Job Description

Job Title:Community Action Officer

Salary:Scale 6 pt 27 £23,698 pro rata *

Organisation:Voluntary Action Coventry

Accountable to:Director of Operations & Development

Location:29 Warwick Road, Coventry CV1 2ES

Hours of work:28hours per week– There may occasionally be additional evening or weekend work.

Chief Duties To encourage Coventry citizens to participate in community action/volunteering and to enable voluntary and community organisations to recruit and retain volunteers

*Subject to the successful outcome of funding applications the hours/salary scale of this post may be increased.

Specific Duties

  1. To promote and increase the use of Volunteer Connect (VAC’s volunteering database) with volunteer involving organisations in membership of VAC.
  2. To raise awareness of Volunteer Connect with members of the public through face to face, outreach and on-line activity. Ensure that all clients receive a high level of customer service and that all enquiries are dealt with promptly.
  3. Respond to community activity/volunteering related queries from VAC members and the public via telephone/email.
  4. Oversee the community action drop-in, ensuring that all visitors are supported to access Volunteer Connect.
  5. To provide content for VAC’s e-bulletin and ensure the community action/volunteering pages of the VAC website and Coventry 4 Good website are kept up to date.
  6. With the Membership Officer ensure VAC’s facebook and twitter accounts are up to date.
  7. Work with the VAC Membership Officer to undertake activity to raise awareness of the benefits of VAC membership with the VCS Voluntary Community Sector) in Coventry.
  8. With the Funding Officer plan and deliver training/workshops and discussion forums on topics relevant to VCS in Coventry, in particular on volunteer management.
  9. Provide support to VAC members on all aspects of volunteer recruitment/retention.
  10. Keep records of all activities/interventions on VC-Connect VAC’s CRM system.
  11. Contribute to the achievement of VAC’s delivery of outcomes/outputs under VAC’s CCC/CCG funding agreement.
  12. Undertake activity on the Coventry 4 Good (C4G) initiative; identifying VAC members to profile on the website, identifying and promoting exchange opportunities and promoting the C4G business package.
  13. Provide support and supervision to the Engagement Assistant and VAC’s Community Action volunteers.
  14. Lead activity that contributes to the achievement of VAC’s supported volunteering projects. Working with individuals with additional support needs to enable them to start volunteering individually or within a group.
  15. Build effective working relationships with staff from other agencies. Where appropriate work in partnership to develop new practices that increase social responsibility.

General Duties

1.Deal with telephone, postal enquiries and visitors as appropriate.

2.Attend staff meetings and other internal meetings as required, and in general contribute to and otherwise support VAC events, activities and publications.

3.Undertake other necessary, reasonable duties and appropriate tasks as requested by the Chief Executive.

4.To carry out the duties of the post at all times in accordance with VAC's HASAW, Equal Opportunities and all other VAC policies and procedures.

Location

The office base is situated at VAC offices, 29 Warwick Road, Coventry CV1 2ES. The post will primarily be based at these offices and occasionally at Coventry Point, Market Way, Coventry. There willalso be times when the post holder will need to travel around the City.

Community ActionOfficer

Person Specification

Requirement / Essential / Desirable
Experience /
  • Experience of planning/project management
  • Experience of data management
  • Experience of developing/delivering training
  • Experience of working with people with additional support needs
/
  • Experience of providing good customer service
  • Experience of monitoring and evaluating services
  • Experience of using creative engagement tools to support individuals i.e. art, craft, drama, poetry, music

Skills /
  • Excellent communication, skills.
  • Ability to undertake routine administration
  • Ability to engage with a range of audiences
  • Ability to work alone and as part of a team
/
  • Computer skills including word processing and the ability to enter information quickly and accurately on databases.

Knowledge and understanding /
  • Understanding why people undertake volunteering
  • Understanding of the voluntary and community sector
  • Understanding how volunteering can help individuals to increase their confidence and skills

Personal attributes /
  • Self-starter
  • Outgoing and enthusiastic approach
/
  • Car owner

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