18 April 2016

Dear Applicant,

Re:Right Here Project Manager

Thank you for your interest in the above post.

Enclosed is a job pack containing the following:

  • Welcome to Applicants
  • Job Profile
  • Policy on the Recruitment of Ex Offenders
  • Guidelines for working with Young People and Vulnerable Adults
  • Aims & Purposes of the YMCA

I have also enclosed an application form for your completion. Please be aware that the closing date for this vacancy is Wednesday 4th May 2016at 9am and the interview dates areMonday 9th May and Wednesday 11th May (afternoons).

Please return email applications to or hard copies by hand or post to Human Resources, Reed House, 47 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2BE.

When completing the application form, make sure you refer to the requirements of the role as set out in the job profile, as short listing for interview rests on how well you meet these criteria.

We look forward to receiving your completed application. If you have not heard from us within 2 weeks of the closing date, please assume that your application was not successful on this occasion.

YMCA DownsLink Group requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Yours faithfully,

Emily Whiter

Recruitment & HR Systems Co-ordinator

About Us

Thank you for your interest in this role and I hope you find this pack and our website answer your questions. You probably will have heard of YMCA, the largest and oldest youth charity in the world but you may not have heard about us. YMCA DownsLink Group (YMCA DLG) was formed in April 2014, bringing together Guildford and Sussex Central YMCAs into one organisation. So while we have a long heritage we are a young organisation and a new team of Chair and Chief Executive.

We believe that we do really interesting and valuable work. Children, young people and families are at the heart of our work with a particular focus on the needs of young people who find themselves on the fringes of society and need support. We provide a wide range of services including the provision of housing for some 513 people and providing them with support. Last year we made a difference to the lives of over 10,000 children & young people in a variety of ways.

We operate from locations across the South East with our Head Office in Hove. We are one of 125 YMCAs in the UK linked through YMCA England. As part of this federation of YMCAs, we are each an independent, self-governing charity and YMCA England supports us by giving us a national voice.

YMCA DLG has around 400 staff and 150 volunteers and our current turnover is £11.1m. On an annual basis, we collect £4.5m in rent; make over 350 lettings each year and deliver housing support contracts in excess of £2.5m. We also have a development programme with the HCA to bring into management a further 100 units of accommodation over the next 3 years.

Vision

Our vision is of an inclusive Christian movement transforming communities so that all young people can belong, contribute and thrive. You will need to demonstrate a commitment to our Christian aims, but do not have to be a practicing Christian. We value diversity in our staff team to reflect the people that we work with.

Values

We seek out – we actively look for opportunities to make a transformative impact on young lives in the communities where we work, and believe that every person is of equal value

We welcome – we offer people the space they need to feel secure, respected, heard and valued; and we always protect, trust, hope and persevere

We inspire – we strive to inspire each person we meet to realise their full potential in all they do

We speak out – we stand up for young people, speak out on issues that affect their lives, and help them to find confidence in their own voices

We support others – we are committed to the wellbeing of the communities we serve and believe in the positive benefit of participation, locally and in the wider world

Job Profile

Job Title / YMCA: Right Here Project Manager
Reporting to / Wellbeing & Targeted Support Services Manager
Service Area / Communities – Wellbeing & Targeted Support Services
Location / Brighton & Hove and West Sussex (office base in B&H)
Contract Type and Employment Period / Fixed term – 12 months (with possible extension)
32 hours per week
Salary (FTE) / FTE £28,000 per annum (pro rata £24,216)

YMCA: Right Here is an award winning youth participation, young people’s health and wellbeing project, targeting 11-25 year olds, delivered by YMCA DownsLink Group (DLG) and currently operating in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex.

The project is currently commissioned by Brighton & Hove City Council (Public Health), Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group and West Sussex County council.

Job Purpose:

To manage project staff and the delivery of Right Here commissioned work streams in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex, and seek funding for ongoing and new strands of work across YMCA DLG operating localities.

Current planned work includes: on-going training & development of youth volunteers; young men’s health consultations and engagement work; peer delivered workshops in secondary schools; tackling mental health stigma workshop event; health promotion campaigns; workforce training; developing a single online portal for young people; continuous development of Right Here’s websites and engagement through social media; activities to 18-25 year olds; developing & delivering a whole school culture change to gender norms to enable boys & young men to develop their emotional literacy and seek help when needed.

