful delivery and expansion of the Be-A-Friend scheme.
• Managing volunteer recruitment, interviewing candidates and matching them with appropriate roles.
• Supporting, developing and retaining our current team of volunteers.
• Managing volunteer training needs, ensuring that all necessary safeguarding, health-and-safety and data-protection requirements are met.
• Working closely with colleagues and external organisations to develop working partnerships and explore collaboration opportunities, e.g. intergenerational volunteering projects.
• Organising twice-yearly volunteer social events.
• Promoting and raising public awareness of both BIAS’s volunteering opportunities and the wider importance of volunteering.
• Evaluating and improving the volunteering process and experience.
• Maintaining clear records of volunteer work in BIAS’s client management system.
• Drafting reports and case studies to demonstrate the project’s progress and value.
• Maintaining an awareness of policy changes and best practices in volunteering.

These are the basic duties required of the Volunteer Manager. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based primarily in our offices in Willesden (Brent), with travel throughout the borough and potentially some future outreach work in Haringey borough. There may be some options for flexible working following probation (one to two days per week).

PERSON SPECIFICATION

For full details of the essential and desirable criteria for this role, please see the full job description here.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@biasbrent.co.uk. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role.

The deadline for applications is Monday 10^th March 2025.

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HOUSING ADVISER

Title: Housing Adviser

Responsible to: Advice Manager

Hours: 35 hours per week                             

Salary: £29,000 to £33,000 pa (depending on experience and qualifications)

Based: Willesden (NW10 2JR), Hornsey (N8 9LP) + other locations if required

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: DBS check will be required

ABOUT THE ROLE

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? This is an exciting opportunity for someone already working in an advice role and looking to take the next step in their career to join the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) as Housing Adviser.

BIAS’s housing advice service supports members of the local Irish community with a range of complex housing issues, including homelessness, rehousing, tenancy sustainment and disrepair. We are looking to appoint a dynamic, enthusiastic person to join our friendly advice team. Your role will involve contributing to the day-to-day running of BIAS’s advice service, providing specialist advice on housing via one-to-one client appointments, completing casework and advocating for positive outcomes for your clients.

You will need to have strong people skills and the ability to build good working relationships with colleagues and clients, excellent organisational skills and the ability to digest complex briefs. You will be required to manage an active caseload, ensuring that cases are appropriately actioned and recorded and that deadlines are met.

If you are an experienced advice specialist and are looking to move into the housing area but don’t have all the knowledge required, please consider applying as we are willing to consider appointing the right candidate as a training and development role.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Providing appropriate advice, information and practical help to clients, via in-person appointments, outreach visits, telephone, letter or email. Where necessary, advocating on behalf of clients in the appropriate forums.
• Ensuring that all casework records are kept up to date and completed clearly and effectively.
• Contributing to monitoring service delivery and recording client outcomes.
• Maintaining a good knowledge of other available services, and signposting or referring clients as needed.
• Participating in regular team file reviews and supervision sessions, and contributing to maintaining BIAS’s high-quality service in line with Advice Quality Standard (AQS) requirements.  
• Engaging positively and constructively with other service providers, including local authorities and housing providers, to maintain partnerships.
• Identifying opportunities to effect positive change to housing policy, together with the Advice Manager.

These are the basic duties required of the Housing Adviser. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. This role will be based primarily in our advice offices in Willesden (Brent), with some outreach work in Haringey borough. There may be some options for flexible working (one day per week).

PERSON SPECIFICATION

For full details of the essential and desirable criteria for this role, please see the full job description here.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@biasbrent.co.uk. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role.

The deadline for applications is Friday 28^th February 2025.

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ACTIVE AGEING COORDINATOR

Title: Active Ageing Coordinator (part-time)

Responsible to: Operations Manager

Hours: 7 hours per week (1 day), with potential to increase to 14 hours (2 days)

Salary: £27,000 (pro rata for part time: £5,400)

Based: Hornsey, N8 9LP + other locations as required, primarily within the Haringey borough

Contract: Permanent (subject to continuation of funding)

Please Note: DBS check will be required

ABOUT THE ROLE

Do you want to work for an organisation that makes a real difference, every day, to people from all walks of life? This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the expansion of the Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS) into Haringey borough, and to shape the new services we will be providing to the large and vibrant Irish community in north-east London.

The Active Ageing Coordinator will run BIAS’s new weekly active ageing lunch club in Haringey borough (see more information on our existing clubs here), working with a team of volunteers to coordinate activities including Irish music, dancing and bingo. We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic person who is happy to take a hands-on approach to the development and delivery of our active ageing project. You will need to have strong people skills and the ability to build positive relationships with volunteers and service users, along with excellent organisational abilities.

The project (funded by the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme) will also involve delivering occasional special events for club members, such as St Patrick’s Day and Christmas celebrations and health and wellbeing days. You will need a strong capacity to build relationships and partnerships with other organisations and community groups in the borough, and a willingness to work with the leadership team on the marketing and development of the new service, including via social media.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Create an accessible and inclusive weekly active ageing club which is welcoming and available to all.

• Take the lead on the day-to-day running of BIAS’s active ageing club activities in Haringey borough.

• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of all club members.

• Record and maintain member and attendance information in BIAS’s client management system.

• Encourage volunteer recruitment and work with volunteers.

• Develop links with the Irish community in Haringey with the aim of reducing social isolation among older Irish people.

• Contribute to the promotion of the active ageing club via the local community and social media.

• Develop and maintain good relations with other cultural organisations and community groups in Haringey, with the aim of promoting cooperation and cross-cultural exchanges.

• Carry out administrative tasks associated with the duties of the post, and work within agreed budgets.

• Attend regular supervision with the project manager, and be willing to undertake training and professional development as needed.

These are the basic duties required of the Active Ageing Coordinator. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and you may be required from time to time to perform other reasonable duties which are required for the efficient running of the organisation. We will also offer training opportunities to support your career development.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK. The nature of this post will require some travel to club venues, so access to a car is desirable.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

For full details of the essential and desirable criteria for this role, please see the full job description here.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to recruitment@biasbrent.co.uk. Your cover letter should demonstrate how you meet the essential and desirable criteria for this role, with supporting examples.

The deadline for applications is 27^th January 2025.

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VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES

If you are interested in working with BIAS as a volunteer, please see more information here.