CFC Coordinator job description – January 2015
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title: PSU Coordinator, Central Family Court, London
Reporting to the RCJ Coordinator of the PSU
Purpose of the job
Taking the lead from the RCJ Coordinator, to coordinate and develop the Personal Support Unit service at the Central Family Court (formerly the Principal Registry of the Family Division), and – potentially – other London family court centres.
To be familiar with all aspects of the family courts, in order to inform and support colleagues across the PSU network in this field.
To support an existing team of volunteers, and continue to recruit and induct new volunteers.
To maintain and, where appropriate, to set up new, efficient administrative office systems and procedures, in association with common systems at the RCJ and across the PSU network.
To develop and maintain links with all key staff and agencies at the Central Family Court and associated family courts.
To produce evaluative material.
To support the Director and other staff in running the charity.
To raise funds.
Main duties
- Volunteer related
1.1.Recruit and select volunteers, organise and lead their induction and training.
1.2.Provide support for the team of volunteers in the courts above.
1.3.Contribute to reviewing, updating, and improving training content, material, and methods across the network, particularly family-related materials.
1.4.Organise a rota of volunteers, to ensure the provision of a daily service for litigants, witnesses, relatives and other supporters.
1.5.Deal with client enquiries and cases, and delegate them to the team of volunteers.
1.6.Ensure that the service is offered and provided to its users in a supportive, helpful, and friendly way.
1.7.Refer litigants to other agencies; build up and maintain a database of information on appropriate services throughout the area.
1.8.Ensure that accurate records of all contacts with service-users are maintained.
1.9.Travel occasionally to other PSUs to provide and/or support regional training.
- Management and development
2.1.Ensure that all the work of the service is carried out in accordance with the PSU’s Equal Opportunities policy.
2.2.Implement the PSU’s Health and Safety Policy, especially relating to personal safety for volunteers.
2.3.According to PSU policy, ensure that all volunteers maintain a strict policy of confidentiality in their dealings with litigants and their supporters.
2.4.Maintain working relations with court staff and other relevant agencies to promote the service and to further develop these as the service progresses, and to liaise at all levels, including judges, court staff and colleagues in the legal community. Where necessary, negotiate to achieve improvements for litigants and their supporters.
2.5.In conjunction with the RCJ and London Service Coordinators, develop and maintain relationships with relevant organisations in London, such as pro bono advice services, law centres, the Citizens Advice Bureaux etc.
2.6.Maintain administrative systems, including systems for appropriate record keeping and the production of regular statistics and reports.
2.7.Develop and implement the annual operational plan at the beginning of each financial year, and monitor and keep it under review.
2.8.Working to agreed targets, organise and support fundraising for the PSU at the courts above.
- Administrative
3.1.Ensure that there are efficient and effective office systems and procedures to support the service.
3.2.Be responsible for the health and safety of volunteers in any part of the premises that is occupied by the PSU CFC service.
3.3.Collate and evaluate evidence about the service, in order to recommend and implement relevant actions for improvement and development.
3.4.Prepare budgets and accounts as required, and maintain appropriate financial records and budgetary control.
3.5.Manage the CFC PSU petty cash, including volunteers’ expenses, and ensure the office is appropriately equipped.
3.6.Prepare regular reports on the PSU service in the courts above for the PSU Board and others, and attend Board meetings if required.
- Promotion and policy
4.1.Maintain and develop - both in advance of hearings and on the day - referral procedures to ensure that all litigants and their supporters have access to the service.
4.2.Support the PSU’s development of social media for purposes of communication with and promotion to the legal community, potential referring agencies and clients.
4.3.Raise awareness of issues in the court system that affect litigants and, where appropriate, contribute to proposals for change.
- General
5.1.The PSU is undergoing a period of development and this job description will change and develop.
5.2.This job description is not exhaustive. You will be expected to undertake such other duties as may from time to time reasonably be required.
______
£13,800 (pro rata from £22,000 + £1,000 London weighting)
Up to 6% employer’s contribution to pension (matched to employee’s contribution) backdated after 12 months continuous service
Annual leave entitlement 28 daysand public holidays,calculated pro rata
21 hours per week: potential for further hours, subject to funding becoming available
See below for person specification
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential requirements
Experience and qualifications
- At least 2 years successful experience in a service based organisation
- Experience of working in the public or voluntary sector, or a demonstrable aptitude for doing so
- Graduate calibre or equivalent experience
- Experience of working with volunteers
- Experience of delivering training
Skills and abilities
- Persuasive, authoritative, confident and decisive
- Enthusiastic, flexible, energetic and committed
- Ability to deal with competing demands, calm and reliable under pressure, demonstrating sound judgement
- Diplomatic and tactful, concerned to maintain good relationships even when there are disagreements
- Ability to deliver a supportive service to vulnerable people
- Excellent writing and speaking skills suitable for a wide range of audiences
- Excellent IT skills, including word processing, spreadsheets and email
- Proven ability to recruit, train and support a team of volunteers
- Ability to work collaboratively and on own initiative
- Willingness to adhere to and implement the PSU’s personal safety, equal opportunities and confidentiality policies
- Ability to work effectively in partnership with other agencies
- Ability to plan and undertake evaluation
- Willingness to work occasional unsocial hours
Desirable requirements
- Experience of fundraising
- Knowledge of the judicial and court process, ideally in family matters
- Experience of using social media in a work environment
- Knowledge/experience of online training mechanisms
File path: SMT/LI line management/Recruiting/CFC Coordinator Jan 2015 Page 1 of 5