Job description

Job title: Project Worker, Beyond Barriers

Salary: £24,000 to £26,535

per annum dependent on experience

Hours: 35hours per week – Some evening and weekend work may be required

Length of Contract:Fixed term to October 2016

Location: Vestry Hall, Mitcham (travel around boroughs of Merton, Lambeth, Croydon, Sutton and Wandsworth will be required)

Responsible to: Beyond Barriers Project Manager

Key Relationships: Carers Hub Lambeth

Advocacy and Support Service Croydon

Respite Care Services

Volunteer Bureaus

Annual leave: 25 days per anum + public holidays

Overall Purpose:

Support and develop the Beyond Barriers Project including:

Carrying out outreach work with carers in hard to reach communities: BME, refugees and asylum seekersand LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender)

Recruiting and managing a team of volunteer mentors to provide emotional support and practical help to carers and former carers to help them to access services, information and advice.

Organise and attend events which promote the service within the community

NetWork with target community organisations

Provide carers and former carers with volunteering opportunities which utilise their experience and expertise and enable them to develop transferable skills thereby increasing their employability.

Support the development of a framework to support the cared for and the carer, through the provision of individualised 1:1 coaching sessions, which are tailored to meet individual needs.

Support the development of the Beyond Barriers Project and Life Coaching

Principle roles and responsibilities

Service

  1. Develop work plan for the identification, tracking and engagement of carers within the catchment area of South Thames Crossroads who would benefit from the service provided
  1. To maintain and develop the Recruitment and Selection process for volunteers from diverse backgrounds within the target communities, including former and current Carers for the Beyond Barriers Project including advertising
  1. Work with targeted hard to reach communities within the five boroughs to identify volunteers, carers and former carers and potential Volunteers who may benefit from the project
  1. Facilitate specific relationships with other voluntary groups in the community who represent/support the target client group
  1. To carry out carers assessments for the project and to identify and be aware of the particular needs of volunteers, carers and former-carers
  1. To compile and maintain accurate records, service data and reports on service, submitting these as required for monitoring purposes both internally –and externally – to funders and as appropriate to other partners and work with Volunteers to ensure reporting systems are adhered to
  1. Actively participate in the interviewing and matching of volunteers and carerswhilstcoordinating the service to best meet the needs of the client
  1. Act as a facilitator to develop peer support groups of carers and former-carers ensuring that the groups become self-supporting
  1. Participate in the recruitment and selection of volunteers and assess, monitor and address training requirements
  1. Undertake individual supervision, support and appraisal for the volunteers and provide ongoing support on a day-to-day basis
  1. Working with the team, facilitate access to training for volunteers, through procuring external training and developing specific in house training to meet identified needs

General

  1. Work with project manager to develop effective monitoring and evaluation systems
  1. Develop and operate the project in line with the recommendations set out in Investors in Volunteers
  1. To be aware of own training needs and attend study or training as requested
  1. To be self-supporting administratively
  1. To attend and contribute to team, supervision and other relevant meetings
  1. To act at all times in accordance with the organisation’s policies and procedures
  1. To carry out other duties consistent with the post, as required by the Beyond Barriers Project Manager

Person specification

Essential / Desirable
Experience
Community work preferably with BME and LGBT groups / Development of complex projects
Management of significant numbers of volunteers and/or staff / Development of database programmes
Gathering and disseminating information through assessment or market research / Development of questionnaires
Facilitation of small groups / Organisation and running of public meetings
Working In health and/or social care / Working with Carers
Skills/Knowledge/Abilities
Successfully develop and promote a service / Awareness of legislation concerning carers
Effectively represent the project to develop credibility with groups in the community, funders and other voluntary/statutory services / Employment and training issues for carers
Work on own initiative / Awareness and understanding of the statutory and voluntary service sector
Work flexibly as part of a team
Work successfully with a wide range of people
Effectively Interpret statistical information including use of Charity Log/Webroster
Use of Information Technology – Database programmes and excel spreadsheets
A good understanding of and an empathic approach to the needs of carers
Graduate or equivalent experience
Excellent communication skills orally and written, self-supporting in administrative work and able to maintain accurate records
Understanding and commitment to confidentiality
Understanding of and commitment to non-discriminatory work practices
and statistics
Qualifications
A counselling or coaching qualification

Registered Charity number: 1027026