SUSSEX COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

Job Description:

Project Assistant – Health & Wellbeing

Reporting to: Senior Development Worker – Healthy Living

Work pattern: 15 hours per week,

Base location: 31a High Street, Newhaven

The Organisation

In December 2013 Newhaven Community Development Association (NCDA) changed its name to Sussex Community Development Association, to better reflect its work.

NCDA was founded in 1997. Its main aim was to develop sustainable community-based regeneration initiatives addressing the economic, environmental, and cultural and community needs of Newhaven, particularly addressing the needs of those most vulnerable in the community.

SCDA runs a range of projects aimed at supporting the involvement of the whole of the community. Funding has been secured from a range of sources including European, Lottery and charitable trusts as well as contracts to deliver services and run projects in Newhaven and elsewhere in East Sussex. These include: Youth activities; Advice & Inclusion services; Community Wellbeing; Early Years work with parents and children under 5; Denton Island Community Centre; green & open spaces work; food & physical activities; community events and SCDA’s Employability Services which aims to assist socially excluded people back into work.

SCDA has a strong track record in partnership working and in the quality of service delivery to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in the community: helping the community help itself.

The context of the job

Though fairly small still in terms of staff, the organisation continues to grow and develop its geographic reach. As a result of its size, however, we expect all members of staff to demonstrate flexibility within their specified job role and offer continued support to all other team members as and when required.

Some evening work may be necessary to meet client and or service need, and from time to time weekend work may also be required, appropriate notice will be given. Additional remuneration is not always applicable, as time off in lieu may be granted in line with the policy, though limited overtime payments may also be available from time to time.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the role of theProject Assistant is to provide general reception duties and project administrative support to the Health and Wellbeing and Inclusion teams based at 31a High Street.

The post holder will also be the Health & Wellbeinglocal rep with responsibility for escalating appropriately, or resolving minor H&S or facilities issues.

Main tasks

Project administration & support:

  • General reception duties including answering the telephone, making room bookings as appropriate for activities and taking relevant messages
  • Taking appropriate referrals from any agencies on behalf of SCDA staff
  • Assist with organisation of meetings, forums, team briefs and any SCDA staff meetings
  • Ordering stationery
  • Any other administrative and clerical duties as required

Monitoring

  • Maintenance of filing systems, spreadsheets and databases, which could include confidential client filing systems
  • Collating information from databases and creating graphs for project reports and marketing

Marketing

  • Keeping all appropriate forms and publicity for courses, activities or events stockedand up to date regarding local information and services useful for clients and the local community generally
  • Ensuring the window displays and social media pages (Seahaven FM, Haven News, Healthy Lifestyles) are up to date
  • Creating and distributing posters and paperwork for courses and events, using existing templates
  • Create quarterly newsletters for member groups
  • Regular mailings to volunteers and members of the community
  • Updating specific sections of the SCDA website as required to keep activities/courses and events up to date and relevant
  • After training, advise service users or community members of appropriate training course opportunities, publicity and or celebration events upcoming
  • Checking website regularly for any booking or other information requests
  • Supporting staff with volunteers and work or student placements

Facilities:

  • Act as the local contact for Health & Safety matters in the building e.g. accident or incident reporting and feed back as necessary to SCDA
  • Support other workers delivering outreach or patch services from 31a by having oversight of their movements and/or appointments in regard to outreach working and lone working
  • Act as the local contact to the other users of 31a for any facilities issues including issues with photocopiers/phones/door entry systems etc
  • Be a key holder and have responsibility for locking and unlocking as appropriate within work pattern

Other:

  • Promote and comply with SCDA’s policies and procedural requirements with especial emphasis on Health and Safety Policy
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

Sussex Community Development Association is working towards equality and has policies relating to the equality of opportunity in employment and service delivery. All staff are expected to comply with these policies.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

All staff have responsibility to maintain the health and safety of themselves and others within the performance of their duties in accordance with SCDA health and safety policies and to undertake specific health and safety responsibilities as necessary.

This job description will be reviewed from time to time or as necessary and may be amended to meet the changing needs of the organisation. It will also be used as the basis for the determination of objectives and the content is subject to annual review.

Signed by post holder:……………………………….. Dated:……………………

Person specification

Desirable qualifications:

  • Educated to minimum GCSE level with English & Maths

Experience:

  • Solid office administrationexperience and ability to multi-task
  • Good customer service experience, including telephone answering and relaying clear messages in a professional manner
  • Responding to queries in a timely and accurate fashion
  • Some experience, and sensitivity to working with people from disadvantaged backgrounds

Skills:

  • Computer literacy, particularly MS Word, Excel & Outlook
  • Basic marketing skills
  • Organisational and workload management skills
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal

Essential personal qualities:

  • A flexible and positive approach to a varied workload and challenge
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision but as part of a team
  • Capacity to work on own initiative
  • Ability to deliver projects to specified deadlines
  • Understanding of or willingness to learn about the needs of a wide range of people
  • Commitment to Equal Opportunities
  • Practically minded, with a sense of humour!

Circumstances:

  • Good attendance record
  • Able to undergo health check and DBS check at enhanced level

JD/PS Community Development & Learning Project AssistantNov 2013 Page 1