About the company
Westminster is an amazing place. They are home to more than 200,000 residents from all backgrounds, over 50,000 vibrant and vital businesses and three-quarters-of-a-million people work in Westminster.
Westminster City Council’s strategy is to work towards a Fairer Westminster. A Fairer Westminster is one in which its communities are at the heart of its decision-making and help to determine the city’s future. By working directly with its communities and other partners, they can build a more inclusive city that celebrates our diverse communities, and where residents, workers and visitors from all backgrounds will feel welcome and safe.
At Westminster City Council, they pride ourselves on being an inclusive workplace and employer of choice. They encourage and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that, at all levels, represents the communities we serve. They champion equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, has a sense of belonging and is empowered to be their best, that is the Westminster Way.
To find out more about how we do this visit https://www.westminster.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/public-health-strategy-policies-and-reports/equality-duties
As a forward-thinking Council, they appreciate that people work in different ways; therefore, their staff benefit from working a range of flexible working patterns as well as Agile working.
The Council is a Disability Confident Employer. If you have declared a disability in your application, they guarantee an interview if you meet the essential criteria of the job. If you are invited for an interview, you will be asked if you need any reasonable adjustments in order to attend and they will make these wherever possible.
THE EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF GIRO’S PERSUASIVE POWERS
The Environment and Communities team in Westminster City Council is a world of extraordinary stories. We love it when our work touches lives.
Take Stepping to the Beat, our 3k walk, jog or run for people with learning or physical disabilities or Autism, their families and carers. It’s a life-affirming, music-based event Coreen and Claudia are massively proud of – and they were keen for people to spread the word. So, imagine how thrilled they were when one of our residents, Giro, did just that. Advocating for people with disabilities at a planning meeting for transport in London, he was proudly wearing his event medal. And he decided to use it to encourage others. As he passed it around the room, Giro inspired lots more people with disabilities to get involved. Infectious enthusiasm goes a long way here
Please view the extraordinary story of Giro’s Persuasive Powers here.
About the role
As a Community Engagement Apprentice, you can make your own powerful contribution to Westminster’s success. Working with our Communities Department, you’ll attend a series of tailored workshops at the Community Engagement Academy, which has been set up to help Local Authorities build community engagement and consultation skills. This is a 20-month programme, and on its successful completion, you’ll be awarded Level 4 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Practitioner certification.
The course will offer you training in key areas such as consultation, community engagement, project work and gathering and responding to community feedback, and provide you with the skills you’ll need to engage with Voluntary Community Sector Organisations. You’ll also learn how to offer advice and support on good-quality consultation and engagement to your colleagues in the council, and establish co-productive opportunities to work with members of the communities we serve. In addition, you’ll learn how to ensure programme updates are maintained and shared across services and the communities you work with and help residents access the wide range of information and services that are available to them.
Please refer to the Job Description for more information.
Interview date 29th September
Temporary contract up to 24 months
Responsibilities
The Community Engagement Apprentice will work with the Communities Department. Alongside their role, they will complete the Community Engagement Academy Apprenticeship and receive a Level 4 qualification in Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability. The course will help you develop a strong theoretical base for understanding the principles underpinning community engagement and consultation.
- To support a programme of consultation and community engagement
- To increase our engagement with residents and Voluntary Community Sector Organisations
- To provide advice and support on good-quality consultation and engagement to colleagues across the council
- To carry out community engagement project work
- Frequently engage, capture community feedback and establish co-productive opportunities to work with the community
- Ensure Programme updates are maintained and shared across services and with the community
- Help the community to access a range of information and services available
The Community Engagement Academy: The academy has been designed to help Local Authorities to build community engagement and consultation skills. You will attend a series of tailored workshops, designed in partnership with the London Councils working group have been embedded into the programme, providing additional training in key areas such as consultation, conflict management and gathering and responding to community feedback. This is a 20-month programme (15 months training, 5 months end-point assessment). If you successfully complete the apprenticeship, a Level 4 Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability (CR&S) Practitioner will be awarded.
Skills
With experience of working supportively in a community setting, you’ll have helped residents and organisations understand and access the opportunities that are available to them. A great communicator with the confidence to build relationships with your colleagues and members of the diverse communities we serve, you should also have a good understanding of equal opportunities and the ability to translate this into your day-to-day work.
It's important that you understand the requirements of data protection and confidentiality and in addition to an appreciation of the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion, you should be a collaborative and highly motivated team player.
When it comes to qualifications, they'd like you to be educated to GCSE level, possess excellent time management skills, and have some experience of using IT, with a particular emphasis on Microsoft’s suite of software and applications. This role may involve supporting external community events, so you should also be willing to occasionally work outside normal office hours.
Westminster City Council is committed to supporting Care Leavers into the workplace. Care Leavers seeking their first job and who wish to be considered under our scheme will automatically be invited to interview, should they meet the essential criteria for the role.
They reserve the right to extend or close this vacancy early without warning, subject to the volume of suitable applicants.
Additional Benefits include:
- Access to LDN's Apprentice Community
- LDN Personal Development Opportunities
- LDN Social Events
- LDN Apprentice of the Month Prizes
- Excellent Career Progression
- Access to UniDays
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From £28,260.00 per year
Work Location: In person
