Witney Family Group Coordinator June 2021 - Home-Start ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Witney Family Group Coordinator
June 2021Instructions to applicants
To apply for this post, please complete the application form, equal opportunities monitoring form, and
submit along with a covering letter, to admin@homestartoxford.org.uk.
We only accept applications on the requested application form, as part of our commitment to safer
recruitment practice. CVs will not be accepted.
Applications received after midday on Monday 28th June will not be considered.
Only candidates shortlisted for interview will be contacted.
You are welcome to contact us to discuss this role. Any queries can be directed to Kerry Center
kerry@homestartoxford.org.uk or by calling our main number - 01869 322394.
We believe that diversity in the workplace enables us to create a relevant, innovative and effective
organisation. We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from candidates with
diverse life experience. We are committed to recruitment that is fair and free from bias.
Home-Start Oxford is a Disability Confident Employer. Please get in touch if you require this information in
an alternative format, or to discuss an alternative form of application or other forms of reasonable
adjustment.
Key Dates
Closing date for applications Monday 28th June at midday
Shortlisted candidates notified By Monday 5th July
Interviews Week commencing 5th or 12th July
2Home Start Oxford Job Description
Job Title: Witney Family Group Coordinator
Employer: Home-Start Oxford
Location: Based in Witney, with occasional travel to Oxford.
In the short term, the post is home-based, with the requirement to deliver group sessions in or around
Witney. Our usual base is Witney Methodist Church, 40 High St. Witney, OXON, OX28 6HG
Hours of work: 19 hours/week
Salary: Pro rata to NJC scale points 12 -20 [£22,183 - £25,991]
Responsible to: Senior Coordinator
Responsible for: Recruitment, support and supervision of volunteers
Home-Start Background
Home-Start believes that children need a happy and secure childhood and that parents play the biggest
role in giving their children a good start in life and helping them achieve their full potential.
Home-Start offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children in local
communities throughout the UK. We recruit and train volunteers, who are usually parents themselves, to
provide informal, friendly and confidential support through visiting families at home, and running groups.
Home-Start supports parents as they grow in confidence, as they strengthen their relationships with their
children and widen their links within the local community. In this way we aim, in partnership with other
agencies, to foster the development of children, the health and welfare of the family, and an environment
which prevents family crisis and risk to children.
Role Background
Since 2018, Home-Start Oxford had been delivering group sessions for families in West Oxfordshire, based
at Witney Methodist Church. We have been embraced by families with young children, and professionals
in West Oxfordshire, running three popular sessions each week prior to Covid and regular sessions online,
plus outreach support, during the lockdowns. We are currently running outdoor groups with a view to
returning to indoor sessions shortly.
The post holder will be responsible for networking with families, volunteers, professionals and other
stakeholders in the area to continue a programme of high-quality group sessions for parents, babies and
pre-schoolers.
3Purposes of the job
You will play a vital role as Coordinator of our group provision for West Oxfordshire, planning the focus and
content of group sessions, in collaboration with volunteers and support from the Senior Coordinator. Group
sessions are led by a volunteer in some cases, or by the Family Group Coordinator supported by volunteers.
You will be responsible for supporting and managing a team of volunteers and help to deliver ongoing
volunteer training.
This is a lynchpin role, through which you will convey Home-Start’s ethos of no-judgement and
#RealLifeParenting, helping to put parents at ease, and build strong relationships in the community, with
referral partners, supporting services, and current and potential funders. You will be a skilled
communicator, able to build relationships with mums, dads, children and volunteers from all walks of life
and backgrounds.
This group provision is a valued part of our wider service, which includes 1-to-1 home-based support for
families across central and West Oxfordshire. Our support is holistic, helping families with a wide range of
needs. Perinatal and infant mental health, parenting, support for the home learning environment, domestic
abuse, and supporting families with adult or child disability are all areas in which experience is valuable and
you could help to develop tailored group content for babies, toddlers and their carers. Our Family Group
Coordinator will play an important role, helping families receiving 1-to-1 support to access groups as they
grow in confidence, or helping families attending groups to access additional support, according to their
needs. ‘Peep Learning Together’ is an approach which we use to inform our group sessions.
Main Responsibilities
Supporting families through groups
• Undertake designated responsibilities to safeguard and promote children’s welfare.
• Plan and facilitate each group to create a safe, stimulating environment including coordinating
volunteers who lead or support the sessions, completing risk assessments, moving, setting-up and
clearing away equipment and seating.
• Being vigilant about the upkeep of equipment, ensuring good standards of safety and hygiene in
accordance with Health and Safety policies.
• To be aware of group dynamics ensuring the groups provide a welcoming, non-judgemental
environment for children and their parent/carer.
• Providing appropriate and imaginative play opportunities to encourage the active participation of
parents/carers in their child’s play and other activities.
• Promoting and supporting families’ attendance and social interaction.
• To manage, record and report any accidents/incidents as appropriate.
• To promote the use of suitable toys, books and activities and encourage the use of resources in
the local community e.g. Library and other local groups.
