Head of Children & Families Outreach

Responsible to: Valley CiDS Chief Executive

Rate of Pay: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum

Hours of Work: 37.5 hours per week

Work Base: Multi-Site (Main Admin Base: The Hub, South Wingfield)

Contract Type: Permanent

Occupational Requirement: It is an occupational requirement for the post holder to have a commitment to the Christian faith as permitted under Schedule 9, Part 1, of the Equality Act 2010.

Job Description Purpose & Scope

To lead and develop Valley CIDS ‘outreach work with children & families, pioneering new initiatives with local schools, communities and churches designed to grow & diversify our existing outreach and create new opportunities to demonstrate our holistic and inclusive Christian faith-motivated missional objectives.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Vision & Strategy: To explore, pioneer & resource new initiatives, which embody our values and ethos and further expand our Children & Family outreach with local schools, communities and churches. To provide strategic oversight and direction in the development and implementation of the vision and growth of Valley CiDS Children and Families outreach.
• Delivery: To take an active role in a range of delivery contexts including collective worship / assemblies, RE lessons and workshops, in a range of formats. To participate in holiday clubs and residential activities whenever appropriate. To maintain regular contact with our Zest ‘Out of School Club’ settings. To oversee the Quest delivery schedule to ensure best practice and efficiencies are maintained.
• Networking & Partnerships: To liaise and work collaboratively with a range of schools and other key partners, making the right connections to further enhance and diversify our outreach. To work with churches and other community groups to share in relevant ways the message and values of the Christian faith, through clubs, groups and holiday provision. To encourage and provide local churches with resources to develop their outreach work in their local community. To represent and raise the profile of Valley CiDS through networking with relevant local, county, regional and national forums.
• Operations, Quality Assurance: To work closely with the Valley CiDS Business & Finance department maintaining accurate financial records. To oversee the management of delegated budgets and income generation as required. To regularly evaluate & review the Children & Families Outreach provision, identifying areas for improvement and implementing required changes.
• Team Leadership & Management: To enable, support and encourage a dynamic staff team ensuring that the ethos and values of Valley CIDS remain firmly embedded in practice. To ensure that staff work schedules are organized effectively and efficiently remaining aligned to job descriptions. To provide line management and regular supervision support to the team. To oversee the training and workforce development needs of the team. To oversee the recruitment, induction and training of new staff. To facilitate regular team meetings creating a forum for discussion, theological reflection, prayer, learning and goal setting.
• Policy Development & Implementation: To be responsible for the implementation and monitoring of Safeguarding/Child Protection Procedures and undertake the role of Designated Safeguarding Officer. To work with the HR department to support recruitment processes, ensure consistency with Valley CiDS HR policies and procedures and to efficiently resolve HR related matters. To ensure departmental compliance with key policy areas such as safeguarding, equality & diversity, data protection and health & safety, ensuring that they are consistently embedded within delivery. To ensure that all policies are reviewed & updates on a regular basis.
• Communications & Engagement: To develop the online presence of the Children & Families outreach via our website and social media platforms. To oversee the collection of testimonials / case studies that serve to demonstrate the importance and impact of Valley CiDS work with children and families. To explore new ways of capturing the impact and effectively ‘telling the story’ of the teams’ work both internally to the wider workforce and externally to various stakeholders.
• Self-Management and Professional Development: To be responsible for the effective planning, organisation and administration of the post. To manage your time effectively, ensuring that an agreed proportion of your working time is spent in direct delivery, which may include regular evening, occasional weekends & residentials. To prepare and disseminate reports as required by the Valley CiDS CEO and Board of Directors. To attend meetings /supervision sessions as requested by your Line Manager. To identify your continuing professional development (CPD) needs and undertake training and development opportunities as agreed with your Line Manager.
• As part of the wider Valley CiDS Senior Leadership Team & wider charity: To attend and actively contribute to Valley CiDS Senior Leadership Team meetings, playing an active part in developing and pursuing the overall vision and work of the charity. To uphold and promote the ethos and values of Valley CiDS at all times. To be involved in Valley CiDS promotional events. To carry out any other reasonable duties and responsibilities appropriate to the level of the post as requested by the Valley CiDS CEO.

Person Specification

Characteristics & Values

• Essential: Can embrace fully the ethos, vision and values of Valley CIDS. Has a passion and enthusiasm for sharing the Christian faith in holistic and inclusive ways. Is self‑motivated, creative and resourceful with a pioneering & visionary spirit. Well organised and able to work effectively alone or as part of a team.

Skills

• Essential: Ability to communicate effectively with children, young people and adults. Comprehensive ICT skills and competent in the use of Microsoft Office software. Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment with staff and volunteers. Ability to plan and deliver engaging, inspiring and inclusive sessions & resources. Effective networking and partnership building skills. Able to reflect theologically on your practice and to facilitate this reflection with others. Effective strategic planning, project management & team‑leading skills.

Knowledge

• Essential: Knowledge & understanding of a range of key areas relating to the faith development & spirituality of children and young people. Knowledge of Safeguarding and Child Protection procedures. Knowledge of Health & Safety & risk assessment issues and procedures. Knowledge of and commitment to Equal Opportunities practices.
• Desirable: Knowledge of the RE syllabus and its learning outcomes. Knowledge of OFSTED regulatory requirements in relation to out of school settings.

Experience

• Essential: Experience of facilitating opportunities for children to explore faith & spirituality. Experience of initiating and delivering outreach events with children/young people. Experience of planning and delivering RE lessons/ collective worship in a school setting. Experience of leading and overseeing teams & projects.
• Desirable: Experience of working in / overseeing breakfast & after‑school settings.

Qualifications

• Essential: Degree/Diploma or certificate in children’s ministry or related areas. Willingness to undertake further training & CPD opportunities.
• Desirable: Safeguarding Qualification, Paediatric First Aid Qualification.

Other Requirements

• Essential: A full UK Driving Licence with access to a car to enable travel to fulfil the duties of the post. Willingness to travel between and work across multiple venues (schools and churches throughout Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire).

Benefits

• Enhanced Annual Leave
• Company Sick Pay Scheme
• 20% discount in all Lighthouse Charity Shops
• Company Pension
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to exclusive shopping and lifestyle discounts
• Christmas Saver Scheme
• Company Events

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will therefore be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.