Post: Project Facilitator
(children and families bereavement support services)
Manager: Director of Therapeutic Services
Job Description
This post is funded until April 2014. It is hoped that monies will be available to continue beyond this date.
Established in 1833, Gaddum Centre has a long history of providing independent and quality services in Heath and Social Care in the Greater Manchester area. At present services include specialist bereavement support for children and their families, social work counselling in primary care, two Carers’ Centres, advice, information and advocacy for older people and vulnerable adults, Local Involvement Networks and Charitable Trust Administration.
The overall aim of this post is to develop and maintain a new service providing bereavement support to children and their families who live in Rochdale.
Objectives
To create, develop and maintain a team of volunteer support workers, and possibly qualified and trainee counsellors, to ensure that bereaved children in Rochdale receive an equitable service appropriate to their individual needs
To raise the profile of the Children and Families Bereavement Support Service in Rochdale and work with colleagues utilise all available funding opportunities, thus ensuring sustainability.
Duties and Responsibilities
1.To offer the services of the project to the children/young people, adults and families referred to the project as agreed and appropriate:
· To accept referrals from GPs, schools and families for children and young people requiring support following bereavement.
· To assess the need for and provide therapeutic counselling or refer for specialist play or family therapy input from Gaddum House when support in addition to that from Rochdale based staff is deemed necessary.
· To manage referral, waiting list, allocation and review of bereavement work with the child/young person, adult and families.
· To ensure appropriate written case records and assessments containing factual information and an evaluation of the situation are maintained.
2. To manage a team of volunteer bereavement support workers and counsellors.
· In consultation with Manager devise and operate a recruitment, selection and volunteer support process that incorporates local safeguarding requirements.
· To work with the lead trainer at Gaddum House to develop accredited listening skills training programmes for volunteers from the local community.
3. Work with other Gaddum Centre staff to ensure the maintenance and production of key management data and producing reports of the project’s progress towards meeting qualitative and quantitative targets
· To attend monthly meetings with your line manager at Gaddum House
· To develop and maintain effective professional relationships with other staff based at Gaddum House
4. In conjunction with Gaddum Centre’s lead trainer research the need for and support the development of professional development activities for professional and volunteer colleagues in Rochdale.
5. To be involved in Gaddum Centre's policy making decisions regarding future developments and in line with the local cultural, ethnic, social identity and specific needs of Rochdale.
6.To represent the Gaddum Centre when required
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Base: The post holder will be based in Rochdale but will need to travel to Manchester on a regular bases
Salary £19.998 per annum pro rata – 17.5 hours £9,999 per
Pension: Employer’s contribution of up to 7½% provided employee makes an equal contribution.
Hours: 17.5 hours per week. Some evening and weekend work will be necessary. No overtime will be paid, but time off in lieu can be arranged.
Holidays: 24 days per annum pro rata (2 days to be taken at Christmas, as directed) plus statutory holidays.
Line management: The post is responsible to the Director of Therapeutic Services
Please note: Gaddum Centre employees are not allowed to smoke
whilst carrying out employment related responsibilities on behalf of Gaddum Centre.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Post: Project coordinator, children and families bereavement support services
Requirements are essential (E) or desirable (D) and should be addressed on the application form and will be assessed at the short-listing stage and at the interview.
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A qualification in Counselling and /or other psychological therapy with a minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience supporting families and children in a community E setting.
Supervision qualification D
Experience of recruiting, selecting and supporting volunteers E
Experience of managing the delivery training or other events E
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with people at all levels E
Experience as a manager or project coordinator E
Experience of work in the field of adult bereavement E
Experience of work in the field of child bereavement E
Experience of using a range of methodologies and approaches
in working with children and adults E
Knowledge of human growth and development E
Knowledge of current legislation relating to children E
Knowledge of funding mechanisms within the health and social care arena D
Knowledge and experience of methods of evaluation D
Ability to work in multi-disciplinary settings and to work in
partnership with other professionals including volunteers E
Awareness of specific needs of ethnic minority communities E
Ability to travel to different work venues E
Commitment to working in an anti-discriminatory practice base E
Knowledge of other services for children and families in need in
the locality D
A commitment to delivering a professional service E
The ability to self-motivate and take personal responsibility E
The ability to manage a complex workload and meet tight deadlines E
A commitment to delivering fully inclusive and accessible services E
Enthusiasm E
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