10th December 2012

Dear Applicant,

Many thanks for your interest in the post of Membership services Coordinator for Depression Alliance.

Please find attached the following :

  • Job description and personal specification
  • Application form
  • Guidance notes
  • Equal Opportunities monitoring form

The closing date for the post is Thursday 3rd January 2013 at 9am.

I look forward to receiving your application.

Yours sincerely,

Emer O’Neill

Chief Executive

Tel: 0207 407 7584 ext 1

Job Description

Maternity cover for 9 months initially

Title:Membership Services Coordinator

Responsible to:Chief Executive

Hours:35 hours per week

Salary£27,000 (plus pension contribution)

Base:20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX

Main Purpose of the post

The Membership Services Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the membership package for Depression Alliance – focussing on the existing members as well as marketing the service to attract new membership. This includes, editing the quarterly magazine,and the coordination of the national network of self help groups and keeping the information on the website up to date.

Principal Responsibilities

  • To welcome new members and market the services provided by DA
  • To ensure that existing members needs are met
  • To co ordinate and edit the quarterly magazine, A Single Step
  • To ensure the membership database is kept up to date
  • To coordinate the development of DA groups in line with the Charity’s strategic plan.
  • To generate and strengthen information and communication between DA and its groups.
  • To identify methods of engagement and involvement with black and minority groups and associated organisations
  • To oversee and evaluate the effectiveness of groups
  • To keep the website up to date with new developments relevant to DA constituency
  • To help monitor DA Talk and Pen friends
  • To contribute to the development of Depression Alliance’s development programme, strategies and initiatives.
  • To ensure that the Chief Executive is informed and aware of all developments.
  • To build new and establish excellent relationships with existing volunteers in consultation with the Chief Executive.
  • To carry out the duties of the post with due regard to all Depression Alliance policies.
  • To attend staff meetings and bi annual appraisals
  • Any other duties reasonably required.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications/ education/ training

We will consider applications with a background in social science, public policy, education or business. A degree or equivalent qualification is expected but experience is also recognised.

Experience

Essential

Minimum 2 years experience in a similar environment or position

Two years experience of working with people with mental health problems

Business or project development knowledge/ experience

Experience of working as part of a team

Desirable

Experience of editing a magazine/ newsletter

Experience of working with diverse communities

Experience of PR and communication development

Event planning.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

Social and communication skills

Experience and understanding of networking

Well developed verbal, interpersonal and customer services skills

Skill to encourage and support vulnerable people to develop confidence

Initiative and self motivation

Ability to work independently to prioritise work

Ability to work on own initiative, a proactive self starter

Flexible and responsive to the needs of the Chief executive and the organisation as they develop

Specific working requirements

Ability to work out of hours very occasionally to attend evening meetings

Ability to travel with very occasional over night stays.

Recruitment & Selection

Confidential Application Form

Application for employment as:

Membership Services Coordinator

Please use a black pen or typed script / Please return this form by: Thursday 3rd January 2013, 9am
To:

or
Depression Alliance, 20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX
TITLE
/
FIRST NAMES
/

LAST NAME

FULL ADDRESS

Where you are normally contactable /

E-MAIL ADDRESS

/ WORK TELEPHONE NO.
& times when we may contact you
PRIVATE TELEPHONE NO.
& times when normally available
What is your current occupation?
If appointed, when could you take up the job?

REFERENCES

Please give below details of two people whom we may contact for references. These will not be contacted unless you are offered the post. At least one of them should be a present or most recent employer or, if appropriate, a tutor. Please indicate in what capacity you know the referees.

NAME
JOB TITLE
FULL ADDRESS
TEL NO. (Home)
(Work)
Capacity in which known to you

EDUCATION

Please state if full or part time

Schools, colleges, universities attended / Dates attended
from until / Qualifications and grades obtained
PAID AND UNPAID EMPLOYMENT

(Including part-time or holiday jobs lasting more than six weeks). Please start with your present or most recent employment and work backwards

Dates
from until / Employer’s name and address / Job title and main responsibilities / Salary / Reason for leaving

[continue on the back page if necessary]

APPLICATION

Please use this space to explain why you want to work for Depression Alliance and what you think you have to offer us. This is your opportunity to match your knowledge, skills and experience against the criteria set out in thejob description and person specification you have received. We will pay particular attention to this when short-listing candidates for interview. Please note that CVs will not be considered as a substitute for completion of this section. (up to 2 additional sheets of A4 may be attached if necessary)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS / CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Please give details of any relevant courses or training you have attended. Include training provider, dates of attendance and length of course.

