Manager – Fairbridge in Greater Manchester
- Information pack -
“When young people decide to come to Fairbridge they often do so because for the first time they have found someone who believes in them and can see their potential. That person could be you.”
Vacancy
Thank you for finding out more about working at Fairbridge Greater. Within this pack you will find lots of information about Fairbridge, the young people and what it is like to work with us.
We are looking for an outgoing and self-motivated individual with great leadership skills to take forward the work of Fairbridge in Greater Manchester, based in Salford, who ideally has experience of networking and partnership working with key Local Authority officials. Imaginative and ambitious, you must have the ability to motivate and inspire a team that is passionate about changing the lives of young people.This post attracts the annual salary of £36,500 with the ability to rise to £39,250 when successfully meeting the Ideal Status, please see the job description and person specification for more information.
Completed application forms should ideally be emailed to or posted Veronica Garcia, Human Resources Department, Fairbridge Central Office, 207 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8XD. They should be returned to us by 12 noon on 24 September 2010.If you are selected to attend an interview, we will be facilitating an interview and selection day on 5 October 2010at the Fairbridge in Greater Manchester,Maple House, Cemetery Road, Salford, Manchester, M5 5WG. Further details of the exact day will be provided at a later date.
About Fairbridge
The Fairbridge philosophy is simple. We believe that many young people become disengaged and disaffected not because they are 'bad', but because they lack the personal and social skills and confidence that allow most people to cope with and get on in daily life. We know that these young people can turn their lives around and cope independently if they are given the right opportunity to develop the skills they need, and the support and encouragement to do so.
The Fairbridge Programme is our practical solution to this. It is based upon two key ideas:
1. Fun and challenging activities engage young peoples' interest and can be used as a medium for learning. We offer young people activities which are fun, challenging and engaging. What makes the Fairbridge programme different to other 'fun and challenging' activities is that it is developmental rather than only diversionary. We deliver every activity so that it becomes a vehicle for developing one or more key skills that will develop young peoples' ability to get on and cope with daily life.
2. One to One support keeps young people focused, engaged and guides them towards positive goals and independence We provide every young person who comes to Fairbridge with a designated Outreach and Development Worker who provides them with advice and guidance through regular 1-2-1 support sessions.
We do this because young people respond well to consistent support from someone they trust. Focused support sessions provide an opportunity for young people to reflect upon and reinforce the skills learnt through courses and activities, and guide them towards applying them to all areas of their lives.
“The staff at Fairbridge never judge you…they actually listen and really get where you are coming from.” FairbridgeYoung Person, 2007
Fairbridge has developed two programmes based on age: U16 and 16+. We have separate programmes for 13-16 and 16-25 age ranges for a range of reasons, but mainly because young people of different ages tend to develop at different rates. Separate programmes allow us to offer courses and activities that match the needs and interests of the two age groups.
The Fairbridge U16 and 16+ Programmes consist of four stages shown on the diagram below:
Induction
The aim of the induction is to introduce young people to the Fairbridge staff, programme and general atmosphere and approach. It's an opportunity to show that Fairbridge isn't like other organisations (school, training initiatives) that they may have experienced and to show them where Fairbridge can lead - employment, education, training…or simply a reason to get out of bed in the morning!
Access
Once young people have completed a Fairbridge induction, they are invited to sign up for Access. Access is a short course (5-10 days depending on age group and Fairbridge teams) involving indoor and outdoor activities and usually including a residential programme(one or two nights away in a different environment). It forms an introduction to the Fairbridge approach and Programme by enabling young people to experience something new and challenging, and introducing the idea of personal development and personal development planning.
Fairbridge Programme
All Access completers are invited to engage in the Fairbridge Programme. This consists of a range of courses and activities which offer development and learning opportunities in the five different areas shown in the diagram below. The main focus in everything Fairbridge does is the development of Personal and Social Skills, so they are in the centre of the diagram below.
Moving on
‘Moving on’ means moving on from the Fairbridge programme into some other form of positive engagement. This may be (amongst others) education, employment, volunteering or another personal development programme. Although in the diagram it’s shown at the end, young people should be supported, guided and focused towards moving on throughout their time at Fairbridge: the whole point of young people being on the Programme is to get them to a point where they have developed the skills to cope without it.
Moving on doesn’t mean cutting all ties with Fairbridge. Often it’s better for young people to maintain a supportive link with staff until they have completely stabilised in their new environment, when they can be formally ‘exited’ from the Programme.
Every programme is tailored to personal needs and lasts for as long as an individual needs support. Our goal is simple: to build self-belief and motivation in the most challenging young people, offering them the foundations for a life full of choices and opportunity.
