Job Description

Job Title / Coordinator –Independent Living – Carers Emergency Support
Job Band / EP2S / Ref
Department / Independent Living /
Division
Reporting To
Accountable to / Services Manager
Senior Services Manager / Location / Newcastle
Duration / Two years Fixed term /
Last Updated
/ March 2014

Context

The Red Cross is the largest voluntary humanitarian organisation in the world. It promotes humanitarian values and provides emergency help to people in short term crisis in the UK and overseas. Within the UK, the British Red Cross operates through 32.000 volunteers and 3.000 staff.

Our success in making a difference to the communities in which we operate is dependent on the quality, availability and delivery of aid to those in crisis. Teams comprising Senior Services Managers, Service Managers and Coordinators working alongside skilled and competent volunteers deliver four UK Programmes.

The British Red Cross Corporate Strategy 2011 – 2015 ‘Saving lives – Changing Lives’ and the Health & Social Care Programme, aims to focus our work so that

We will help vulnerable people recover from health or social crisis,

and live with dignity and independence in their homes.

Scope

Under the direction of the Senior Services Manager and in conjunction with Service Managers, the post holder will work to provide and coordinate emergency support to a person whose carer suddenly becomes unable to return and offer care in the usual way, because of a personal crisis, sudden illness, accident or other emergency occurring while they are away from home.

The post holder will in addition, work to offer and provide additional planned support to allow the carer to socialise or attend personal appointments by accessing other Red Cross ‘support at home’ activities, for example; transport or equipment loan.

Overall Purpose of the Post

Is to recruit and retain volunteers working within the Health & Social Care Programme (H&Sc) and specifically in the Carer emergency Card Project,responding to the needs of individuals living within the boundaries of Newcastle.

Additionally the post holder will provide daily coordination, supervision and support to volunteers, while ensuring the project is fully integrated within the wider Health & Social Care programme.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

To provide and coordinate emergency support to a person whose carer suddenly becomes unable to return and offer care in the usual way, because of a personal crisis such as, sudden illness, accident or other emergency occurring while they are away from home.

•On a day-to-day basis coordinate the activities of volunteers while assisting in the development of a flexible, responsive project, providing support, leadership and motivation to volunteers who are engaged in delivering a range of support activities.

•Recruit and maintain an effective responsive team of active volunteers following all British Red Cross (BRC) volunteer management policies and procedures.

•Ensure that an appropriate programme of induction, training and ongoing development is available; and that accurate training records are kept

•To ensure that all volunteers working within the programme are fully aware of all health & safety policies and procedures concerning the programmes and their responsibilities within it.

•To be aware of unidentified need among service users and be able to respond and/or refer on to other Red Cross programmes or other agencies as necessary.

•To maintain accurate management information systems relating to service users (referrals and activity) and volunteer activity.

•Maintain a data base containing details of carers in Newcastlewho wish to be included in the scheme

•Will develop effective working relationships with Newcastle carers centre and any other relevant service user support group or agency operating within the City

•To ensure that levels of service users referrals are maintained and increased in line with agreed targets, thereby ensuring a sustained development of the programme is maintained

•To ensure that service user feedback is actively promoted and reacted to.

•Ensure that all equipment loaned out by the BRC complies with all H&S and organisational policies and service standards at all times. This will include any equipment or resources used by volunteers in carrying out their role(s)

•Contribute to promotional activities and events aimed at publicising the project to all relevant beneficiary groups and agencies.

•Attend courses, seminars or meetings as required.

•Assist the SM/H&Sc in the monitoring of the budget and to work within the financial procedures of the BRC at all times.

•Provide monthly and quarterly statistics and reports relevant to theproject to the SSM/SM or Area Administrative Manager as and when requested.

•Must be able to work unsocial hours on a rota basis, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays and be able to cover for volunteers and other colleagues working within the project.

•To be available to respond to an emergency call out and to attend emergency response training and exercises as and when required.

•To be committed to and able to work within the Fundamental Principles of the British Red Cross and its Equal Opportunities Policy.

•To undertake any other duties as required by the Operations Director.

Person Specification

Job Title: Ref: Coordinator – Heath & Social Care Programme.Band: EP2S

Education /

Training

/ Educated to GCSE level or equivalent by experience**
NVQ level 3 in care**

Experience

/ Demonstrable and evidenced experience of
•Recruiting, supporting and retaining volunteers in community based settings.**
•Working and / or liaising with statutory health; social care or voluntary sector **

Knowledge

Technical Skills

/ Demonstrable and evidenced awareness or knowledge of: -
•General health & safety legislation relevant to health & social care**
•Statutory and voluntary agencies offering advice & support to vulnerable groups**
•Quality monitoring and review systems including service user feedback processes.
•Department of Health (DOH) and Care Quality Commission (CQC).**
Show evidence of being IT literate.
•I.e. in the use of email: data inputting and word processing.**
•Evidence of the ability to collate a range of management information including statistical information

Behaviours

/ •The ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships within a team setting.
•The ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant external agencies
•Ability to manage workload, meet deadlines and respond effectively to a range of competing demands

Special Circumstances

/ •Full UK drivers licence**
•Have access to a car** and
•Be able to travel as appropriate to the needs of the organisation**
•Able to work unsocial hours including bank holidays evenings, weekends**
and
•To be able to provide cover for other colleagues working within the programme.**
•Able to respond to emergency call out events.**

**Minimum short-listing criteria. N.B. All disabled candidates who meet these criteria must be short-listed for interview in line with our commitment under the two- tick symbol scheme.

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