PROJECT DIRECTOR, THE GATEHOUSE

JOB DESCRIPTION

THE PROJECT

The Gatehouse is a registered charity (Homeless People and the Oxford Churches), founded and supported by all the churches in Oxford, as well as other faith communities. It does not seek to evangelise or convert, but simply to show Christian concern for homeless people. The Project Director must be wholeheartedly in agreement with these aims.

The Gatehouse exists to provide a refuge from the street and a meeting point between the homeless community of Oxford and other people living in the city, with simple food, clothes, newspapers, books, access to the internet and company for those who are over 25 and have nowhere to go. At present around 50-70 homeless men and women drop into the Gatehouse on any one evening and a team of nine or more, including a volunteer session Co-ordinator and two paid Project Workers, attend each session to serve food and to listen.

The project is also concerned with the development of understanding of homelessness issues in Oxford and how the project can develop to address changing needs

The Gatehouse is open from 5.00 – 7.00pm Monday to Friday and from 4.00 – 6.00pm on Sundays. The project is based in the Parish Rooms of St Giles at 10 Woodstock Road. These premises are shared with many other community groups but the Gatehouse has some exclusive storage. The space is available for 30 minutes before and after each session. A small office is provided on the premises (shared with the church, but some work may be carried out at home.

THE ROLE

The role of the Project Director is

to work with the Trustees to influence and implement the strategic aims of the project

to provide operational leadership and direction to the project and

to provide (with the Assistant Project Director) management support to the volunteer teams at each session

The Project Director reports to the Secretary of the Trustees

Pay: £27,000 to £35,000 per year Hours: 35 per week

Holiday entitlement: public holidays plus 25 days paid annual leave

Basic pay for the first 20 working days of sickness of any one calendar year (inclusive of Statutory Sick Pay)

A monthly employer’s contribution equal to 5% of basic pay payable either to the employee’s personal pension plan or to a pension plan set up under auto-enrolment

RESPONSIBILITIES

It is essential that the Project Director co-ordinates his/her responsibilities with those of the Assistant Project Director to ensure that all activities of the Gatehouse are undertaken successfully.

Within this overriding requirement, the Project Director will have the following key responsibilities:

Financial

  • Generate grant applications in liaison with the Secretary and Treasurer
  • Liaise with community groups and individuals who wish to provide support to the project
  • Account for and acknowledge donations from churches, schools, colleges and other groups
  • Work within the budget set by the Trustees

Training

  • Establish an effective programme of training for volunteers and staff.
  • Provide opportunities for both volunteers and paid staff to develop their individual skills

Management

  • Ensure that each session is adequately resourced by a mixed team of staff and volunteers with the necessary skills and experience
  • Supervise and line-manage the Assistant Project Director and project workers and be available to deal with their concerns
  • Provide leadership to the staff team, including relief and specialist workers.
  • Manage time sheets for paid staff
  • Lead on the recruitment and selection of volunteers and paid staff
  • Organise monthly staff meetings and non-managerial supervision for the team
  • Attend sufficient sessions during open hours to maintain contact with staff, co-ordinators and other volunteers; and to get to know the guests.

Food

  • Ensure a safe system for the provision of food, within current food safety regulations
  • Follow up potential new sources of supply with the community

The premises

  • Represent the Gatehouse in relation to our landlords (St Giles PCC)
  • Maintain the accommodation for the project to a good standard and liaise over shared responsibilities

Meetings

  • Report to and attend Trustees’ meetings (usually held quarterly)
  • Report to monthly Management Committee meeting
  • Organise and publicise the Annual General Meeting
  • Represent the Gatehouse publicly when required

Inter-agency and Community Liaison

  • Maintain good relations with Thames Valley Police
  • Attend strategy meetings convened by Oxford City Council
  • Liaise with senior staff from other agencies
  • Participate in Voluntary and Community sector initiatives (eg OCVA)
  • Maintain a productive relationship with churches and other community groups (eg the two Food Banks) in Oxford and beyond
  • Arrange for monitoring information to be provided for funders, particularly Oxford City Council
  • Represent the Gatehouse in the local media

Development

  • Work with the Trustees to determine the future shape of the project
  • Keep abreast of changes within the local environment which may impact

upon the Gatehouse’s work

  • Provide a vision for the future work of the project, anticipating future needs
  • Follow up promising opportunities that may help that work to develop

Applications to:The Secretary, the Gatehouse

St Giles Parish Rooms

10 Woodstock Road

OxfordOX2 6HT

Please write a letter saying why you are interested in the job, mentioning any relevant experience and enclosing a CV with details of two referees.

Reviewed: May 2014