The Children’s Society is a leading children’s charity committed to making childhood better. We work with children across the country, providing the right support at the right time. We commissioned The Good Childhood® Inquiry; the UK's first independent national inquiry into childhood. Its aims were to renew society's understanding of modern childhood and to inform, improve and inspire all our relationships with children.

The Children’s Society is developing a Student Transition Support Service to provide intensive support to young people in East Devon who require additional support during the transition period between primary and secondary school.

We’re looking for a Student Transition Support Service Co-ordinator (21 hours per week) to be responsible for assisting the Programme Manager in the co-ordination and development of the Service ensuring that children and young people receive appropriate support to meet their needs around school inclusion and transition.
 
You’ll be based at Honiton Children’s Centre on Fridays and will spend the rest of your working week working throughout East Devon.

Funding for this Service is provided by the East Devon Local Children’s Trust and is currently secured until 31st March 2011.

As well as a strong commitment to your development, we offer a generous holiday entitlement, a contributory stakeholder pension, childcare vouchers and flexible working.

Interview date: w/c 29 March 2010.

All recruitment documents are available in alternative formats. Please note that CVs will not be accepted.

Charity Registration No. 221124
We strive to be an equal opportunities employer

Student Transition Support Service Co-ordinator   (21 hours per week)

Location:

Student Transition Support Service, East Devon

Reward Band:

Project Worker 3 (SFN)

CRB Level Required:

Enhanced

Reporting to:

Programme Manager

Job Purpose:

• To be responsible for assisting the Programme Manager in the coordination and development of the project ensuring that Children and Young People receive appropriate support to meet their needs around school inclusion and transition..

Key Activities:

• To provide effective Coordination of the service developing appropriate referral processes with partner agencies
• To deputise for the Programme Manager in their absence, assisting in the development of the Project and maintaining good day-to-day working practices and relationships
• To deliver and develop appropriate services for children and young people in accordance with current legislation and safe practice
• To be involved in the recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers and staff according to the Society’s policies and procedures
• To provide leadership and support to project workers and volunteers within the Society’s performance management procedures
• To contribute to and develop, models of participation that enable children and young people to be involved in the work of the project
• To support the development of the project by contributing to the annual and on-going planning process of the project
• To build and maintain effective working relationships both internally and with externally while promoting the work of the project and The Children’s Society
• To maintain effective systems for monitoring, evaluating and reporting purposes
• To support the Programme Manager in identifying potential funding sources and assist in writing funding applications
• 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 good practice.

Attainments:

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

Experience

• Substantial experience of direct work, including child protection, with children and young people, in a school setting
• Experience of team leadership and supervision

Qualifications

• A relevant professional qualification such as Youth & Community, Social Work Diploma 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
• Child care legislation and other relevant laws
• Health and Safety

Skills

• Presentation skills and the ability to facilitate training
• Effective teamwork skills
• Networking internally and externally
• The ability to problem-solve and plan in a creative way
• 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:

Managing People

• Leading Others
  • Embraces situation ensuring a range of leadership styles are used effectively
  • Recognises and develops the potential of individual team members
• Innovation
  • Agree and set targets for improvement with others
  • Contribute ideas and suggestions to the development of quality assurance processes, encouraging the contribution of others

Leading Change

• Communicating with Others
  
  • Communicate others, internally and externally, on matters of longer-term significance
    
• Building and Maintaining Partnerships
  • Influence effectively on day-to-day matters with colleagues
  • Build effective networks with colleagues and stakeholders
  • Lead and initiate purposeful relationships across team/functions to encourage partnership working

Managing Continuity

• Managing Resources
  • Contribute to the setting of budgets
  • Manage budgets and allocate resources within them
  • Aware or work towards legal and safeguarding frameworks/standards
• Providing Service to Others
  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of high standards of service to others
  • Values differences in others and respects their contribution/expertise
  • Ensures that others are aware and understand safeguarding requirements
  • Identifies opportunities for children and young people to be involved in the work we do an densure that others are aware and understand this approach

Producing Results

• Managing Yourself
  • Generate practical solutions
  • Promote Society’s image and values
  • Confidently apply knowledge and skills
• Agreeing and Meeting Targets
  • Determine and work to demanding goals
    
  • Take initiative to solve problems
  • Requires only general supervision

Special Job Circumstances:

This post has the following special circumstances:

• Occasional weekend and evening work
• Some residential time 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 Society you will require:

• An understanding and acceptance of the principles and values of the organisation
• 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.

Click on the below link for futher information on the Student Transition Support Service:

Files/Descripton of Student Transition Support Service.doc