Hosting Manager

Job Purpose:

To lead and manage hosting schemes across Derby, Nottingham, and Derbyshire, including the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. The role involves ensuring effective delivery, compliance, and coordination of hosting services, while providing strategic oversight, operational leadership, and support both Hosts and Guests.

Key Responsibilities:

Direct Support for Refugees and Hosts

• Facilitate initial reception, orientation, and support for guests.
• Provide advice on benefits, housing, health, education, and employment.
• Accompany individuals and families to appointments as needed.
• Support guests in tenancy, registering for utilities and accessing relevant services.
• Facilitate introductory meetings and regular placement reviews between hosts and guests.
• Monitor progress of placements, troubleshoot issues, and provide ongoing support to Hosts and Guests

Promoting Integration and Independence

• Encourage engagement in community activities and Upbeat Communities programs where appropriate.
• Foster empowerment through relationships based on mutual respect and trust.
• Liaise with local authorities, referral agencies and stakeholders for smooth registration and referrals.
• Collaborate with social housing providers and other partners to ensure access to services.

Community Engagement and Public Awareness

• Work with local voluntary and community organisations to foster a welcoming environment.
• Promote and publicise all hosting schemes, including working with the comms team to develop digital resources
• Deliver awareness and training sessions about Hosting to stakeholders.
• Support with recruitment, training and onboarding of new hosts across all schemes.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Development

• Maintain accurate and GDPR-compliant records, including referral databases.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation processes to ensure efficiency and impact.
• Provide accurate project delivery data to inform reviews.
• Produce written reports detailing delivery targets, challenges, and opportunities.
• Facilitate reviews of project delivery and implement changes based on data and stakeholder feedback.
• Support partnership meetings and contribute information for funding bids when required.

Line Management and Recruitment

• Line manage relevant project staff (and volunteers) and initiate annual reviews to identify targets and learning opportunities.
• Support recruitment processes, including job descriptions, shortlisting, and interview panels.
• Create induction plans for new staff and organise relevant training.

Strategic Contribution

• Analyse project delivery data to identify trends and capacity issues.
• Contribute to Upbeat Communities strategic objectives and future development.
• Support funding bids and tenders for future project work.
• Represent Upbeat Communities at partnership meetings, events, and media interviews.

Finance

• Manage staff expenses and oversee project budget expenditure in collaboration with the Head of Delivery.
• Contribute to project budget setting and ensure financial efficiency.

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria:
Core Values:

• Consistently demonstrates self-awareness, empathy, and social skills to build positive interactions.
• Acts with compassion, fostering a supportive environment and contributing meaningfully to others' well-being.
• Actively seeks opportunities for development, applying new knowledge with humility and creativity.
• Encourages autonomy and confidence, enabling individuals to reach their full potential.

Skills & Abilities:

• Excels in workload management, maintains calm under pressure, and mentors others in effective task prioritisation.
• Excels in problem-solving, making confident decisions and inspiring proactive approaches in others.
• Competently uses IT, including email, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and Airtable for routine tasks.
• Exhibits deep understanding of refugee and asylum seeker experiences, driving initiatives that promote their inclusion and empowerment.
• Thrives in dynamic settings, leads through change, and mentors others in adaptability and task management.
• Recognises the need for innovation and understands basic tools for driving change.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to connect across cultural and language barriers.
• Excels in interpersonal skills, fostering deep connections, and mentoring others in communication and collaboration.
• Upholds ethical standards, demonstrates honesty, and ensures confidentiality in all actions.
• Champions cultural inclusion, driving initiatives that promote diversity and fostering a culture of respect.

Leadership Abilities

• Understands the basic concepts of inspiring and guiding teams.
• Understands negotiation principles but requires guidance to engage effectively.
• Recognises the value of professional development and engages in basic learning activities.
• Displays enthusiasm and focus in achieving goals but needs direction
• Builds strong partnerships, represents the organisation confidently, and maintains productive relationships.
• Has basic knowledge of financial principles and can assist in budgeting or reporting tasks.
• Understands strategic principles and contributes to discussions with guidance.
• Identifies basic risks and supports mitigation efforts with guidance.
• Understands team management principles and supports basic supervision tasks.
• Recognises the value of professional relationships and participates in networking opportunities with guidance.
• The right to work in the UK.
• Full UK Driving licence and access to your own transport.

Desirable Criteria:

• Previous experience working with refugees and asylum seekers.
• Experience of working in partnership with Social Housing providers
• Experience of working with families and children.
• Experience in delivering workshops or community events.
• Fluency in a language relevant to the communities we work with.