Thank You for Your Interest in the Post Of

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the post of:

Young Adult Carers Development Worker.

We hope that your expression of interest means that you recognise the invaluable service that unpaid carers in Manchester provide to the people who depend on their care, and to society as a whole. Society relies on carers’ willingness and ability to provide care; carers save the UK economy an estimated £119 billion per year. Manchester Carers Centre offers a range of needs-led services to carers living or caring in Manchester, who often suffer isolation, poor health inequalities and financial loss as a direct consequence of their caring role.

This pack contains:

1)  Background information about Manchester Carers Centre and its services

2)  Job description

3)  Person specification

4)  Application guidance notes

5)  Application form

6)  Equal opportunities monitoring form & Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exemptions)

Please read the guidance notes before completing your application form to ensure that you complete the form accurately. If you are returning your application by post, please ensure you affix the correct postage to the envelope before sending. If you are sending your form pack electronically, please return to:

The deadline for us to receive completed application forms is 12pm on Monday 16th January 2017.

Interviews for this position will be held on Friday 27th January 2017.

Please note that because of postage costs we are unable to contact everybody that applies for this post. If you do not hear from us, please assume that you have not been shortlisted on this occasion.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Regards,

Shirley Devine

Chief Executive

Brief history and background of the charity

Manchester Carers Centre was established in 1995 and officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal in 1997. The Centre has almost 20 years’ experience supporting unpaid carers in Manchester and has a successful track record of delivering high quality, outcome driven services. Manchester Carers Centre is a company limited by guarantee (incorporated 19th March 1998) and registered as a charity on the 8th April 1999.

The Centre is an independent charity but is a Network Partner of Carers Trust – one of the leading carers’ charities in the UK. Being part of Carers Trust allows us to contribute to and access UK wide network opportunities and learning.

Who are unpaid carers?

A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. Each carer’s experience is unique to their own circumstances.

The causes of someone taking on caring responsibilities are varied but can include:

·  Serious physical illness

·  Long-term physical disability

·  Long-term neurological conditions

·  Mental health problems

·  Dementia

·  Addiction

·  Learning difficulties

Carers are looking after family members who can be severely disabled, very unwell, frail or with complex needs. Our service users live in the 4th most deprived local authority in England; they are often caring in poverty and in emotional distress. Carers frequently contact the centre on the brink of breakdown; they are exhausted, lonely and in desperate need of support. Carers are disadvantaged because they often face:

·  Social isolation, loneliness and lack of self esteem

·  Complex lives, difficult decisions and family crisis

·  Health and wellbeing inequalities

·  Financial hardship

·  Limited life opportunities

In the last year – we have supported 1014 unique carers. Delivering meaningful, outcome driven services to our beneficiaries.

Our Main Activities and Services…

·  Outreach & identification of carers

·  Information, practical help and emotional support services tailored to individual need

·  Health and wellbeing support and advice for carers and for those that they care for

·  Community drop-ins & groups / peer support sessions

·  Respite and Carers' breaks service/ social activities

·  Partnership programmes, training and opportunities

Outcomes achieved for Carers through our services:

·  Carers are identified and valued: Many carers do not realise they are ‘caring’, carers are often hidden and socially isolated; our staff attend outreach sessions in the community to find carers, recognise and value the work they do and link them in to sources of support. We work with professionals from both the voluntary and statutory sectors to ensure services are working together to identify, recognise and support carers.

·  Carers are better informed; they know what support is available and where to access help.

·  Carers are emotionally supported; they are able to cry, to laugh, to be angry, to express their frustrations and their anxieties in a safe place. Carers also have the opportunity to meet others, to share experiences and support one another.

·  Carers’ health and wellbeing is improved: Manchester Carers Centre runs regular health and wellbeing sessions for carers to remind them to look after themselves.

·  Patient health and wellbeing is improved: Supporting carers has a powerful and positive impact on the person they look after. This means that they are cared for by someone who is confident, well, and able to give the best care they can.

·  Carers have a life outside of their caring role: Manchester Carers Centre staff members are experienced at supporting and motivating carers to find time for themselves and pursue goals. Manchester Carers Centre operates a popular carers’ breaks service and ‘Time for Me’ a grant for parent carers to fund a break of their choice.

·  Carers are supported to realise their potential: Manchester Carers Centre has experienced group facilitators who work in partnership with other organisations to offer carers training and development opportunities.

·  Carers are supported towards self- reliance: they are enabled to find the confidence to tackle issues and find solutions.

Job Description

Job title: Young Adult Carers Development Worker (Maternity leave cover)

Salary: £18,560 per annum, pro rata,

Hours: 21 per week in line with service requirements, flexible Tuesdays to Fridays

Holidays: 25 days per year plus public holidays pro rata

Reporting to: Senior Carers Services Worker

Roles and responsibilities:

To identify young adult carers 16-25yrs in need of support and appropriate for the programme

Develop a marketing and targeting strategy to engage with young adult carers directly.

Build networks of professionals in touch with young adult carers to stimulate referrals and raise awareness of needs

Enable young adult carers to develop their full potential by developing a service that raises their aspirations and expectations for their future.

Be able to tailor and develop and implement a needs/goal setting and outcome measurement tool to measure programme activities/output/outcomes/impacts.

Develop the mentoring, 1:1 and training aspects of the service to encourage planning, goal setting growth of confidence and skills.

Enable young adult carers to gain control over their life situations and build a programme of workshops that enable young adult carers to mix with others in a similar situation and help them build friendships and peer networks and enjoy learning together.