Fairbridge in Greater Manchester
Fairbridge in Greater Manchester currently employs 17 members of staff. The team come from a range of backgrounds and have an array of skills and experience which enable them to work skilfully and effectively with our clients. Volunteers help boost the size of the staff team and their skills help us to offer a more varied programme and supportive environment for the young people
Organisation Chart
Fairbridge equips young people with the skills to cope with adult life
STE
I was referred to Fairbridge by my Early Intervention Team worker because I have an illness called psychosis. I was also not working but in a part time job in gardening which I like to do as a hobby. On the access course we did a lot of fun activities. We did a high ropes course; it was fun to do and funny watching people do it. We also went on a night walk blind-folded whilst being directed by your partner. On the access course I felt really good and happy to be there. What I enjoyed most was the big swing at the end of the high ropes course and watching people’s faces as they were dropped. My challenges on the course were my communication skills. I wasn’t shy but I was not very talkative. At Fairbridge I have learnt to cook, rock climb, abseil, sail, do sports hall activities. I have gained a food hygiene certificate and many more including First Aid. What I like about Fairbridge is everything from the activities that we do and the staff who are fun, good to talk to, very nice and always point you in the right direction.
Spirit is a boat owned by Fairbridge. My first time on the boat was one of the best experiences I have had at Fairbridge. I felt really good and relaxed out at sea. I enjoyed the whole time I was on the boat and there wasn’t one bad thing about it. The hardest part about it was cooking while the boat was rocking away in the sea as I felt really sick. I have been asked back to Spirit by the crew for a race to Ireland. I am really excited and feeling good about going on the boat again; I am looking forward to meeting the crew again and the people I will meet for the first time. In the future I want to be a landscape gardener or do something in animal care. At the moment I am looking to do voluntary work for a while because I want to feel like I have given something back to the community.
Fairbridge has helped me in lots of different ways. I now have the communication skills and certificates to help me along the way. Fairbridge keeps pointing me in the right direction I need to go, whether it is college or voluntary work, Fairbridge will help me in every way they can.
Fairbridge offers young people a fresh start, someone to believe in them and a chance to prove themselves.
JAKE
Before I started Fairbridge I was a ‘wanna be gangster’. Thinking it was funny to go round with my mates doing drugs, beating people up and stealing stuff. Things weren’t good at home. My dad thought me and my mum were punching bags, and as that was what I had grown up with I thought my younger brother and sister should grow up with it too so would hit them. Social services were involved with me from the age of 2 when my dad first hit me because I was crying. They then got involved with my brother and sister when I was in my early teens and put them on the child protection register because of what I was doing to them. School wasn’t going too good either, and I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in primary school. I got excluded from primary school because of my behaviour, and then attended 3 different high schools due to being excluded. I would fight with other students, argue with teachers and lose my temper really quickly, lashing out at anybody and anything.
When I was younger I’d been involved in lots of activities outside school like cadets and Thai boxing, but had stopped all of these activities as I’d wanted to hang around with my mates.
I was referred to Fairbridge just over 12 months ago as I was excluded from my second high school. I did an access course which was great fun. The staff were more laid back and listened to me, taking my views on board and were willing to compromise with me. The course was quite difficult at times due to some of the other people on it, but I stayed focused on my own goals and was able to keep my cool each day. I have done lots of other sessions since then and was even given the chance to go on Spirit which was great. The skipper said he’d be happy with me to come back on, saying he was really impressed with me! I’ve also gained lots of other awards with Fairbridge and met some cool people.
I started a new school after the summer holiday’s which was strange at first. I wasn’t used to mixing with so many people from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds and hadn’t really wanted to in the past. But I ended up speaking to an Asian lad in my class who ended up being one of my best mates. I got involved with extracurricular activities and became the operations manager of the Young Enterprise scheme in school. I didn’t mess about in class as I wanted to keep my head down and get on with my work. My access course had shown me what I could do with a fresh start and I wanted that to happen in school too. I was even able to keep control of my temper and be good in class. I realised how important it was to be open and honest with people, and opened up to people I was working with like RAP.
I also returned to cadets and set up a band called Corps Drums with my regimental mates. I picked up my Thai boxing again and also started doing my Duke of Edinburgh. I also started volunteering at my local Beavers centre with younger kids which I really enjoy. Things had also really improved at home. Me and my brother and sister were taken off the child protection register as I had stopped fighting with them, and had started to spend time with my dad who had stopped drinking.
