Role Profile: ‘Aspire’ Project Worker (Three Year Fixed-Term Contract Commencing February 2018)

Accountable To:Mission Superintendent

Hours of Work:18 hours per week (will require flexibility to meet the needs of the service including some evening work to 8.30 p.m.).

Salary:£9,300 p.a.

Location:Skainos Centre, 239 Newtownards Road, Belfast

Leave:20 days plus 12 statutory days (pro-rata)

Pension:National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) Pension Scheme

Health Care:An employee health care plan is available after successful

probation

Probation:This post is subject to a 6 month probationary period.

The company reserves the right to extend this probationary

period

Date:November 2017

East Belfast Mission’s ‘Aspire’ club is an educational project funded by BBC Children in Need and is based in the Skainos Centre – an urban regeneration development in inner East Belfast.

Aspire works with children affected by socio-economic disadvantage, providing access to homework support and arts workshops, improving educational outcomes and offering opportunities to develop self-confidence and new life skills.

As the project moves into its fifth year it is expanding to include children from P4 to Y8 and will include a weekly meal and education around healthy eating. The role of Project Worker is a new post and the successful candidate will help to develop the service for P7 and Y8 students. Some evening work will be required for the role.

Accountability:

The post-holder reports to the community outreach and development department of East Belfast Mission. In addition to youth and children’s programming, the work of the department includes men’s and women’s groups, fitness activities, community advice, an Irish language programme, and a community counselling service.

Overall responsibility:

The main purpose of the job is to develop and deliver the homework club based at East Belfast Mission (EBM). The Project Worker will work closely with the Project Co-ordinator and a team of volunteer mentors to maintain a creative and engaging programme of educational support.

The post-holder will work with other departments within EBM, as well as other community organisations, to ensure that the programme is integrated into the wider community provision for young people from the local area.

Main Duties:

  1. To develop and maintain a programme of educational support and mentoring (homework club) for local primary and secondary school students. (P4 – Y8)
  1. To recruit, support and manage a team of 10 – 15 volunteer mentors to support young people in their learning.
  1. To liaise with the Aspire Project Co-Ordinator in the planning and development of a programme that meets the educational and social needs of children from East Belfast, and achieves target outcomes.
  1. To work with parents of children involved with the project to ensure their involvement and support.
  1. Liaise with other departments at EBM to ensure that the programme is adequately resourced.
  2. To engage in monitoring and evaluation as necessary, including the completion of monthly reports.
  3. To engage in monthly supervision meetings
  4. Ensure EBM’s procedures are adhered to regarding:
  5. Health and Safety Regulations and Procedures
  6. Child Protection
  7. Any other reasonable duties within the post holder’s capacity.

Person Specification:

Essential Criteria

The successful applicant must be able to evidence the following:

  1. A relevant degree and/or three years’ experience in youth work, children’s work and/or educational support work at the community level.
  1. Experience of planning and developing programmes for youth and/or children, in an educational and/or community context.
  1. Experience working with youth and children in disadvantaged communities and/or the ability to demonstrate sound knowledge of the principles of youth and children’s community work in disadvantaged areas.
  1. Experience of supervising / managing volunteers.
  1. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including written, verbal, and IT.
  1. Ability to show initiative and leadership in a changing environment.
  1. Previous experience working within a multi-disciplinary environment to strategically plan and develop community programmes (e.g. youth and children’s programming).
  1. Innovative and creative.
  1. A clear understanding of and willingness to work within the ethos of EBM.

Desirable Criteria

  1. Experience in developing educational support programmes for youth, children or adults.
  1. More than three-year’s experience in community-based youth, children and/or educational support work.

Additional Notes

This position gives the post holder access to children and young people and will therefore be required to disclose details of any criminal convictions, including spent, bound-over orders and cautions in accordance with the Access NI Vetting and Baring Scheme and our organisation’s Children Protection Policy and Procedure. An AccessNI check will be carried out, and in applying for this position, you are in agreement for the organisation to carry out this necessary check.

East Belfast Mission is an Equal Opportunities Employer