Background Information to the Post Ofvirger

Wells Cathedral: Virger

Background Information to the Post ofVirger

Wells

Situated on the edge of the Mendip Hills in the County of Somerset, Wells is England’s smallest city built around the beautiful Cathedral of Saint Andrew. Its picturesque surroundings include a quaint market square and high street, the Bishop’s Palace and the magnificent Vicars Close, Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited street.

The Cathedral

Wells Cathedral deservedly has gained an enviable reputation for its lovingly maintained Gothic architecture, its world class music, and its Ministry of Welcome to some three hundred thousand visitors each year as well as around one hundred and fifty thousand people who come to the Cathedral for services, concerts, lectures etc.

Underpinning the Cathedral is a diverse organisation whose responsibilities cover music, works, virgers, library, archive, education, outreach, finance, HR, administration, volunteer management and trading companies. The Cathedral’s income comes from three main sources: entry donations and other voluntary income; property and investments; and its commercial activities, currently a shop, catering business and holiday let.

More details may be found on the Cathedral’s website:

Department Specific Information

The Virgers are an integral part of the Cathedral Ministry to worshippers, pilgrims and visitors. It is with the Virgers that many make their first contact when they arrive and from whom they gain their first impression of Wells Cathedral.

Application Process

We hope you find this pack provides all the information you need in order to consider your application for this post. If, however, you have any further questions please initially contact Maria Webber (tel. 01749 685113 or email ) who will redirect you to the appropriate person.

Applications

Applications must be received by 5pm on Wednesday 25 November 2015. Application forms, with a covering letter no more than one side of A4describing what attracts you to this role, your experience and how it relates to the opportunities and challenges presented by this position, should be returned to Human Resources, either by post to Cathedral Offices, Chain Gate, Cathedral Green, Wells, BA5 2UE or by email to

Shortlisting

Short listing will take place by 27 November 2015. To ensure the fairness of the selection process, shortlisting will be based upon the information which you provide in your application and assumptions will not be made about your experience or skills. We will look for demonstrable evidence that you meet the criteria set out in the person specification.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of the shortlisting process.

Interview

These will take place in the Cathedral Offices, Wells on 8 December 2015. Further details regarding the selection process will be communicated at the time applicants are invited for interview. The appointment will be subject to satisfactory references.

Should you decide to apply for this post we look forward to receiving your application.

Safeguarding

We are committed to:

• The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and all adults;
• The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and all adults;
• The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where victims of abuse can report or disclose abuse and where they can find support and best practice that contributes to the prevention of abuse

