Trainee Community Organiser Job Pack
DCH Group are recruiting 4x Trainee Community Organisers
1x Based in Penzance, 1x Based in Truro, 1x Based in Plymouth , 1x Based in North Devon
Employer: Locality and seconded to DCH Group (host)
Salary: £8.80 per hour (subject to tax and national insurance)
Duration and Hours: 51 weeks full time - 30-35 hours
Work base: The DCH Group offices in Penzance, Truro and Plymouth.
Purpose:
To learn to build trusting relationships and powerful networks which enable residents, groups, associations, and businesses in Penzance, Truro and Plymouth to develop their collective power to act together for the common good, using the core tools and techniques of community organising.
Key Objectives:
Within 51 weeks to:
a) Effectively motivate and mobilise people in a neighbourhood by using a community organising strategy and process to create community-led change.
b) Achieve an accreditation at Level 2 or 3 in the Foundations of Community Organising within 26 weeks of the start of the trainee role
c) Learn about and apply in practice a range of tools and approaches for animating community action and change.
d) Identify and train a team of active volunteer Community Organisers and leaders who can activate a network
To train in, gain experience of and be successful at community organising by:
1. Actively participating in training, reflecting on and applying learning to develop personal/professional Community Organising practice.
2. Completing the assignments and meeting deadlines to achieve accreditation in the Foundations of Community Organising.
3. Taking responsibility for own learning by attending all Employment Support and Supervision sessions, all Face to Face and Online training sessions, responding to requests for information from Programme staff and completing all required paperwork.
4. Listening widely to people of all ages and backgrounds in a specified area within their own homes and in other locations to engage them in meaningful conversations which enable their voices to be heard.
5. Encouraging and supporting people to develop their skills and knowledge and motivating them to take action for positive change within the community.
6. Supporting the development of a team of volunteers who will listen in the community, research, plan and take co-ordinated action.
7. Providing support to motivated people of all ages to transform ideas into projects and enterprises, which build on strengths, meet needs and aspirations and tackle concerns in the community.
8. Beginning to develop new power relationships with the local community and political, public, voluntary and business sectors.
9. Developing a communication strategy including using social media which helps to build the network of active residents.
10. Contributing to the development of knowledge and understanding about community organising by Locality, Community Organisers Ltd, COs, Hosts and the programme evaluators.
11. Observing the programme’s Code of Conduct and the equal opportunities strategies of Locality and the host organisation.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Characteristics and competencies will be assessed through a combination of application form and personal statement, assessment day and interviews
Core competencies / Key characteristicsOrganisational skills and literacy / · Self-organised and with high level of self-motivation to achieve in the role;
· Flexible. Available to manage own time effectively and work anti-social hours (evenings, weekends) as necessary;
· Functionally literate, able and willing to keep written and electronic records;
· Capable computer user including email, word processing, social media, basic Excel spreadsheets. Able to take part in on-line learning with basic training on the technology used;
Communication skills
Maturity and emotional intelligence / · Able to learn to listen deeply for facts and feelings, empathise with others and identify verbal and non-verbal communication signals;
· Able to create and sustain meaningful conversations with those you might not usually speak to: gently leading, encouraging and uncovering feelings and opinions;
· Respectful, open, and sensitive to others’ history and experience. Sensitive to local cultures and languages. Positively committed to anti-discriminatory practice and social justice;
· Able to develop an understanding of power and influence and willing to explore the root causes of (dis)empowerment issues in communities;
· Has personal integrity. Willing to be accountable and adhere to the Code of Conduct, understand confidentiality and Data Protection issues.
Enterprising mindset
Strategic awareness and behaviour / · Dynamic, motivated, energetic and creative with a can-do approach to problem-solving;
· Able to motivate and inspire. Enjoys and values helping others achieve and develop their potential;
· Able to understand and deal with competing agendas;
· Understands the context and practice of community action.
A commitment to reflection – action
Relationship building / · Willingness to develop an awareness of own power and ego and able to put aside their own agenda to listen without prejudging;
· Reflective and self-aware: to be alert, adaptable and responsive and focussed in the moment; to reflect both in action and on action;
· Committed to self-development and learning: able to apply, transfer and build on what they do. Willing to support the learning of others - including fellow trainees and the wider community;
· Able to work constructively in team situations;
· Able to relate to and connect with a wide range of different people
Resilience and robustness
Streetwise / · Able to take challenge and criticism;
· Able to overcome negative and apathetic attitudes.
· Shows persistence and determination to achieve results
· Able to deal with setbacks
· Has a versatile and flexible approach to the work
· Demonstrates insight, experience and resourcefulness
For Trainees in rural areas there may be the need to be able to drive and have access to a car.
Useful Experience and Skills:
Please tell us if you have skills or experience in any of these areas – they are not essential but any will come in useful in undertaking this role. This information will not be used to shortlist applicants it is for information purposes only.
· knowledge of local area
· community action or organisation
· community development
· community enterprise
· campaigning
· staff recruitment and people management
· group facilitation
· project planning, development and budgeting
· negotiation or mediation (within voluntary, public and business sectors)
· customer and public relations
· social and market research
· journalism and media
· sales and merchandising
· business and marketing experience
· fundraising
Background to Role
Locality, the national network for communities ambitious for change, is coordinating the government-funded nationwide programme of Community Organising. This 4-year programme, originally developed in partnership with Action to Regenerate Community Trust (RE:generate), provides training and learning placements around England for people wanting to gain experience and qualifications in Community Organising. The programme has develop an accredited curriculum called the Foundations of Community Organising, based on the community organising approach taken by the programme, which is described as “a learning and action-based programme created to support transformational change in individuals, groups, organisations and institutions. The foundation of the work and training is 1:1 systematic listening and dialogue that builds trusting, respectful relationships, networks and connectivity between and across diverse communities that stimulates action for transformation that shifts power relationships.” As the programme develops the Foundations Training is evolving to bring in other tools for community organising and activating.
