The Children’s Society’s National Mentoring Initiative is expanding across the UK to make childhood better. We require an experienced Senior Project Worker to help deliver our new project in Nottingham. You will be responsible for ensuring that staff and volunteers are managed, supervised and supported to high professional standards. You will manage the project’s practice with service users and stakeholders to a high quality.

You will have substantial recent experience of direct work with children, young people and families. You will have direct experience of supervising staff and a thorough working knowledge of safeguarding legislation and safe practice systems and procedures. A relevant professional qualification such as Youth & Community, Social Work degree or another associated qualification is essential.

This post is full time and involves frequent weekend and evening work.

Hours for this role are 28 per week.

For further information please contact Gina Musa, Admin Manager on 0115 9422 974.

Interviews: 3rd June 2009

Funded by Allen and Nesta Ferguson Foundation.

Job Description and Person Specification

Senior Project Worker – National Mentoring Initiative

28 hours per week

 
Location:

Nottingham

Reward Band:

SF: £24,848 - £32,157 per annum pro rata (£24,848 - £32,157 full time equivalent salary)   Post is 28 hours per week.

Reporting to:

Programme Manager

Job purpose:

• To deliver effective mentoring services to children and young people supporting them improve their engagement, attainment and well being
• To ensure that project staff and volunteers are managed, supervised and supported to high professional standards to enable the achievement of project targets and objectives.
• To manage the projects practice with service users and stakeholders to a high quality, in line with both internal and external standards.

Key activities

• To deliver and develop appropriate mentoring and related services for children and young people, parents/carers and volunteers in accordance with the National Mentoring Initiative’s service model, current legislation and best practice standards.
• To manage and support project workers and volunteers within The Children Society’s policies and procedures.
• To lead on the recruitment, training, assessment, management and supervision of volunteers according to the Society’s policies and procedures
• To provide on call support to staff and volunteers working away from the project office, including evenings, weekends and occasional bank holidays
• To contribute to and develop models of participation that enable children and young people, carers/parents and volunteers to be involved in the work of the project.
• To support the development of the Initiative by contributing to the planning, monitoring and evaluation processes
• To build and maintain effective working relationships both internally and externally in securing the aims of the Initiative
• To support the development of the National Mentoring Initiative by identifying potential funding sources and by assisting in researching, writing and promoting applications for funding
• To support the Programme Manager in monitoring project expenditure in line with approved guidelines
• To contribute to any aspect of the work of the project including training and the dissemination of development in legislation, social policy and good practice
• To promote equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of work.· To deputise for the Programme Manager, as required.

Attainments:

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

Experience:

• Substantial recent experience of direct work with children, young people and families
• Direct experience of supervising staff and/or volunteers, encouraging reflective practice and professional development.· Experience of working effectively in a diverse team.

Qualifications:

• A relevant professional qualification such as Youth & Community, Social Work degree or another qualification associated with the area of work Work based knowledge
• Issues affecting children and young people in a diverse community
• Effective methods of working with children and young people and their families and /or carers
• A thorough working knowledge of safeguarding legislation and safe practice systems and procedures
• Understanding of volunteer issues
• Mentoring and befriending schemes and practices· Health and Safety

Skills:

• Clear and concise written and verbal communication skills
• Relationship management internally and externally
• The ability to problem-solve and plan in a creative way
• One-to-one working and group working
• Facilitation, training and presentations skills including the ability to produce publicity and training materials
• IT skills in word processing, and e-mail. (The Society uses Microsoft Office applications).

Core competencies:

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

• Communicate effectively with others, internally and externally, on matters of significance
• Build effective networks with colleagues and stakeholders
• Generate practical solutions
• Confidently apply knowledge and skills
• Determine and work to demanding goals
• Embraces situation leadership ensuring a range of leadership styles are used effectively
• Agree and set targets for improvement with others
• Manage budgets and allocate resources within them
• Aware of and work towards legal and safeguarding frameworks/standards
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of high standards of service to others
• Identifies opportunities for children and young people and families or carers to be involved in the work we do
  

Other Competencies

• Influence effectively on day-to-day matters with colleagues
• Take initiative to solve problems
• Require only general supervision
• Values differences in others and respects their contribution/expertise
• Ensures that others are aware and understand safeguarding requirements

Number of posts

1

Special Job Circumstances

This post has the following special circumstances

• Frequent weekend and evening work
• Some residential time away from home for team development and/or training
• Occasional requirement to promote and develop work nationally
• This post will be subject to an enhanced police check

(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 Society you will require:

• To actively promote the values of The Children’s Society and the National Mentoring Initiative 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, parents/carers and volunteers are upheld through their active participation in the work of the Initiative 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
• To maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the work of the project and of The Children’s Society National Mentoring Initiative
• To be flexible adaptable, and emotionally resilient and be able to cope with changing priorities and demands
  

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