Job Description

XL-Mentoring Project Manager -Greenwich

Introduction / XLP is working to create positive futures for young people living in our inner cities and to make a serious and sustainable impact upon poverty and educational failure. As part of this work XLP currently operates XL-Mentoring projects in three inner London boroughs, Southwark , Lewisham and Tower Hamlets. These projects target at risk young people between 11 and 18 who are on the verge of exclusion or excluded from school and /or at risk of involvement or already involved in gangs, crime and anti-social behaviour. The aim is to get alongside these young people and help them see alternatives to what can sometimes seem a hopeless situation.
We are now extending this highly successful project into the borough of Greenwich building on the extensive youth work carried out in the borough by XLP over many years. The role includes responsibility for recruitment, training, monitoring and supervision of mentors sourced from the local community, who commit to provide between 1-2 hours face to face per week and text communication for a minimum of 12 months, and, recruiting, assessing, matching, monitoring and supervising the young people being mentored. The role reports to the Mentoring Project Manager.
KeyObjectives /
  • Demonstrate a passion and enthusiasm for the charity and its vision, and to motivate and empower a team of mentors to achieve agreed goals aimed at delivering the vision;
  • Develop excellent working relationships with other project managers and borough leaders within XLP in your area, in order to identify young people appropriate for the mentoring program and provide a holistic approach to the work as a whole;
  • Deliver safe and effective 1-2-1 and group mentoring to vulnerable young people – including those on the verge of exclusion (or excluded) and/or at risk of involvement/involved in anti-social behaviour, gangs and/or criminality;
  • Manage up to 25 active 1-2-1 mentors/mentee relationships at any one time and organise the provision of group mentoring to 24 young people each year ;
  • Develop and manage the relationships with key stakeholders such as schools, parents/carers, pupil referral units, youth organisations and police.

Key Tasks /
  1. Planning
•Review the presented needs of local young people and ensure that the project continues to meet these needs in the way it is configured.
  1. Recruiting Beneficiaries
•In consultation with schools and other community stakeholders, identify and evaluate the potential young beneficiaries for 1-2-1 and group mentoring;
•Discuss and introduce the project to the potential beneficiaries through face to face meetings;
•Liaise with families/parents/guardians on 1-2-1 mentoring to further inform them about the project and secure approval for participation through home visitation;
  • Liaise with schools on the need for group mentoring and to agree the parameters and objectives for these groups.
  1. Recruitment and Training of Volunteer Mentors
•Identify and evaluate potential local community volunteer mentors and conduct thorough interviews;
•Run training sessions for mentors with sessions covering such topics as: boundaries and values, confidentiality, anti-discrimination, personal safety, etc;
•Conduct a careful matching process of young beneficiaries and mentors.
  1. Deliver Residential Weekends/Day Trips
•Plan, organise and manage the residential weekend and day trip activities programme.
  1. Beneficiary and Mentor Supervision and Support
•Provideon-going supervisory support, training and guidance for the mentors throughout the project;
•Ensure that all monitoring records are accurately maintained;
•Holdbi-monthly scheduled reviews with mentors to assess progress and advise;
•Ensure good learning points are shared across the mentor community;
•Ensure the project stays focussed on the desired outcomes.
  1. Quality, Risk and Performance Management and Reporting
•Ensure that agreed practices, protocols and procedures are followed particularly relating to child protection;
•Undertake risk and issue management to ensure that potential problems are mitigated prior to them arising, and any issues that do arise are handled appropriately;
•Undertake quality and Performance management to ensure that the experience for the young person is good, that monitoring records are maintained accurately and that progress towards the desired outcomes is evidenced;
•Report on the required aspects of the project to XLP senior management and funders.
  1. Project financial management
•Ensure that the project operates within budget and that financial procedures are followed.
  1. Exit Management
•As a young person and/or mentor comes to the end of their time with the project, agree a suitable exit strategy well in advance;
•Ensure that agreed post-end-of-project objectives and actions are agreed with mentors and the young person;
•Ensure that all performance data is captured and analysed upon exit including learning points and findings.
Training and Experience / This role includes significant levels of responsibility for the welfare of at risk young people and those mentoring them. As such, this post should be occupied only by those with suitable qualifications and with a significant breadth and depth of experience of working with high-risk young people and mentoring/counselling. A sound appreciation of relevant policies and process is required.
The boroughs we work in are very diverse with most ethnic minorities represented. Experience in connecting with those of other cultures and faiths, and a willingness to learn to work alongside them, is an essential part of the work here.
Personal Statement / The role requires someone with a rare combination of strengths in people and project management, strong leadership qualities with a passion for growing and enabling others, and the resilience and strength to persevere and go the extra mile.
The candidate is likely to have an extensive track record of mentoring and/or counselling projects, working with volunteers, and significant experience of working with at risk young people through schools, community or social work. A strong network of relevant contacts is preferable. It is likely that you will have been working with children and young people for at least 10 years.

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