Job Description

Grandmentors Project Officer (CSV Springboards)

Job ref: SAV1413

Community Service Volunteers (CSV)

CSV is the UK’s leading national volunteering and training charity. We make a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people every year, and support some of the most vulnerable people in society - such as children at risk of abuse or neglect; isolated older people; and teenagers looking to get on to the jobs ladder. Our strategic aims are:

  • To help people achieve their potential by being the provider of choice for volunteering and learning.

 To work with individuals and communities in responsive and innovative ways to achieve positive impact.

 To use CSV’s expertise and networks to influence public policy.

 To ensure that CSV is sufficiently resourced to build stronger communities for another 50 years.

Social Action & Volunteering

At the core of what we do is the belief that everyone has something to offer no matter who they are or where they come from. We reject no-one.

Our wide and varied work includes enabling older people to share their skills, knowledge and life experience, improving the lives of children and families at risk of neglect and harm, empowering disabled people to lead independent lives and providing positive support for offenders and young people.

CSV Social Action and Volunteering is a national operation and is managed by the Director of Social Action and Volunteering. The directorate incorporates the Volunteering, Retired and Senior Volunteers, Media and Employee Volunteering teams. We work cooperatively and collaboratively to progress the work of CSV and have a strong commitment to team work.

Purpose of the job

Grandmentors is an innovative project that harnesses the energy and experience of older volunteers (50+) to support young people facing challenging situations. The primary focus of the project is to support young people with education, employment or training.

The postholder will split their time between CSV Springboard Hackney and Southwark: learning centre which deliver a range of vocational and skills training to young people 16+ . The purpose of the post is to work closely with referring staff to recruit young people to the project and match them with volunteer mentors. The post-holder will support young people and volunteers throughout the match to ensure that matches are sustained and goals achieved.

One of the main aims of the project is to help learners complete their chosen study and move into employment or further study as well as the softer skills that the mentoring relationship can help develop.

As well as working within Springboards, the project holder may seek referrals from appropriate agencies within the borough to ensure targets are met and as many young people as possible benefit from the project.

Accountability

The post-holder will be accountable to the Regional Manager, Social Action and Volunteering (SAV) who will supervise the on-going activities and who in turn reports to the SAV Strategic and Operational Manager and the Grandmentors Project Board. The post-holder will have regular one-to-one supervision and an annual appraisal.

The post-holder will be supported within CSV Springboards by a designated member of staff.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Work closely with CSV Springboard staff to ensure a steady flow of appropriate referrals of young people to the project.
  1. Promote the project to young people.
  1. Assess the suitability of the young people and volunteer Grandmentors and make appropriate matches between the two.
  1. Provide on-going support for young people and Grandmentors to ensure sustained relationships that help young people achieve their goals.
  1. Monitor the matched relationships to ensure best practice is shared within the project and that the impact of the project is captured.
  1. Deliver training courses for Grandmentors.
  1. Recruitment and selection of appropriate volunteers.
  1. Assist Grandmentors in developing their volunteer involvement plans with their mentees and provide ongoing support and supervision.
  1. Update referral staff on progress of matches.
  1. Keep well informed and up to date with local developments in the support of young people not in education, employment or training.
  1. Liaise and develop partnership work with other agencies that provide training/employment opportunities for young people.
  1. Promote the research programme to ensure high levels of participation from mentors and mentees.
  1. Ensure monitoring data is regularly collected.
  1. Ensure volunteers submit regular reports on their activities.
  1. Ensure volunteers stay within agreed expenses budget and process expense claims.
  1. Maintain the database of project information.
  1. Adhere to and proactively promote the Equal Opportunities Policy, Health and Safety policy and all other CSV policies which relate to the work of Social Action and Volunteering.
  1. Liaise with CSV colleagues from across the organisation where appropriate to support the project delivery.
  1. Contribute to the team and joint work of CSV in London and nationally.

The job description gives an outline of key duties and is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The post-holder may be asked from time to time to take on other responsibilities as reasonably requested by her/his manager.

Person Specification:

In deciding who to shortlist and appoint to this post we will be looking for evidence of the following skills, knowledge, experience and personal qualities.

The written application is your opportunity to demonstrate how you fulfil these requirements.

CVs WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED IN THE SELECTION PROCESS

Essential requirements

  1. Ability to recruit, support, motivate and enthuse volunteers
  1. Experience of working with young people (16-25) facing challenging situations
  1. Proven ability to contribute effectively to a project by understanding the project goals and ensuring deadlines and targets are met.
  1. Strong interpersonal skills including an ability to develop personal relationships quickly, enthuse and convince others
  1. Good oral communication skills, including the ability to liaise effectively with internal and external stakeholders
  1. Good written communication skills, including the ability to write reports and other relevant documentation.
  1. Good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a busy workload, and to work under pressure and to deadlines.
  1. Working knowledge of training provision for young people including work based learning
  1. An understanding of issues that can affect young people – particularly those in care
  1. Ability to assess risk in situations involving volunteers.
  1. Methodical approach to work, good attention to detail, and an ability to maintain financial records.
  1. Good computer skills including MS Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
  1. Ability to travel throughout the region and a willingness to work some evenings and weekends

Desirable requirements

  1. Experience of working with older people.
  1. Experience of using databases

Terms and conditions

CSV is committed to Equal Opportunities. Specific terms and conditions are:

Location: London: based across CSV Springboard Hackney, Levy Centre, 18 - 24 Lower Clapton Road London E5 0PD and CSV Springboard Southwark, 727 Old Kent Road, London, SE15 1JL

Hours:35 hours a week, Mon-Fri (working days to be agreed with

manager). Normal hours are 09:00 to 17:00 though occasional evening and weekend work will be required.

Salary: CSV Scale 6, starting salary £25,521 (Inc. Inner London Weighting)

Holidays: 24 days per annum, plus public holidays and 3 discretionary CSV days over Christmas

Pension: Contributory Flexible Retirement Scheme

Life Assurance: Cover for death in service up to 3 times annual salary at no cost to the employee

This is a fixed term contract until 31st March 2015. Extension possible subject to funding.

Closing Date:28th February, 12 noon

Interview Date:10th March

Completed application forms to be returned to: Kim Oliver, or post to CSV, 237 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9NJ. If you have any queries, please contact us on the above email or call 020 7643 1332

CSV is committed to Equal Opportunities.

As users of the disability symbol, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancies.

As a charity we are trying to keep our administrative cost as low as possible. Therefore individual applications will not be acknowledged unless you send in a stamped addressed postcard. If we have not contacted you again by the interview date it means that on this occasion we are unable to take your application further.

February 2014