Develop a flexible volunteering programme in a supportive framework that ensures there are a full range of volunteering opportunities across our charity, our local projects and enterprises and partner organisations. Ensure volunteering commitment targets are met.

Develop employability and confidence building workshops alongside caring with confidence workshops for young adult carers, ensure effective learning, monitoring and evaluation.

Develop a package of financial learning so that young adult carers can acquire effective skills on money management and ensure that referrals are made for benefit checks and grants, and strategies for income optimisation are integral to the programme.

Ensure the service operates to Manchester Carers Centre quality standards and be able to produce a high standard of report writing for CEO Board and financial supporters and funders.

Ensure excellent public relations/branding of Manchester Carers Centre and the ‘Time to Change’ programme at all times. Be an effective ambassador for all.

Ensure excellent planning of resources against activities and service demands and ensure effective information and administration, monitoring systems underpin service delivery.

Ensure a successful volunteering program develops the skills and confidence and self esteem of the volunteers as well as impacts successfully on the organisation and project.

General

Be a positive team player and work effectively with colleagues to ensure quality service delivery for all carers by contributing to team tasks as required to ensure effective day to day delivery.

Ensure health and safety practice, risk assessments, centre activities are compliant with our policies and legal advice and best practice so that all our outputs and activities are run safely for all.

Duties of all Carers Centre staff are periodically reviewed and may alter in line with service requirements in consultation with staff. It is expected that all members of staff are able to work independently, taking responsibility for their work areas as well as working well under direction. They are expected to have a flexible attitude to their work, which is often developmental, showing a willingness to adapt and evolve their role in line with organisational and service user needs.

Support all Manchester Carers Centre profile raising and promotional activities including fundraising as required.

To adhere to all Manchester Carers Centre policies and procedures.

To have full regard for equal opportunities and promoting non-discriminatory practice and accessibility in all aspects of service delivery.

Young Adult Carers Development Worker Person Specification

Essential / Assessed
Skills and Abilities / ·  Excellent communication, presentation and interpersonal skills, ability to work as part of a team and be an excellent ambassador for the project.
·  Ability to supervise, support and motivate young volunteers and others
·  Professional, understanding and approachable both on the telephone, face-to- face and in groups.
·  Ability to market a service and maintain its profile through a range of methods to ensure we identify and attract the target group of service users.
·  Ability to raise awareness with professionals and engage them.
·  Ability to research and obtain accurate information pertinent to carers’ needs.
·  Ability to plan and prioritise work. Demonstrate strong administrative and organisational skills.
·  Ability to develop and maintain robust service delivery and financial records.
·  Able to develop and deliver training workshops and social activities for service users and volunteers. / Application & Interview
Experience / ·  Experience of delivering support services for clients in need.
·  Experience of project responsibility, able to develop and deliver a project from start to finish including achieving targets, monitoring and measuring and demonstrating outcomes.
·  Experience of working with young people or volunteers.
·  Experience of producing accurate and comprehensive reports. / Application & Interview
Knowledge & Qualifications / ·  A clear understanding of the principles of good practice underpinning the provision of confidential, independent information, advice and support services to individuals in need.
·  Good IT skills including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office. / Application & Interview
Other Qualities / ·  Self-motivated with the ability to work independently as well as being able to work as part of a team
·  Ability to work flexibly and positively on a range of tasks in a busy working environment with competing demands. / Application & Interview
Desirable
·  Knowledge of the voluntary/charity sector
·  An understanding of challenges carers face as well as an interest and commitment to carers’ support services. / Application & Interview

Supported by the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales

Applying for a job with Manchester Carers Centre – Guidance Notes

All candidates, whether already known to the Manchester Carers Centre or not, will be shortlisted solely on the information contained in their application. Only completed application forms will be considered. CVs will not be accepted.

Advice on completing the form

Completing the application form is the first stage of the selection process. The information you provide on this form is the only information we will use in deciding whether or not you will be shortlisted for interview, so you are strongly advised to complete the application form as fully as possible.

References

Please give the details of two referees, one of which must be your current/last employer, if you have one. The second referee should also be a previous employer where possible. If you are a college leaver, then your tutor’s name should be given. In all cases make sure you use someone who knows your capabilities, can comment on your reliability and is aware of your potential.

Employment History

This gives us an understanding of the roles you have undertaken and the length of time you have spent in roles. It is therefore essential that all information is completed.

Supporting Information

This section is very important, as it is where you can make your case for the job. Read through the job description and person specification to get a clear view of what the job involves, these describe the necessary skills and experience we are looking for. Make sure that you tell us in what ways you match the requirements of the job. Therefore, give examples of any relevant ability, experience and qualifications. This may be from your current or previous job, or from community or voluntary work, or from transferable skills from other life experience.

Ø  Ensure that the information you provide is well organised and relevant to the job description and person specification.

Ø  It should show to what extent you have gained the skills and experience necessary for the post.

Ø  Give specific examples of the work you have been involved in and write in a positive way.

Ø  Always remember to specify your responsibilities rather than those of your section or department.

Ø  Send your form in on time and always keep a copy for reference.

Interview Procedure

Manchester Carers Centre is an equal opportunities employer. At interview all candidates will be asked an agreed set of questions based on the person specification.

Supplementary questions may be asked based upon a candidate’s response, or to clarify points. It will be ensured that no discriminatory questions are asked.

At the conclusion of the interview, candidates will have the opportunity to ask questions. This will not form part of the selection procedure.