“Growing Green Teens” Project Worker

Carmarthen Youth Project, “Growing Green Teens” Project Worker

Job Description

PLACE OF WORK: Carmarthen Youth Project. The Clubhouse, Friars Park, Carmarthen. SA31 3AN

SALARY AND

HOURS OF WORK: £20,833 per annum at 37 hours per week

Evening and Weekend work involved.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Youth Project Managers

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Volunteers working on the Growing Green Teens Project

TERM OF CONTRACT: 12 months initially with a 3 month probationary period.

WORKING RELATIONS:

Working as part of the Youth Work Team at the Project, the post-holder will be expected to liaise closely with a wide range of young people within the Project as well as other staff, volunteers, members of the Carmarthen Youth Council, the Project’s Board of Trustees, representatives of the community and other voluntary and statutory agencies.

The post-holder will also be expected to make contact with external organisations which have an impact on the work carried out at the Project.

For this post in particular, these agencies will include healthy living and food production and sustainability related agencies.

Also, maintaining links with the voluntary sector organisations like Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary Services and CWVYS as well as Statutory Youth Services within Carmarthenshire County Council and other Youth Projects.

This post involves working unsocial hours, including evening and weekend working when required and all staff will be required to have a CRB Enhanced Disclosure

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE POST

The Aim of “Growing Green Teens” is that younger and older people will report an increase in their physical and emotional health as a result of taking part in a community project.

To work within the project and out at our allotment and planting sites around the project and area with young people aged 11-25.

The Growing Green Teens Project Worker will be:

• Providing young people with opportunities to learn skills in growing vegetables and fruit addressing healthy lifestyles with young people.

• Consulting with young people on activities they are interested in based on gardening and cooking.

• Supporting and facilitating young people to develop a range of in-door and out-door activities for all young people and run projects relating to health and wellbeing.

• Networking with other youth agencies and organisations to provide the service to as many young people as possible.

Funding Related Targets:

• Recruit experienced gardeners as volunteers to help run 6 workshops on preparing, sowing and growing at our allotment and cooking with 60+ young people.

• Run weekly gardening sessions at the allotment and at the project.

• Ensure the allotment plot is worked through the year and is growing food.

• Set up an allotment working group consisting of older and younger people exchanging skills and knowledge.

• Develop relationships with the allotment community where young people can help others with their allotments.

• Develop a Time Banking Gardening Scheme where volunteers and young people can earn and spend time credits.

• Support young people to organize a Celebration Event of the achievements of the project.

As part of a team that:

1. Works closely running and developing an alcohol-free, recreational, educational and information facility for young people aged between 11- 25 in the Carmarthen area.

2. Organises and leads activities with and for young people that will help develop active lifestyles, including outdoor activities, fitness classes and delivering programmes.

3. Organises and run workshops and other activities, e.g. cooking and healthy eating sessions and to promote health and wellbeing awareness amongst young people, arts and crafts and multi-media activities.

4. To provide information, guidance and support on issues relevant to young people and in particular on issues relating to promoting active and healthy lifestyles, referring to appropriate agencies and services where necessary.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE PROJECT TEAM:

1. To work with the Project team to promote a safe, caring, stimulating and friendly environment in order to gain the trust, respect and confidence of young people in the Carmarthen area.

2. To assist in the creation of an inclusive and participatory culture within the Project in order that young people feel listened to and are enabled to be an active part of running the Project and determining its future direction.

3. To work within the realms of good youth work practice to ensure that the voices of the young people of Carmarthen are heard.

4. To maintain good links between the young people themselves, their parents/carers and the local community.

5. To assist in the development of team building skills, self-reliance, responsibility and respect amongst the young people who use the Project.

6. To promote equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice within and outside of the Project, maintaining an awareness of race, gender, poverty and special needs issues and how these affect young people.

7. To work closely with other services to ensure the best services are provided to the young people and their needs are met as far as we possibly can.

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

1. To assist in the development of volunteers who become involved in the Project.

2. To carry out administrative tasks as required.

3. To attend and actively contribute to supervision sessions with the Project Managers.

4. To attend relevant training sessions as identified and required.

5. To be responsible for supervision of the Project in the absence of the Youth Project Managers, working in liaison with other staff at the Project.

6. To actively pursue Health and Safety policies both inside and outside the Project.

7. The Project is a small charitable organisation. All staff are expected to be flexible in their approach to the work and to undertake any other duties as requested by the Project Managers or Board of Trustees.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Essential:

1. A qualification or experience in Youth/Community/Education/Health or Social Work.

2. Experience of working with young people in a paid or voluntary capacity and knowledge of the current issues affecting young people.

3. A demonstrable commitment to Equal Opportunities and an understanding of anti-discriminatory practice.

4. Experience of working in a team and a demonstrable ability to be self-motivated and to work under own initiative.

5. Experience of running workshops and accredited courses with young people.

Desirable:

6. Experience of managing volunteers, either paid or unpaid is desirable.

7. Experience of putting together successful bids for funding is desirable.

8. A knowledge and experience of gardening and growing food is desirable.

9. Evidence of an interest in the voluntary sector and in making a contribution to the life of the local community.

10. Knowledge of the working of statutory agencies.

11. Knowledge of current legislation and strategy referring to children and young people e.g. The Children’s Act, National Occupational Standards in Youth Work and other relevant strategies.

ATTITUDE AND QUALITIES

1. Good listening skills.

2. Good organisational skills and a demonstrable ability to plan and prioritise own workload.

3. Good communication and I.T. skills and the ability to produce written reports, minutes and articles.

4. The ability to deal calmly and sympathetically with a wide range of situations.

5. A sensitive attitude to the support needs of young people, staff and volunteers when dealing with personal crises, disturbances etc.

The Project recognises that some people may not have the relevant qualifications for this post but may have such life experience that they can be considered as appropriate for work with young people. A flexible attitude may therefore be taken when assessing an individual’s suitability for a post and when shortlisting. Any such flexibility will be transparent and methodology for recruiting will be made available to all applicants on request.

The Closing date for this application will be 5th January 2014. Any applications received after this date will not be looked at.

Jane Davies and Gayle Harris

Youth Project Managers

The Clubhouse, Friars Park, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire SA31 3AN

Tel: (01267) 222786 e-mail : office@drmz.co.uk