Responsibilities:

  • To support, line manage and performance manage the Right Here project staff team.
  • To manage the successful deliver of the contracted work as described above and any new strands of work.
  • To ensure all work is appropriately evaluated and learning used to inform service improvements.
  • To facilitate regular Right Here team meetings.
  • To write project reports for commissioners and contract managers, involving staff and youth volunteers; and attend contract review meetings to report on delivery and performance to commissioners and contract managers.
  • To ensure the project works to appropriate quality marks such as Hear by Right (user participation quality framework).
  • To maintain financial and administrative records for budget management and quality monitoring purposes.
  • To identify new areas of potential work and apply for funding accordingly (with the Wellbeing & Targeted Support Services Manager).
  • To market existing Right Here products and services to commissioners in different localities, including our national website Find, Get, Give.
  • To be responsible for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, and actively promote the well-being of children and young people across the organisation.
  • To work in partnership with key stakeholders e.g. BHCC Public Health, West Sussex County Council, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG), BHT, local authority youth services, the voluntary sector, CAMHS, GPs, schools, etc.
  • To attend and contribute to multi-agency or inter-agency meetings, other professionals’ networks and forums, and conferences, representing YMCA DLG and Right Here positively, and involving young people wherever possible.
  • To support Right Here volunteers and other young people to have an influencing voice.
  • To keep informed of relevant policy changes, research and best practice related to any of Right Here’s work.
  • To maintain confidentiality and security of information of YMCA DLG and other partner agencies.
  • To attend and participate fully in YMCA DLG staff meetings & events, staff training programme and supervisions.
  • To work in accordance with YMCA DLG strategic plan, policies, code of conduct, aims and purposes.
  • To carry out from time to time any other appropriate duties as directed by your line manager to support and promote the work of the charity.

Person Specification
Knowledge, Job Related Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

Experience / Essential / Desirable
Managing paid employees / *
Working directly with children & young people aged 11-25 years / *
Involving young people in the planning, design and delivery of programmes of work (youth participation) / *
Partnership working with different organisations from statutory and voluntary sector, and commissioners / *
Presenting information to a large audience (public speaking) / *
Project management, including evaluation and report writing / *
Working in a community/voluntary sector setting / *
Working within or delivering work in education settings / *
Completing funding applications / *
Skills & Abilities
Flexible and interpersonal attitude / *
Effective time management skills - ability to plan, organise and prioritise work and co-ordinate a variety of tasks in a clear and logical way and meet agreed deadlines / *
Facilitate or chair group discussions and activities / *
Excellent presentation skills / *
Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to motivate, inspire and influence others / *
Ability to present information to different audiences, e.g. professionals, young people, parents/carers; and for a variety of ages (11-25 years) and learning needs / *
Able to work as a member of a team as well as independently / *
Good level of IT competency / *
Ability to think creatively and to innovate / *
Decision-making skills / *
Analytical and problem-solving ability (solution focussed) / *
Ability to network effectively and develop positive professional relationships / *
Education and Training
Supervision / people management training / *
Project management training / *
Mental Health training / *
Group work skills / *
Knowledge
Demonstrable awareness of issues facing young people, especially those who are socially excluded or from hard to reach groups / *
Demonstrable awareness of Equality and Diversity best practice / *
General
Work flexibly & be available for occasional evening/weekend work / *
A commitment to the Aims and Purposes of YMCA DLG / *

Key Competencies for this role

•Team working and Co-operation
The post holder will be expected to achieve and where possible exceed, project goals and objectives, demonstrating a co-operative and flexible attitude and being enthusiastic and responsive to new challenges.

•Communication Skills
The post holder will be expected to have excellent verbal and written skills, and to produce accurate documents, materials, policies and information and to give presentations as required. They will be expected to influence and negotiate positively with all stakeholders.

•Customer Focus
The post holder will be committed to providing and developing services that are responsive to the needs of their service users and to encourage and demonstrate a commitment to participation, auditing and regularly seeking feedback on service provision.

•Planning and Organising Activities
The post holder will be expected to organise and prioritise their own and the project team’s tasks and activities, and to plan the work to ensure that the project meets the requirements of its commissioners and contractors and YMCA DLG.

•Creativity/Adaptability
The post holder will be expected to develop new systems and ideas to improve ways of working. This will include analysing data and gathering information from different sources, providing vision and direction to project staff.

