Sense Deputy Holiday Or Short Breaks Leader

Sense Deputy Holiday or Short Breaks Leader

Job description

Job title: Deputy Holiday or Short Breaks Leader

Responsible to: Holiday Leader

Holidays or Short Breaks Coordinator

Job Purpose

Each year, Sense supports up to 300 people of all ages who are deafblind, have sensory impairments or complex needs, on our programme of holidays, short breaks and leisure clubs. These are delivered throughout the year across England and Wales, through an extensive network of committed volunteers and sessional staff.

As a Holiday Deputy Leader, you willshare the planning and deliveryof at least one of our unique group holidays or short breaks. You will have overall responsibility for the holiday group’s wellbeing and for maximising the holiday experience for all its participants. With full support from the Sense Holidays Team, this will involve preparation and planning before the holiday, including liaison with families, carers and holiday volunteers; the day-to-day management of the holiday; and participation in reviewing and evaluating the holiday after it has finished.

For further information about the holidays, please see our website.

Specific Tasks for Deputy Holiday Leaders

Before the Holiday:

With the support of the Holiday Leader:

1. Take an active part in discussions with the Holidays Team reviewing the groups of holidaymakers and volunteers allocated to your holiday.

1. Make contact with the parents/carers of all holidaymakers in your groupto build relationships with parents/carers and seek further detailed information to assist with the planning of the holiday. Where appropriate, and with support of the Holidays Team, this may also involve communication with keyworkers/ school staff or similar contacts for a holidaymaker; or could include a visit to the holidaymaker and their family.The responsibility for maintaining contact with and providing information to parents/carers is shared with the Holidays Team – further information will be provided during training.

1. Make contact with volunteers allocated to your group, introduce yourself, answer initial questions and maintain regular contact until the start of the holiday. The responsibility for maintaining contact with and providing information to volunteers is shared with the Holidays Team – further information will be provided during training.

1. Plan how your team of volunteers will support holidaymakers during the week, including making appropriate one to one links for holidaymakers and volunteers for the week.

1. Research and take on board full information about the holiday venue; plan how to maximise the opportunities on site, the space available for the group, and allocate rooms and beds appropriately. A visit to the venue may be appropriate and possible.

1. Research and take on board full information about the area where the holiday will take place and what activities are within travelling distance. A visit to the area may be appropriate and possible.

1. Plan a balanced programme of activities, led by the interests of the holidaymakers and what they have expressed as their wishes for their holiday. Include flexibility for plans to change and the group to make choices about activities as the week progresses.

1. Set up volunteer rotas for the week as necessary – these could include for breaks, night duty, meal preparation and household tasks during the week

1. For self-catering holidays, plan a balanced menu, investigate shopping facilities near the venue and make arrangements for shopping and cooking during the week.

1. Assist with carrying out risk assessments for your holidaymakers needs, planned activities, and the venue. Assist with completing risk assessment forms and submitting these to the Holidays Co-ordinator within agreed timescales in advance of the holiday.

1. Assist with completingan expenditure budget in conjunction with the Holidays Co-ordinator.

Trainingbefore the holiday:

1. Attend the Leader Training weekend and any additional training as agreed.

1. Attend the Volunteer Preparation Day with your volunteers. Plan a balanced and needs-led information session for your volunteers with emphasis on team building, volunteer expectations and detailed information about the holiday group and plans to date. Make contact with any volunteers who were unable to attend the preparation day and ensure they receive the same information and guidance.

1. Read and accept the principles and policies set out in the leader manual.

During the holiday:

With the support of the Holiday Leader:

1. Arrange to meet your volunteers prior to the arrival of the first holidaymakers for final team building, familiarisation and briefing.

1. Take the lead on welcoming families and holidaymakers, be available to answer questions and reassure holidaymakers/carers as they arrive, and ensure the whole team is fully engaged in welcoming and settling holidaymakers to the holiday.

1. During the first two days, telephone each holidaymaker’s parents/carers to answer any questions and give reassurance. Establish frequency of contact required and maintain contact throughout the week.

