Job Description – Schools Project Manager (Maternity Cover)


SchoolsProject Manager

(Maternity Cover)

Job Description

Job Title:Schools Project Manager

Employer:Edinburgh Young Carers Project

Accountable to:Chief Executive

Salary Scale:Salary Scale Point 30 - £25, 716 pa(pro rata)

Hours:28hours per week

Duration:This post is for maternity cover for a period of 9 months

1.Job Purpose

To manage our Schools Awareness Raising Campaign in primary and secondary schools in Edinburgh, with the aim of developingwhole-school approaches enabling greater identification of, and in-school support to young carers, in line with Getting It Right For Every Child approaches. The purpose of the Schools Project Manager role is to provide a link between formal education policy, strategy and practice in Edinburgh, and the work at Edinburgh Young Carers Project.

2.Job Activities and Responsibilities

  • Manage the Schools Awareness Raising Campaign, directing the work of the Schools Project Manager and the Schools Development Worker to fulfil the outcomes of the campaign and funder requirements.
  • Contact primary and secondary schools across Edinburgh to encourage schools to become involved in our Schools Awareness Raising Campaign, or respond to queries and requests from schools to work with EYCP
  • Establish a Young Carer Co-ordinator (YCC) in each school we work with, and support them to undertake the responsibilities detailed in the YCC role description created by the Schools Project Manager
  • Maintain and update a contact database of Young Carer Co-ordinators in schools and engage them through email communications, provision of information, training opportunities and regular e-newsletters
  • Advance the Edinburgh Young Carer Co-ordinator Network, including organising and chairing the bi-annual meetings of this network
  • Deliver presentations, workshops and training to staff in schools on young carer identification, assessment and support, helping to identify hidden young carers
  • Deliver Edinburgh-wide bespoke Continuing Professional Development/Career Long Professional Learning opportunities to education staff, focussing on different themes of young carers e.g. primary school, secondary school, student carers/young adult carers
  • Deliver presentations, workshops and training to health professionals and youth workers to raise awareness and identify hidden young carers
  • Deliver presentations and workshops to pupils in schools (at all levels of the curriculum) to raise awareness of young carers and encourage self-identification
  • Support schools and Young Carer Co-ordinators to provide young carers with an assessment of their needs, and develop appropriate supportive practices through pathways 1,2 and 3 – within classrooms, within the school environment and through external support mechanisms
  • Support schools and Young Carer Co-ordinators to develop Young Carer Policies, and provide general guidance and information about best practice in working with young carers in school
  • Support schools and education professionals to refer young carers to EYCP
  • Create and update innovative resources to use in schools, as appropriate, and maintain and promote those resources already developed
  • Support Edinburgh Young Carers Project service users in delivering a young carer peer education project in schools
  • Support the Schools Development Worker to develop and deliver supportive activities for young carers identified and assessed through the Schools Awareness Raising Campaign
  • Work alongside the 16-20 Young Adult Carer Development Worker to establish and grow links with colleges and universities in the City
  • Develop and deliver young carer awareness-raising events across Edinburgh, in partnership with other EYCP colleagues
  • Monitor, evaluate and report on the schools awareness raising campaign, for internal review and external funders
  • Manage the Schools Awareness Raising Campaign budget
  • Attend regular steering group meetings and appropriate networks to promote the Schools Awareness Raising Campaign
  • Have knowledge of current local and national policies and strategies relevant to young carers, and implement this knowledge within the Schools Awareness Raising Campaign work
  • Have knowledge of the Curriculum for Excellence, local education initiatives across the City and national education strategies and policies, and implement this knowledge within the Schools Awareness Raising Campaign work

3.Person Specification

Qualifications / Experience Required

A qualification in teaching, social work, youth work, community education, or other relevant qualifications would be desirable, but proven experience of working with children, young people and schools, will be considered the vital qualification.

Essential

  • Experience of setting up, managing, monitoring and evaluating a project and its budget with minimum support
  • Experience of developing and delivering presentations and running workshops for both young people and professionals
  • Some experience in working with children and young people, in formal or informal education settings
  • Knowledge of the Scottish education system, Curriculum for Excellence and the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act, and their relevance to young carers
  • Fully competent in the use of computers – including the use of MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint, email and internet
  • The ability to use own initiative and organise own work efficiently is essential
  • Good listening, verbal and written skills, and an ability to manage and negotiate communication with teachers and schools
  • Proven experience of writing progress reports, keepingaccurate records and managing budgets
  • An approach to work which is positive, flexible and reflects a commitment to the rights of children and young people
  • A commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities policies and practice

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the new carers legislation, and its relevance for young carers and educational professionals
  • Experience of planning and running group activities for young people
  • Experience in organising large awareness-raising events and/or developing innovative resources for use in schools
  • Experience in support and supervision of staff or volunteers
  • Experience in use of social media for awareness-raising and experience of Glow, or other online education platforms
  • An understanding of the issues faced by young carers
  • Some knowledge and experience of the way statutory and voluntary agencies are organised, and some understanding of Getting it Right for Every Child
  • The ability to form effective partnerships and network with colleagues and agencies in the statutory and voluntary sector

4.Conditions of Service

Probationary period

There will be a probationary period of six months.

Hours of work

28 hours per week, to be agreed with Chief Executive

Because of the nature of the work we do, some work may have to be undertaken outside office hours, including evenings and weekends.

Annual Holidays

Twenty five days, statutory public holidays and two floating leave days, pro rata.

Equal Opportunities

Edinburgh Young Carers Project is working towards being an Equal Opportunities organisation and is committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Accountability and Support

The Schools Development Worker will be accountable to the Chief Executive. Regular support and supervision will be provided, including looking at developing skills, identifying training needs, feedback and appraisal.

Pension

Edinburgh Young Carers Project will match employees’ pension contributions by up to 6% of gross contributions into an approved pension scheme.

Union

Edinburgh Young Carers Project recognises the right of employees to join an appropriate Trade Union.