•Integrity and Ethical Behaviour
The post holder will be expected to understand and respect the Christian aims and purposes of the YMCA, and our values and mission, including our commitment to equality and diversity, and to improving the lives of young people, children and families.

•Self Management
The post holder will be expected to set a good example of excellence in day to day conduct at work, understanding their own strengths and weaknesses and being committed to their continually improving their own professional development.

Management Competencies

•Strategic Awareness
The post holder will be expected to understand and contribute towards strategic thinking and development of strategic planning and direction.

•People Management
The post holder will be familiar with and put into practice the responsibilities outlined in the People Managers’ Charter.

•Leadership and Influence
The post holder will be expected to inspire and motivate the project staff, setting a positive example; promoting the values ethos of the organisation positively representing YMCA DLG.

•Resource Management

The post holder will prioritise, organise and controls budgets and other resources effectively.

Policy on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders:

YMCA DownsLink Group actively promotes equality of opportunity for all, with the right mix of talent, skills and potential, and applications are welcome from a wide range of candidates.

We undertake not to discriminate unfairly against any applicant on the basis of a criminal record or other information revealed. Criminal records and other information will be taken into account for recruitment purposes only when they are relevant.

We select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience. We ask all applicants called for interview to provide details of their criminal record. Depending on the nature of the position applied for, YMCA DownsLink Group may request details of your entire criminal record or only of ‘unspent’ convictions as defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

We request that this information is sent under separate, confidential cover to a designated person within YMCA DownsLink Group and we guarantee that this information is only seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process. We would point out that for the successful candidate, this information will be verified by requesting a Disclosure[1] statement from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.

Failure to reveal information that is relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment or subsequent dismissal.

We ensure that all those in YMCA DownsLink Group who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. We also ensure that they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex offenders e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

At interview, or in separate discussion, we ensure that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matters that might be relevant to the position.

For those positions where a Disclosure is required, application forms and guidance notes will contain a statement that a Disclosure will be requested in the event of the candidate being made a conditional offer of employment.

We undertake to discuss any matter revealed in a Disclosure with the person seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.

Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with YMCA DownsLink Group. This will depend on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of any offences. However, as the nature of the YMCA DownsLink Group’s work brings its employees & volunteers into contact with young people (those under 18 years old) and/or vulnerable adults, a criminal record or other information which makes an application unacceptable for a position of trust will render the applicant unsuitable.

As an organisation using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure service to assess applicants’ suitability for positions of trust, this policy complies with the DBS Code of Practice.

Declaration of Criminal Background & Guidelines for Working with Young People and/or Vulnerable Adults

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 sets out to help people who have been convicted of a criminal offence and have not been convicted again in a specified period. This period is known as a rehabilitation period. Once a rehabilitation period has expired and no further offending has taken place, a conviction is considered to be ‘spent’. Once a conviction is spent, the convicted person does not have to reveal it or admit its existence in most circumstances.

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order) gives some exemptions from the Act, whereby details of ‘spent’ convictions have to be declared. One of these exemptions is working with young people and/or vulnerable adults. When recruiting people to work in such positions of trust an employer is entitled to ask for details of all convictions, spent and unspent.

If you are invited to an interview please bring with you a completed Declaration of Criminal Background Form which is enclosed in this application pack. It asks for details of spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings. You should complete the form and place it in an envelope marked ‘Private and Confidential’, addressed to the Interview Panel. Your name should be clearly stated on the front.

The information relating to criminal convictions will only be seen by the interview panel if we are considering offering you employment. If you wish to discuss the information that you have given, please mention this to an interviewer. Having made its selection, the panel may wish to discuss any information given with you. Having a conviction will not necessarily bar you from consideration for the post. Criminal records will be taken into account only when they are relevant to the position for which you are applying. The information you provide will remain confidential.

If you are made a conditional offer YMCA DownsLink Group will apply for an Enhanced DBS Disclosure depending on the nature of the job.

The DBS offers organisations a means to check the background of job applicants to ensure that they do not have a history that would make them unsuitable for the post. DBS Disclosures are provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, an executive agency of the Home Office. Enhanced disclosures provide details of a person’s criminal record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings; they also contain details from lists held by Government departments of those considered unsuitable for this type of work. Organisations using the DBS process must comply with the Code of Practice, a copy of which is available on request.