School of Hard Knocks Engagement & Support Officer (Pitstops Project) Job Description & Person Specification

Transcription

1 School of Hard Knocks Engagement & Support Officer (Pitstops Project) Job Description & Person Specification /SOHKcharity /SOHKcharity /SOHKcharity /company/school-of-hard-knocks-charity 1

2 Job Title Contract Hours Grade / Salary : 24,000 : Engagement & Support Officer (Pitstops Project) : 27 month fixed term : 35 hours per week School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is a charity that was registered in April The charity was launched by the creator of the Sky Sports series of the same name. By applying our unique SOHK psychology to our coaching and classroom based delivery, we seek to enable all participants, whatever their age, to realise their potential. Many of the people the charity works with are among the most disadvantaged in the UK. We see in excess of 40% of our participants find and sustain work, working with over 500 adults per year in London, Cardiff and Glasgow. Although we are best known for our work on television, where Sky Sports produce an annual documentary following one of our courses, this work is actually less than 10% of what we do. Since January 2015, we have also been working in schools with children at risk of exclusion and have developed a mentor programme to support participants beyond the life of our courses. School of Hard Knocks are now looking to recruit an experienced and enthusiastic Engagement & Support Officer for a time related fixed-term period. This post is made possible through partnership with ng homes & funding from Big Lottery Fund (Investing in Communities) to work on the new Pitstops project. The post holder will have overall responsibility for the recruitment, promotion and progression of participants to the project. The post holder will also have a specific role and responsibilities in working alongside partners to progress positive destinations for participants into further and higher education, volunteering and employment. Our key delivery partner in Scotland, ng homes is a leading community based Housing Association that provides housing and support services to almost 7,000 homes within North Glasgow covering Springburn, Balornock, Possilpark and Parkhouse. ng homes vision is to create a new North Glasgow: a great place to live, learn, work, visit and invest. The Association views housing and regeneration as being intrinsically linked and has taken a proactive approach to tackling deep rooted issues within the community to create long lasting change. The successful candidate will possess excellent communication and team working skills and will have a track record of achieving successful outcomes in a similar challenging project together with experience of working effectively on community engagement programmes. Based within the Association s Regeneration department, the post holder will work in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders and will display a strong desire to make a positive difference in North Glasgow. The Pitstops initiative builds on learning from previous employability work and uses sport as an engagement tool to support disengaged people into work. Pitstops is aimed at those facing multiple barriers to employment through issues such as: experience of the criminal justice system, a history of addiction and/or mental health issues. The initiative also aims to support participants to realise their potential and enhance life skills such as confidence, motivation, team-work, discipline, respect and personal responsibility. 2

3 This post is based in North Glasgow alongside ng homes Regeneration department, and is funded for a 27 month fixed-term period in line with Big Lottery funding (until December 2018). This post is covered by the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. If you wish to apply for this post please submit a covering letter and CV. Completed application forms can be returned by to scotland@schoolofhardknocks.org.uk with the subject heading: E&S Officer. If you are returning your application by post please send to: Greg Cann, SOHK, c/o NG Homes, 410 Petershill Road Springburn, Glasgow G21 4AA The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 5.00pm on Wednesday 27 th July. Applications received after this date will not be considered. Interviews will be conducted on Friday 5 th August 2016 during the working day. What to expect in the job: SOHK prides it itself on delivering a world class service to its participants. The charity s staff both challenge and nurture participants, giving them the attitudes, values and skills to improve their own lives. This is a testing environment but also a hugely rewarding one, where you can have a genuine impact on the lives of the people you work with. The post of Engagement and Support Officer is employed by School of Hard Knocks (SOHK), who are working in partnership with ng homes to deliver the Pitstops Project, and is possible through funding from Big Lottery Fund (Investing in Communities). This post is seconded to ng homes by SOHK for the duration of the project. ng homes is a leading community based Housing Association that provides housing and support services to almost 7,000 homes within North Glasgow covering Springburn, Balornock, Possilpark and Parkhouse. You will have overall responsibility for the engagement of participants of Pitstops project and will provide on-going support, both formal and informal, to progress individuals. You will develop systems to monitor the progression of individuals and will provide aftercare support to ensure that participants can identify and fulfil their aspirations. You will have a specific role in further maintaining and developing strong local networks and relationships and be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of potential long term impacts of the project. The role will be intense and challenging but also extremely rewarding. You will be constantly learning and developing while making a tangible difference to the lives of the charity s beneficiaries. This post is covered by the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. 3

4 What we are looking for: What you will be like: You must be passionate about making a difference and helping people to realise their potential in life a love of rugby is also a bonus You will have excellent relationship building and support skills You will be self-motivated and able to work on your own initiative Job description: Areas of work: A. Building relationships with local residents, community groups and statutory and voluntary agencies to raise awareness of the project and to engage beneficiaries, as well as with individuals throughout the project, supporting them in reaching their goals. B. Delivering the core sports based intervention course modules, both practical and workshop based. C. Providing after care support to ensure on-going progress for individuals and to be able to understand the longer term impact for individuals. D. Coordinating and creating individual plans with participants in particular baseline, assessment, MOT and identification of progression routes. E. Supporting... external communications and PR in relation to the project specific events such as course graduations, jobs fayres the maintenance of accurate records relating to project outcomes and provision of accurate reports to funders and ng homes board the evaluation of programme activities and partnerships, taking part in multi partner reviews of each course and sharing learning as broadly as possible F. Linking in with partner organisations to ensure all of an individual s needs are met throughout the project. G. Representing the company in a professional manner at all times 4

5 Experience It is essential that you have experience of... community engagement programmes. mentoring and supporting individuals, e.g. supporting personal development towards employment and implementing workplans. co-ordinating action across a variety of programmes and organisations. working with and supervising volunteers. Desirable - Experience of developing and implementing monitoring systems. The ability to to manage & resolve conflict. Practical experience of sports-based interventions (delivery or management). Skills and Abilities Essential - Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills and the ability to work with a diverse range of individuals and groups. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Understanding of equality issues. The ability to self- manage and be highly organised, keeping excellent Desirable - records and maintaining databases. The ability to network with internal and external partners. Experience in working with agencies and/or community partners. Possession of a current driving license. Working knowledge of marketing/communications. Qualifications and Knowledge Essential - Knowledge of issues affecting socially disadvantaged groups. Experience of Microsoft packages for recording data. Knowledge and experience of evaluation techniques, developing Desirable - frameworks, maintaining databases and analysing information. 5

6 Knowledge and experience of working in communities. Knowledge of the voluntary sector & experience of the network of services in the local area. Personal Qualities Self motivated and able to work on own initiative. Ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends as required. 6