Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) Officer

Overview

Buckinghamshire Council’s Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM) team provide intensive support and intervention to improve outcomes for small cohorts of individuals, in line with the Opportunity Bucks programme and national MEAM network.

This team support individuals who have experience of multiple disadvantage, which includes worklessness, homelessness, social isolation, mental health and substance misuse to navigate the system and achieve positive outcomes. One of the key aims of the team is to gather learning from working with individuals and professionals working with people with multiple disadvantage to inform service and system change – with the ultimate goal to improve the lives of people with multiple disadvantage across Buckinghamshire.

This post is a permanent position.

About us

The MEAM Approach network supports 42 partnerships across the country to develop effective, coordinated approaches to multiple disadvantage that can increase wellbeing, reduce costs to public services and improve people’s lives.

Our MEAM team is part of the Opportunity Bucks programme. The purpose of the team is to empower people to take control of their own lives, connecting people with appropriate services to enable them to sustain control and to access support as required. Proactively working with partners and local services, this post will embed and coordinate a multi-agency team approach that establishes flexibility, systemic and cultural change within these services.

The team sits within the Adults & Health Directorate.

About the role

This is a hugely exciting opportunity to be part of a team that are making a real difference for some of our most vulnerable residents in Buckinghamshire.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide intensive support to a caseload of people in the target areas
• Ensure people are involved in all aspects of the services they receive including policy, practice, delivery and design where possible.
• Coproduce personalised support plans to improve outcomes for individuals, improving health and wellbeing and reconnecting people to community groups and statutory services. Focus on strength-based, trauma informed, and asset-based approaches to improve outcomes.
• Collaboratively develop risk management plans for caseload that are strength-focused and trauma informed.
• Develop detailed knowledge of local services available, identifying key partners and organisations that can support the team, and assisting to identify gaps in the local system of provision.
• Develop and maintain strong links with other navigators within the target area, e.g. MH navigators, social prescribers.
• Actively participate in developing and applying the learning from the MEAM Approach cohort to improve best practice and inform local approaches.
• Work proactively and collaboratively as part of a multi-agency team liaising with relevant partners and colleagues. Maintain relationships for effective partnership working to ensure you are proactively engaging with the MEAM network.

On-the-go:
Our ‘on-the-go’ roles mean you’ll usually start and finish your day from a base, moving around between different locations throughout the day. You won’t need a fixed desk to work from, but you’ll have access to our network where you can keep up to date with admin and the latest staff updates.

About you

We are looking for someone with experience in providing a range of strength-based, trauma-informed, person-centric and evidence-based interventions within a community-based setting.

The ability to prioritise and organise your own workload and reprioritise as required according to changing client needs is essential.

You will have a positive, can-do approach with the ability to think creatively and advocate for the people you are supporting.

You are inquisitive and will be excited about capturing the challenges and issues people are facing and using this to inform how we influence system change.

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Other information

This is an on the go role, working out in the community. Therefore a full UK driving license required to be able to carry out the role.

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: Chloe Haines at [email protected]

Closing date: Sunday 22nd March

Interview date: Thursday 26th and Friday 27th of March 

Interview-type: In person at QVR Offices in High Wycombe 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
• All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

We understand that candidates may use AI tools to assist with their applications. While we welcome innovation, we expect all submissions to reflect your own experience, skills, and achievements accurately. Please ensure your application is truthful and demonstrates your personal capabilities, as this will be assessed during the selection process.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/