Job Description Mission Area Officer Orkney(MAOOrkney)

Background/Introduction

The Fishermen’s Mission aims to maintain a strong ecumenical Christian presencethroughout Orkney to provide emergency, practical welfare and pastoral support to active and retired fishermen and their families of all faiths and none.

A part time, 3 day a week MAO(Orkney) is an expansion of our commitment to the area, which has been served for some years by a part time volunteer. As the MAO (Orkney) role develops, it is anticipated that additional operational and administrative staff may be required, while volunteer recruitment and management will also be encouraged.

The core work is peripatetic outreach activities that involve significant amounts of travel around the area to build relationships, unearth suffering and deprivation and to deliver event or life changing outcomes for our beneficiaries, no matter how remote or isolated.

Commercial fishing in and around the islands of Orkney faces many, often daunting challenges, from strict legislation on fisheries, catch size and days at sea, to bad weather and shoe string margins. By some measure, fishing is the most dangerous occupation in the UK.

The Fishermen’s Mission prides itself on offering a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year emergency response service. A willingness to respondswiftly to fishing emergencies and accidents remains at the heart of our purpose. In addition to our emergency work, the Fishermen’s Mission seeks to provide a comprehensive welfare service – dealing with the full range of issues. All our staff undertake training as caseworkers and need to develop skills in assessing need and making relevant applications for grant support. Most of our port staff work particularly closely with the Shipwrecked Mariners Society and will usually act as their agents.

The Fishermen’s Mission is motivated by its historic and ongoing commitment to share the love of God. This is done with deep sensitivity and with a focus on practical action – “Christianity with its sleeves rolled up”. The Fishermen’s Mission has no denominational affiliation and an ability to work ecumenically is vital. We seek to work closely in co-operation with local churches in our Christian ministry to the fishing community. The spiritual support we offer will include willingness to lead funerals and other services as appropriate.

The MAO is an exciting and very challenging role. The successful candidate will be part of a dynamic nationwide team at a time of significant development within the Fishermen’s Mission.

Key responsibilities

  • To build strong and proactive relationships with fishing communities, active and retired, including widows and families
  • To maintain close relationships with the wider fishing industry, with key community leaders and relevant organisations – especially RNLI and Coastguard
  • To maintain a programme of harbour and boat visits
  • To offer welfare support and advice, including at home and in hospital as appropriate
  • To arrange financial support and make grant applications where required
  • To provide leadership and support to local Fishermen’s Mission staff and volunteers
  • To explore, in discussion with Head Office, the possibility of special projects which might be relevant to the area
  • To maintain strong relationships with local churches and appropriate community groups
  • To lead and preach at funerals and other services as requested
  • To liaise closely with Fishermen’s Mission colleagues
  • To attend Fishermen’s Mission conferences and undertake appropriate training as required
  • To maintain close contact with Head Office and to fulfil administrative tasks as required
  • To lead fundraising in your area

The Mission Area Officer is expected to wear the Fishermen’s Mission uniform.

Essential Attributes

  • The Fishermen’s Mission is a Christian Organisation. It is an occupational requirement that the person appointed to the post is a practicing Christian.
  • Candidates must be able to drive.
  • Self-starting and able to organise and manage a diverse work load.
  • Resilience.

Desirable Attributes

  • An ability to relate to people with confidence and ease
  • Energy, persistence and stamina.
  • Some experience of welfare work and advice
  • Some experience of preaching or public speaking
  • Familiarity with IT, especially e-mail and internet
  • Kindness, warmth, compassion and courage
  • Organisational and administrative abilities
  • Confidence to work independently
  • An ability to motive and support a team
  • A willingness to explore new ideas and develop projects

Appropriate training opportunities will be provided and will include visits to other ports around the UK

Practicalities

Appointment:Permanent part-time contract with a twelve-month probationary period

Salary: £18,044.01 per annum

Holiday entitlement: 25 days per annum plus statutory bank holidays(17.5 days inclusive of Bank Holidays pro rata).

Pension scheme: The Fishermen’s Mission offers auto enrolment in a Group Personal Pension Scheme after completion of 3 months service.

Life Assurance: Death in service cover.

Uniform: Will be provided

Line management: The successful applicant will be responsible to the Chief Executive.

Application and interviews

  • Application forms are available on the Fishermen’s Mission’s website or through Hanna Taylor at or via telephone on 01489 566916
  • The closing date for applications is20 February 2018.
  • Interviews will be held on 26 February 2018 at the Seafarers’ Centre in Kirkwall

All offers are subject to satisfactory references and PVG checks being received.

January 2018