Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Time Bank & Volunteer Development Project

Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Time Bank & Volunteer Development Project

Development Worker

JOB DESCRIPTION and PERSON SPECIFICATION

The Organisation

Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Time Bank & Volunteer Development Project is a new and exciting way for people to come together to help others in their community and help themselves at the same time. Participants 'deposit' their time in the bank by giving practical help and support to others and are able to 'withdraw' their time when they need something done themselves. This could include gaining new skills, trips out, crafts, shopping, cooking, gardening, making friends and so on.

Everyone's time is valued equally: 1 hour = 1 time credit. This may be contributed or retrieved in an individual or in a group setting.

Purpose of the Post

To support the development of Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Time Bank & Volunteer Development Project by enlisting members, arranging exchanges, linking up members and initiating projects to involve participants in activities beneficial to their individual health, their families health; to create healthier more active and more inclusive communities. This will be achieved by encouraging & providing individual Time Banking opportunities, and by developing wider volunteering opportunities and establishing volunteering projects within these communities. This will be facilitated and supported by FCDT’s Environmental Sub Group. The post holder will chair and support the sub group, its members and facilitate the activities of the group. For example the post holder will organise FCDT Spring Time Event and Spring Clean Up, work with partners and partner organisations, to develop opportunities linked to health and well-being which benefit the individual, the family and the wider community.

Accountable to

Fauldhouse Community Development Trust Board, Fauldhouse Community Development Trust’s Project Manager and the Environmental Sub Group.

Main Responsibilities

• To identify people who would benefit from the service and to recruit new members to the Time Bank & to wider volunteer community development opportunities & projects

• Linking up individual requests and offers

• Setting up and keeping members’ time credit accounts using specialised software.
• Organising group activities, promotional events and training.
• To sustain the existence of the Time bank by encouraging the involvement of the Time bank members in the management and development of the project

• Outreaching to groups, including GP’s, local health and community organisations so that they can become involved and make referrals where appropriate.
• To develop and maintain productive working relationships with local, West Lothian and National Time bank groups and agencies, including referring agencies and local residents, in order to promote and develop the work of the Time Bank & Volunteer Development Project

• To identify and develop the skills of participants, encouraging them to take up learning opportunities and to use other agencies operating within Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Wards.
• To be involved in awareness raising and promoting the work of the Project as required

• To be involved in monitoring and recording information to be included in reports to the Project Manager, The Board of Directors and Funders, where required/appropriate.
• To support, facilitate and chair FCDT’s Environmental Sub Group
• To develop new volunteering opportunities & Innovative volunteer projects locally and to maintain current activities, such as the Spring Event and the Spring Clean Up.
• To Recruit new members and support existing members.

Skills & Attributes

• Experience of working with volunteers, in a variety of settings
• Experience of developing volunteering opportunities and volunteer projects
• Ability to build people’s confidence and self-esteem, by listening and getting them involved/active within their communities
• Experience of planning and organising work, working as part of a team
• Commitment to continuous personal and professional development and training.
• Passion for encouraging participation among the most isolated and disadvantaged communities
• An understanding of the issues faced by marginalised and/or disadvantaged communities
• An understanding of the impact of health inequalities on individuals, families and communities
• Understand the importance of confidentiality and equal opportunities

Place of work

Fauldhouse Community Development Trust, The Hub, 10 Main Street, Fauldhouse. West Lothian, EH47 9HX

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by the Exclusions and Exemptions (Scotland) Order 2003 and as such any appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure.

Outline Conditions of Service:

Supervision:

• Supervision sessions with FCDT Manager at four weekly intervals.
• Regular Peer Support sessions with other Volunteer Time Brokers

Hours of Work

• 21 hours per week
• Evening and/or weekend work may be required.
• Attendance relevant Time Banking Network meetings, Environment Sub Group Meetings and others as required by the Project Manager

Review

• This job description is open to review by FCDT Project Manager, FCDT Board of Directors where appropriate / required.

Salary

AP4 SCP 27 (pro rata) £21,000 (21 hours per week)

4 week probationary period.

Contract

1 year.

Fauldhouse & Breich Valley Time Bank & Volunteer Development Project

Development Worker

Person Specification

• Interviewing skills and the ability to build people's confidence by listening and getting them involved
• Ability to work with individuals of all ages, from a range of social backgrounds
• Experience of setting up, facilitating and supporting new volunteer community development projects
• Ability to work with a wide range of partners and partner organisations, including public, private and statutory organisations
• Organising skills
• Administrative skills
• Experience of working as part of a team
• Computer skills. Experience of Word, Excel, Access and Publisher applications

• Experience of managing a small budget
• Able to use social media web sites

• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to form strong positive relationships
• Ability to work both in a team and individually
• Experience of supporting the participation from isolated older people and carers and disadvantaged community groups
• An understanding of equal opportunities
• Must be confident and able to work under your own initiative.
• Must be able to drive, have own transport (for access to rural communities)

• Good local knowledge
• Good understanding of confidentiality
• An understanding of issues around disability, mental health issues, vulnerable people and other excluded groups including BME groups