The Haemophilia Society

JOB DESCRIPTION

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OFFICER

Responsible to:Chief Executive Officer

Salary:

Hours/days of work: 2.5 days a week (17.5 hours), with some out-of-hours working, for which time off in lieu will be given. Days of the week and times will be agreed with the postholder

Holiday entitlement: 22 days pro rata, plus Public Holidays. The office is also closed between Christmas and New Year.

Objectives

  • To manage services for children, young people and their families and to provide information and support.
  1. Main duties

Services for young peopleliving with or affected by a bleeding disorder

  • Coordinating activity and residential events and other opportunities for young people and families
  • Updating and developing the website
  • Recruiting and managing youth leaders/volunteers for events and holidays
  • Involving affected young people in the direction and development of Society services
  • Encouraging peer support and other networking between young people and the Society
  • Developing and managing the Youth Leaders Programme
  • Being designated person with responsibility for child protection throughout the organization; working on associated policies and procedures
  • To develop and organise International Exchange visits
  • Raising awareness of Society services and of bleeding disorders
  • Providing fact sheets and other publications in print and new media as required, including developing new materials and information
  • To attend conferences and meetings as a representative of the Society
  • To establish and maintain contacts with members, and health service staff
  • To ensure the equal opportunities policy is reflected in all aspects of our Service provision
  • To work within the Society’s confidentiality and child protection policies at all times

2.Management of Interns and Volunteers

•To recruit and take responsibility for the management of interns and volunteers

•To develop and implement the Society’s volunteer policy

3.General

•To actively implement the Society’s policy and values

•To attend Society training sessions, conferences and other events as required

•To act at all times in a manner that will enhance the Society’s reputation

•To carry out other tasks as may from time to time be required by negotiation with the Chief Executive and commensurate with the level of responsibility of the post

•To support and promote the Society at conferences and other events

•To work closely with all Society staff and volunteers to contribute to the planning process and to take advantage of opportunities to promote the Society to potential audiences and stakeholders

•To be an active member of project teams and working groups as required

•To actively contribute to team meetings

•To provide regular reports to the Chief Executive as agreed including monitoring and evaluation as required

Person specification

Essential skills and experience

  1. Experience of working with children and young people
  2. Good communication skills, using a variety of media.
  3. Awareness of the needs of all people with long-term medical conditions, both treatment and non treatment issues,and ability to interact with a sensitive, empathic and empowering manner
  4. Interest in the particular concerns of young people and their families who are affected by bleeding disorders and/or long-term medical conditions.
  5. Management of or involvement with an awareness-raising project
  6. Ability to lead and manage projects at all stages from inception to conclusion to ensure that project is delivered on time within budget, including setting budgets, report-writing and evaluation
  7. Ability to innovate and contribute new ideas for improving all the Society’s services
  8. Ability todevelop new projects and services to meet specific needs
  9. Ability to research, produce and publicise publications
  10. Ability to collaborate with and develop good relationships with a variety of healthcare professionals and other agencies
  11. Excellent teamwork skills and ability to collaborate and share tasks
  12. Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office applications, internet use and database management)
  13. Availability to travel outside London with occasional overnight and weekend stays
  14. Ability to ensure the child protection, confidentiality and equal opportunities policies are adhered to in all aspects of service provision
  15. Satisfactory completion of an enhanced CRB disclosure

Desirable skills and experience

  1. A prior knowledge of the area of bleeding disorders
  2. At least two year’s experience of providing an information or support service and project management in a voluntary sector patient or similar organisation
  3. Working with volunteers and developing the role of volunteers in patient or similar organisation

13th July 2011

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