Job Description

Depot Operations Assistant

Cyrenians Good Food Programme

Edinburgh Cyrenians is an award winning charity dedicated to enabling people facing tough times to improve their situation and move to a better future.

Having started in 1968, our work now directly benefits over 3,000 people a year across the Lothians, Edinburgh and Falkirk; but wider benefits go far beyond this level. Our mission is also to reduce the causes of disadvantage by raising awareness, lobbying for better laws and policies and demonstrating in practice the social advantages of inclusion and sustainability.

The charity also has an environmental brief, seeing the connection between valuing people and valuing our planet as part of the solution to a sustainable and happy future for society.

Cyrenians has around 100 employees and twice as many regular volunteers spread across three departments: Early Intervention, Progression and Social Enterprise with a cross cutting commitment to minimizing our environmental impact

1 General

Cyrenians has an ambitious organisational development plan. It is our intention to grow and develop the organisation through three main areas of business:

·  Early Intervention: such as our Homelessness Prevention and Conflict Resolution Services.

·  Progression: such as our residential Communities for vulnerable young people; employability programmes; alcohol and drugs service.

·  Social Enterprise: such as our Good Food depot and Farm.

The Good Food Programme is based in Edinburgh and includes within its remit four distinct strands that work together to achieve the overall aims of the programme. Each strand offers a refreshing and innovative approach to tackling ill health and poor nutrition; and gives people facing issues with homelessness, addiction, repeat offending and mental health challenges a ‘hand up and not a hand out’.

We have ambitious plans for further growth and could provide challenges and opportunities for the post-holder in respect of future career development.

Food Redistribution (FareShare) – the food redistribution project collects surplus produce from supermarkets and retailers that would otherwise end up in landfill. Over 9 tonnes of food is delivered each week to around 40 organisations working in the field of homelessness and social exclusion. Donors include Marks & Spencer, Aldi, Pret a Manger, Kettle Produce Ltd, Albert Bartlett, Rowan Glen, Robert Wiseman Dairies and other responsible wholesalers and retailers.

Trainee and Volunteer Programme – provides traineeships and volunteering opportunities for all sections of the community. Local business representatives work alongside individuals accessing training and work experience and taking their first steps towards employment. Around ninety percent of the volunteering hours are completed by people who have experienced homelessness or other complex needs. This involvement combats loneliness, isolation, addiction, repeat offending and mental health challenges. Good Food provides training and placement opportunities giving the skills and confidence needed for people to take their first steps back into society and steps towards employment or further education.

REHIS Training (Royal Environmental Institute of Scotland) – as part of our social enterprise development the project delivers a range of accredited training, including food health and hygiene.

Cooking Classes – the cooking class model has been created to improve and maintain good health. Many people moving into their own tenancies have no basic cooking skills. The classes inspire people to eat well on a budget, and to enjoy the social benefits good food can bring – eating, talking and enjoying good company together.

Website: www.cyreniansgoodfood.org.uk

2 Tasks and Responsibilities

The Depot Operations Assistant will be based in our warehouse in Jane Street, Leith. You will work alongside the other staff members and will have ‘hands on’ responsibility for running daily shifts and for opening and closing down the premises. This involves lone working a combination of early and late shifts and covering one Saturday morning shift every 5-6 weeks. Early shifts are 07:00 to 15:00 and late shifts are 10:30-18:30.

You will be responsible for shift management which includes input into logistics; the collection and redistribution of food, sorting, quality checking and storage of food in compliance with current Food Hygiene Regulations, and the requirements of the donors. In addition you will provide support for the volunteer team.

Main responsibilities:

·  Contribute to the on-going programme of food redistribution (FareShare)

·  Have alternating responsibility with other staff members for daily operations: logistics; collections and delivery of food; quality checking; daily inventory; safe storage of food; cleaning of the depot, in accordance with food hygiene legislation and donor requirements

·  Organise and supervise our volunteer team according to daily requirements

·  Support and encourage volunteers and trainees, on an ongoing basis, to get the most from their volunteering and continue to build a brighter future

·  Record this support on the internal and external systems as required

·  Assist in ensuring that health and safety requirements, policies and procedures are adhered to

·  Maintain appropriate records of deliveries and collections, fridge and freezer temperatures and cleaning records; assist with production of reports as required

·  Contribute flexibility and with professionalism to the general well being of the charity and assist in promoting the work of Edinburgh Cyrenians.

·  Make a contribution to the overall work of Edinburgh Cyrenians in conveying a caring, professional image to all service users and stakeholders

·  Participate in staff meetings, training and supervision

·  Be willing to be flexible to fulfil the requirements of the Depot Operations Assistant position. Being a charity, resources are always limited and all staff are asked to be flexible in covering for colleagues and to be resourceful in engaging the help of others

·  Undertake other duties as requested by your line manager, the FareShare Manager and Cyrenians CEO.

Edinburgh Cyrenians requires all staff to be flexible in their approach and willing to be involved in meeting the needs of the charity and clients. We expect all staff to display care, respect and a non-judgemental approach to clients, being prepared to work imaginatively towards successful outcomes.

3 Person Specification

Strong organisational skills, attention to details and ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment / Essential
Ability to cope well under pressure, make decisions, show initiative and find creative solutions to problems / Essential
Ability to effectively communicate, both orally and in writing, and work with a wide range of organisations and people from the business community, statutory and voluntary sector, donors and recipient projects, volunteers and service users / Essential
Experience of relating to people who have a background in homelessness and/or have issues with addiction, mental health, repeat offending etc. / Essential
Ability to assist in providing individuals with support in a positive, sensitive, non-judgemental and personable manner always within professional boundaries / Essential
Full driving licence and willingness to drive FareShare refrigerated van if required / Essential
Ability to work as part of a small team / Essential
Administration, reporting and advanced IT skills / Essential
Experience of working in a support role / Desirable
Knowledge of healthy eating and/or nutrition / Desirable
Experience of a warehouse environment / Desirable
Forklift licence or willingness to attend accredited training if required / Desirable
Elementary Food Hygiene Certificate (training will be provided if not currently held) / Desirable
Experience of working in the area of Social Enterprise and knowledge base of this activity / Desirable

4 Terms & Conditions

Employer: / Edinburgh Cyrenian Trust
Accountability: / Cyrenian Board of Trustees (via the CEO of the Edinburgh Cyrenian Trust)
Line Manager: / Deputy Project Manager
Liaison with: / All other depot staff
Workplace: / Edinburgh
Working Hours: / 37 hours per week
Annual Leave / 25 days plus 10 public holidays
Salary: / SCP 15-19: £17,134 to £18,784
Pension: / Auto-enrolment into Qualifying Workplace Pension Scheme (QWPS) which is a Group Stakeholder Pension Scheme – current contributions being 1% employee and 1% employer. Option of enhanced Employer contributions to the same QWPS of 6% initially, rising to 9% after 2 years and 12% after 5 years (subject to employee contributions of 6%).
Disclosure: / PVG membership required

5 Application Deadline and Interview Dates

Closing date: 12 noon, Monday 5th January 2015

Interview date: week commencing 12th January 2015

Second stage: TBC

Please refer to the recruitment information leaflet for further information on completing and submitting your application form.

Further information www.cyrenians.org.uk

December 2014