A new not for profit company, Community Organisers Ltd (CoCo), has been established by Locality as the Legacy Body for the Community Organisers programme. As CoCo develops it will be aiming to provide training and professional development for Community Organisers and information for employers and communities, raise funding for training bursaries, research the effectiveness of community organising and develop the standards to which community organisers work. As they qualify Community Organisers will be able to join and help govern CoCo.
Training Information
This is a 51 week experiential distance learning programme to develop skills and experience in Community Organising. Trainees work towards an Open College Network (OCN) Certificate in Foundations of Community Organising.
Trainees are recruited locally in or near to the area they will work, employed by CoCo and seconded back to the Host. The Host organisation provides them with a work base, local support and management, and a learning environment, but they work independently from and do not undertake any work on behalf of the Host. Trainee COs are always placed in teams (of 2-5 COs) and the team is an important source of support and reflection.
The programme begins with a 4-day residential training course to give trainees an overview of the training year and the skills needed to start the Community Organising role. All candidates who are made a trainee job offer must attend the residential training course. Contracts are given out at the residential and signed at the end, so that COs can ‘experience’ the programme and the approach before making a final decision to take up the role.
Trainees return to their host community to begin putting the learning into practice, first listening to relatives, friends and colleagues, and then in the wider community. There are regular opportunities for reflection and development via a series of live online sessions, regional seminars and learning exchanges, 121 mentoring and guided actions. It is expected that you complete your OCN accreditation work at the end of the first six months. To obtain accreditation participants will need to complete reflections and assessments based on their work in the field. You do not need an academic background but do need to be able to demonstrate your learning in different ways. As this is a distance learning course it is essential that trainees are able to learn to use the on-line computing tools and systems that are in place to share learning resources, training inputs and trainees work with tutors.
In terms of the core curriculum, during the first six months we concentrate on the core skills of deep listening, building dialogue, recruiting volunteers, facilitating groups, analysing data, digital communication, and activating individuals. As the year develops we move into deeper relationship building, developing networks, leadership, building a power base, taking action and planning for the future.
As well as the core skills, trainees can choose a range of optional learning modules including community assets and enterprise, digital organising, managing community conflict, history and theories of community organising, process of community change, challenging power, story-telling, mentoring, using creative arts, campaigning, advanced power study (economic, political etc).
About the Host
Everyone wants a great place to live. Somewhere to be comfortable, safe and to support all that you want to do in life. Where you live is a huge part of who you are and how much you can achieve.
DCH maintains and manages over 20,000 great places to live - and we’re investing in more all the time. Not only are we determined to provide homes you can afford to live in, but also homes you want to live in. We want to make sure you have a home to be proud of.
And we know that you’re not just thinking about the roof over your head but equally the area and opportunities around you. Wherever we work we look to build communities as well as homes.
We are a charitable organisation, but we do run a strong, commercially-minded business that re-invests as much as we can back into new homes and thriving communities.
Our values
Our teams work together in bringing our strategy to life through:
Putting customers first: We are proud of the services and homes we deliver. We know the importance of communicating with and listening to our customers, and responding to their needs with a friendly and flexible approach.
Learning and improving: We are always looking for ways to improve our services and how we deliver them. We know that responding effectively to a changing world is essential to deliver our strategy and to increase value for money for our customers. We share ideas and actively seek feedback from others to improve our performance.
Making things happen: We work collaboratively and in partnership to achieve our objectives. We are accountable for our actions, keep our promises, and have a can-do attitude when faced with challenges.
Honesty, respect and leadership: We respect our customers, colleagues and stakeholders. We understand that trusting, open working relationships help us deliver great customer service. We work with passion and enthusiasm, and throughout the organisation we encourage, challenge and support others to deliver great service.
Terms and Conditions
Employer: The contract will be with Locality. The trainee will be seconded to DCH Group (the host) for the duration of the contract.
Timescale: The Contract will start on 14th July 2014 and conclude on 3rd July 2015
Terms and conditions: 51 week fixed term contract at £8.80 per hour (before tax) with statutory holidays, statutory sick pay and statutory maternity pay. Childcare vouchers can be bought in exchange for a ‘salary sacrifice’. Based in Penzance, Truro or Plymouth with the ability to work from home but spending most of the working time out in community settings, especially knocking doors and in public places, all home working should be recorded. Anti-social hours can be expected and time off in lieu will be given. The host will hold an expenses budget on behalf of the organiser for IT, travel and other organising costs, and provide a work base.
Supervision and support: Local guidance and supervision will be provided by DCH Group at your nearest DCH office (host). The CO Programme Training team provide active support and guidance to all COs.
Accountable to: Trainee Community Organisers are accountable to Locality as the Programme Manager for following the training programme and for participation in and achievement of learning and practice outcomes. Hosts have a role in ensuring the outcomes are achieved and COs need to comply with Hosts essential policies and procedures. Locality will manage all grievance and disciplinary issues and any breach of the Code of Conduct.
Advice: We have commissioned Toynbee Hall to provide a Benefits Advice Helpline so that anyone with an offer of interview can get independent and confidential advice on how any benefits they receive will be affected if they are offered and take up the role. Once in post all COs have access to an Employee Assistance Programme and a range of other HR support.