Job Description
Boat Manager and Skipper (“Hazel” – New Lives from an Old Boat)
Salary: £22 - 25,000 ( 2 Year contract ; annualised hours)
Hours: 30 hours per week for year 1 and 37.5 hours per week for year 2 ( flexible working patterns required during the year to match the requirements of the job, including being away from home during the boating season)
Period of Contract: Initially offered on a 2 year fixed term contract. Any continuation will be by negotiation and subject to availability of funding.
Location of Job: 173, Stamford Street, Ashton under Lyne and /or Portland Basin, Ashton under Lyne.
Employer: The Wooden Canal Boat Society
Responsible to: Project Development Manager on a day to day basis.
WCBS Council of Management (Trustees) and Hazel Steering Group, contractually.
Responsible for: Volunteer Skippers and Crew
Main Contacts: Volunteer skippers and crew ; local charity client groups ; Canal and Cruising Clubs ; WCBS Members, Trustees and volunteers ; Canals and Rivers Trust ; Tameside MBC ; Community and Voluntary Action Tameside.
Background information: The Wooden Canal Boat Society ( WCBS) is close to completing the refurbishment of an historically important wooden canal boat (“Hazel”), which will be commissioned as a non-motorised “wellbeing boat” to deliver the “5 Ways to Wellbeing”. The boat will be well equipped to enable those with disabilities, and those who are marginalised and socially isolated , to enjoy the tranquility of the canals and also to develop a market for leisure breaks at a more commercial rate. The WCBS has been awarded a Big Lottery Fund grant under the Reaching Communities programme in order to commission “Hazel” as a fully operational “wellbeing boat”.
The Boat Manger / Skipper, is essential to the delivery of a practical programme of “wellbeing” and commercial canal trips lasting from one day outings, weekend breaks to week long trips.
“Hazel” will be moored at and will work out of Portland Basin. The general operating area will be Huddersfield Narrow, Peak Forest, and Macclesfield Canals. However, it may be necessary to roam further afield , depending on the schedule and bookings.
Being a non-motorised boat, Hazel will require to be towed by another waterborne motorised vessel or horsedrawn. The WCBS has a motorised wooden canal boat which can be used as a tow boat, when necessary.
The boat manager/ skipper will be required to work flexibly as necessary. There cannot be such a thing as a “standard week”. We expect there to be high demands during the during the high season ( april to October) and a significantly reduced number of days during the winter
Main Purpose of Job: The Boat Manager / Skipper will work in close cooperation with the Project Development Manager ( PDM). He / she will be required to operate” Hazel” on the canal system, develop a pool of volunteers with the skills needed for crewing “Hazel” on a programme of “wellbeing” and commercial boat trips. He / she will be responsible for ensuring that the means of pulling / towing “Hazel” is properly planned, managed and appropriate for each trip. The Boat Manager will ensure that “Hazel” is prepared, cleaned, provisioned and at all times ready to welcome and ensure the safe enjoyment of clients. He / she will have a good understanding of the needs of each client group, that they are fully briefed ahead of each trip and that appropriate records are maintained reflecting each trip.
Main Tasks and responsibilities
Managing / Skippering “Hazel”
o To operate “Hazel” on the canal system, in accordance with best practice, to ensure the safe enjoyment of every group of passengers, all times ensuring health and safety regulations are met and adhered to.
o To recruit, train and manage a relief skipper and a pool of volunteer crew, committed to The Wooden Canal Boat Society, in accordance with NCBA Training accreditation.
o To organise / manage the volunteer crew to assist on all trips to meet the needs / expectations of each client group.
o To provide / organise any training that may be required in order to meet safety standards,
food hygiene standards , vulnerable client needs etc
o To maintain an up to date list of volunteer skippers and crew and their availability for forthcoming trips.
o To arrange holiday cover / relief cover as necessary with suitably qualified volunteer skippers.
o To carry out / organise any minor repairs / painting that may be required during the boating season and to arrange for the dry docking of “Hazel”, as necessary in order to carry out maintenance / repairs to the hull during the winter period.
Planned Trips / Schedule
o To work closely with the Project Development Manager ( PDM) to plan and implement a schedule of “wellbeing” and commercial canal trips for the period of the main boating season between beginning April to end October.
o To work closely with the PDM to plan the schedule of bookings and to ensure that the appropriate payments are made in advance of any trip.
o To plan the most appropriate means of pulling / towing in advance of any proposed trip and ensure that this is managed to meet the needs of the trip and the expectations of the client group. This may include horse drawn.
o To liaise as necessary with the carers / supporters of each wellbeing group to understand their level of abilities and / or specific needs in respect of each wellbeing trip.
o To ensure that every group of clients receives a proper briefing before the trip with respect to safety on board the boat, emergency actions, expected behaviours, role of the skipper/crew and the planned itinerary.
o To ensure that the boat is kept in a fit , safe and hygienic condition and that all its equipment and safety features are in working order and the batteries fully charged.
o To ensure that prior to each trip the boat is fully cleaned and provisioned and ready for passengers, including the provision of fuel, food and clean water.
o To ensure that the “ black water” holding tank and chemical toilet are emptied appropriately, as and when necessary.
Maintaining Records
o To maintain a diary detailing users of Hazel, skipper and crew, itinerary and timings.
o To maintain a log of accidents and incidents.
o To ensure that a feedback questionnaire is filled in by all clients after each trip and is returned to the Project Development Manager as part of a feedback process.
o To maintain a record of all costs associated with the day to day running of the “Hazel”.
Other Duties
o Represent WCBS professionally at a senior level to external organisations and champion the Hazel Project and the work of the WCBS generally.
o To work to combat all forms of discrimination, and to ensure that the principles of equal opportunities are implemented in all work undertaken on behalf of WCBS.
o To carry out the above duties, and any other duties commensurate with the responsibilities of the post which may reasonably be required, in a manner which actively supports and promotes WCBS’s aims and policies.
o To be responsible for own health and safety and that of colleagues, in accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act and relevant EC Directives, including reporting any health and safety hazard immediately it becomes apparent.