Volunteer Support Worker

Fixed term contract

Job Description and Person Specification

Job Title:Volunteer Support Worker

Team:Services– London North East branch

Covering:Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge

Contract:Permanent

Hours:12 per week, term-time only

Reports to:Volunteer Services Manager

Responsible for:No line management responsibility

About Beanstalk (formerly known as Volunteer Reading Help)

Beanstalk is a dynamic and expanding national children’s charity with a growing profile thanks to the London Evening Standard’s ‘Get London Reading’ campaign.

We help disadvantaged primary school children who are struggling with their reading to become confident and literate for life through one-to-one, sustained support from our network of trained volunteers.

In 2011/12 we supported almost 6,400 children across the country and we aim to double this by 2017.

Main purpose and objectives of the job:

  • To support volunteers and schools to ensure that an effective and high quality service is delivered
  • To ensure volunteers feel motivated and supported so that continuity for the child is maintained
  • To challenge poor practice and ensure the Beanstalk standards are maintained at all times
  • To assist with the retention of schools and volunteers

Key Tasks and Responsibilities

1.To support and develop positive relationships with volunteers through:

  • Interviewing potential volunteers to meet the needs of the business
  • Meeting volunteers during initial training to establish an ongoing relationship
  • Introducing and placing volunteers in schools to ensure the volunteer and school understand what is expected from each other and from Beanstalk
  • Observing and reviewing new volunteers working with children. Giving feedback and identifying areas for improvement if necessary
  • Maintaining contact with all volunteers at least once a term, or more frequently if required in order to build good relationships, motivating them to take part in branch events and to feel part of a wider organisation
  • Conducting an informal 6 monthly visit where possible to ensure the quality of the service remains high
  • Conducting a formal annual observation visit to review volunteers working with children and ensure the volunteers are maintaining Beanstalk standards, challenging any poor practices and giving feedback to each volunteer
  • Offering support to volunteers through regular and accessible contact

2.To maintain and develop positive relationships with the school through:

  • Promoting Beanstalk and demonstrating value of service within the school community
  • Informing the VSM and branch of any developments or issues arising in relation to the school so these can be managed quickly and effectively
  • Building relationships with school contacts to pick up on concerns and resolve them where possible or escalate to branch when necessary

3.To ensure that Beanstalk resources are managed effectively through:

  • Providing advice and support to volunteers on using different resources to meet the specific needs of the children they work with
  • Maintaining standards in the quality of books and games provided and ensuring that volunteers regularly change their resources
  • Organising book exchanges in liaison with the Volunteer Services Manager and encouraging volunteers to attend

4.To maintain the safety of the child and volunteer at all times through:

  • Ensuring that the child protection and safe from harm practices are adhered to
  • Challenging any practice that breaches the SFH code of conduct
  • Undertaking the administration of renewal CRB checks
  • Encouraging volunteers to attend refresher child protection training

5.To support the branch in the delivery of service through:

  • Gathering appropriate information required by the branch, for example, completion of the child details form ensuring data protection principles are upheld
  • Communication corporate information to the school and/or volunteer as required
  • Attending end of term volunteer meetings
  • Attending branch team meetings to maintain good relationships with the branch and ensure Beanstalk knowledge is up to date
  • Completion of reports on volunteer observation visits, highlighting any issues to the Volunteer Services Manager
  • Ensuring that volunteer and school files are updated with appropriate information

6.To carry out office based administrative duties as required

7.To undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by the Volunteer Services Manager

Volunteer Support Worker – Person Specification

Knowledge/ExperienceHOW DETERMINED

1)Competent in basic administrative tasksCV/Supporting statement/Interview/Test

combined with the ability to use email, internet

and Word (essential)

2)Experience of supervising staff or volunteers CV/Supporting statement/Interview

with the ability to give feedback on performance

(essential)

3)Knowledge of local area (desirable)Supporting statement

4)Knowledge/awareness of primary educationSupporting statement

system (desirable)

5)Experience of volunteering (desirable)Supporting statement

6)Knowledge of children’s books (desirable)Supporting statement

Skills – Essential

1)Good interpersonal, diplomatic and effectiveInterview

oral and written communication skills, together

with anapproachable manner

2)Ability and confidence to interact with Supporting statement/Interview

Head Teachers and within the school community

in a professional manner

3)A tenacious and solution focussed approach Supporting statement

to work

4)Good self organisation skills and the ability to Interview

plan, prioritise and use time effectively

5)Ability to work alone and without supervisionSupporting statement/Interview

6)Ability to work as part of a team although Supporting statement/Interview

sometimes geographically remote

7)Ability to work flexibly to meet service needsInterview

8)Use of a car or able to demonstrate how role Supporting statement/Interview

could be delivered effectively using alternative

transport

Personal qualities – Essential

1)A commitment to equality and diversitySupporting statement/Interview

2)An interest in children’s literacy and readingInterview

3)Commitment and understanding of child Supporting statement/Interview

protection

4)An understanding of the motivation for Supporting statement/Interview

volunteering amongst different sections of the

community

LNE VSW JD&PS

May 20131