Our Programme Officers work on the frontline, delivering 1:1 sessions with young people across the capital. We’re currently looking for another Programme Officer to join our team, and with applications closing this week, we reached out to Holly Westbrook to talk a little bit about her experience.
Tell me about what it’s like to be a Programme Officer at Settle.
Being a Programme Officer is exciting and challenging with no day the same! There are a variety of issues that we’re faced with – and they require us to get creative with our work. The highlights are working with young people, who all have different experiences, and are so open for support and working together. Some of the challenges in this role can be around managing time effectively when there are changes to sessions with young people.
What does your day look like?
A typical day will usually have 2 sessions in it. The focus of sessions can be around tenancy, setting up bills and budgeting to supporting with MH and finding work. I’ll usually aim to have one in the morning and one in the afternoon – but these are subject to change depending on the young person’s availability! Before a session, I’ll prep if we need any resources, then afterwards I’ll write up the notes from the session and any actions for next time. Around these, I might have some meetings with other members of the team on projects that I am working on.
What drew you to join Settle?
I was drawn to Settle because of how they work with young people they support; this is through a holistic approach and is young-person centred. I had been looking for a frontline role and came across Settle. When I started, it was a really small team. Now we’ve grown so much over the last 2 years while the team support and ethic has continued and grown. It’s one of the most welcoming and supportive places I’ve ever worked.
What’s next for you?
I’ve recently been promoted! I am now a Senior Programme Officer, specifically working with young people in Lambeth on our Settle Plus programme. In this role, I will continue to work with care experienced young people from Lambeth. I’ll be working on an extended year-long programme to get them set up in their new home. I started just last week, so I’m really excited to get stuck in and meet the new young people!
Any tips for applicants?
If you’ve been looking for a frontline role, working with young people and preventing homelessness – this is for you! My tips would be to be specific on examples and really illustrate why you want to become a Programme Officer. Make sure to translate your past experience to this role and also what you can bring to the role. At Settle, we’re encouraged to bring new ideas and new ways of working- we love to see what you can bring!
If you’re interested in applying to our team, head to our Careers page for more details about the role and how to apply. Applications for our Programme Officer role close Wednesday 19th May at 11:30 PM.
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