Job Description

JOB TITLE:Children’s Leader (part time – 16 hours per week)

LOCATION:Christ Church Bexleyheath

ACCOUNTABLE TO:Parochial Church Council

LINE MANAGER:Vicar of Christ Church, Bexleyheath

PURPOSE OF JOB

To lead the delivery and development of the church’s ministry among children (up to age 11) and families, and to

develop appropriate programmes and initiatives to enhance and grow the ministry of the church among children and families.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

  • Organise, run and onwards develop the weekly Sunday club for children between the ages of 3 and 11
  • Organise, run and develop the Sunbeams group that meets on Friday mornings for parents and children under 5
  • Help with the leadership of Messy church initially, but with a view to being responsible for this in the long term
  • Establish and maintain strong links with the Uniformed Organisations that are associated with Christ Church – Brownies, and be a helper to the Boys/Girls Brigade.
  • Attend Christ Church Bexleyheath on a regular weekly basis – to enable the buildingof relationships with parents and children who attend church
  • Support, train and develop the existing team of volunteerswho help with Sunday Club and Sunbeams.
  • Encourage and develop new volunteers and people to help with the work among children
  • Strengthen and develop links with all primary schools in the parish through school assemblies and school visits to church
  • Report on children’s work to the Ministry Leadership team (monthly) and the wider church and PCC at appropriate times
  • To liaise with the youth leader to prepare young people to move from Sunday Club to Youth Group
  • Continually develop your ministry and skills as a children’s leader by attending appropriate courses, conferences, and undertaking study as appropriate and additional reading
  • Participation in the Diocesan employed children & youth workers network
  • Establish and maintain strong links with Erith Deanery Youth Trust and support/promote joint events
  • Promote the welfare, health and safety of children in all activities by ensuring, in conjunction with the church safeguarding officer, that:
  • Safety procedures are known and understood
  • Safeguarding procedures are in place and known to leaders
  • Appropriate clearances are obtained for those who work with children.

The Church takes the safety of everyone within the church very seriously and expects that everyone will work within the church safeguarding policy. In particular, the church expects anyone who becomes aware of a safeguarding risk or of actual abuse, to immediately raise this with their line manager or safeguarding officer.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

  • Previous experience of working with children and families
  • Previous experience of working with children within a church context is desirable
  • Committed to growing spiritually within the Anglican tradition
  • Understands the church ethos and supports the values and work of the church/PCC
  • Demonstrates commitment to personal and professional development
  • Demonstrates a desire to see children and families come to faith and grow as Christians
  • Shows empathy and values the concerns of children and their families
  • Approachable and able to relate to a variety of children and families
  • Resourceful and imaginative in approach to work
  • Good organisational skills
  • Willingness and ability to see things through under pressure
  • Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • Understanding of child protection issues and commitment to good practice in safeguarding children.
  • Computer literate

The post is regulated activity and therefore subject to an enhanced DBSplus Barred List check.

There is an occupational requirement that the post-holder bea committed Christian under the terms of Schedule 9 to the Equality Act 2010.

Salary is £17.5K to £22.5K per year (pro rata) depending on experience. The job will be mainly carried out during school term times and will be 16 hours per week.

Applications are invited by 9th July 2015

Interviews will take place on 15th and 16th July 2015