Community Worker - part time - 6-months Maternity Cover

Experienced and self-motivated Community Worker required on a 6-month Maternity cover basis, working 11 hours per week earning between £7.50 and £10.00 per hour, based in Alvechurch

The Lounge is an innovative project aimed at supporting the local community through events and services, both at The Lounge Community Cafe venue in Alvechurch and via outreach programs.

The Lounge is owned and run by ACT (Alvechurch Communities Together), a registered charity set up to support the communities of Alvechurch and surrounding areas. All profits from the sale of food and refreshments at the cafe, as well as room hire and other services, are reinvested back into this project and used to fund a wide range of activities for various community groups in the local area. ACT was founded, and continues to be run by volunteers from the local community with the very generous support of local businesses and residents. We are proud of what has been achieved through the hard work and collective efforts of so many in the community of Alvechurch.

The Lounge has recently been successful in securing a BIG LOTTERY FUND grant to further its endeavors and widen its support offer to the local community. As a result, The Lounge are looking to recruit an enthusiastic, dynamic and self-motivated Community Worker to take the lead role in the planning and implementation of the Friendship Matters program which will run on a Monday from The Lounge and provide activities and a lunch club for our older community members (a qualified cook will devise the menu and cook the lunch each week).  

The Trustees would like the Friendship Matters program to support and complement any existing services for older people in the area and to be needs led. The first task for the Community Worker will be to make connections with current services in the area and meet potential service users to understand what is missing and what is needed that can be designed into the Friendship Matters program.

This role is a real chance to be creative and get a true sense of ownership of the project by designing a grass roots service from scratch.

The post holder will also support the youth activities that are currently running on a Thursday at The Lounge.

Key Responsibilities:

• To practice in line with The Lounges Safeguarding policy and procedures at all times and keep the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults at the forefront of all duties escalating any concerns to the designated Safeguarding Officer.
• To professionally represent The Lounge, by working in line with all other policies and procedures at all times.
• To work alongside the Youth Worker within the youth diner session.
• To ensure all written records such as session evaluations, registers etc., are completed with the Youth Worker and to lead on this when Youth Worker is on annual leave.
• To support the Youth Worker in planning, preparing and implementing the resources and topic for the Youth Club sessions Thursdays between 6.00pm – 8.00pm
• To open and lock up The Lounge when required.
• To cover the Youth Worker role if they are on annual leave or ill.
• Attend and participate in any relevant training.
• To take the lead role for designing, marketing and implementing the Friendship Matters program; this will consist of devising a timetable of weekly activities for the Monday mornings, with the aim of assisting with welfare and practical issues, building users confidence and helping to overcome isolation by facilitating a space for members to build new social connections.
• To keep accurate records of activities, registers, member forms and monitoring sheets for evidence and reporting purposes.

Skills & Attributes Required:

• Hold (or be working towards) a nationally recognised qualification in a Health and Social Care related field at Level 2 and/or equivalent.
• Experience of direct work with young people (preferably 8 – 19 year olds) in a youth center/club/community setting/school or outreach style environment, on a paid or voluntary capacity.
• Experience of working with older people in a day center or other care facility, on an employed or voluntary capacity.
• Have experience of leading group work and designing activities for groups.
• The ability to incorporate legislation and related guidance into everyday practice
• Ability to maintain written records to a good standard
• Excellent verbal communication skills and ability to communicate and engage effectively with people from a wide variety of social and ethnic backgrounds
• Ability to offer empathetic, non- judgmental support on a one to one basis
• You will be an outgoing, self-motivated and flexible person who is able to work well on your own initiative
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information/data appropriately

Hours of work and terms:-

• This is a temporary 6-month Maternity Cover opportunity;
• Hours will be 11 per week - Monday 9.30am - 2.30pm; Thursdays 3.30pm - 8.00pm; plus a flexible 1.5 hours per week additional planning time/holiday cover;
• Earnings will be between £7.50 and £10.00 per hour depending on experience;

IMPORTANT:

PLEASE APPLY WITH YOUR CV AND COMPLETE THE COVER MESSAGE BELOW AND INCLUDE:-

• Your availability to start