Working in Partnership
• To work collaboratively with local stakeholders and Home-Start colleagues, to devise a
programme of group sessions that responds to local need and gaps in services.
• Network within the community; develop strong working relationships with partner organisations
to ensure our service is effective and inclusive. Use these networks to help promote Home-Start’s
groups and services.
4• To develop partnerships with other services to provide opportunities for external agencies to offer
advice/information to families within the group setting, and support families to increase their
connections in the local community.
• Ensuring appropriate liaison with referrers and other professionals.
Recruiting, training and managing volunteers
• Recruiting, selecting and preparing suitable volunteers.
• Work with colleagues to deliver the Home-Start preparation course to all prospective volunteers.
• Providing support, supervision and on-going training opportunities for volunteers.
Monitoring, evaluation and service development
• Implement and maintain systems for monitoring and evaluation of group sessions.
• Work with managers to inform the development of new monitoring or evaluation systems as
needed.
• To keep an attendance register at each session including parents’, children, visitors/speakers.
• To collect attendee evaluations and appraise groups as required.
• In the case of invite-only sessions, evaluate referrals and undertaking home assessment visits to
determine families’ needs.
• To make observations, record and report on children’s development.
• To be willing to undertake training as necessary to the role.
Supporting the work of the charity
• Contribute to the effective day to day operation of the charity’s work in accordance with the Home-
Start’s governing document, Home-Start Standards & Methods of Practice, Home-Start Agreement
and Quality Assurance Standards.
• Maintain high standards of practice in supporting families within the Home-Start model.
• Ensure equality of opportunity, fairness and diversity in all aspects of the charity’s work.
• Implement good safeguarding practice in all areas of work.
• Support the strategic management, development, fundraising and marketing of the charity.
• Contributing to written and verbal reports to other agencies, and for funders.
• Liaise with the Senior Coordinator or Chief Executive regarding budgets.
• Supporting the implementation and review of all Home-Start policies and procedures.
• Comply with the charity’s administration, record keeping, monitoring and financial systems.
• Promote the work of the charity, as required by the Senior Co-ordinator and Chief Executive.
• Contribute to and support the development of the Home-Start network locally, regionally and
nationally, by sharing your practice, participating in peer support groups, and engaging with our
national network through our Intranet or events.
The post holder may be required to undertake any other duties that fall within the nature of the role and
responsibilities of the post as detailed above.
May 2021
5Person Specification
Home-Start is committed to safer recruitment practice as an important part of safeguarding and
protecting children and vulnerable adults.
The following table sets out the essential and desirable skills, abilities, experience, knowledge and special
requirements for the post of Home-Start Family Group Co-ordinator. This form also indicates how the
different requirements may be assessed during the selection process:
A = Application Form, I = Interview
6ESSENTIAL A I
Education and qualifications
Good standard of education (GCSE, NVQ level 3 or equivalent)
Employment History
Relevant, previous or current employment, or voluntary experience of working
with families
Supporting families and working in partnership
Understanding of the needs of families with young children, and of
parenting skills
Experience of developing and delivering groups for families and children
Ability to build positive relationships, and communicate sensitively and
effectively with adults and children, particularly those who are vulnerable and
experiencing stressful situations
Experience of providing appropriate play opportunities to encourage
children’s healthy development and positive interaction between
parents and children
Knowledge and experience of safeguarding procedures, and
commitment to good safeguarding practice
Knowledge of current legislation and policies relating to children and families
in the early years
Knowledge of the roles of agencies providing services for children and families,
and ability to liaise with them
Recruiting, training and managing volunteers
Ability to work effectively with volunteers assisting in the running of groups
Confidence to deliver training for volunteers, supported by colleagues
Supporting the work of the charity
Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team
Ability to manage a project
Ability to prioritise and undertake planning
An aptitude for relationship building and communicating, to support our
community-building, fundraising and marketing goals.
Awareness of budgets and financial systems
Ability to process and collate information, including preparing reports and
statistics
Self-management/personal attributes
Excellent interpersonal skills, including presentation and negotiating skills
Good IT skills including word, excel, databases, use of WhatApp and video calls
Ability to communicate effectively by telephone, in writing, by email and in
person
7Good organisational and administrative skills, and a positive and creative
approach to tackling tasks
Good time-management, and ability to prioritise competing demands
effectively
Ability to manage challenging situations
Knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities and inclusive practice,
and a non-judgemental approach
Understanding of the need for professional confidentiality
Special requirements
Able to work flexibly
Able to work some evenings or weekends
Willingness to access training opportunities
Eligibility to work in the UK
Car owner/ driver
DESIRABLE
Specialist training, such as Peep ‘Learning Together’, Family Links, Solihull
approach, or professional training in mental health, health visiting, teaching,
social work or child care.
Knowledge of community needs and support agencies in West Oxfordshire
Experience of work in the voluntary sector or as a volunteer
Parenting experience
Experience or confidence to learn using Zoom and video technology to deliver
support online
8You can also read
