This role will be based in Chatham and will require travel across South East

Main purpose of job:
To provide intensive and ongoing practical employment support for disadvantaged people with long term health issues or disabilities to move into sustainable volunteering, education, training or employment. The project will follow the principles of social prescribing to enable SCDA and their partners, RBLI is one, to engage with those who will benefit from it the most. Effective relationships with the medical and health sectors are central to the success of the project.

Overview of the Role & Team:
The Project Navigator is responsible for creating and maintaining effective relationships with referral organisations in the medical and health sector, compiling participant referral maps, initial engagement with the participant and management of their ongoing involvement with the project to ensure their wellbeing, health, community engagement and employment needs are fully met. The Project Navigator will be supported by Community Connectors and Employability Trainers to help meet community engagement and employment needs.

Liaising with the Project Manager and project staff the Project Navigator will ensure participants engage with the project in an informed way and that support and referral to other services is aimed at meeting their needs and moving them towards employment.

Working Environment:
While based in Chatham travel throughout the South East LEP required and to work from outreach centres as required.

Personal Attributes:
• Be committed to a person centred ethos and empowering participants to help themselves with the right support
• Able to work effectively as part of a team and on own initiative
• Be confident in dealing with participants, partners and funders and be able to respond at all levels
• Tact, diplomacy
• Resilience to withstand peaks in workload
• Emotional resilience to work objectively and professionally with vulnerable people
Understanding of or willingness to learn about the needs of a wide range of socially excluded or disadvantaged people

Skills & Experience Required:
Essential
• At least 2 years’ experience in health or health related supported employment setting with a good understanding of the issues/barriers faced by people with long term health issues and disabilities (including learning disabilities)
• Experience working with individuals who are facing barriers to work and learning or engaging with their community
• Experience of setting up referral paths and supporting individuals to access work, learning and/or volunteering opportunities
• Experience of working to targets, goal setting and delivering a service that is person centred.
• Accustomed to multi-tasking, working a case load alongside networking, presenting to GP’s and admin reporting for example

Desirable
• Knowledge of the benefits system, especially ESA
• A level 3 in Advice and Guidance or Health and Social care
• Experience of lone working policies and practice
• Up to date knowledge of good employment practices which support the placement of clients with barriers to work e.g. disability discrimination, flexible working.
• Familiarity with routes into, and the opportunities available, within Adult Education, and the local community

Benefits:
RBLI offer 25 days holiday per annum pro rata, a Group Flexible Retirement Plan, Life Assurance and Childcare Vouchers.

If you wish to be considered for the above role, forward your CV and covering letter including a supporting statement to recruitment@rbli.co.uk.

* RBLI reserves the right to remove a vacancy at any time prior to the published closing date.

RBLI is an equal opportunities employer.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE