Community Participation Coordinator - Leeds

Starting Salary: £35,668 - £39,005 (pro-rata, for part time is £17,834 - £19,502)

Contract: Permanent

Location: Home

Hours: Part-time: 2 ½ days (17.5 hours) per week. While this is a home-based role, it involves regular travel throughout the Diocese of Leeds to build relationships and work closely with volunteers, clergy and other key stakeholders. We are therefore looking for someone who is flexible, mobile and based within, or close to, the Diocese of Leeds and can travel widely around the area covered.

CAFOD’s work in the Catholic community of England and Wales is to inspire and resource our diverse Catholic community to participate in the Church’s mission to overcome poverty and injustice in partnership with CAFOD. The main purpose of Community Participation Co-ordinators (CPCs) is to inspire and increase the participation in CAFOD’s work of Catholic parishes, schools and the broader Catholic community within the Leeds Diocese. The successful candidate will take the lead on parishes and the broader Catholic community. This will be accomplished by recruiting and supporting a team of committed, inspired and well-resourced volunteers working in parish and school communities and by building fruitful relationships with clergy, church administrators, networks and other stakeholders across the diocese to enable and equip Catholics to give, act and pray with CAFOD.

The CPC is part of a regional team working across a group of dioceses and whilst having a primary focus on a diocese, is responsible for the results of the regional team plans in relation to volunteer recruitment and retention and parishioner and school participation. It is likely the postholder will work with others as part of a Leeds team. Flexibility regarding the area covered is important as we may need the postholder to cover a different area in the future. The role will be home-based, although it is expected that the post holder will be mobile and flexible to frequently meet volunteers, clergy and other stakeholders as required around the Leeds diocese so living within or near the Leeds diocese is helpful. The post holder will also be meeting with other regional team members as required, both virtually and face to face.

The role involves extensive travel across the diocese; access to a car is essential. Mileage expenses will be reimbursed in line with organisational policy. From time to time, the post holder will be required to transport equipment and resources, and to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, for which time off in lieu (TOIL) may be claimed. The post holder must be willing to adapt to the needs of the regional team, contributing skills, knowledge and, where appropriate, supporting activity in other parts of the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivering participation plans: Contribute to the development and delivery of annual plans in the region (a group of dioceses) with a primary focus on the Leeds diocese, and for fundraising, education, campaigns, and other targets, as delineated by the participation plan for the region. Ensure that the regional plans are delivered taking local context and opportunities into account. Share reports, information and insights on the participation of parishes and schools in CAFOD’s activities and on the recruitment, activity, development and retention of volunteers. Adapt the plans and priorities through periodic reviews with your manager.
• Managing volunteers: Be the lead volunteer manager for an identified portfolio of volunteer roles locally and ensure effective coordination and communication. Agree on targets for recruiting and retaining volunteers. Match the offers, skills, experiences and expectations of volunteers with opportunities and needs in relation to CAFOD’s plans. Ensure each volunteer is appropriately inducted, briefed, trained and resourced. Organize and promote volunteer meetings and training opportunities online and offline to be delivered either by national programme teams or self or members of her/his regional team. Ensure data is regularly recorded, accurate and up to date on CAFOD’s database.
• Managing relationships: Represent CAFOD in the diocese and ensure CAFOD retains a diverse range of fruitful relationships (eg the bishop, clergy, administrators, senior representatives and chaplains). Ensure CAFOD is promoted via various diocesan communication channels, working with diocesan communications officers and church administrators. Be a point of contact for local broadcast and print media, to increase opportunities for Catholics to hear about CAFOD’s work, working with and through media volunteers where possible.

Safeguarding

All CAFOD staff share responsibility to promote and maintain a strong safeguarding culture, including identifying the key actions they should take given their role and responsibilities.

Job-specific competencies

• A demonstrable commitment to volunteering and understanding of its potential as a force for change.
• Experience of managing multiple relationships eg with clergy, stakeholders and a wide variety of volunteers.
• Experience of managing volunteers, including recruitment, retention, deployment and celebration.

CAFOD is a welcoming, supportive workplace committed to a safe, inclusive culture where everyone is respected. CAFOD will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process to ensure candidates with disabilities or individual needs are fully supported.

Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults

CAFOD recognises the personal dignity and rights of children and vulnerable adults, towards whom it has a special responsibility and a duty of care and respect. CAFOD, and all its staff and volunteers, undertake to do all in our power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to prevent their physical, sexual or emotional abuse. CAFOD is committed to acting at all times in the best interests of children and vulnerable adults, seeing these interests as paramount. Any candidate offered a job with CAFOD will be expected to adhere to CAFOD’s Safeguarding policy and sign CAFOD’s Code of Behaviour as an appendix to their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents. This post involves responsibility for people who will have contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults and applicants will be subject to specific checks related to safeguarding issues. The post holder is required to present or obtain a Disclosure from the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service).