Project Officer

LOCATION:
Isla Court Sheltered Housing Isla Court Keir Street Perth, PH2 7HJ

SALARY:
£28,831 - £31,740 per year

CONTRACT TYPE:
Permanent

POSITION TYPE:
Full Time

HOURS:
36 hours per week

£28,831 - £31,740

Base: Isla Court, Keir Street, Perth PH2 7HJ

Based within the Older Persons Housing Team, an exciting opportunity has arisen for a Project Officer for the Wellbeing Project. The Wellbeing Project is a Housing project focused on expanding the use of the communal lounges within Perth and Kinross Council sheltered and retirement units. One of the aims is to encourage Perth and Kinross Council tenants over the age of 50 to join in with activities and events which are already happening within these premises.

As a Project Officer, you will report to the Older Persons Housing Co-ordinator and work as part of the wider Older Persons’ Housing Team to deliver on the aims of assisting to improve the wellbeing of the individuals. You will have a key role in the delivery and the promotion of the project and the services on offer. You will generally be required to work Monday to Friday from 8.45 to 5pm but due to the nature of the project and to ensure the needs of tenants are met, there will be times when you may be required to work flexibly possibly including in evenings and at weekends.

As part of this project, the key areas of focus will be:

- Promoting the project with tenants and colleagues alike
- Encouraging and facilitating tenants living in the wider community to participate in activities, events and surgeries that may be happening within sheltered housing complexes and retirement tenants with the aim of promoting wellbeing and reducing isolation
- Building links with colleagues in other teams within Perth and Kinross Council and external agencies and services with a view to understanding and increasing your knowledge of what other services are available locally
- Working in partnership with other services and agencies
- Promoting digital support and assistance
- including making tenants aware of the types of technology that are available and helping tenants to use digital technology and the use of Smart Technology to enhance their wellbeing, increase independence and stay at home for longer
- Working with partners to deliver intergenerational activities and events within Older Persons’ Housing
- Facilitating the use of volunteers within Older Persons’ Housing with a view to supporting any events or activities to become self-sustaining
- Researching and exploring opportunities for new and innovative activities and events
- Gathering feedback from events, learning lessons and evaluating outcomes
- Providing advice and assistance - housing advice, budgeting, aids and adaptations
- Referrals to other services such as - Community Alarm, Occupational Therapists, Welfare Rights, Citizen’s Advice Bureau

**Requirements**:
To help in the delivery and promotion of this project, we are looking for a people-person who is enthusiastic, innovative and creative. You will be able to communicate effectively with tenants to build relationships and with other internal and external colleagues to provide a person-centred approach and deliver the best possible outcomes for individuals. You will have experience in delivering on the aims and objectives of project-work. As there can be challenges through the course of delivering, developing and achieving the outcomes of a project, it is crucial, therefore, that you have the resilience to deal with the challenges and hurdles you may encounter. You should have strength of character and be solution-focused to keep the project on track and achieve the intended outcomes.

One of the main drivers of this project is to ensure that older people have the skills and knowledge to access the internet and to use a range of assistive technology. As such, you will require to have good digital skills yourself and have a good understanding and wealth of experience of working with digital technology. You will have a non-judgemental attitude, be empathetic and sensitive to tenants’ needs. You will understand and have an awareness of the wellbeing and individual needs of older people. To ensure the smooth running of this project, you will be a highly organised individual and have the ability to prioritise your own workload.

**The Individual**:
You are required to register with the Scottish Social Services Council within 6 months of commencing employment and are responsible for maintaining annual membership. You should have SVQ3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent in a relevant discipline) or a willingness to work towards it. Because the project will be delivered across different areas of Perthshire, it is essential that you are able to drive and hold a clean, current driving licence.

If you need more information about this exciting opportunity, please contact Andrea McCallum, Team Leader on 01738 476079.

Please APPLY ONLINE. Facilities are available at all public librarie