Information Pack for applicants for the position of BOOSH CO-ORDINATOR Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC) February 2015

Transcription

1 Information Pack for applicants for the position of BOOSH CO-ORDINATOR Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre (BANC) February 2015 About your application for the position Thank you for your interest in the position of Co-ordinator of the Blackheath Out Of School Hours (BOOSH) Service under the auspices of the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre. This information pack compliments the Position Description. Please read the Position Description carefully. It includes the selection criteria for the position and ALL applicants must address the selection criteria to be considered. It is highly recommended that all section criteria are addressed, providing examples / evidence of how your experience and qualifications meet the criteria. Applications close by COB on Friday 27 th February If you would like general information about the position, you are advised to read the Annual Report and other information about the agency contained on the BANC website. This pack contacts broad information about the agency as well. If you would like additional information, you can phone the Manager, Judy Finch on / manager@banc.org.au. The media advertisement for the position provides the following information for applicants:- We are seeking a Co-ordinator for our BOOSH (Blackheath Out Of School Hours) program. BOOSH provides Before, After School and Vacation Care for parents requiring care or access to a recreation program for their school aged children. The day to day co-ordination of this service involves rostering and staff management, collaborating with children to design programs that meet their interests and needs, ensuring that the service has the resources (practical and financial) that it needs to offer quality programs. BOOSH prides itself on its child centred focus, deeply committed team and excellent relationships with partners. Conditions : Children s Services Award 2010; some above award conditions and salary sacrificing offered. Part-time(28 hpw); flexible hours. About the organisation Who are we? Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre is a multipurpose neighbourhood centre servicing the Upper Blue Mountains areas of Blackheath, Mt Victoria, Mt Wilson, Mt Irvine, Mt Tomah, Bell, Shipley Plateau, Megalong Valley and Little Hartley and Medlow Bath as well as the broader area for some services. What do we stand for? BANC values: Inclusiveness; Sustainability; Equity and Social Justice. 1

2 Our Mission Connecting people with the community Creating opportunities for inclusion Contributing to resilience of people and place. Our Vision BANC supports a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable community that is inclusive, participatory and connected. What we do BANC aims to encourage and strengthen community participation and networking by providing needed services, advocacy, information, education, referral services and community development programs. How we do it BANC engages with the community and, being responsive to its need, we aim to increase opportunities and develop initiatives that foster cultural and community life. What do we provide? BANC provides a range of direct services and undertakes community connection and development programmes: BOOSH Blackheath Out of School Hours Service for children aged 5-12 years with Before and After School Care and Vacation Care Community Access Service day program for people with disabilities and mental health issues No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) Community development with a focus on families with children and people facing financial and social disadvantage, the Mt Victoria village and supporting resilience after the 2013 bushfires, community connection building Cyber_Shed program offering tutoring in social media for people facing digital disadvantage Produce a quarterly newsletter that goes to all households in the Upper Mountains area Many courses and activities are offered to community members as a means of decreasing isolation Auspice a number of local programmes including the Blackheath Philosophy Forum and Blue Mountains Permaculture Network Offer photocopying facilities, free internet and computer access as well as community information; take bookings for the Blackheath Community Hall Advocate on community issues and concerns, such as bush fire safety and highway development Takes leadership in local and broader alliance building and town development Partners with other agencies and groups to deliver services and develop new programs Manages special projects from time to time How are we managed? BANC is managed by a voluntary Management Committee consisting of interested members of the community. At present, we have 12 members on the Committee, some with years of experience. The Management Committee operates under a governance model with most day to day duties delegated to the Executive Officer and other senior staff. The senior staff team includes the Community Access Service Manager, the Office Administrator and the Finance Manager. 2

3 General background BANC gained its autonomy from Katoomba Neighbourhood Centre Inc. and was incorporated under the Incorporated Associations Act of 1984 on 27 January BANC is primarily funded by the NSW Department of Family and Community Services Community Services and Ageing and Disability, the Office of Fair Trading and Dept of Social Services. Funds are also received from other sources and Blue Mountains City Council. The annual income for the organisation is $1.5 million and BANC has a staff team of about 32 people (mostly part-time and casual). Services are provided from three sites within the Blackheath town (some outreach services provided from time to time from other sites). These are the Neighbourhood Centre and central administrative office (Gardiner Crescent), the Community Access Service (Wentworth Street) and BOOSH (Leichhardt Street). The service engages about 50 people as volunteers. BANC is a member of a consortium of neighbourhood centres in the Blue Mountains and Lithgow called the Blue Mountains Integrated Neighbourhood Network (BLINN). The agency also works very closely in partnership with local groups and convenes the Blackheath Community Alliance. 3

4 ATTACHMENT 1: More complete information can be gained from the Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre Annual Report More about our services Blackheath Out of School Hours Service (BOOSH) BANC operates an NCAC accredited Before, After School and Vacation Care childcare service from the Old Principal s Cottage within Blackheath Public School. This service aims to meet the diverse needs of the parents in the local community who work, study or have other commitments, as well as providing opportunities for children from a variety of backgrounds to socialise in a safe and caring environment. Children are able to choose to participate in a range of interesting and fun activities and programmes. BOOSH is managed by a Co-ordinator, Assistant Co-ordinator and operated by a team of largely casual child care workers. Community Access Service (CAS) The Community Access Service is for adults who have a mild to moderate cognitive impairment. Participants live in Licensed Residential Centres, group homes or independently at home. CAS provides opportunities for people with disabilities to be active in their community. CAS offers many different activities: health and wellbeing options such as tai chi and dancing; recreational options such as visits to local art galleries; classes such as photography and drama; life skills development such as cooking skills and travelling independently. CAS operates between 9am and 3pm Monday to Friday, from 110 Wentworth Street (next to Blackheath Family Medical Centre). CAS is undergoing a rapid and far reaching transition to the NDIS. CAS has the largest portion of the staff team and brings in the bulk of the budget (1 million per annum). Neighbourhood Centre No Interest Loans Scheme (NILS) Thanks to generous funding from philanthropic organisations and the Office of Fair Trading, BANC is able to provide no-interest loans, up to $1,300, to people on a low income living or working in the local community. These loans are offered specifically for major outlays such as essential electrical goods, medical equipment or hot-water systems. More than 100 loans are provided per annum and as such BANC is the biggest NILS provider in the Mountains. This service is managed by the Community Resilience Officer. Community Development We work to help build stronger communities in the Upper Blue Mountains so people are well informed, resourced and connected. Equity and diversity are embraced and celebrated during community events and festivals. Our community development work involves supporting many community projects that enhance the rights and participation of individuals and the community. Some examples of this include working with families with children to integrate into the community and meet the social and learning needs of their children; working to improve community safety in event of bushfires; and supporting community voices in response to proposed developments and infrastructure projects. Cyber_Shed Cyber_Shed offers free or low cast tutoring in computers and social media most areas of digital literacy. Typically, students are older people needing to use the internet to gain information, 4

5 or facebook for connection, gain advice about purchasing or setting up equipment. Socially Isolated People s Program BANC distributes a quarterly newsletter to all Upper Blue Mountains residents, inviting their participation in courses and classes provided by BANC and a range of other groups. Classes range from public affairs to social media, to cryptic crosswords and weaving. Our newsletter also includes information and updates on other local activities. Additionally, the community can access free computers, information and resources such as copiers and scanners to aid their connection. Community Events BANC organises local events open to the entire community. These events usually coincide with and celebrate dates that have local importance such as the Blackheath Day, Rhododendron Festival and Senior s Week. Local Leadership, Advocacy and Lobbying BANC facilitates community consultations concerning local public issues, for example traffic safety, highway development and public spaces. The organisation plays a key role in local advocacy about town amenity issues. The Blackheath Community Alliance, a coalition of all the major community groups in the area, is led by BANC. Other Community Projects BANC also works collaboratively with other community organisations and local voluntary groups to enable the local communities of the Upper Blue Mountains to have access to a wide range of community activities and services. Examples are work on fire recovery, assisting with grant applications, advice and support. 5