CAVERNOMA ALLIANCE UK
CAVERNOMA COMMUNITY WORKER
Further Particulars
Cavernoma Alliance UK (CAUK) is looking to find a “Cavernoma Community Worker” (CCW) to work in a small team to help deliver CAUK’s exciting expansion funded by the Big Lottery.
CAUK is a national charity, based in Dorchester, whose role is to support those diagnosed with cavernomas and their carers, and to raise awareness amongst the medical profession and the general public.
Cavernomas are abnormal developments of veins forming a growth or nexus in the brain. They can cause serious health problems including epilepsy and paralysis. As they can occur anywhere in the brain and spinal cord, their symptoms are variable, making diagnosis difficult. Further details can be found on our website (www.cavernoma.org.uk).
CAUK was founded in 2005 by Dr Ian Stuart, and until now has been run largely by him, with occasional help from a small team of volunteers and a Board of Trustees. Our membership has increased to over 600 and CAUK is now larger than this team can cope with and at the same time develop our services.
We have just been awarded a major 5-year grant by the Big Lottery to enable us to employ three part-time staff in order to take CAUK forward. These are for a Project Manager, a Cavernoma Community Worker and an Administrator. We have called the project ‘Big Step’ because this award will enable us to make a major expansion of our activities. We aim to support an increased proportion of those diagnosed and reduce their feeling of isolation working with individuals and groups both regionally and by common interest (e.g. those with families with children with symptomatic cavernomas, pregnant women). We will also work with the medical profession to help improve the understanding and treatment of cavernomas.
The Trustees have appointed Ian Stuart, the founder and co-ordinator of CAUK, to the Project Manager position for Big Step, following approval from the Big Lottery.
In the words of our application to the Big Lottery, the Cavernoma Community Worker (CCW) will “develop and deliver services for members and users of CAUK. (S)he will support and assist users and members via the internet, telephone and face-to-face. (S)he will support the Project Manager to develop links and events across England and in increasing awareness of the condition amongst medical professionals.”
We have expanded this description in the Job Description below. We see this as a very exciting and challenging opportunity for someone with a flair for organisation and a care for people to help develop the charity at a very challenging time in its history.
This is currently a part-time position, 18.5 hours per week at a salary of £8,500 per annum and reporting to the Project Manager. The Big Lottery funds are for five years. We aim to have all three posts starting at the same time at the commencement of the grant in the early autumn, in which case all posts will be for a fixed term of 5 years. In the event that any post is filled later than the others, the term for that post will be slightly shorter. The working hours will be by arrangement with the Project Manager. Paid annual leave for a full-time employee (37.5 hours per week) is calculated on the basis of 25 days leave plus all statutory holidays. Since this post is part time, the leave for this post is calculated pro rata according to the number of hours worked compared to a full time employee, giving a paid leave of 13 days plus statutory holidays.
All eligible employees are entitled to maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave and pay, in accordance with the statutory scheme. CAUK will pay the statutory pension, currently 1% of salary, but rising during the period of the grant. The post will be subject to a one-month notice period and there will be a six month probationary period when you join us.
The office of CAUK is in Dorchester, Dorset. It is important that the CCW maintains close links to the office, but we are prepared, for a suitably qualified candidate, for that person to work from home. Since part of the work is to develop activities across England, the post will include travelling nationwide, for which purposes all reasonable expenses will be provided, within the guidelines of our Travel Policy.
You will also be required to comply with CAUK policies and procedures including its Child & Vulnerable Persons Protection Policy and Health and Safety Policy.
If you would like to discuss this position informally with Ian Stuart, please contact him by e-mail to arrange a convenient to time for this at
We hope to hold the interviews in August in Dorchester.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from any suitably qualified applicant.
Charity No: 1114145
CAVERNOMA ALLIANCE UK
CAVERNOMA COMMUNITY WORKER [CCW]
JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
Reporting to: Project Manager
Starting Salary: £8,500
Hours: 18.5 hours per week
Term: Five years or until the end of the Big Lottery Award (see Introductory page above for details).
Location: Dorchester, but we will consider homeworking for a suitably qualified candidate. The person appointed will be expected to attend meetings and external events at a variety of locations around England.
Role: To develop and deliver services for members and users of CAUK. The CCW will support and assist users and members via the internet, telephone and face-to-face. (S)he will support the Project Manager and Board of Trustees to develop links and events across England and in increasing awareness of the condition amongst medical professionals.
To share responsibility for the development of services tailored to the needs of those diagnosed with cavernoma. To work with members of CAUK to identify need and tailor services and initiatives to meet those needs.
To ensure that services are delivered to a high standard and share responsibility for CAUK's activities and obligations on a day-to-day basis and advise the Manager/Board of Trustees on key areas of activity; to provide regular reports and liaison with funding bodies.
JOB DESCRIPTION
The Cavernoma Community Worker will work with the Project Manager, Trustees, other staff and volunteers to deliver the Big Step outcomes, including the regional development of support and centres across England and the increased awareness of the medical community about cavernomas and the support role that CAUK provides.
Further details of the role are given below, but these may change over time as the charity evolves.
