Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in developing an innovative service for a vulnerable group. We are seeking a capable and experienced assistant project leader who can make a make a considerable impact. They will be led by a senior Project Leader and the organisation’s Manager/CEO. The successful candidate will have the ability to make a significant contribution to the project.

Background

We are a small charity based in Isleworth, and run community-based activities providing learning, life skills and social interaction for young people aged between 16 and 35 with learning difficulties or other disabilities such as autism and challenging behaviour, and meaningful support to unpaid family carers

Our mission is to support young people and adults to achieve their potential. All our work at Our Barn is committed to fulfilling one or more of the following priority outcomes:

• OBC members gain skills to lead more independent lives
• OBC members improve their health, well-being or self-esteem
• OBC members build social skills and increase social interactions within the community
• Carers and family members feel supported in their caring role, through receiving relevant information, advice and practical support

As part of our overall strategy, we are developing a NEET project for those not in education, employment or training, and have secured an initial three years funding from BIG Lottery under the Reaching Communities funding stream.

This is an ambitious project, with a stated aim of securing long-term employment or volunteering as the outcome for each individual taking part.

This project will be based at the BridgeLink Centre in Isleworth, with additional venues in the Osterley and Isleworth area. Travel expenses will not normally be paid for home to work travel to these venues, but additional travel costs may be reimbursed for work placements as appropriate.

Overview of the Assistant Project Leader Role

The successful candidate will have the ability to make a significant contribution to the project, including the following:  

To help develop a flexible programme of learning and activities that encourage participants’ personal development, based on the ethos of making a contribution to the local community.

To help recruit, select and work with a group of individuals aged 16 - 35 (please note the higher than usual age limit) with autism or learning disability who are not in education, employment or training.

To contribute to the development of a network of suitable work and volunteering placements, liaising with employers, community groups, charities and agencies, and other appropriate organisations.

To collaborate effectively with other Our Barn projects, supporting their outcomes and goals through effective cross-project working. For example, NEET project participants could gain work experience with our cycling scheme.

To implement, accurately maintain and review an outcomes measurement tool (currently Outcomes Star) for each individual on the programme and to take into account individual goals and targets into the design of the programme overall, as much as possible.

To provide leadership and guidance to the group, taking responsibility for their health and safety and welfare, including adherence to our Safeguarding policy and procedures.

To communicate effectively with managers and supervisors and all other staff, including indirectly employed support staff as necessary.

To be familiar with and understand the Reaching Communities contract and any other relevant funding contract and support the development of the programme with this in mind.

To keep accurate records in the prescribed format and take careful decisions on spending, ensuring a proper use of funds and seeking best value.

To report to and meet with Our Barn’s Manager/Chief Executive on a regular basis, and to prepare and contribute to reports as required by the Trustees. To raise any concerns in a timely manner.

To contribute to the development of a Code of Conduct for individuals participating in the programme, and the development of policies and procedures relating to this project and Our Barn as a whole.

To represent Our Barn Community in a positive manner and with appropriate conduct at all times.

Employment Specifics – Assistant Project Leader

• Contract term:  A fixed term contract, commencing July/August 18 until March 2020
• Salary:  £28,000pa for year one with 3% uplift in years two and three
• Hours:  35 hours per week, 52 weeks per year, with a degree of flexibility
• Holiday:  25 days per year, no more than 15 days consecutively.

As this is a new and developing project this role may develop and change over time, within reasonable parameters. We anticipate this project will be ongoing and sustainable beyond 2020.

Further details will be included in a written statement of employment particulars, using a government supplied template. An offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of a DBS check.

Person Specification

We are looking for somebody who:

• Can see solutions, not problems
• Is a creative thinker
• Is adaptable and resilient
• Is positive, dynamic, upbeat and enthusiastic

a) Essential requirements

• Experience of children, young people or adults with learning difficulties and disabilities or autism through work, social or family connections, including awareness of difficulties or barriers that prevent participation in work or volunteering
• Knowledge of and commitment to person-centred approaches and supporting the individual
• Ability to work within the Our Barn ethos, enabling people to reach their full potential and encouraging independence skills
• Commitment to building good working relationships with co-workers, service users, parents and carers
• Ability to lead activities, including planning and organising work experience opportunities
• Maintaining a positive role model – in dress code, attitude, actions, language and behaviours
• Flexibility and willingness to work with young people with a range of abilities, meeting their support needs, including personal care (on rare occasions)
• Responsive to rapidly changing situations whilst containing the emotional and physical safety of the group
• Confident reading, writing and numeracy skills

b) Desirable

• Knowledge of strategies to cope with challenging behaviour
• Knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adult procedures
• Experience of working or volunteering in a similar environment
• Experience of participation in service review and commitment to continual improvement

• Suitable qualifications – health & social care or education based