Further information can be found in our Safeguarding Policy. All applicants are required to complete a Confidential Declaration Form as part of our recruitment process when an offer of employment is made. This form is strictly confidential and, except under compulsion of law, will be seen only by those involved in the recruitment / appointment process and, when appropriate, the nominated safeguarding lead or someone acting in a similar role/position. All forms will be kept securely in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST:Virger
KEY PURPOSE OF POST:
The Virgers are an integral part of the Cathedral Ministry to worshippers, pilgrims and visitors. The key purpose of the post is to be of the team that takes responsibility for the day to day operational management of the Cathedral, including security of the buildings, welfare of all who enter the Cathedral and support to divine services and other events.
LOCATION:Wells Cathedral, Wells, BA5 2PA
REPORTING TO:Head Virger
HOURS OF WORK:Part time, 20 hours a week
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
a)Duty Rota: To satisfy the duty rota as directed by the Head Virger
b)Cathedral Services: To prepare for Divine Services by ensuring all books, vessels and vestments are set out as required. To clear, clean and re-instate all elements after the services. To ring the service bells, ringing them on time and for the correct duration.
c)Opening Routine:To open the Cathedral on days of early morning duty, and to prepare for Matins and Holy Communion.
d)Ceremonial:To assist in marshalling and leading processions and attend upon the needs of members of Chapter and others, as necessary, during Divine Services when a Virger should be present throughout. To protect and respect the private space, time of Chapter members before and after services.
e)Concerts, Special Events/Activities. To prepare the Cathedral and/or its precincts as necessary for concerts and any other events or activities as directed, paying particular attention to the setting-up instructions as detailed on the Planning Instructions agreed beforehand. This is likely to involve movement and lifting/handling of heavy items of furniture and staging etc. Any movement of heavy or awkward items must be handled by two or more persons under Health and Safety Guidelines.
f)Visitors. To direct and care for visitors to the Cathedral whilst they are in the building or its precincts, in conjunction with the Cathedral’s Ministry of Welcome.
g)Cleaning. To assist in cleaning the Cathedral, ancillary buildings and its furniture, including the toilets, as directed by the Head Virger and in co-operation with the Cathedral Cleaners. These duties will include some work at high levels from time to time.
h)Individual Responsibilities. Each Virger will be assigned particular tasks by the Head Virger which is their responsibility. This may be changed periodically to provide experience throughout the Virgers Department. However, because of days off, holidays and illness all tasks must be ‘covered’ by at least one other Virger. Apart from being able to work on their own and show initiative it is essential that each Virger is able to work as part of a team helping and supporting one another.
i)Security. When working the early or late hours of duty, the Virgers are responsible for the Cathedral security system and for unlocking and locking doors as necessary, as well as being responsible for the total security of the Cathedral and its contents whenever on duty. To organise duty breaks so that there remains a Virger within the body of the Cathedral at all times. To remain vigilant whilst discreet to all visitor activity at all times. To immediately report suspicious activity to the Head Virger.
j)Incidents. Virgers are to maintain a detailed Record of Incidents and Occurrences in the ‘Incident’ book to provide continuity for whoever is on duty.
k)Money. Virgers are responsible for opening the outer door of the donation boxes but not for emptying the boxes. Collections are to be placed in the self-seal bags and a Virger will lock the sealed bags in the safe. The handling of all money requires a second person to witness the procedure.
l)Staff and Planning Meetings. One of the Virgers to be present at the weekly staff meeting and all Planning meetings as they occur and will advise and record items discussed and agreed accordingly.
m)Line Management. Virgers are required to understand and work within Line management structures and guidelines. The Line Manager for the Virgers and Cleaning Department is the Head Virger as Head of Department and all communications are through him. Heads of Departments are responsible to the Chapter through the Cathedral Administrator as their Line Manager. The Canon Treasurer has oversight for the Virgers Department and responsibility for their pastoral care.
n)General. To undertake such other duties as the Head Virger may require.
o)Dress Code/Uniform. Virgers are required to wear shirt/blouse, tie, dark trousers and black shoes and are to present themselves for duty clean and smart. Virgers will be provided with:

1. Industrial quality safety shoes
2. Hard hat
3. Cassock
4. Virgers Gown
5. Virgers Cloak
6. Virgers ‘Whites’

p)Time Keeping/Attendance. Virgers are required to present themselves punctually for their duty periods. If for any reason they are unable to fulfil their responsibility they must report to the Head Virger in adequate time for alternate arrangements to be made and giving satisfactory reason as to why. A Virger wishing to arrange a duty change must do so by consultation with the Head Virger.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Key Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications and Experience /

• Basic education level to GCSE or equivalent
• Appreciation of Cathedral worship

/

• Experience of dealing with complaints
• Experience in a comparable role

Skills and Abilities /

• Good verbal communication skills
• Customer facing skills
• Organisational ability
• Able to work as part of a team as well as on individually and to use own initiative.
• Ability to multi-task
• Some manual skills

Work-related Personal Qualities /

• Committed Christian in sympathy with the aims and objectives of the Church of England
• Demonstrable commitment to their faith
• Able to move items of furniture and staging and be prepared to work at high levels when directed to do so
• Ability to work as part of a rota and outside of normal working hours with flexible hours.
• To be able to bear themselves as part of their ceremonial duties

This job role requires a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Main Terms and Conditions

Hours of Work / Part time, not less than 20 hours in each week.
Days of the week and precise hours within each day to be agreed. The normal working hours are between 06.45 and 18.15 from October to March and 06.45 and 19.15 from April to September.
Salary / Salary of £8,953 per annum
The Virger shall be entitled to overtime rates to all hours worked in excess of agreed hours in any one day.
In addition the Virger shall be entitled to be paid fees for Weddings and Funerals at the rate from time to time determined by the employer.
Pension / Defined Contribution Scheme. Contributions as % of salary:
Age Employee Employer
<50 2.5% 5%
50-55 4% 8%
>55 5% 10%
Holiday / Five working weeks per calendar year plus bank holidays, each pro rata.
The holiday year runs from 1 January to 31 December.
Location / The Cathedral, Wells
Expenses / All reasonable working expenses will be met in line with Cathedral policy
Probation / This post will be subject to a probationary period of 6 months

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