CONTRACT TERM: To end March 2022 (subject to availability of funding thereafter).
HOLIDAYS: 28 days per year, pro rata, plus bank holidays
NOTICE PERIOD: 1 month after completion of 3 month probationary period
LOCATION: The Harbour Drop-in Centre, St. Luke’s Hall, Broad Street, Swindon, SN1 2DS
JOB PURPOSE
To be the primary point of contact for all female (adult) Visitors to the Harbour Project, to ensure that their voices are heard and their needs are understood. To arrange, coordinate and lead activities specific to this cohort with the support of volunteers and other members of staff. To be the primary point of contact with other agencies supporting female Visitors.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
WORKING WITH FEMALE VISITORS
32% of adult Harbour Visitors are female. Some of these women will be part of family units (with or without a partner and/or children), and others will be on their own without family. Many of our female Visitors have complex histories which may include family breakdown, domestic violence, trafficking and exploitation. We need to ensure the needs and interests of women are fully represented in the work that we do and in how we prioritise our resources. The primary purpose of the role of the Female Visitor Engagement Lead is threefold:
to ensure that women’s voices are heard, that they are involved in the design and delivery of their projects;
that we deepen our expertise and understanding of the rights of migrant women;
and that we further build our relationships with organisations who support vulnerable women.
To engage and support female Visitors and their families offering information, and connecting them into activities to improve mental well-being.
To pro-actively connect with female Visitors and encourage participation in and access to Harbour activities.
To work with a network of existing and new volunteers and to ensure that they receive appropriate training and support in order to deliver appropriate services and activities.
To be a positive influence and mentor for women, demonstrating the value of education, volunteering, sport and activities, and employment.
To sign-post to the Project Manager and other members of the team where additional help and support is required (such as Steps2Work or Counselling).
To sign-post the Visitor to other agencies as appropriate.
LEADING ACTIVITIES
The role holder will be responsible for existing activities such as:
The Women’s Group
Women’s Conversation Group
Multi-agency Forum for Women-based Organisations
The role holder may also identify other activities which are of benefit to female Visitors. The role holder will either lead such activities, or work with volunteers to ensure that the activity is safe, effective and meeting the need.
To evaluate the impact of activities designed specifically for female Visitors. This may include, for example, producing case studies, questionnaires or utilization of other evaluation tools.
WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES
To represent the Harbour Project, as appropriate, in meetings with funders or in local or regional liaison meetings.
To be the primary point of contact with other agencies and organisations supporting vulnerable and migrant women. To build on existing relationships and initiate new contacts with a wide variety of community, third sector and statutory partners. Organisations could include:
Social Work teams.
Swindon Women’s Aid.
Nelson Trust.
Refugee Council.
Health Visitors.
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
To manage a budget or budgets specific to activities for female Visitors, with an understanding of sources of funding.
To support the CEO in identifying potential sources of funding, compiling funding applications and in submitting monitoring reports to funders.
To maintain records of activities (with respect to Data Protection and Retention Policies) to allow reporting of all activities involving female Visitors.
To use Harbour equipment and resources for business use only.
OTHER
To work occasional additional hours if required (which is then taken as ‘Time off in lieu’).
The nature of the role may require evening and weekend working from time to time. Overall, it is expected that the weekly hours will balance out to 21 hours a week.
To work within appropriate personal boundaries to maintain a distinct professional working relationship with all Visitors.
The staff team at the Harbour is very small, requiring everyone to work together and understand interdependencies between roles. This also means that people need to occasionally step in to help when things are busy, or to help cover holidays, for example. The Female Visitor Engagement Lead may be asked to support other activities outside the core scope of the role but considered as priority items for the organisation at that point in time. This may include, for example, supporting funding applications or preparatory work for Trustee Meetings.
CANDIDATE SPECIFICATION – ESSENTIAL
Interest in the aims and activities of The Harbour Project
Reliable with the ability to work independently. The role holder will be required to work from home and from The Harbour premises. Ability to manage one’s own time with good organisational skills and high self-motivation are vital.
Excellent written and verbal communication & interpersonal skills, adaptable to the breadth of different stakeholders (Visitors/Volunteers/ other members of staff/ Trustees/ other voluntary and statutory agencies).
A good understanding and application of the principles of Safeguarding, particularly in relation to women at the Harbour.
Commitment to the confidentiality of the organisation and its Visitors.
I.T. skills, particularly Microsoft Office or equivalent.
Evidence of entitlement to work in the U.K.
Willingness to work flexible hours.
The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check.
DESIRABLE
Experience of working in the voluntary sector
Previous experience of working with Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
If you would like to apply for this role, please submit your CV and a covering letter explaining why you think you are suitable for the position to info@harbourproject.org.uk
Application Closing Date: 5:00pm Friday, 4th June 2021.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 10th June 2021.