Unfortunately even though I wanted a fresh start some students found out why I’d been excluded from other schools and started putting pressure on me to mess about again. I managed to stay away from them most of the time, but because of my reputation other kids always wanted to fight me. After nearly 12 months of not getting into trouble another pupil accused me of GBH and I was automatically excluded as the school believed him and not me. So, I came back to Fairbridge as I was comfortable there and wanted to keep myself busy, mixing with people and doing fun stuff rather than just being stuck at home. I told staff what had happened in school and they did not judge me, letting me attend sessions and keep busy.
Thankfully I received an absolute discharge in court regarding the charges of assault, and the other pupil was found to have lied. Because I had been out of school for a while they would not let me back, so I managed to get a place at Bury College. I am now doing a Btec 1st Diploma in Business, a course that college kids would usually do! I’m also doing science, maths, English and art GCSE’s as well as ICT and Key skills maths and English on my rest days in college.
Without Fairbridge I would probably be locked up in a young offenders institute as that’s where most of the people I was hanging around with are now. I think Fairbridge is a really good organisation. You can get a lot from it, it’s kind of like the best bits of social services, school and youth clubs all put together, without the bad bits. I’ve definitely grown up a lot over the last 12 months and have stopped getting into trouble. I’d like to say a big thank you to the staff at Fairbridge for helping me see what I was doing and for helping me to change. They have always trusted me and never judged me based on what others have said about me.
What Fairbridge can offer you
PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT
Just as we work hard, when it comes to playtime, the rewards are there to help you enjoy life to the full. Indeed, our full-time employees receive 28-32 days annual leave. Beyond the generous holiday allowance, we also offer a competitive benefits package including:
- Salary - A competitive salary, reviewed regularly against market rates, and in most posts the opportunity to progress up the salary scales
- Holiday – 28 days holiday that increases after two years, up to a maximum of 32 days after five years. You’ll also get bank holidays of course!
- Probation - You will be subject to a six month probation period, during which time expectations will be set, training identified and regular performance reviews and supervisions will take place, ending with a formal appraisal just before you have been with us for six months
- Pension – From £10 per month up to 4% of salary, which will be matched by Fairbridge. You can also make additional contributions if you wish. If you don’t have a pension already, Fairbridge can facilitate the setting up of a personal pension plan which you can take with you when you come to leave
- Sickness absence – Fairbridge is required to make statutory sickness payments (SSP) where you qualify. We also have our own sick pay scheme, including full pay for 20 days each year subject to certain conditions
- Family benefits - Generous maternity/parenthood leave entitlements are in place, including extended maternity leave and benefits. Available after a qualifying period
- Childcare vouchers - This is a flexible way to meet the costs of your childcare. Part of your salary can be given up or ‘sacrificed’ in exchange for Childcare Vouchers. Within specified limits, these vouchers are non-taxable and exempt from National Insurance contributions and therefore present a saving for employees who receive them as part of their total employment package. The Childcare Vouchers received are then exchanged, in whole or part, for the approved and registered childcare services you use
- Cycle to work scheme – We are currently setting up a cycle to work scheme which will enable you to get a bicycle to use to cycle to work and safety equipment, and receive considerable savings on the retail price
- Eye Care - Employees who are regular PC users may be entitled to claim a Specsavers voucher that covers an eye examination, a free pair of VDU glasses and £20 off the £99 glasses range
- Employee Assistance Programme – Fairbridge recognises that staff may face and need help with a variety of issues throughout their lives and provides an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) through a company called EAR. The EAP is a 24/7 independent and confidential counselling and information service, free of charge, available to all Fairbridge staff and their immediate family members. Support is available on a range of issues including legal, financial, emotional, health and personal issues
- Appraisal system - A fair and transparent appraisal system to measure your performance against the requirements for your role and agree personal objectives with you
- Training & development - Fairbridge takes training and career development seriously. We will offer you many opportunities to develop your skills, starting with your induction when you first join us. We will work with you to put together your personal development plan which will be reviewed at your appraisal each year. All staff are entitled to up to five days for training each year and on top of this each team undertakes up to 10 training days each year. To facilitate learning across the organisation we have a Training & Development of four, who deliver team training, observe staff practices and run courses for Fairbridge staff. Should external training be necessary, you can apply to receive financial support
- Membership of a professional body – to support your career development, we will reimburse you for membership of a professional body where it is deemed necessary for your job (eligible after one year in post)
- Sabbatical leave – staff have the opportunity to apply for unpaid sabbatical leave after 2 years of service. Although not a contractual right, where we can see that the time off will enable the individual to develop in their role and will benefit Fairbridge, we will look to accommodate any requests
Job Description for Manager