Forest Access Coordinator Application Pack

This post is being part-funded by The Robertson Trust subject to successful continuance funding application and Volunteer Support Grant subject to successful matched funding application.

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Company No 333208 Scottish Charity No SC038908

Contents

  1. Background Information on Kilfinan Community Forest Company (KCFC)
  1. Mission Statement
  1. Person Specification
  1. Schedule of Recruitment
  1. Application Form

Note

Please send the completed and signed form (ie. pages 7-13 inclusive)

by 5pm, 29th April 2016to:

PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

Willie McAllan

Kilfinan Community Forest Company

Tighnabruaich

Argyll, PA21 2BD

OR

Kilfinan Community Forest Company

1.Background Information

Kilfinan Community Forest Company (KCFC) is a charitable enterprise formed to work with and for the local community to manage and develop their forest, creating opportunities for a sustainable future for the local economy, recreation and tourism, the environment and education. KCFC has managed 127ha of Acharossan forest on behalf of the community of Kilfinan since 2010, and has since built a successful social enterprise focused on delivering local employment, opportunities for training and skills development, recreational facilities in the forest, and environmental improvements. Facilities and services include: allotments for food growing, community composting, fully operational sawmill for local milled timber, forest products, wood fuel, paths and picnic tables, and interpretative signage. KCFC has maintained an average of 3 FTE posts since the project started.

In January 2015 KCFC gained National Forest Land Scheme (NFLS) approval and a grant from the Scottish Land Fund to buy the remaining 434ha of Acharossan forest; the expected completion date is June 2015. KCFC is the first community group to successfully expand woodland ownership in this way, via the NFLS. The acquisition will bring further sustainability to the charity, enabling enhanced opportunities for development and continued benefits to the local community.

In 2014 KCFC won Scotland’s Finest Woods Awards for ‘promoting viable livelihoods’, as well as an award from the Voluntary Action Fund as ‘the organisation that has most improved its ability to involve and support volunteers’.

2.Mission Statement

Kilfinan Community Forest Company (KCFC) is a charitable enterprise formed to work with and for the local community to manage and develop their forest, creating opportunities for a sustainable future for:-

The Local Economy

To create jobs, provide training and boost local business income through

  • forestry operations
  • wood products
  • tourism

Recreation and Tourism

To encourage everyone to explore and enjoy the forest as a leisure resource with facilities for

  • walkers
  • runners
  • cyclists
  • picnic areas

The Environment

To create a healthy habitat and help in the fight against climate change encouraging

  • growing food locally
  • composting
  • using wood fuel
  • wildlife

Education

To bring the forest to life for all ages by providing

  • nature trails
  • wildlife guides
  • a forest school

KCFC is a local Scottish charity with a volunteer board who were nominated by the local community. The vision entails the restoration of the woodlands to native species while at the same time providing work for locals and a recreational and educational facility for both the community and visitors. KCFC currently has a membership of 173 full and associate members.

3.Person Specification

Purpose:

The primary purpose of the post of Forest Access Coordinator is todeliver the local engagement plan,providing opportunities for education and training within the woodland setting, whilst developing a range of recreational facilities to boost local tourism and footfall to the forest. The post-holder will work with local groups and volunteers to develop activities focused on making environmental improvements to the forest amenity through a series of woodland workshops, volunteering opportunities and planned developments. They will be the eyes and ears of the forest and act as the interface between KCFC and the local community, developing an in depth knowledge of the forest to provide an informative welcome to all visitors.

Local engagement plan:

Review, with the line manager, the local engagement plan and deliverthe following set programme of projects and activities, building on existing partnerships and identifying new opportunities:

2016 Workshop Programme: coordinating a series of separately funded weekend and one-day woodland workshops e.g. green woodworking, carving, willow weaving, bushcraft, wild foraging, outdoor cooking and art to increase skills and learning opportunities within the community and enhance the forest amenity

Youth skills development project: coordinating a month long youth project over the summer involving path building, landscaping, creation of a bush-craft area, clearing access to key archaeological sites, and training in land-based skills, also incorporating the workshops.

Tree Seed Project: working with volunteers to collect native tree seeds for the Millennium Seed Bank in partnership with Kew Gardens.

Aspen Grove Project: working with Volunteers and Tighnabruaich Primary School to clear, create and plant a native aspen and juniper grove as a new space for outdoor learning

Volunteers: Coordinating the volunteer programme to complete projects, maintain the path network, tree nursery and ponds, assist with the building of the new training centre and carry out conservation for biodiversity. Also including forest archaeology: working with the Kyles Heritage Group to improve and maintain public access to archaeological sites within the forest.

Community Engagement; to increase participation with the local community and building on the relationship with Tighnabruaich Primary School to offer more opportunities for engagement with forest activities.

Leaflet / Map: Coordinating the design and printing of information leaflet and map of the path network and features.

Targets & outcomes:

  • Strengthening links with the local community by working with local groups and identifying new opportunities for collaboration.
  • Positive outreach with KCFC members, aiming to encourage active involvement of the membership in forest activities.
  • Organising weekly Volunteer Days focused on nature and wildlife, archaeology, outdoor education, and general forest maintenance.
  • Acting as 'volunteer co-ordinator' for any groups of volunteers accessing the forest; facilitating events, training days and educational activities.
  • Identifying suitable training opportunities for volunteers to create demand for the new training centre
  • Safely maintaining forest paths and frog-life ponds and associated infrastructure, including repairing signposts and ensuring access points are kept clear for public use.
  • Collaborating with local schools to promote outdoor learning.
  • Raising awareness of volunteering locally and promoting opportunities in the forest; cultivating links with the Kyles Marketing Group.
  • Working with the development manager to organise and facilitate events /workshops to showcase the forest and promote volunteering.
  • Deliver concise project planning and monitoring; working to set project timescales, and maintaining a contact database of volunteers and external partners.
  • Offering support and guidance to volunteers; and maintaining key policies and procedures.
  • Producing activity risk assessments and coordinating site inductions and health & safety briefings.
  • Providing fortnightly update reports to the development manager and board of directors
  • Monitoring and evaluation to produce periodical reports on progress and outcomes to the funders and maintaining records of financial and budgetry management for the separate funds, with support from the Development Manager.

Skills and Experience:

You will be a ‘people person’ who is environmentally aware and passionate about the outdoors. You will possess excellent leadership skills, using the volunteer resource as a vehicle to implement important amenity improvements and unlocking the forest’s rich natural heritage. You will be confident in engaging with people from all walks of life and able to think outside the box when it comes to developing and promoting volunteering opportunities. Preferably, you will have experience in leading outdoor activitiesand have good health and safety awareness. You will be organised and efficient, and able to work closely to pre-specified time and budgetary allowances. You will be computer literate and able to complete basic monitoring and reporting tasks.

Important Notes

-The post holder will report directly to the development manager, their activities forming a key part of the wider forest development plan.

-This is a fixed term contract for an initial period of one year from May 2016 to July 2017 at 32 hours per week. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required. A clean driving license and access to a car are essential.

-A current Outdoor First Aid, or Emergency First Aid at Work certificate is desirable, although training / refresher may be provided.

-Salary £22,500 (pro rata)

-It is expected that the successful candidate will work from the offices of KCFC at Kilfinan Community Forest, Tighnabruiach, Argyll. On-line computing facilities will be provided.

-Petrol and public transport costs and other expenses incurred in the course of duties (to include telephone use, consumables, postage etc.) will be reimbursed.

Kilfinan Community Forest Company has an equal opportunities policy to ensure all members of staff employed by KCFC and all applicants for employment will be given equal opportunity irrespective of sex, marital status, race, colour, nationality or ethnic origin, in all aspects of recruitment, employment, promotion and training. The Company is committed to giving full and fair consideration to people with disabilities applying for this post who possess the relevant skills and experience.

4.Schedule of Recruitment

Deadline for submission of Application forms Friday 29th April 2016 at 5pm
KCFC will contact successful applicants for interview on Friday 20th May
Each candidate is to make a 10 minute presentation on:how would you approach the task of structuring a local engagement plan, and how would you go about reporting its success after one year of implementation?
There will be 15 minutes for Questions and Answers afterwards.

5.Forest Access Coordinator Application Form

Section 1: Personal/ Contact Details

First Name / Last Name
Previous Name(s) - if applicable / Date of Birth
Address
Town / Telephone
County / Mobile
Postcode / Email address

Section 2: Employment Record

Present or most recent employer:

Dates employed:

Employer's Address:

Notice period:

Position held and brief description of duties:

Previous Employers

Employer's name and address / Position(s) held / Date from / Date To
Employer's name and address / Position(s) held / Date from / Date To

Section 3: Education and Training

Education

Including Qualification(s) currently being undertaken

Qualification obtained, including grade / Date Awarded / School, College, University, IFE

Details of any membership(s) of Professional Associations / Bodies

Membership Details / Date Awarded

Training (Relevant work related courses)

Course title and subjects covered / Date and duration / Training organisation

Driving Licence

Do you hold a current, clean, valid driving licence?

