Project Officers (2 Posts: 1 Full Time, 1 Part Time)

1. Job Description

Job title: Project Officer

Job purpose: Going Forward Project

Reports to: Chief Executive

Salary: £22,000 full time (35hrs), £17,600 part time (28hrs)

Based at: Fast Forward office, 4 Bernard St, Edinburgh, EH6 6PP

In 2017, Fast Forward will launch Going Forward, an innovative approach to health, wellbeing and risk-taking behaviour, such as substance misuse, sexual health and alcohol misuse). We will work with vulnerable, at-risk and high-tariff young people across the four Lothian local authority areas.

This two-year fixed-term project will include groupwork and it will particularly encourage and develop peer-led education sessions. It will be delivered in partnership with special educational schools, alternative programmes within mainstream schools (supporting vulnerable and high-tariff young people), and within community based organisations in areas of multiple deprivation.

Key Tasks and functions

1.  To co-ordinate and develop the work of the project in line with the agreed project objectives.

2.  To work closely with local partner agencies to promote, implement and facilitate all aspects of the project.

3.  Liaise closely and establish good working relations with other local professionals and the public, working or involved in health, education, youth and community work.

4.  To develop and deliver group work programmes with young people in a variety of settings.

5.  To develop and deliver programmes with practitioners in a variety of settings.

6.  To ensure that information, advice and support is made available to young people experiencing difficulties, in partnership with any relevant agencies.

7.  To complete all evaluations and produce regular reports on the progress of the work as required by senior management.

8.  To keep up to date with development work and research within the field of substance use, youth work, health promotion, group work and training.

9.  To contribute to the wider work programme of Fast Forward as required from time to time by the Chief Executive.

The key tasks are not intended to be exhaustive and the post holder will be expected to undertake any other reasonable duties as required.

2. Job Context

These new posts support the delivery of Fast Forward’s work with young people across the four Lothian local authority areas.

The posts make up a team of two posts:

i)  35 hrs per week

ii)  28 hrs per week.

In addition to traditional groupwork approaches, our project will specifically develop and use young people’s interest and familiarity with new media and digital technology as an additional peer education tool and methodology. We would use these tools with young people to create a knowledge and awareness campaign with their peers. This could include a local Face Book page or YouTube channel with relevant local health and support information for young people.

We will also use new media to signpost young people to appropriate local health, support and information services and provide help with a range of volunteering, employability and personal development opportunities to maximise young people’s positive destinations.

Young people will be involved in the peer education programme’s development and will be supported to guide its themes and topics to better meet their needs. The project will work with a range of diverse groups,with different abilities, needs and interests.

The team’s work will be dynamic, challenging and rewarding because you will be responding to an often hectic environment and finding creative ways to engage young people and adult practitioners, as well as delivering meaningful harm reduction and prevention education.

Weaim to work with young people regardless of their circumstances. We will target young people with social, emotional and behavioural needs in special educational settings as well as withyoung people in mainstream, but potentially high-needs, environments. Demands on the team could come in different forms. Working with marginalised young people can be challenging. It can be difficult to find ways to connect and communicate in a relevant and meaningful way.

We expect that some programmes will be delivered over a number of weeksand alongsideone-off group work sessions. A key aim of the project is to develop, promote and encourage peer-led work. The post involves planning and delivering sessions both independently and with the other Development Officer.You will need tohaveexcellent communication skills, be able to build respectful and trusting relationships, deliver successful educational outcomes and prioritise a demanding workload.

All Fast Forward staff are expected to work collaboratively with other team members and volunteers and occasionally to undertake cross-team delivery of training/up-skilling to external agencies or at external events. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Key to this post is the ability and enthusiasm to work in partnership with partner delivery organisations, and to engage fully with local agencies, and all relevant stakeholders.

3. Person Specification

Essential / Desirable

Knowledge

·  Understanding of youth work practices, peer-led approaches, risk-taking behaviours in young people, substance misuse education and prevention, as well as young people’s health more generally.
·  Understanding of current policy and practice in youth work, health, education and social inclusion. / X / X
Skills
·  Experience and proven ability to develop strong relationships with partner organisations.
·  Experience and proven ability to lead interventions and engage with challenging behaviour in groups of young people.
·  Experience and ability to creatively and competently deliver project outcomes.
·  Ability to monitor and record of outcomes.
·  Good report writing and oral communication skills.
·  Competent computer skills.
·  Ability to quickly adapt to change. / X
X
X
X
X
X / X

Experience

·  Youth work development and peer-led delivery.
·  Group work practices with young people.
·  Community engagement.
·  Developing services and projects.
·  Work within a voluntary, third sector or public sector setting.
·  Partnership working at delivery level. / X
X
X
X / X
X

Values

·  Commitment to equal opportunities.
·  Commitment to the promotion of health and wellbeing.
·  Commitment to young people's engagement.
·  Commitment to mutual collaboration between agencies.
·  Commitment to team working.
·  Commitment to the principles and practices of youth work. / X
X
X
X
X
X

4. Management and Support

The post holders will be responsible to the Board of Directors through reporting to the Chief Executive. Fast Forward is committed to a policy of staff development through staff support, supervision and appraisal. The post holder, like all Fast Forward employees, will be expected to take an active role in the staff team.

5. Conditions of Service

The posts are two years fixed term.

The post is entitled to 36 days annual leave (35 hrs) and 29 days annual leave (28 hrs) (inclusive of all public holidays).The post holder will be based in the Fast Forward office.

Agreed mileage and subsistence allowances will be paid.

A system of time off in lieu applies for hours worked over and above the normal working week.

Fast Forward has a policy of requiring all new personnel to have a satisfactory membership of the PVG scheme.

All staff are automatically enrolled in the contributory staff pension scheme which is in operation and opt out options are available.

Fast Forward is committed to becoming an equal opportunities employer.

Fast Forward

4 Bernard St

Edinburgh

EH6 6PP

Tel: 0131-554-4300

Email: www.fastforward.org.uk

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