APPLICATION PACK

Macmillan Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Worker

21 June 2016

Dear Applicant

Thank you for contacting us for information about the Macmillan Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Workervacancy. You will find the following documents included in this pack:

  • Background information about the post you have enquired about
  • Background information about Nova Wakefield District Limited
  • About our application process
  • A job profile and person specification for the post you have enquired about
  • An application form
  • An equal opportunities monitoring form

If you require an alternative format please contact Nova via the details below.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 8 July 2016. Application forms and the equal opportunities monitoring form should be emailed to
or posted to:

Vacancies

Nova Wakefield District Limited

11 Upper York Street

Wakefield

WF1 3LQ

As we are a charity with limited resources, we are sorry that we will not be able to respond to applicants who are not shortlisted for interview. If you have not heard from us within a week of the shortlisting date please assume that you have not been shortlisted. Interviews are currently planned for 22 July 2016.

If you have any questions about the process, please contact me on the number and email below. If you would like to have an informal discussion about the post, please contact Stephen Robinson, Contracts and Performance Manager, using the contact details provided in this letter.

Previous applicants need not re-apply.

Yours sincerely

Karen Nicklin

Administrator

Background information about the Macmillan Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Workerpost

This post will work with the Macmillan Children and Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Coordinator to deliver the Children/Young Adults Brain Tumour Outreach Project, which is a partnership project between Macmillan, Levi's Star and Nova Wakefield District.

Macmillan is providing the funding for the project, Levi's Star is providing the expertise around children and young people with brain tumours and Nova is acting as accountable body and has taken contractual responsibility for delivery of the project. Nova will also be employing the two posts associated with the project. The Nova Contracts and Performance Manager will line manage the Coordinator post, and the Coordinator will be managing this post.

The Outreach project was initiated by Levi's Star which is a Wakefield-based charity, set up almost 8 years ago to support children and young people with brain tumours across Yorkshire. Levi's Star does not have previous experience of managing large contracts, so it was agreed that Nova would take on this responsibility, leaving the board of Levi's Star to focus on steering the direction of the project and achievement of the outcomes.

Macmillan is a leading national cancer support charity. Amongst its many functions, it provides funding for projects that support people with cancer, and their families.

Nova is the support agency for the voluntary sector in Wakefield District. One of the ways we provide this support is managing contracts for the sector, including for organisations that are not formally structured or that do not have a track record in contract management or delivery. More detail about Nova is contained in this application pack.

This post is responsible for supporting young adults with complex needs (specifically those with a brain tumour) by offering a holistic approach to support, information and guidance appropriate to the individual's need.The position will support the 18-24 year age group.You will be accountable to Nova, Levi's Star trustees and the Macmillan Development Manager through a project steering group.

An enhanced DBS check is required for this post.

About us

Nova Wakefield District Limited is the voluntary and community sector support agency for Wakefield District, formed by the merger of Wakefield District Wellbeing Consortium and Voluntary Action Wakefield District in 2013.

Nova offers three areas of support to its members:

  • Structured organisational and business development, enabling Nova members to assess their organisation strengths and weaknesses supported by a programme of training, consultancy and peer learning to address identified development needs.
  • Providing an influencing platform for the local voluntary sector, enabling identification and aggregation of issues and opportunities for the sector (and its beneficiaries) and ensuring these are shared with policy and decision-makers.
  • Acting as a special purpose vehicle and accountable body for contracts and grants, which are delivered by Nova members on an individual or collective basis.

Our work is therefore different to many other voluntary and community groups in that we do not provide services directly to the public, but to other voluntary sector organisations (often called infrastructure support). In addition, we are a key player in the district in terms of strategic and partnership work to ensure that the role of the voluntary and community sector is maximised.

Nova receives'core' funding from Wakefield Council and NHS Wakefield CCG. We also generate income from various other sources, including contract management fees and paid-for services.

Working at Nova

Nova is a small, focussed organisation with a flat structure working in an ever-changing environment. This means that staff members have to respond to both internal and external opportunities, sometimes in a short timescale and on their own initiative (although always with the support of colleagues). As a result, the pace of work can be very fast and we expect staff members to take responsibility and be accountable for their specific role at Nova. We have an informal working environment and the organisation is very friendly. Staff members working at Nova have many opportunities to develop their skills and experience and to prioritise and manage their own workload on a day to day basis. We are therefore looking for people who enjoy a 'can-do' approach and are able to find ways and means to undertake work when solutions may not always be initially obvious, and people who relish a busy working atmosphere.

