Shooting Star Children\'s Hospices | Events Assistant

Job Title: Events Assistant

Salary: £27,274.83

Team: Care Events

Hours: 37.5

Location: Shooting Star House

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

We have an exciting opportunity for an Events Assistant to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, we support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

Our Care Events team provide an extensive programme of groups and events for the 750+ life-limited children, their families and bereaved families. There are themed family events, social groups for siblings of different ages, pamper days for mums, counselling groups, memorial days and many festive events such as ice-skating at Hampton Court. There are 3-4 events each week, making many opportunities for families to make memories together.

About the role

In this role you will co-ordinate the production of the events. You will lead the design of specific events and to be on team at several events, engaging with, supporting and welcoming families. Tasks include team prep meetings, shopping for resources, risk assessment, creating Eventbrite and webpages, inviting families, prepping, hosting the event and follow-up feedback. Events take place at our hospices and in the community across our catchment.

The Events Assistant is part of our Psychosocial Services and will hear about current families in need, including end-of-life children who may require a wish organised (such as their room decorated in a special theme, or a trip out to a favourite, magical place). The Events Assistant will help think about which events may be helpful to families referred.

The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. This includes providing opportunities for children and family members to meet others who have experienced this. Our events programme is key to this success.

About you

This role requires experience of working with children and families, and the passion to add sparkle to the lives of those we support. We are looking for someone who enjoys the buzz of a party, who is able to help create joyful memories for our families. The individual in this role needs to be organised, able to multi-task (planning multiple events at once) and good at working in a fast-paced environment. You should be someone sensitive to the needs of families, comfortable supporting families experiencing incredibly challenging times, willing to listen and care.

Once or twice a month the Events Assistant is asked to lead an event on a Saturday or Sunday.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

Pension scheme

• NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions

Annual leave

• 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
• 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service

Contractual benefits

• Generous sick pay scheme
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
• Flexible working arrangements
• Death in service benefits
• Reimbursed professional membership fees
• Eye care
• Employee referral scheme
• Blue Light discount card

Health and wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Occupational Health
• Mindfulness sessions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Nutritionally balanced meals at Christopher’s (free for employees) and free fruit at our Hampton site

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.

In addition, an enhanced disclosure will be required for this role. Our recruitment checks, induction and ongoing support and supervision reflect our commitment to safeguarding the families we support and consider all applicants in line with the Rehabilitation of Offender Act 1974.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Shooting Star Children’s Hospice is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospice to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.

Please contact Caroline Brett-Field [caroline.brett-field@shootingstar.org.uk ] if you have any questions about this role.

***If you wish to apply, please complete the application form and email it to the recruitment team on careers@shootingstar.org.uk***

Download the full Job description

Closing Date: 29/1/25

Interview Date: tbc

For more information please visit our website: https://www.shootingstar.org.uk/