Windchimes is an exciting new resource centre in Herne Bay for children with disabilities across East Kent. It has a residential respite component managed by Kent County Council and the PCT. The Children’s Society are working in partnership with both of these agencies to manage the day, evening and weekend services provided both at Windchimes and across East Kent. Central to this is the involvement of parents and children in helping define and shape the services provided.

We now need to recruit to a number of posts to cover maternity leave until the 30th June ’09. There may be the opportunity to extend these posts past this date.

Based at Windchimes, and managing a team of sessional and part time workers, you will develop contact with a diverse range of children with disabilities and their families across East Kent and work with them to develop a range of methods for them to influence services.

You will have a relevant professional qualification, extensive experience of direct work with disabled children including a sound understanding of the values and practice of participation, the ability to enable children to affect service delivery and the ability to deputise for the Centre Programme Manager.

Hours of work will be 24 per week.

For further information or informal discussion on the above roles contact Ivan O’Reilly, Centre Programme Manager on 01227 741748.

We offer generous holidays, contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working.

Closing Date: Friday 26th September 2008
Interview Date: W/C 6th October 2008

We strive to be an equal opportunities employer.

Senior Project Worker

Location:

Windchimes Resource Centre, Reynolds Close, Herne Bay, Kent. CT6 6DS

Reward Band:

Project Staff III (SF)

Hours:

24 hours per week

Reporting to:

Centre Programme Manager

Job purpose:

• To develop and promote sustainable participation structures and activities for disabled children and young people.
• To ensure that disabled children and young people’s voices are heard at a strategic and operational level in the planning, delivery and evaluation of services.

Key activities:

• To develop relationships with disabled children, young people and their families at Windchimes and across East Kent.
• To develop structures and systems that enable disabled children and young people to influence the services they receive.
• To promote the rights of disabled children and young people to participate, breaking down barriers to participation and to influence change within statutory and voluntary agencies to enable disabled children, young people and their families to influence services.
• To monitor and evaluate the impact of participation structures and activities on improving service delivery.
• To be involved in the recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers and staff according to the Society’s policies and procedures.
• To manage and support designated project workers and volunteers within the Society’s performance management procedures.
• To support the development of The Children’s Society’s service delivery at Windchimes by contributing to ongoing planning activities.
• To build and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally while promoting the work of the project and The Children’s Society.
• To deputise for the Centre Project Manager, as required.
• To support the Centre Programme Manager in developing participatory structures to enable parents to advise and assist in the governance of Windchimes and to affect services across East Kent.
• To contribute to any aspect of the work of the project including training and the dissemination of good practice.

Attainments:

In order to be considered for this post you will have to demonstrate that you already have:

Experience

• Relevant substantial direct experience in working with disabled children and young people from diverse backgrounds to achieve positive outcomes.
• Experience of working with children and young people using participative methods.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluating work and producing written reports.
• Experience of service delivery, development and improvement in a multi-agency environment.

Qualifications

• A relevant recognised qualification in working with children and young people or another qualification associated with the area of work.

Work based knowledge

• An understanding of the issues affecting disabled children, young people and families.
• Effective methods of working and communicating with disabled young people to promote participation.
• Childcare legislation including the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the UNCRC and other relevant laws and guidance relating to young people and disability issues.
• An understanding of the effects of discrimination on children and young people and the importance of anti-discriminatory practice.
• An understanding of the relevant services and agencies working with disabled children and young people.
• An understanding of safe practice and health and safety issues.

Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively with disabled children and young people, including with those with communication difficulties (e.g. Makaton, BSL, PECS).
• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Networking skills.
• Collaborative working skills.
• One-to-one working and group work skills.
• IT skills in word processing and e-mail (The Society uses Microsoft Office applications).
• Facilitation and presentations skills including the ability to produce publicity materials.
• Ability to collate, present and report information in appropriate format for the intended audience.
• An ability to monitor, record and evaluate the work of the project.

Core competencies:

In order to be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to:

Building and Maintaining Relationships

• Obtains information to influence internal and external agencies by developing supportive and productive opportunities for disabled children and young people to express their views.
• Shows knowledge and sensitivity to the specific needs of the diverse range of needs of disabled children, young people and their families.

Continuously Improving

• Makes recommendations internally and externally to improve systems and experiences based on the views of disabled children and young people.
• Actively works to develop own cross-cultural awareness and to develop anti oppressive practice.

Communicating with Others

• Able to adapt style and content of both written and verbal communication to engage a range of audiences, from disabled children and young people to external stakeholders.
• Promotes values and wider work of The Children’s Society to external audiences.

Managing Yourself

• Initiates and organises own work schedule and task priorities, taking initiative to resolve day-to-day issues with minimum supervision.
• Adds values to the project as a whole by sharing own continuous learning and best practice.
• Develops and organises work plan in consultation with key stakeholders.

Agreeing and Meeting TargetsIs

• Committed to achieving quality outcome and seeks guidance and support when systems and procedures are not clear.

Provides Service to Others

• Develops working knowledge of team, external stakeholders and other TCS functions, which are influenced and impacted by their work.
• Co-operates well with the Programme Manager and colleagues and responds positively to suggestions and feedback.

Managing Resources

• Pays attention to efficient use of resources.

Leading Others

• Lead by example inspiring team members in the setting and achieving of clear goals.
• Give clear directions and support to staff in a supervisory capacity.

Other Competencies:

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Regular evening and occasional weekend work.
• Regular travelling.
• Occasional overnight stays away from home for team development and/or training.
• Occasional requirement to promote and develop work in the wider Southern Region.

(Please note: if you have difficulty meeting these conditions because of a disability or family circumstances the appointing manager will discuss it with you in order to consider reasonable adjustments to the job or working conditions).

Relevant Personal Characteristics:

So that you personally can succeed in this role and The Children’s Society you will require:

• To actively promote the values of The Children’s Society in your day-to-day work.
• At all times to carry out your responsibilities with due regard to The Children’s Society’s commitment to keeping children and young people safe.
• A commitment to ensuring the needs and rights of children and young people are upheld through their active participation in the work of the project and The Children’s Society.
• A commitment to diversity and equality in working relationships and practice.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team and a willingness to learn new methods of communication.
• To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the project and of The Children’s Society.
• To be adaptable and able to cope with changing priorities and demands.

Files/File/Windchimes Project Overview.doc