Terms and conditions

An Employee Handbook exists which covers our written terms and conditions. For information they include:

  • 25 days a year holiday,plus bank holidays(pro rata for part time staff), plus three days between Christmas and New Year
  • 5% of salary contribution to a pension scheme
  • Flexi-time

Job share applications

  • All full time posts are available for job share.
  • If two people wish to apply as one candidate both should complete the first five pages of the application form and you can then decide whether to respond to the specific questions on one form or on two separate forms. Please provide a covering letter explaining how you have completed your application.

Organisational Chart – June 2016


About our recruitment process

The person specification

Our application process is based entirely on the person specification which is contained in the information about the particular post you are interested in. It is therefore very important that you read this document to see how you feel you meet the requirements we feel are needed to enable someone to meet the job profile.

The application form

The form has been designed to be as easy to complete as possible. Therefore please ensure you read all the instructions and provide all the information requested. If you are hand writing the form, please do so in black ink and write as clearly as possible.

Do not include a CV as these will not be considered as part of the process.

Shortlisting

When shortlisting, we will go through the specification and look at all the criteria listed as being identified in the application form to see whether you can show you meet them. It is therefore useful to give as much information as you can within the space allocated. For example, if the spec says 'Experience of preparing accounts' please do not just say something like 'I can prepare accounts' but rather 'I have experience of preparing accounts having been responsible for preparing the books for ABC Community Association for 3 years. This work included preparing the budgets, undertaking all the bookkeeping, producing regular reports of our income and expenses against the budget for the management committee, liaison with the Auditor andpresenting the audited accounts to the committee'.

In your supporting statement you should provide information about how you meet each criterialisted in the person specification. Many people use the criteria as headings and provide a short paragraph about each one.

Interview

The interview is geared to find out how each candidate meets the person specification. For some posts we may ask candidates to give a presentation or to undertake an active task at the interview, or there may be a short test or some pre-interview work. If this is the case we will tell you about this when we invite you to interview.

References

We reserve the right to take up references. Any offer of employment is subject to our receiving satisfactory references.

Unpaid work

Please remember that unpaid work experience can be as important as paid work experience. For that reason we include a specific page for this.

Eligibility to work in the UK

English law requires that all employers check that everyone they employ is legally eligible to work in the UK. As an equal opportunities employer, Nova will therefore require all successful candidates to provide this proof prior to starting work. The Home Office has provided a detailed list of what documents provide the proof. If you would like to discuss this further please do contact us

Macmillan Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Worker

Job Description

Responsible to:Macmillan Children and Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Coordinator

Responsible for:n/a

Salary:£25,000per annum pro rata

Hours:22.5 hours per week

Holidays:25 days + bank holidays + three days between Christmas and New Year per annum(pro rata)

Employing Body:Nova Wakefield District Limited

Place of Work:Central Wakefieldand home

Type of Contract:Fixed term for 3 years

Job Purpose

To support young adults with complex needs (specifically those with a brain tumour)to live life to the full and return to work/college/education. Key to your success will be using your empathy and enthusiasm to engage and support young people to enhance their social/living skills appropriate to their needs. The position will require the applicant to have knowledge and experience of supporting vulnerable young adults who may have a range of specific learning difficulties. Using your skills and knowledge of young people with complex needs, you will develop and deliver a range of support to help facilitate personal, social and educational growth. You will excel in helping them reach their full potential in society through developing independence. Your role will include liaising with and supporting young people and workplaces/education about how best to support PBTS, developing and delivering an appropriate training package supported by the Project Coordinator. The support network will use a range of options including telephone and text, email, one-to-one meetings and group meetings, running clubs and training events. The position will support the 18-24 year age group.

