Home Visit Advisor North East

Job Description: Home Visit Advisor

Reporting to: Project Manager
Base: Milton Keynes or Home based with extensive regional travel across the North East of England
Job Type: Fixed Term (12 months). Full time position. This role requires Monday to Saturday availability.
Salary: £26,000 – 28,000

The National Energy Foundation

The National Energy Foundation is an independent charity based in Milton Keynes, which has been at the forefront of improving the use of energy in buildings since 1988. We aim to give people, organisations and government the knowledge, support and inspiration they need to understand, manage and reduce the use of energy in buildings.

Role Summary

NEF runs a number of projects that have domestic households at their core. The UK Government is committed to net zero targets by 2050 and has already commenced several large-scale domestic energy retrofit programmes, with grant funding available for low income/high cost households.

Our role of Home Visit Advisor will supplement our expansion of our Better Housing Better Health service into the North East of England, by following up our telephone advice service with free home energy visits. This will encompass the following counties: Yorkshire, Durham, Tyne & Wear, Northumberland. You will provide advice and guidance to vulnerable households (such as the elderly, young families or those with a health condition) through a home visit, assessing their property for energy efficiency improvements (as well as assessing wellbeing measures) before creating a home visit report to refer into a range of case management services and onward social care and health support mechanisms.

Alongside this, you could be delivering awareness sessions or training to public health or voluntary sector organisations or the public; certainly, you’ll be representing NEF at public meetings and events. This role is very much about communication and people, but you’ll also need be organised, diligent and able to navigate various systems and processes.

It may be beneficial to be based in one of the counties listed for ease of travel across the project area but applications from other areas will be considered. This role might be suited to either a current domestic energy assessor or someone with limited experience but looking to enter this sector.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide home visits across the project area with availability between Monday to Saturday 08:00 to 19:30 (most visits take place between 9.30 - 17:00 but flexibility is required)
• Provide advice regarding energy efficiency in the home and assess potential energy efficiency improvements.
• Provide advice and guidance to vulnerable households around general health and safety risks in the home.
• Prepare a comprehensive report of visits to capture an overall picture of the household and follow up actions required.
• Refer the household into any further support organisations or installers as required.
• Prepare and deliver training to a range of audiences, providing information on the programmes and funding available.
• Manage a range of systems and processes, including relevant CRM systems and/or databases.
• Adhere fully to NEF Quality Management Systems (QMS).
• Support, assist and deputise for other members of the Foundation as workload and/or circumstances might require.
• Other activities as agreed with Line Manager.

Person Specification

• Ability to work with and for the general public (mainly vulnerable households) in a caring and non - judgmental way.
• Excellent verbal (including telephone) and written communication skills.
• An enthusiastic approach and the ability to work both individually and as part of a team.
• The ability to engage with people confidently and effectively; remotely, one-to-one and in groups.
• Highly organised, with a methodical approach to projects and a keen eye for detail.
• Current DBS check (or willingness to undertake one with NEF to reimburse the expense)
• Current Domestic Energy Assessor or an interest in energy saving, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
• Ability and willingness to travel. Regular travel is a feature of the job, particularly during autumn, winter and spring.
• Ability to work outside of office hours, by arrangement.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, Word and Access.
• Possession of a full UK driving licence and use of a car with business insurance cover.

Desirable (not essential)

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults and knowledge of principles of safeguarding (Training will be provided).
• Knowledge of the local area
• Knowledge of the Housing Health and Safety Rating system (Training will be provided).