Yes/ No

Please give details if you have answered ‘No’ to the above question:

Do you own or have use of a car?

Yes/ No

Leisure Activities

What activities do your pursue in your leisure time?

Section 4: Relevant experience and skills

Please indicate how you satisfy the criteria set out in the job specification by giving specific examples of where you have demonstrated the skills required from your personal and work experience (paid or unpaid), education and training.

Section 5: References

Name / Name
Job Title / Job Title
Address / Address
Postcode / Postcode
Tel / Tel
Fax / Fax
Email / Email
Can this referee be contacted if you are shortlisted? / Can this referee be contacted if you are shortlisted?

Section 6: Declaration of criminal offences

Do you have any warnings, offences, convictions, cautions, bindovers or any court cases pending or in your recent past as covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act. If yes please give details and relevant date(s).

Yes / No

Section 7: Protection of Vulnerable Groups

Are you excluded from working with children and /or vulnerable adults?

Yes / No

Do you hold a current PVG scheme certificate for regulated work?

Yes / No

If yes, please state which

Section 8 – Dismissal, disciplinary or capability procedures

Have you ever been a subject of disciplinary or capability procedures or been dismissed or resigned from a position pending disciplinary investigations taking place? If yes please give details on a separate sheet.

Yes / No

Section 9 – Asylum and Immigration Act 1996

National Insurance No:

Do you require a work permit to work in the UK? Yes / No

Section 10 – Declaring an interest

Please give details if you are related to or have a personal relationship with an Elected Member or Officer of the Trust:

Section 11 – additional Information/special arrangements

Dates and times when not available for interview:

Section 11: Declaration

Under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 the information you provide in this application form and recruitment monitoring form will only be used for the purpose of assessing your suitability for employment, for monitoring the Trust's policies and procedures and human resource management purposes.

If you are unsuccessful this information will be retained on file for at least 6 months. The information may be used in internal proceedings to consider a complaint about the selection process and/or to defend KCFC against a legal challenge to the fairness of the selection process from any interested party.

The trust is under a duty to protect the funds it administers and to this end it must use the information you have provided on this form within its authority for the prevention and detection of crime and fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies administering funds solely for this purpose.

I understand the information above and hereby:

1. Declare that the information provided in this application form and recruitment monitoring form is correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that information that KCFC deems to be false, misleading or incomplete will justify withdrawal of an offer of appointment or my dismissal from KCFC service.

2. Agree that the information I give KCFC in connection with this application for employment may be stored and processed for the purposes stated above.

3. Consent to KCFC undertaking any checks it may deem necessary in connection with my application.

4. Agree to KCFC asking my previous employers questions regarding my sickness and disciplinary record and give my consent for my previous employers to disclose this information.

5. Understand that canvassing of Board Members directly or indirectly in connection with any appointment shall disqualify me.

Signed: ______

Date: ______

I confirm I am not disqualified from working with children or vulnerable adults or subject to any sanctions imposed by a regulatory body. I understand that the provision of false information may possibly result in referral to the police.

Signed: ______

Date:______

Section 13: Disability

KCFC is committed to ensuring that employees who have a disability are given every possible assistance in the workplace.

Do you consider yourself to be disabled? Yes / No

What do we mean by a disability?

The Disability Discrimination Act defines disability as ‘a physical or mental impairment with long term, substantial effects on ability to perform day to day activities.

Examples of Disabilities

The following list of conditions or impairments is given as a guide only and is not meant to be exclusive. We have provided this list as it may help you to answer the question.

* Hearing, Speech or Visual Impairments – if you wear glasses or contact lenses this is not normally considered a disability

* Co-ordination, dexterity or mobility e.g. polio, spinal cord injury, back problems, repetitive strain injury

* Mental health e.g. schizophrenia, depression, severe phobias

* Speech Impairment e.g. stammering

* Learning Disabilities e.g. Down’s syndrome

* Other Physical or medical conditions e.g. diabetes, epilepsy, arthritis, cardiovascular conditions, haemophilia, asthma, cancer, facial disfigurement, sickle cell, dyslexia etc.

Section 14: Advertising monitoring

How did you find out about this vacancy?

Please list which publication or internet site:

I understand that the Declaration in Section 12 applies to this monitoring form as well as the main application form.

Signed: ______

Date:______

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Company No 333208 Scottish Charity No SC038908