This job profile is intended to provide a broad outline of the duties required and will be reviewed annually.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Direct work with young people

  • Referral handling – Take initial referrals and develop and undertake a Needs Assessment.
  • Planning and delivering programmes of support related to areas such as health, relationships, social skills, helping to build independent living skills.
  • Befriend and support PBTS in various settings as appropriate.
  • Mentor, coach and support PBTS to facilitate personal, social and educational growth as well as encouraging greater social inclusion.
  • Provide necessary emotional/practical guidance/support – Provide support as appropriate to the young adult/family after treatment but making good links throughout treatment.
  • Act as Advocate – Act as advocate at important support meetings for the young person at key points of transition.
  • Work with young adults/families before meeting with college/university/workplace to develop an understanding of need.
  • Organise support groups – Organise and facilitate brain tumour support groups in the West Yorkshire area, including the booking of rooms and refreshments; booking of speakers; inviting and encouraging young PBTS adults and families to attend.
  • Co-deliver a social skills support programme – The programme will be delivered as part of 'Friday Club' which is a friendship/activity club for children/young people suffering the effects of a brain tumour. This has the potential to be developed/lead to a young adults PBTS club.
  • Information provision – Provide relevant national and local information to patients and families, particularly to signpostas appropriate and keep up-to-date with the latest developments in treatments, support and information on brain tumours.
  • On-going communication – Establish appropriate on-going communication and support with patients and families and keep the Macmillan Children and Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Coordinator regularly updated on contacts made and actions taken.
  • Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to vulnerable adult protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
  • Create and maintain positive and supportive relationships with young adults, parents, schools, colleges, workplaces and hospitals involved in the treatment of brain tumours and the wider community.

Service management, development and communication

  • Organise support groups – Organise and facilitate brain tumour support groups in the West Yorkshire area, including the booking of rooms and refreshments; booking of speakers; inviting and encouraging PBTS and families to attend.
  • Act as Advocate – Act as advocate at important support meetings for the young person at key points of transition.
  • Attend meetings with other professionals to discuss new referrals.
  • Contribute to and attend multi-agency meetings and work with professionals from other organisations that support young adults and bring together practitioners from different sectors as part of the team around the family approach.
  • Attend training and development opportunities to maintain an up to date knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety and local policy developments.
  • Deliver outreach services to young people which are in line with Levi's Star and Macmillan Projects policies.
  • Deliver a training programme to colleges and advise workplaces about how to support young adults with brain tumours.
  • Liaise with FE/HE institutions and workplaces to ensure appropriate provision is put in place for the young adults' return to college/work.
  • Identify gaps in service and work with the Team Leader and other colleagues to seek funding to address these gaps.
  • Attend meetings with other professionals to discuss new referrals.
  • Contribute to and attend multi-agency meetings and work with professionals from other organisations that support young adults and bring together practitioners from different sectors as part of the team around the family approach.
  • Relationship building – Build relationships with NHS professionals and key stakeholders in other organisations in the area who can offer support to our patient group.
  • Awareness raising– Raise awareness of the support available by distributing leaflets, updating the website, attending appropriate meetings and visiting out-patients departments.
  • Act as part of a team with Levi's Star colleagues.
  • Attend Levi's Star/Macmillan Outreach Worker Projects full staff meetings and planning sessions.
  • Communicate relevant information to line manager.

Monitoring and evaluation

  • Monitor and evaluate success of strategies.
  • Provide and present robust and up to date data to accountability meetings.
  • Regularly monitor and review the quality of the PBTS outreach work provision(for young adults).
  • Database management – Collect contact data and ensure details are kept up-to-date on the central database.

Other duties

  • Responsible for upkeep of professional skills and development.
  • Any other duties as required by the Macmillan Children and Young People's Brain Tumour Outreach Coordinator.
  • PR – Attend local meetings where issues affecting brain tumour patients are discussed and if required, to represent the charity through public speaking, delivering presentations and cheque collections.
  • General administration – To act proactively and communicate effectively with colleagues to ensure that the database, website, publicity and fundraising materials are regularly updated.
  • Miscellaneous – To undertake any other tasks appropriate to the role, including supporting colleagues with fundraising initiatives.

Expectations

A)To ensure that all responsibilities and activities within this post are consistent with the terms and spirit of Nova's Equal Opportunities policy.

B)To adhere to the principles of the Data Protection Act and ensure there is an appropriate level of confidentiality and security of the work.

C)To travel to meetings throughout Wakefield District and beyond, this may require the need for an overnight stay.

D)To occasionally work unsociable hours, e.g. attending evening or weekend meetings.

E)The nature of the post will require flexibility in undertaking the role and will require the post holder to undertake other duties that are compatible with the nature and grade of this post.

F)To contribute towards maintaining Nova's commitment to environmental sustainability.