1. Monitor holidaymaker/volunteer pairings and ensure they are working well; provide further support as necessary.

1. Ensure that holidaymakers are receiving a high standard of care and support, with dignity and respect. Ensure that high standards of hygiene are maintained.

1. Ensure a balanced programme of activities, appropriate for the holidaymakers is carried out, and amend as necessary throughout the week.

1. Offerguidance, support and motivation to volunteers,ensuring both good practice in how holidaymakers are supported and engaged, and a high level of volunteer wellbeing.

1. Manage medication and health needs, including making appropriate arrangements for you or the Holiday Leaderto issue medication. Maintain a record of drug management, in accordance with the leader manual.

1. Manage the holiday budget, keeping clear records of expenditure throughout the week.

1. Ensure safety checks are carried out on the minibus during the holiday (checklists supplied by the Team), delegating this where appropriate, and that the interior of the minibus is kept clean during the holiday. Hand the bus back to a member of the Holidays Team or to the next holiday group clean and tidy, as you would wish to receive it.

1. Nominate a person responsible for first aid and ensure that the appropriate records are kept of injuries, accidents, incidents and action taken.

1. Oversee all general day to day holiday activities, including rotas or arrangements for driving, cooking, other household tasks, creating diaries, sending postcards, etc.

1. Be prepared to lead on responding to challenges and issues throughout the holiday, to call for support from the Holidays Team wherever necessary, and to use effectively the on site support of the mid-week holiday visitor (from the Holidays Team or Sense staff).

1. Handle any queries from the public which arise during the week.

After the holiday:

1. Submit completed expenditure records and return any cash, bank card, equipment and resources to the Holidays Teamwithin one month of the end of the holiday.

1. Give constructive written feedback about the holiday and leading experience to the Holidays Team through the written completion of Holidays feedback formswithin one month of the end of the holiday and by completinga one-to-one evaluation meeting (in person or by phone) with a member of the team.

Other:

1. Following the allocation of your holiday group, and until evaluation has been completed, leaders commit to regular contact and communication with the Holidays Team.

2.Comply with Sense policies and procedures, actively promoting the principles of equal opportunities and working in a manner that maintains a safe, healthy and supportive environment for everyone involved in the holiday.

Sense Deputy Holiday Leader

Person Specification

Essential Requirements

• Experience of working with people who are deafblind, have a multi-sensory impairment or other complex and multiple needs
• A commitment to putting the interests, needs and wishes of holidaymakers and their families at the heart of both planning for and delivering the holiday experience
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Experience of supervising, guiding or coaching others
• Experience of working under own initiative and able to ask for and accept help when needed
• Excellent organisational skills
• An understanding of good practice in handling petty cash and effective financial record keeping
• An understanding of good practice in the administration of medication and of the processes that need to be in place in order to support medical and health needs effectively in a residential setting
• A commitment to contributing fully to the review and evaluation the holiday
• Able to meet the time requirements of the role:

-Assessment Day (14th January 2017),

-New Leader Training Day 18th March 2017(Birmingham) or 22nd April (London)*,

-Leader Training Weekend 2017 (evening of 12th May to afternoon of 14th May 2017),

-Volunteer Preparation Day (17th June 2016)

-At least one full residential holiday lasting between 5 and 7 days during the school holidays – up and coming opportunities include various breaks during the Easter holidays (between 8th and 13th April), May half term (28th May – 2nd June), Summer holidays (21st July – 26th August) & October half term (22nd – 27th Oct)

-Additional preparation time in the 2 months prior to your holiday

Desirable Requirements

• Driving licence (full and clean) and willingness to drive a minibus during the holiday
• Current adult first aid certificate or willingness to complete a first aid course prior to the holiday and to act as a first aider during the holiday
• Experience of planning and delivering training
• Experience of working with people with autism
• A BSL level 2 qualification or above
• Experience of liaising with and reassuring carers

*If you would find it difficult to attend one of these new leader training days, alternative arrangements can be made available in discussion with holidays or short breaks coordinator.