Provider /

From

/ To / Description/Qualification

IT SKILLS

Please give details of your computer skills. Name the operating systems and software packages which you have used.

HEALTH

A disability or health problem will not preclude full consideration of your application.

Please specify any serious recurring illnesses, major surgery and disabilities and give brief details (e.g. skin complaints, epilepsy, diabetes, back trouble, mental illness, heart or respiratory ailments etc.)

How many days have you been away from work due to illness in the last year?

DISCLOSURE OF CONVICTIONS

The above post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Please list all convictions both spent and unspent that apply to you. If none please state none.

If you have detailed a conviction, please use the space below to give circumstances/reasons and lessons learnt. This information is considered good practice in term of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE UK

Are there any restrictions placed on your working activity by the Home Office? YES/NO

If there are, please give details:

DECLARATION

I certify that the information given on this form and any attachments are correct. I understand that should there be any false statements or omissions, Depression Alliance reserves the right of dismissal. I also understand that employment with Depression Alliance will be subject to satisfactory references and verification of eligibility to work in the United Kingdom.

SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT______DATE ______

DEPRESSION ALLIANCE

INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE NOTES FOR JOB APPLICANTS

Depression Alliance is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to ensuring that equal opportunities are operated in practice as well as principle. We have careful procedures for recruitment, selection and appointment to help us make this policy fully effective.

The following guidance is intended to help candidates complete their application form.

  • Please complete the form in full, preferably using a word processor. If handwriting, please ensure black ink is used as application forms need to be photocopied.
  • Please do not attach a CV as an alternative or supplement. It is important that we compare candidate’s experience drawing on the same range of information. Statements in support of an application will often need to be longer than the space provided and these should be attached to the application form on a separate sheet(s).
  • In your supporting statement please refer to the “person specification”. When we prepare the shortlist we always look to see how well candidates meet these requirements. It is helpful if you use the sub-headings within your supporting statement or letter of application.
  • Please ensure that you address all points requested. Candidates’ responses to these items are an important part of ascertaining whether the applicant meets our criteria.
  • Short listing is always made on the basis of the experience detailed in the application. If you fail to address any or all of these tasks, it is highly unlikely that your application will be considered.
  • References. Please give your current or most recent employer as one of your referees: the full address and telephone number would be helpful. Your second referee should be someone who knows your work in a recent professional capacity.
  • As part of our equal opportunities practice we do not offer informal telephone guidance: it is important that those involved in the short listing stages are not compromised by an informal chat. However, if there are any aspects of the contractual details or the selection process which may not be clear, then you are welcome to discuss these with the Manager.

Depression Alliance is working to ensure equal opportunities for all volunteers, employees, customers and service users, the accessibility of our services to all sections of the population and sensitivity to individual needs, characteristics and cultural backgrounds. In light of this, we monitor our recruitment programmes to ensure that wherever possible, they reflect the diversity of British society. Depression Alliance is committed to challenging inequality and social exclusion throughout its day to day work.

Any data collected for monitoring purposes remains confidential to Depression Alliance. These forms are kept entirely anonymous. Do not mark them with your name. They will be opened and monitored by someone who is not connected with shortlisting. Under no circumstances will information you give here affect your selection or subsequent treatment as an employee.

This form is about how you define yourself. We’ve tried to give the space here for you to describe in your own words as much as possible. If there are any questions here which you’d rather not answer, please leave them blank.

  1. Please tell us here if you believe you have been affected by depression or a related condition:

………………………………………………………………………………….

………………………………………………………………………………….

  1. How would how you describe your racial origin. Please feel free to use your own description if none of the below fit.

BlackAsian

WhiteAfrican

BritishIrish

Other European

Other (please specify): ………………..……………………………

  1. Are you: MaleFemale
  1. How would you define your sexuality?

HomosexualHeterosexual  Bisexual

Other (please state in your own words) ……………………….…

  1. Please indicate your age group:

19-2526-50 50+

  1. Do you consider yourself to have a disability? Please give more details if applicable.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………..

  1. Do you have children or any other caring responsibilities? Please give more details if applicable.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………..

  1. To enable us to ensure our advertising reaches all sectors of the UK community, please state where you saw this post advertised:

…………………………………………………………………………………..