The post will involve regular travel across South West Hertfordshire.

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1 What we are looking for Watford Mencap is one of the largest Mencap societies in the UK with a long-established history of providing high quality social care services to people with learning disabilities and their families in South West Herts. We are a registered charity founded in 1951 with a trustee body, the Council of Management. Whilst we are affiliated to national Mencap, we are independent and self-funding. In recent years the organisation has increased its annual turnover to 2.3 million by developing a range of creative and innovative new services for people with learning disabilities and their families whilst also remodelling existing provision to offer more personalised support to local people. We currently have over 117 volunteers and employ 120 staff. The organisation is currently repositioning itself to respond to the Care Act, personal budgets and the Herts emarketplace. At the same time the charity is having to meet the challenge of County Council funding cuts and a much more competitive fundraising environment. Last year our fantastic volunteers supported us with 20,000 hours of their time helping to run our leisure projects, charity shops, fundraising events, trustee meetings and generally helping us to support over 800 people with learning disabilities and their families. This new role will enable us to strengthen the support that we offer to our current volunteers whilst also enabling the development and expansion of a range of new volunteering opportunities. A key focus for the post will be to develop and implement a new volunteering strategy which increases the range of volunteering opportunities and placements within Watford Mencap. You will also develop and implement systems to support the: recruitment, training and coordination of volunteers, provide specialist advice on volunteering and encourage a culture across the organisation that maximises volunteer involvement. Experience of working in volunteering, offering expertise and advising staff and volunteers on a full range of volunteering issues is essential. You must also be able to engage and communicate with a variety of different audiences on volunteering matters and be able to motivate and enthuse people in all aspects of volunteering. The role will also involve development and line management of an exciting new supported volunteering project which will maximise the involvement of people with learning disabilities and their family/ carers throughout the charity. Watford Mencap has Investors in People accreditation, an Outstanding Ofsted status, an Advice Service Quality Mark and a range of operational projects that are recognised by CQC for delivering excellent quality services. We are also the winner of the HCPA Best Care Business in Hertfordshire in 2012 and again in The post will involve regular travel across South West Hertfordshire. We hope you will consider joining us at this exciting and challenging time. For more information please call Mary Sinclair (HR Manager) on

2 Volunteer Development Manager 37.5 hrs/week Operates within: Finance, HR and Internal Support Services Function Reporting to: Initially Jane Pattinson Chief Executive Direct line management of: Volunteers placed within the project Main purpose of the role To provide specialist advice on volunteering To develop, manage and deliver a volunteering strategy and initiatives to achieve our strategic goals and objectives To encourage a change culture across Watford Mencap to maximise volunteer involvement To provide management and support to your team and project managers in line with promoting and developing volunteer programmes. To develop and support a programme of supported volunteering for people with learning disabilities within Watford Mencap, in line with our current strategy to engage more people with learning disabilities within the organisation. Main duties and responsibilities 1. To develop and implement a volunteering strategy and infrastructure that supports and develops existing and new volunteering initiatives within Watford Mencap. 2. To develop a marketing and communications plan for volunteering within Watford Mencap to include acquisition, retention and engagement of volunteers. 3. To develop and manage Watford Mencap s volunteer recruitment and retention strategy including: needs analysis, role design, selection and interview. 4. Planning, carrying out and analysing social media campaigns across all major platforms, creating campaigns that are integrated across digital, social and offline activity. 5. To design, deliver and evaluate volunteer training and induction to staff and volunteers on a range of topics including: recruitment, selection, problem solving, volunteer management, role design, dealing with difficult volunteers etc. 6. To develop and support a programme of supported volunteering for people with learning disabilities within Watford Mencap, in line with our current strategy to engage more people with learning disabilities within the organisation.

3 7. To maintain volunteer records using the Charity Log database. Production and analysis of regular management reports to provide appropriate management information from volunteer and client data. 8. To develop and revise volunteer policies, procedures and working practises to bring about organisational change in volunteering involvement. 9. To assist in developing and adapting safeguarding, risk assessments, DBS working practises to ensure compliance and practical and pragmatic working practises. To implement these practises and encourage involvement across Mencap 10. To work closely with managers to place volunteers and to offer ongoing support, advice and direction regarding volunteer management practices. Providing timely advice to managers, staff and volunteers on dealing with the full range of volunteer; management, performance, reward and recognition, conduct and problem solving. 11. To ensure that volunteering activities are carried out in a manner which follows best practice and are compliant with health and safety, risk assessment, DBS and safeguarding legislation. Keeping self and organisation up to date with current volunteering trends, policy, good practice and legislation. 12. To develop a range of new communication tools for current and potential volunteers including: social media, website, enewsletter, events and networking. 13. To manage key stakeholder relationships with a view to maximising volunteering opportunities, seeking new opportunities and develop creative ideas to harness new partnerships to develop volunteering opportunities. 14. To build up active involvement from local community groups such as Rotary, faith and sports groups and corporate supporters. 15. To act as an ambassador for Watford Mencap in order to raise the profile of the charity 16. To manage complaints and complex issues using the NETS system. 17. To ensure the maintenance of good relationships, communication and teamwork across the organisation 18. To adhere to Watford Mencap s policies and procedures. 19. To take part in working groups and projects as appropriate, presenting reports and proposals as required 20. To manage and support volunteers working directly within your team. 21. To undertake such additional duties as required. This list is not exhaustive and will be reviewed from time to time in discussion with the post holder

4 Volunteer Development Manager Person specification Requirement Essential Desirable Education Evidence of commitment to continuing self-development Experience Experience of working in volunteering, offering expertise and advising staff and volunteers on a full range of volunteering issues Experience of developing volunteering strategies Creation and development of a range of supported volunteering opportunities Project and event management Delivering and designing training on a one to one and group basis Managing the recruitment and retention of volunteers Experience of developing and delivering marketing and communication plans Development of policies and procedures Building relationships, effective team working and performance management Management of change to further strategic development Skills Excellent communication, influencing, negotiating and report writing skills. Good organisational skills, able to plan and prioritise workload. Effective presentation skills, ability to speak confidently, adapting style to audience to give training, presentations, feedback and advice to non volunteering specialists Able to engage and communicate with a variety of different audiences on volunteering matters. Able to offer support and empathise with the needs of volunteers. Graduate Management qualification Working with/supporting people with learning disabilities Creation and development of supported volunteering opportunities for people with learning disabilities and/or family carers Managing budgets and good financial awareness

5 Understanding and effective use of social media across all platforms Production of marketing, promotion and publicity materials to use on website, social media, events and networking opportunities. Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and volunteer data base and a general willingness to promote effective and efficient IT solutions to others. Knowledge Sound knowledge of current volunteering policy, good practice and practical application, including volunteer management, health and safety, risk assessment and safeguarding. Personal attributes Experience of quickly building rapport and establishing professional credibility and positive relationships with people with learning disabilities, managers, staff and volunteers at all levels. Able to work on own initiative, taking responsibility for own actions, making appropriate decisions. Able to manage the work of others and to work within a team Able to motivate and enthuse people in all aspects of volunteering Able to work flexibly to meet the demands of the job (some evening and weekend work required) Resilient - able to remain calm under pressure whilst balancing competing priorities General Able to travel extensively across South West Herts. Understanding of the issues facing people with learning disabilities and their carers Car owner, insured for business use and current clean driving licence