Project Officer - Job Description

Job Title / Project Officer
Accountable to / Project Coordinator
Accountable for / Implementing INDI South East project activities with Big Lottery Fund funding 2009-2012
Working with / External organisations and local authorities
Project staff
Volunteers
Location / Home based – with regular travel in South East region
Buckinghamshire,Oxfordshire,Milton Keynes, ThamesValley Unitaries, West Berkshire
Hours / 24.5 per week (flexible working hours)
Salary / £24,750 (pro rata)
Interviews / 19th February 2010
Proposed start date / To be agreed

Background

Social Information on Disability – SID provides a range of services related to disability information provision in Surrey, including a free information service for disabled people and carers and a web based second hand disability equipment service. SID also develops information resources and undertakes commissioned work. SID is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee.

As the result of a successful bid to the Big Lottery Fund under its BASIS round, the organisation has received funding to undertake a three year project, entitled INDI South East(Infrastructure Network for Disability Information). The purpose of the project is to establish an infrastructure body for organisations providing disability information in the South East of England. The project aims to provide a focus for networking, create stronger links between organisations and local authorities, and raising awareness within other region-wide infrastructure bodies of the key issues affecting disability organisations in the voluntary sector. Therefore, the post of Project Officer is a new one funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

Post holders’ duties

The Project will take a key role in developing the INDI South East project across the South East region and establishing it as a region wide infrastructure body for disability organisations in the voluntary and community sector.

S/he will haveresponsibility to support the work of the disability organisations involved in the projectin their specific geographical area.

The main work will be to support the work of the disability infrastructure organisations and to help to establish unitary and countywide networks where these are yet to be formed or have folded.

S/he will establish links with local frontline disability organisations in their respective areas and arrange quarterly networking meetings, to get to know their key issues and support sharing of ideas, resources and good practice. They will facilitate the involvement of disability organisations in a range of local, regional and national consultations.

S/he will work with the Project Coordinator to establish a database of organisations, and to develop information resources to meet the needs of the disability organisations in their area. S/he will also work with the existing specialist and generic infrastructure organisations in their areas to raise awareness of disability issues.

Within the area s/he will also contribute towards collecting information to enable the project’s evaluationand monitoring requirements to be met. S/he will also contribute towards identifying and accessing local funding avenues for the continuation of the project’s work, when the current funding ends.

Main Duties

To work with the INDI South East team to support and develop the ‘voice’ of disability organisations in the South East to:

  • Ensure that the disability organisations across the South East have a strong and independent voice and are well supported on key regional strategic and policy structures
  • Build partnerships with those working in the disability field and with marginalised communities and sectors currently less well connected to the local, regional and national agendas
  • Build relationships with and lobby key sub-regional, regional and national stakeholders to ensure that the social and economic importance of disability is recognised
  • Assist in co-coordinatingINDI South East’s response to policy and consultation documents

Key tasks

Implementing the project and developing networks

  • Plan and implement weekly and monthly work plans from the home base in regular communication with INDI South Eastproject staff
  • Respect the timeline and milestones within the project in line with INDI South Eastproject Business Plan
  • Provide activity plans and regular reports on the projectfrom the designated area in the South East region, as required by INDI South Eastteam and donor
  • Respect the financial reporting system as required by SID and donor
  • Request support from project team as required
  • Share information to promote the best interests of the projects’ success and influence in the region

Communication

  • Raise awareness of the project focusing on sharing information in a selected part of the South East region
  • Promote the project as a key player in the development of policy in the South East region through a variety of media activities and events
  • Work as part of the team

-to build relationships with relevant external organisations

-to establish a membership group from organisations within the South East region

-to arrange quarterly meetings and a regional conference in the third year of the project

-to create and sustain partnerships within the VCS to raise awareness of disability issues in the region

-to represent the disability agenda at regional level infrastructure meetings

-to facilitate active participation of VCS disability organisations in a rangeof local and regional consultations

-to contribute towards compiling communications e.g. bulletins, newsletters, websites andmeetings

-to facilitate and sustain partnership working in accordance with SID’s equal opportunities policy

-to follow the Big Lottery’s branding requirements

Research & data management

  • Work as part of the team

-to research and establish the needs, priorities, skill levels and current level of involvement of disability organisations in the South East region

-to identify key infrastructure and frontline organisations and create a database based on this information

Policy

  • Work as part of the team

-to maintain and develop relationships with agencies, organisations and stakeholders to ensure a coordinated approach to policy development and build working relationships

-to develop links with key partners, other organisations and key stakeholders to work jointly on influencing the consultation processes and responding to specific policy issues

Terms of Employment

Probation period / The appointment is subject to a 6 monthprobation period
References / The appointment is subject to receipt of two satisfactory references – one from a previous employer
Criminal Record Bureau Check / An Enhanced CRB disclosure will be required for this position
Health & Safety / SID is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for all paid and unpaid staff
Equal Opportunities / SID is committed to equal opportunities. All procedures and activities comply with legislation and best practice as determined by our Equal Opportunities policy
Annual leave / 25 days pa (pro rata) (19.6 days)
Training & development / You will be encouraged to attend in-house and external training and development activities to support you in your role.

Please note This is a description of the job as it is presently constituted. It is the practice of SID to examine job descriptions from time to time and to update them to ensure they relate to the job as then being performed, or to incorporate whatever changes are being proposed. This will be conducted in consultation with you. It is the organisation’s aim to reach agreement on changes, but if agreement is not reached, the organisation reserves the right to insist on changes to your job description.

January 2010

1