Job Description
Job title: / Champions’ Development Worker
Pay Scale: / OfL Pay Scale: Sc 5 pt 22 - £23,209
Working hours: / Full time; 37½ hours per week
Responsible to: / Day Opportunities Manager
Special conditions: / Flexibility is required in terms of working hours.
This post has funding for a three year period only.
Place of work: / Options for Life, Oak Green Lodge, Oak Way, Oldbury, West Midlands, B68 8LR. Travel will be required to any premises from which Options for Life operates and to other locations as required by the role.
Job summary : / You will establish and develop the role ofOptions for Life’s (OfL) Champions. Supporting and working with the Champions and OfL staff to embed the work as an integral aspect of the organisation’s work. To ensure the participants’ voice is heard in all aspects of Options for Life.
Duties and Responsibilities
  1. To work with the Champions as individuals and as a group to support them in the development of the role. This will include training and workshop sessions and supporting the Champions to attend external conference and events to network and learn from their peers.
  1. Develop a plan of how the Options for Life Champions will be further established and developed over the next 3 years.
  1. To initially re-establish the Champions and then work with them to support the development of their skills and confidence to ensure their success.
  1. You will work with the whole staff team and the Trustees to ensure skill development in order to appropriately support the role of the Champions. This will include working on a one-to-one basis, working with teams and delivering workshops and training sessions to support their development.
  1. To establish appropriate structures and processes within Options for Life to support the establishment of the Champions.
  1. To be an effective member of the Options for Life team.
  1. To network with external organisations and partner agencies to support the development of the Champions.
  1. To ensure accurate and comprehensive records are kept with timely follow up and action
  1. To provide timely and accurate management information.
  1. To contribute to, and actively promote the philosophy, values and aims of the organisation within the staff and volunteer teams and participants.
  1. To take responsibility for your own continuous professional development, including attending training events and conferences as appropriate.
  1. To carry out all duties with due regard to the organisation’s policies and procedures, and to ensure that statutory requirements are complied with.
  1. To undertake other such duties and responsibilities, commensurate with the responsibilities of the post, as may be reasonably requiredwithin the overall aims of Options for Life.

This job description does not form part of your contract of employment. The duties laid down in this job description may change, following a review and in consultation between the post holder and their line manager.

Attributes of a successful candidate
  1. Educated to degree level or equivalent or a proven track record in public health or community engagement environments is required.
  2. The ability to manage multiple and changing priorities at any one time, to work well under pressure and meet varying deadlines.
  3. Experience of working with minimal supervision and successfully completing projects working on your own initiative.
  4. Experience of working with potentially disadvantaged/vulnerable groups to empower them to have a stronger voice and more control in their own lives.
  5. Knowledge and understanding of the issues facing disabled people and how local and national policy impacts on them.
  6. Strong problem solving skills and the ability to work with a high attention to detail and high level of accuracy.
  7. Experience of marketing and publicity appropriate to this role.
  8. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Excellent Interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with people of all abilities in an empathetic, sensitive and tactful way, including people with learning disabilities.
  9. The ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with others both internally and externally to achieve the goals of the organisation.
  10. Flexible, reliable and a ‘can do’ attitude to be able to support colleagues and work as a positive team member.
  11. To contribute to, and actively promote, the philosophy, values and aims of the organisation.

Additional notes on the post of Champions Development Worker
Probationary period / The first 6 months are a probationary period, with the potential to extend following a formal review.
Pension / All permanent staff are eligible to join a contributory Group Personal Pension scheme after 3 months continuous employment. OFL will also contribute an amount equivalent to 3% of your monthly wage each month, increasing to 4% after 5 years of service and 5% after 10 years of service.
Annual leave / The holiday entitlement is 24 days plus 8 statutory days.