Community Work
o To help recruit and work with volunteers across England.
o To pro-actively seek to connect with the cavernoma community via the CAUK web site, social media, email, fax, telephone, letter, and face-to-face (individual or group meetings/events).
o To share responsibility for the dissemination of information and news to the cavernoma community via the CAUK website, social media, at events or by other agreed means.
o Take or share the lead in the organisation and delivery of events such as regional CaverHubs, CaverFamilies, etc in locations across the UK.
o To assist in the production of good quality, accurate and relevant information and assist with targeting of delivery of this information in a range of formats – e.g. electronic, hard copies, audio-visual delivery via IT or in person.
o To take the lead on exploring and reviewing current methods of communication and service delivery and advise on future developments and improvements to current practice.
Organisational Planning and development
o Assist in the development, creation and delivery of the Big Step business and development plan.
o Share/take the lead in organisational planning and reviews of the links with and the services to the cavernoma community.
Event Planning and Delivery
o Work with the Project Manager, Trustee Board and any others to plan events that meet the needs of members in the most appropriate format.
o Undertake the planning and practical organisation of events, in conjunction with the Project Manager and Administrator, including canvassing the membership, carrying out research into need and means of meeting need, visiting venues, arranging speakers, timetabling and booking events, publicising forthcoming events and liaising with the media etc.
o Cost and produce budgets for events and liaise with the Project Manager / Treasurer / fundraisers to develop and deliver activities.
o Keep detailed records of events and produce reports/reviews of activities for discussion with the manager/board/medical colleagues etc.
Membership
o Assist in the maintenance and development of the register of members of CAUK, ensuring that individuals’ details remain confidential to CAUK.
o Assist the administrator and manager to deal with queries from potential members, sign up new members and send out data packs etc.
o Work with the community and colleagues to maintain the quality of services provided to members and ensure that information on the website and printed information is accurate and appropriate.
o Be aware of Data Protection requirements and assist the Project Manager with any relevant issues.
Public relations – External Relationships
o Promote and protect the aims, principles, policies, interests and reputation of CAUK locally, nationally and internationally and ensure that the organisation has a high profile at all times.
o Represent CAUK in external forums and at events either regionally, nationally or internationally as agreed with the Project Manager.
o Assist in the development and production of appropriate publicity and work to create and maintain effective relations with the media and others.
o Assist in the development of effective partnerships and relationships with appropriate organisations and individuals at local, national and international levels.
o Lead on the development of social media on behalf of CAUK.
Events and Hubs
o Assist in the organisation and running of CAUK conference events.
o Take the lead in organising and delivering agreed activities/events.
o Assist in developing services for various sub-groups of the membership (eg children, young people, retired people) through Hubs and help identify the funding requirements to pursue these developments.
Administration
o Work within CAUK administrative systems and policies.
Personal Performance/Development
o Work with the Project Manager to monitor/review own performance and identify training and development needs.
Other duties and responsibilities
o Attend CAUK Trustee Board Meetings when requested.
o Undertake such other duties as may lie within the scope of this post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria
1. Knowledge and understanding of cavernoma or enthusiasm to develop this rapidly.
2. Experience of working with groups/individuals with a common interest.
3. Track record in successful planning and delivery of projects
Desirable Criteria
4. An understanding of how to develop good working relationships with others including partner agencies from a range of sectors.
5. A systematic approach to organisational activities and experience of evaluating or reviewing the success of actions.
6. Demonstrable understanding of equalities and diversity in relation to working within a small charitable organisation.
7. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively in person and in writing with individuals and with a wide variety of organisations, and to research and interpret complex information and produce clear verbal and written reports.
8. ICT knowledge, including experience of using basic IT packages, maintaining information systems/data bases and the use and development of social media.
9. Experience of operating within a given budget and the use of a mechanism to account for expenditure.
10. Understanding of how to operate as a successful member of a small team.
11. Ability to work within organisational framework whilst utilising own initiative.
12. Willingness to learn and develop.
13. Excellent organisational abilities with demonstrable ability to prioritise and balance work load.
APPLICATION FORM
Thank you for requesting this application pack.
Notes on Application
Please read these notes carefully. They will help you to provide us with all the information we need to consider your application.
Completing the application form
All sections of the form must be completed for us to be able to assess your application: if a section is not relevant please put ‘N/A’ (not applicable). Please complete this form in black ink. Don’t substitute, or cross-reference information on this form. Do not send in a Curriculum Vitae (CV), but note that the form requires you add a personal statement. When you have completed all sections, you should return all pages by the closing date advertised.
If we wish to progress your application further, we will contact you by email with information about the next stage of the selection process.
Information required on application
We require you to give us the details of 2 referees who will be able to give their opinion as to your suitability for the role in question.
A reference will be sought from your current or last employer. Referees must be appropriate to the position applied for although, for college leavers, an academic reference is suitable. We are unable to accept a reference from a family member or personal friend.
Please ensure that your contact details are correct as this will prevent delays in the application process.
The Selection Process
If you are being invited for interview, you will be contacted by the Chair of the Selection Panel to give you details of the date, time and venue for next stage of the selection process.
Please return this application form to:
CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF COMPLETED APPLICATIONS:
12.00 Noon on 31 July 2013.
INTERVIEWS WILL BE HELD in Dorchester in August on a date to be arranged.
Application for post of Cavernoma Community Worker
Please use black ink when completing this form and complete all sections unless the section is not relevant, in which case please put N/A (not applicable) in the space provided. Note that the boxes will expand as you type if the space is insufficient.