JOB DESCRIPTION

December 2012

Job title: Functional Skills CoordinatorDepartment: Client Services

Team: Crisis Skylight Coventry & WarwickshireJob holder: New post

Reporting to: Skylight Coventry Manager

Aim

  • Develop and deliver a functional skills programme (literacy, numeracy ESOL and ICT) for Crisis Skylight clients.
  • Deliver up to 16 hours of learning activity per week to groups consisting of no more that 12 learners.
  • Plan and resource (materials, sessional tutors, etc) approximately 12 further hours of activity per week delivered by sessional tutors.
  • Ensure the delivery of high quality accredited functional skills classes including initial assessment, lesson planning, suitable learning materials learner support, teaching and the preparation of learners for assessment.

Dimension

  • Management of sessional tutors and volunteers.
  • Delegated responsibility for day to day management of a budget for materials, venue hire and other purchases related to the delivery of services and reporting on this to the Skylight Manager.

Circumstances

  • 35 hours per week.
  • Some evening and weekend work will be required and time off in lieu will be given in accordance with Crisis TOIL policy.
  • Based in Coventry with services delivered on an outreach basis across Coventry and Warwickshire and so access to own transport is essential.
  • The role involves working with vulnerable adults and young people and so a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau is required.

Salary

  • £26,270 pa

Background

Crisis is the national charity for single homeless people. We are dedicated to ending homelessness by delivering life-changing services and campaigning for change.

Crisis Skylight, our award winning and accredited education, training and employment services, offer practical and creative workshops with formal learning opportunities that lead to qualifications and finding work. Crisis has Skylight centres open in London, Newcastleand Oxfordand operates outreach services in Birmingham, Merseyside and Edinburgh. We are opening two outreach services in Coventry & Warwickshire and South Yorkshire in 2013.

In Coventry & Warwickshire, Skylight services will be delivered on an outreach basis in existing homeless and community facilities.

The Role

The Functional Skills Coordinator will plan a programme of functional skills activities/classes that will enable homeless and vulnerably housed people to develop their skills, confidence and self esteem whilst gaining qualifications. The Functional Skills Coordinator will manage and support sessional tutors delivering the programme as well as delivering classes in their own specialism. They will work with the Arts Coordinator and the Smart Skills tutors to embed functional skills into the other learning disciplines. Key to the success of the programme will be strong partnership working with employment, arts and homelessness organisations in Coventry and Warwickshire.

Organisational chart

JOB DESCRIPTION

Principal accountabilities

  • