Dear Applicant, 39/41 St. David s Hill Exeter Devon EX4 4DA. T E office@ymcaexeter.org.uk

Transcription

1 Dear Applicant, Application Pack Support Worker Thank you for requesting an application pack for the above post, which I am pleased to enclose within this PDF File. The pack includes the following: 39/41 St. David s Hill Exeter Devon EX4 4DA T E office@ymcaexeter.org.uk Exeter YMCA Ethos Statement, which explains the Christian ethos of Exeter YMCA and how this works out in practice Job Description, which explains each of the two roles and main duties Person Specification, which details the competencies and experience the successful post holder will need, in order, to carry out their duties effectively Application Guidelines, which you should refer to when completing the Application form Exeter YMCA A Brief History An Application Form has been provided on the website as a separate Word document to enable this to be completed on your computer and then ed to us. Should you prefer to handwrite the application, this is just as acceptable to us. Also included as a separate document is an Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form. We would appreciate it if you would take the time to complete this form, which is anonymous and will be separated from your application in advance of any assessment being commenced. Should you not wish to complete this form, your application will not be prejudiced in any way. YMCA Exeter is fully committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. A thorough vetting process will be carried out as part of our appointment process, including verification of any required qualifications, verification of identity, taking of references and (where permitted by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012) an enhanced DBS check. YMCA Exeter Housing is a dynamic local charity with clear Christian ethos that seeks to support and empower the most vulnerable people in our society in the name of Jesus Christ. Whilst we seek to serve people of all faiths and no faith, our desire is to work together with those we serve, particularly young people, demonstrating Christ s love through practical service so that people and communities can flourish. All our services are offered to all without discrimination within a very strong equality and diversity framework. We do not seek to impose our beliefs on other people, but absolutely central to our mission as a faith-based organisation is a desire and readiness to share the life-giving message of Jesus Christ with people who want to understand what inspires and motivates our work. Please note that CVs and similar documents will not be considered when shortlisting, but only the information written on the Application Form. City of Exeter YMCA Registered Office: 39/41 St David s Hill, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4DA Registered in England and Wales Company No , Registered Charity No , HCA Registration No. H3905

2 All applications should be returned no later than mid-night on 17th April Interviews will be held during the week of 26 April Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting me. Yours sincerely, PAUL BARROWS Administration and Finance Manager

3 YMCA EXETER ETHOS STATEMENT (Approved by the Board 16 February 2015) As a local YMCA, we fully support the Vision of the YMCA Federation, which is of an inclusive Christian movement transforming communities so that all young people can belong, contribute and thrive. As an inclusive Christian charity, YMCA Exeter is: Christian: Inclusive: We are inspired by the example of Jesus Christ, and motivated by our shared experience of God s love and his transforming work in our own lives We believe that every person is hugely valuable, so ensure our services are welcoming to all wherever possible. We are grateful for the partnership and help of people and organisations who support what we do regardless of whether they share our faith motivation. YMCA Exeter s Vision and Mission Our Vision: Our Mission: is to see communities transformed into places characterised by love, joy, peace and hope where all people can become everything they were created to be. is to work together with those we serve, particularly young people, demonstrating Christ s love through practical service so that people and communities can flourish. Our Values The way we act at YMCA is characterised by five strong and distinctive values that flow from our Christian ethos: We seek out: We welcome: We inspire: We speak out: We actively look for opportunities to make a transformative impact on young lives in the communities where we work, and believe that every person is of equal value. We offer people the space they need to feel secure, respected, heard and valued; and we always protect, trust, hope and persevere. We strive to inspire each person we meet to nurture their body, mind and spirit, and to realise their full potential in all they do. We stand up for young people, speak out on issues that affect their lives, and help them to find confidence in their own voice. We serve others: We are committed to the wellbeing of the communities we serve and believe in the positive benefit of participation, locally and in the wider world. Our Principles At YMCA Exeter, we seek to model our lives and work on Christ s life and his words, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and love your neighbour as yourself. This means the following principles characterise all we do: Faith: Courage: Excellence: Service: Integrity: We believe God deeply cares about us, our work and those we serve, so we trust him and prayerfully seek his help in all we do. We will do all we can in God s strength, challenging injustice and overcoming obstacles to bring positive change in the communities we serve. We will seek to provide the best possible service in every aspect of our work. We want the way we treat our clients and the way we behave towards each other to be characterised by an attitude of compassion and service. We are committed to truthfulness, honesty, transparency and accountability in everything we do.

4 Job Description - Support Worker (with Lone Working). Revised 23/03/2015 Job Description for the Post of SUPPORT WORKER 1. EMPLOYER: YMCA EXETER HOUSING St David s Hill Exeter EX4 4DA Tel JOB TITLE: SUPPORT WORKER 3. RESPONSIBLE TO: The Deputy Chief Executive/Housing Manager, or such other person to whom the Chief Executive may delegate this responsibility. 4. JOB PURPOSE: To provide housing related support to young people in Exeter YMCA supported accommodation to enable them both to sustain their accommodation and to develop the skills necessary to move on to more independent living. To carry out all duties in a way that reflects the love of Christ and the ethos of Exeter YMCA, including in the delivery of a high quality and compassionate service. 5. ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT The Board and staff team at YMCA Exeter are inspired and motivated by the love God has shown to us in Jesus Christ, and the desire to demonstrate that same love in very practical and tangible ways to some of the most vulnerable people in our City and surrounding area. We therefore seek to serve our residents, partner agencies and the general public in a way that practically demonstrates our distinctively Christian ethos, as set out in our Ethos Statement. This ethos inspires and informs all that we do as an organisation and as individuals within the organisation. Working in close partnership with our sister organisation YMCA Exeter Community projects, YMCA Exeter Housing provides accommodation for 43 young people (both male and female) aged years old living in a purpose-built residential centre, in eight independent move on flats and also four young people in a shared house. All young people living in YMCA accommodation are provided with support to help them to sustain their accommodation and to develop the skills they will need to be able to move on to more independent accommodation. Each resident is allocated a "link worker" who is responsible for support planning, although all staff are expected to assist in supporting all residents from time to time, particularly when the appointed link worker is not available. The level of support required for residents at the Residential Centre is such that staff presence is required on site most evenings and at weekends. As a team we are committed to daily prayer for those we serve and for one another, and to seeking God s wisdom and help in the various difficult situations we face. These corporate acts of Christian worship and prayer are vital aspects of our team life and central to the work of the organisation. Staff members are also expected to demonstrate the Christian distinctiveness of Exeter YMCA in their lives, in their work, and in their interaction with one another and with clients, other agencies and the general public. It is therefore an occupational requirement under the terms of the Equality Act 2010 that the post holder has a personal commitment to the Christian Faith. 6. MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES a) To provide support to Exeter YMCA residents, including: i) Taking responsibility for provision of housing related support for specific allocated residents, including developing, implementing and documenting support plans, in accordance with relevant policies. The support provided includes enabling residents to access relevant benefits,

5 Job Description - Support Worker (with Lone Working). Revised 23/03/2015 ii) access training and employment, develop budgeting skills, learn living skills such as cooking, cleaning and paying bills, write official letters and fill in forms, manage their friends and personal behaviour, use leisure time well, deal with neighbour disputes, access specialist services (e.g. drug and alcohol services, counselling, community mental health services, etc.), and access appropriate move on accommodation. Provide advocacy with other agencies, particularly benefits agencies. Providing support to any other resident on an ad hoc basis where required. iii) Taking an active part in group based work or activities as required. iv) Building supportive and professional relationships with YMCA residents, whilst maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and avoiding inappropriate or unhealthy emotional involvement. v) Assisting residents in Christian spiritual development in partnership with Christian Churches in Exeter and signposting to other appropriate faith communities if they express the desire to explore other spiritual expressions. vi) Promoting the personal, social and spiritual development of YMCA residents. vii) Liaising with other related agencies on support-related matters. viii) Supporting residents and ensuring the security and safety of the building during evenings (typically 2-3 evenings per week, until midnight) and weekends (typically one weekend per month), as part of a rota. b) In all aspects of work and personal conduct, to seek genuinely to reflect the Christian ethos of YMCA to service users, colleagues, partner agencies, and the general public, including: i) Demonstrating the love of Christ in the delivery of a high quality, compassionate and effective service. ii) Working closely and supportively with other members of the Exeter YMCA staff team, including supporting one another regularly in prayer. iii) Praying with other team members for YMCA projects, service users, and other related persons. iv) Responding appropriately and sensitively to opportunities that arise to explain the Christian ethos of Exeter YMCA and how it motivates and informs the work of the organisation v) Encouraging Christian service users in their faith and discipleship, praying with them when appropriate. c) To keep accurate records, both paper and digital, to assist in administrative and monitoring tasks, and to work with relevant IT systems and databases in relation to delivering housing support. d) Your duties will include: i) Regular lone working, when you will take full responsibility for the safe running of the Residential Centre. At such times another staff member will be on back up to assist in emergency situations. ii) Regularly working evenings (2-3 days per week, until midnight) and weekends (approximately once per month) on a rota basis. iii) To be on back up on a rota basis, in order to assist on-duty staff in dealing with emergency situations. e) At all times to work and behave in a manner consistent with the Christian ethos of Exeter YMCA and in full compliance with all relevant legislation and regulation, as well as Exeter YMCA Policies, Procedures and Guidance. f) To assist in raising the profile of the work of Exeter YMCA in the locality. g) To perform any other duties required by the Line Manager within your capability.

6 Person Specification Support Worker. Revised 13/3/2015 Person Specification for the Post of SUPPORT WORKER 1. PERSONAL QUALITIES Essential: As a genuine occupational requirement it is essential that you have a personal commitment to the Christian faith, and to practical expression of that faith in a professional context. As a genuine occupational requirement it is essential that you are able to support and promote the Christian ethos of Exeter YMCA as described in the Ethos Statement. As a genuine occupational requirement it is essential that you have a commitment to praying for others. You will have a commitment to working with disadvantaged people to enable them to participate fully in the community. You will have the ability to maintain and conduct yourself in a professional manner in an environment dealing with clients demonstrating undue behaviours where emotions are heightened. In relation to working with clients, you are committed to high professional standards, including maintaining appropriate boundaries. You are able to deal with conflict in a challenging environment. You have the ability to work well as part of a team. You have a mature outlook, sound judgement and are confident. You are flexible and adaptable. You are reliable and punctual. 2. KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE Essential: Experience of working with vulnerable young people Experience of working in a challenging environment Some understanding of the Benefit system Desirable: Experience of housing related support provision, including developing/implementing support plans. Previous experience in a Housing setting. Thorough knowledge of Benefit system, including Housing Benefit and tax credits Qualified basic first aider

7 Person Specification Support Worker. Revised 13/3/ SKILLS Essential: Excellent interpersonal skills. Excellent communicator and listener, especially with young people. Good organisational skills. Good written and oral communication skills IT Literate with competence in using Microsoft Office Suite software packages. Able to use Microsoft Windows operating System to organise and access files and documents, and with reasonable typing speed. Excellent record keeping skills GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent) in Maths and English. Able to prioritise work well in a pressured environment Desirable: Relevant qualification(s) in housing, social work, youth work and/or similar. 4. CIRCUMSTANCES Essential: Willing and able to work 2-3 (average, pro rata) evenings per week until midnight on a rota basis. Willing and able to work at weekends (Typically one weekend in four, pro rata, from 4pm to midnight Saturday and Sunday). Desirable: Car driver. Car available to use. 5. OTHER Essential: Willing and able to undertake appropriate training in order to strengthen the skills and knowledge necessary for effective carrying out of duties The job necessitates the ability to access all three floors of the building, which has no lift

8 Revised March 2015 Guidelines for Application for Employment The following notes are designed to assist you in completing the application form, to provide information about the reason for asking you certain questions. THE DECLARATION OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION NEED ONLY BE COMPLETED, IF YOU ARE INVITED FOR INTERVIEW. We would ask you to bring this with you and give it to the Interview Panel as per the instructions given. Section 3. RELIGIOUS BELIEFS YMCA Exeter is an organisation with a clear Christian vision and ethos as set out in our ethos statement (copy attached). The position for which you are applying states that you are required to have a personal commitment to the Christian faith, and the information which you supply in this section will be taken into account during the selection process. You will be required to uphold the Christian ethos of YMCA Exeter and its values in your work. DATA PROTECTION Personal data obtained from applicants during the recruitment process will be held securely by YMCA Exeter. Information provided will be used solely for the purposes of selection for the post advertised, unless express permission for additional use is sought from the applicant (e.g. if the applicant might be considered for other vacancies). No personal data provided in the course of the application other than that stored and processed as part of the YMCA s monitoring of equal opportunities, will be retained beyond four months from the date from which applicants are informed of the outcome of their application, except in the case of the successful candidate. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DECLARATION OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 sets out to help people who have been convicted of a criminal offence and have not been convicted again within a specified period. This period is known as a rehabilitation period. Once a rehabilitation period has expired and no further offending has taken place, a conviction is considered to be spent. Once a conviction is spent, the convicted person does not have to reveal it or admit its existence in most circumstances. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Order) gives some exemptions from the Act, whereby details of spent convictions have to be declared. One of these exemptions is working with children, young people (i.e. under 18 years of age) and/or vulnerable adults. When recruiting people to work in such positions of trust an employer is entitled to ask for details of all convictions, spent and unspent. The post for which you are applying will bring you into direct contact with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults. During our recruitment procedure we take steps to assess an applicant s suitability for such a position of trust. It is important that you understand the nature of the checks that we will make and when we will make them. CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU CHECK If after interview you are made a conditional offer of employment, you will be required to co-operate with YMCA Exeter in completing an application for a higher level disclosure statement from the CRB. This disclosure service offers organisations a means to check the background of job applicants to ensure that they do not have a history that would make them unsuitable for the post. Disclosure statements are provided by the Criminal Records Bureau, an executive agency of the Home Office. Higher level disclosure statements provide details of a person s criminal record including convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings; they also contain details from lists held by Government departments of those considered unsuitable for his type of work. In due course, you will also be required to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority in accordance with the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

9 A New Beginning YMCA Exeter had been fairly inactive since the 1970's when, in 1987, the Management Committee comprising members of various Exeter churches launched a major research and development project to identify new ways to use our valuable site on St David's Hill to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Exeter, and to gain the opportunity to share the Christian message with them in appropriate ways. Following this research it was decided to direct our resources to addressing the acute housing needs faced by young people in Exeter, and to establish other projects to meet the needs of the wider community. YMCA Exeter now comprises two arms that work closely together: YMCA Exeter Housing and YMCA Exeter Community Projects. YMCA Exeter Housing Association Between 1990 and 1992 we developed the design for a brand new purpose-built Residential Centre in St David's Hill whilst conducting a massive fundraising effort. Finally, with the help of a substantial grant from the Housing Corporation, we opened our doors in August The Residential Centre is home for 31 young men and women aged 17-29, each of whom have their own fully furnished bedsit with its own kitchen area. One of our bedsits is fully adapted for wheelchair users. We aim to enable our residents to learn the skills needed to live independently and so find new move-on accommodation, and therefore we can typically take in 1-2 new young people in acute housing need each month. We not only provide a place for young people to live, but also a substantial degree of support (currently funded in part by Devon County Council) to enable our residents to address issues in their lives that would otherwise make it difficult for them to live independently. Referrals come from a variety of agencies such as Social Services, Local Authority housing departments, Probation and Youth Offending Teams, Community Mental Health Teams, drug and alcohol agencies, homelessness charities and other housing agencies. We aim to maintain a balanced community so as to avoid creating a "ghetto" of people with particular problems. This has the added benefit of giving young people the opportunity to make friends with people from other backgrounds. In 1998 we purchased an additional city centre block of 8 flats for people who no longer need the level of support provided at the St David's Hill Residential Centre, but aren't quite ready to live fully independently. As housing becomes even scarcer and more costly to rent in Exeter the disadvantaged young people we house find it increasingly difficult to find permanent homes they can afford to rent. In 2011 we purchased a house so that 4 people could live together in a shared house environment and expect to increase our provision of affordable shared house accommodation over the next few years. We have also recently been able to acquire 4 brand new Barratt homes which are to be used as shared move-on houses for 16 young people in the Exeter area. YMCA Exeter Community Projects A number of projects have been run over the years, each responding to identified needs in the community. Currently our Prison Project runs "Perspectives" in Exeter, with a reworked focus on through the gate provision for recently released offenders. This project helps ex-offender to adjust to normal life on release, providing assistance

10 to find work and accommodation, as well equipping ex-offenders with skills to help them they need to avoid re-offending. Our Job Club which originally commenced in May 2009, has made great progress. Community Job Clubs commenced towards the end of 2010 and after a period of extensive growth to meet growing need, Job Clubs now operate in two city centre locations four days a week. Job Clubs provide help and advice to some of our most vulnerable clients with CVs, job searching, interviews and benefits. We were recently successful in our application for Big Lottery funding for this project which has assured funding for this valuable project for the next 3 years. During 2011, YMCA Exeter ran a pilot project in conjunction with Devon and Cornwall Probation Services, called 3-D Project. This successful programme was adapted to serve teenagers who are at risk of exclusion from school and works with students from a large city centre college. 3D has been extraordinarily effective at helping young people address some of their issues and we aim to develop and extend this work to other colleges. Youth Centres - Due to cuts by Devon County Council (DCC) in their Youth Provision, we have been in discussions to take over two youth centres, in South Molton and in Cowick. We aim to continue to provide activities and good role models for young people in these areas, as well as extending the use of the centres for the benefit of the whole community. Arrangements now look close to being finalised and we are very excited by the opportunity to serve the community in this way. Youth Work - During the past two years we have also carried out youth work in Exmouth in partnership with East Devon District Council. Two youth groups take place at South Molton per week, in addition to groups in Rockbeare and Broadclyst following local parish councils approaching YMCA Exeter to ask us to set up youth groups. Youthwork is a real area of growth for YMCA Exeter and these groups are going from strength to strength. TEN:10 is YMCA Exeter s 11 month internship programme that gives individuals the opportunity to gain practical hands-on experience of working in a Christian charity to meet the needs of a wide range of vulnerable and marginalised young people and adults across Exeter, East and Mid Devon. TEN:10 provides the opportunity to join staff in established projects to gain work experience and take part in theological reflection. Future Developments We aim to meet the needs of as many vulnerable people as possible and are always open to opportunities to develop our highly successful projects and make them available more widely. We aim to be flexible in our approach so that we can react to needs of our community as they occur and change. Where we see an opportuntiy to meet that need, we are open to starting new projects, however we also recognise the importance of focussed attention on our current projects to strengthen and consolidate our work. Our activities are inevitabliy directly linked to the funding available for particular areas of work and this may limit our involvement at times. However we always aim to remain true to our vision and strive to see communities transformed into places characterised by love, joy, peace and hope where all people can become everything they were created to be.