Job Description

Job Title: Community Development Worker

Salary: up to £21,000

Hours: 37.5 per week

Location: Kingstanding, Birmingham

Accountable to: KRT Management Committee

Post term: Fixed term 3 years

Job Purpose:To be responsible to the Management Committee for the implementation of a community development programme across Kingstanding. You will be responsible for empowering local individuals, families, and organisations to develop & support initiatives which bring about social change and improve quality of life in the area. You will actively engage residents in making sense of the issues which affect their lives, setting goals for improvement and responding to problems and needs through empowerment and active participation.

Empowerment will be done through: identifying individual, community, and organisational assets, needs, opportunities,

rights and responsibilities; improving awareness and signposting residents to access community assets where

available; helping local residents to plan what they want to achieve and how to take

appropriate action; helping local residents to develop activities and services to generate aspiration and

confidence.

You will act as the conduit to support local residents to identify needs and access services which they truly need, via existing assets, or new projects in partnership where relevant with the local authority and voluntary sector providers.

Job Description:The post holder is responsible for:

identifying community skills, assets, issues and needs

ensuring that local people have their say through organising consultation events, managing the KRT forum and meeting with local residents

planning, attending and coordinating meetings and events

encouraging participation in activities amongst relevant local residents to maximise impact

helping to raise public awareness on issues relevant to the community

preparing reports and policies

developing and agreeing to strategies

mediating in matters of conflict

overseeing the management of a budget

carrying out all necessary administrative functions for the project

co-ordinating the use of the existing Community Hub for groups

developing new services and resources, by different groups and agencies

developing strong relationships with other agencies working in the area.

recruiting, training and managing volunteer involvement in Kingstanding Regeneration Trust projects

as the project develops, managing paid staff on a daily basis to include support, supervision, performance and personal development

providing a quarterly written report to the Management Committee and attend meetings when required

ensuring an annual evaluation of the project and its services is carried out

the professional development of the project, its policies and procedures and dissemination of good practice to key partners

ensuring that issues of child protection are managed in accordance with the agreed Child Protection Procedures

acting as the appointed Health and Safety Officer

carrying out any other reasonable tasks as requested.

Person Specification

Essential Good general standard of education

Experience of working in a community environment or in working with vulnerable groups

Experience of empowering and supporting individuals, leading to practical community action

Experience of managing staff or volunteers and leading a team

Experience of initiating and developing new services for vulnerable people

Knowledge of child protection procedures and legislation

Self-motivated and able to motivate others

Excellent IT skills, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, web research, presentations

Strong presentation skills, with the ability to write and present reports and other material for a variety of purposes, and to present complex information in a simple way to a wide range of audiences

Good time management skills with the ability to prioritise

An enthusiasm for working with and mentoring people from a variety of backgrounds

An ability to think creatively

A positive, enthusiastic and energetic outlook

A self-starter, able to work on your own initiative & with an ability to motivate others

Team-working skills, including an ability to work in a flexible and adaptable way

Access to a car and ability to drive

Desirable A basic management qualification

Community Work/Community & Youth Work Degree or equivalent

Experience of being a volunteer

Experience of managing budgets

Experience of project management

An understanding of developments in social care and health policies and Local Authority agenda