Rudheath and Witton Together (RWT) Big Local Partnership
Community Worker
Background
Rudheath and Witton Together (RWT) is part of the ground breaking ‘Big Local’ programme which will put 150 communities in the driving seat to achieve lasting change in local areas across England.
Like all 150 areas the Rudheath and Witton community has been given £1 million of Lottery funding to invest in their neighbourhood over the next ten years, and residents are leading on this by identifying local needs and interests, and developing appropriate solutions and activities.
RWT is coordinated by a Partnership group made up of local residents, and supported by a local organisation, Groundwork. Both work to ensure a locally driven approach to help the community fulfil their ambitions and make their local area an even better place to live.
In order to ensure all members of the local community can access and benefit from the RWT scheme we are now seeking to appoint a Community Development Worker. It is anticipated that this role will represent RWT ‘on the ground’, and help to advance and embed the programme in the local area for the foreseeable future.
This role is being hosted by Cheshire Community Development Trust on behalf of the Rudheath and Witton Together Big Local programme.
Work will be focussed on the geographical area of Rudheath and Witton in Northwich as defined by the Trust. It is expected that the postholder will be based in the community as much as possible.
Who are we looking for?
If you have a desire to improve things and change them for the better for local people, and you understand and believe in the benefits of helping others,then we’d like to hear from you.
We need someone with fantastic listening skills who can always see things from someone else’s point of view, and who is able to start conversations with anybody about anything. Someone with great collaborative skills, who understands the importance of changebut also has the passion to drive change through.
We’re looking for someone with an open mind, a 'can do' attitude, strong personal integrity and a sense of fairness. You will be honest in your approach to others and are not afraid to deliver the not so good news as well as the good news.
If you’re interested in community work then you’ll probably already be involved in some way, maybe you’re giving up your own time to volunteer in some capacity or doing charity work.
If you already do that, then flexible working – including some Saturdays and evenings won’t be a problem for you either.
Above all we need someone creative yet logical, and with loads of common sense. And it goes without saying you’ll need to love networking and meeting new people!
Job Description
Accountable to – CCDT Chief Executive
Post Duration – initially 12 months, up to 2 years subject to satisfactory review
Salary - £12,000 pa
Hours 18 per week, flexible. Some evening and weekend work is expected.
Mainpurposeoftherole
The Rudheath and Witton Together Community Development Worker will work with residents and stakeholders in the local area to:
• Develop new opportunities for all members of the Rudheath and Witton community to engage in the Big Local programme, improving both their skills and theircommunities.
• Assist in the delivery and development of the objectives in the existing RWT Plan, and be accountable to RWT for the delivery of these objectives.
• Support the development and maintenance of the RWTPartnership Board by ensuring it reflects the entire community,especially those previously identified as underrepresented or harder to engage.
Main Tasks
- To engage with local residents and partners and collaboratively devise and deliver an on-going programme of accessible opportunities, events, activities, etc. Also to attend or where appropriate plan and lead community meetings, events, working groups etc.
- To effectively promote all opportunities for participation to residents and stakeholders, and to publicise RWT and communicate its objectives and achievements as widely as possible.
- To increase and expand the involvement of local residents and communities in the existing RWT programme.This may include addressing under-representation by working with specifically targeted groups or communities of interest.
- To widen the involvement of local stakeholders, partners, organisations and private companies in the current RWT programme.
- To work closely with Groundwork as project administrator, the partnership Chair and group members, partner officers and Big Local representatives to achieve identified objectives and outcomes.
- To make recommendations about the communications and marketing plans, and to work jointly with all parties to ensure effective liaison and communication.
- To keep informed and well briefed on relevant local and Big Local developments and issues.
- To handle your own administration efficiently and develop administrative systems which ensure delivery of agreed outputs.
- To promote and follow Big Local equality policies and to establish activities that foster good relationships across all ages, races, faiths and gender, and which develop mutual respect and celebrate diversity.
- To adhere to and undertake responsibilities in accordance with health and safety legislation.
Community development workers
Community development workers help communities to bring about social change and improve the quality of life in their local area. They work with individuals, families and whole communities to empower them to:
- identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities;
- plan what they want to achieve and take appropriate action;
- develop activities and services to generate aspiration and confidence.
A community development worker often acts as a link between communities and a range of other local authority and voluntary sector providers. They are frequently involved in addressing inequality, and projects often target communities perceived to be culturally, economically or geographically disadvantaged.
Typical work activities
Community development work seeks to actively engage communities in making sense of the issues which affect their lives, setting goals for improvement and responding to problems and needs through empowerment and active participation.
A good deal of the work is project based, which means that community development workers usually have a specific geographical community or social group on which to focus.
Tasks may involve:
- identifying community skills, assets, issues and needs;
- ensuring that local people have their say;
- developing new resources in dialogue with the community and evaluating existing programmes;
- planning, attending and coordinating meetings and events;
- encouraging participation in activities building links with other groups and agencies;
- helping to raise public awareness on issues relevant to the community;
- liaising with interested groups and individuals to set up new services;
- mediating in matters of conflict;
- challenging inappropriate behaviour;
- helping to develop and implement strategies;
- inputting into reports and policies;
- general administrative duties.