Job Title:Assistant Manager
Accountable to: Project Manager
Salary: £25,958
Department:Stepping Stone
Hours of work:37.5 hours per week Monday - Friday. Reasonable hours outside of this may be required to fulfil the duties of this position
Expenses: An allowance is paid in respect of mileage undertaken in the course of business
Leave: 20 days plus 12 statutory days pro-rata
Pension:A group personal pension scheme is available after successful probation
This is a fixed term contract until 31stMarch 2015
This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period
Job role
This post is funded by theEuropean Social Fund, Department for Employment & Learning and Belfast City Council. The Stepping StoneProject provides information, advice, mentoring and guidance on employment, training and educational opportunities. The Assistant Manager will become familiar with the management of the Stepping Stone Project and deputise in the Project Manager’s absence. The postholder will supervise and line mange Stepping Stone staff, support existing programmes and volunteers and strategically expand Stepping Stone’s provision. The postholder will work with other departments within EBM, as well as other community organisations, to ensure that the services and programmes are promoted to the wider community.
Main Duties:
- To coordinate, support and develop the existing Stepping Stone (SS) provision.
- To supervise and line manage SS staff.
- To engage in monthly supervision meetings with the Project Manager.
- To strategically develop new programmes which address East Belfast’s needs and trends.
- To liaise with other EBM departments and community organisations to ensure that SS’s provision is linked and promoted within East Belfast.
- To represent and promote SS / EBM at local and city wide forums and network with agencies whomSS / EBM work closely with.
- Assist in the management of outreach / networking activities.
- Build and maintain good working relationships with project partners.
- Assist the Manager with setting / meeting targets.
- Assist with monitoring and evaluation of the project as necessary.
- Provide regular progress reports to EBM Senior Management Team and funders and other external agencies as appropriate.
- Assist with sourcing and applying for funding, including tender processes, match-funding, preparing applications to trusts etc.
- Assist with budget preparation and the management of income and expenditure.
- Manage a caseload of clients.
Provide effective team leadership to Staff and Volunteers
•Provide team direction, facilitation and support to create a culture of high performance, empowerment and new ways of working.
•Identify and manage conflict between staff.
•Assist in the recruitment and selection of staff, volunteers, placements and/or trainees to support their induction into the organisation.
•Implement and hold regular staff meetings which are organised, chaired and recorded.
•Participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal with the Manger to receive support, increase knowledge, identify training needs, evaluate work performance, aid and assess professional development .
•Attend staff development programmes, training courses, seminars and workshops as required.
•Seek advice from line management in relation to any additional support required when experiencing difficulties including the reporting of inappropriate practice and provide support to staff that may be experiencing difficulties.
Work with clients to provide:
- A client focused flexible service.
- A personal advice and mentoring service to assist clients into employment.
- Assistance to clients to access appropriate training, education and employment programmes.
- A detailed assessment of client need. Consideration should be given to work based skills, social problems, family and social circumstances, barriers to employment (alcohol/drug problems, criminal records, etc).
- Preparation of an individual action plan to provide the client with support, training advice, and ultimately work placement or employment.
- Ongoing support after gaining employment to facilitate job retention.
- Employer liaisone.g.identifying suitable job opportunities and working with employers to gain an understanding of employer recruitment practices and future skills needs.
Outreach
- Work with team to develop a flexible and effective outreach service within East Belfast.
- Work with local community and statutory agencies to access / extend the service to local people.
- Develop opportunities to work with employers on recruitment and pre-recruitment activities which promote opportunities for local unemployed people.
- Identify suitable opportunities for promoting and marketing the service and attend events.
Other duties
- Maintain suitable records as directed by programme guidelines and office procedures.
- Maintain the confidentiality of information in line with organisational and legislative requirements.
- Work in co-operation with all staff to accomplish the aims and objectives of the project.
- Understand and be committed to the aims, principles and policies of East Belfast Mission.
- Contribute to the Project’s Matrix Continuous Quality Improvement.
- In addition to the tasks and duties outlined above, the postholder will be required to undertake such duties which are identified as being generally compatible with the post.
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- 3rd level qualification in a related discipline or equivalent.
- Experience of supervising staff.
- At least 1 year’s proven experience of working as a member of a team.
- Experience of meeting targets.
- At least one year’s experience of providing employment or careers guidance.
- At least one year’s experience of engaging with employers in the promotion of opportunities for unemployed people.
- Up to date knowledge of social issues effecting people in East Belfast.
- Knowledge of the labour market in NI including supply and demand issues.
- Understanding the impact of unemployment, particularly long term unemployment, on individuals and communities.
- Experience of completing funding applications.
- Clean driving licence and use of a car for work or ability to travel to off-site meetings
- GCSE standard or equivalent of oral and written skills.
- Ability to organise workload and schedule in accordance with procedures.
- Ability to successfully communicate with clients and employers.
- IT competent Including Microsoft Office Suite.
Desirable Criteria
- NVQ Level III in Advice & Guidance or equivalent or be prepared to work towards gaining this qualification.
- Essential Skills qualification.
Additional Notes
This job description is an accurate reflection of the job as it is currently. All prospective changes will be discussed with the post holder as part of the organisation’s performance management arrangements.
This position gives the post holder access to children and/or young people and vulnerable adults and will therefore be required to disclose details of any criminal convictions, including spent, bind-over orders and cautions in accordance with the Access NI Vetting and Baring Scheme and our organisation’s Children and Vulnerable Adult’s Protection Policy and Procedure. An AccessNI check will be carried out, and in applying for this position, you are in agreement for the organisation to carry out this necessary check.