SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITY - Equalities Coordinator £26,650 – £37,111
TRANSFORMING HOUSING OPTIONS FOR DISABLED HOME OWNERS
Communities Scotland, the Scottish Executive’s Housing and Regeneration Agency, seeks an experienced equalities adviser or equalities professional to advise on equalities issues affecting the overall implementation and development of the Scheme of Assistance provisions within the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006.
The Scheme of Assistance is designed to offer a broad range of support to property owners across Scotland to help with necessary house repairs, improvements and disabled adaptations. The Scheme aims to help drive a change in Scotland away from a reliance on grants towards greater self sufficiency. Ministers have prioritised assistance for people with disabilities. The development of new and innovative assistance for disabled people therefore is a particular focus of the Scheme of Assistance.
This is a great chance to work with Scottish Ministers and the wider Scottish Executive on a key part of the Government’s housing policy. The successful candidate should be able to start within 4 weeks of appointment. It is likely that the post will run on a task-led basis for a period of 12 to 18 months.
As the successful candidate, you will have an awareness of the housing needs of disabled people and will have experience of developing policy or undertaking social research in a disability or equalities context.
You will work with a range of stakeholders at all levels across the public, private and third sectors. You will coordinate a working group of people from these sectors with interests in equalities and disabilities and will need to have their confidence to fulfil your duties.
Main Duties
1. Advise on the effect of new equalities duties on the implementation of the Scheme of Assistance.
2. Research the likely new demand for help to adapt the houses of disabled people, for moving to more suitable accommodation and for broader information and advice services.
3. Identify and establish pilots with local authorities.
4. Set up and coordinate the work of an Equalities Working Group.
5. Review of the Repair and Improvement Grants means-test to better reflect the needs of disabled people while ensuring better targeting of the Private Sector Housing Grant budget.
6. Produce an overall Equalities Impact Assessment.
Skills & Experience Required
1. Experience of developing policy or undertaking social research in a disability or equalities context.
2. Awareness of the housing needs of disabled people.
3. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
4. Deliver practical results on time and to plan.
5. Work in a team and across organisational boundaries.
6. IT literate.
Remuneration and Conditions of Secondment
The post is based in Glasgow (Waterloo Street) or in Edinburgh (Haymarket Terrace). Flexible working arrangements may be available. The post can be structured around full or part time hours.
Salary will be in the range £26,650 – £37,111.
We will pay your current salary or the minimum of the range, whichever is higher.
The successful candidate will continue to be paid by their employer and will remain an employee of their organisation during the period of secondment. The employer (donor) organisation will be expected to invoice the Scottish Executive Divisional representative on a quarterly basis to recover salary and on costs during the secondment period.
For more information contact David Blair, Project Manager for the Scheme of Assistance, on 0131 479 5298 or Roger Harris, Head of Private Sector Policy Delivery, on 0131 479 5222. Alternatively, visit our website at www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk.
Apply by forwarding a CV and covering letter to:
Kath Thorington
HR Department
Communities Scotland
Thistle House
91 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh
EH12 5HE
Or email comscothr@communitiescotland.gsi.gov.uk
Tell us in your covering letter how you meet the key criteria and why you have what it takes for this challenging secondment. The closing date for applications is Friday, 13 April 2007.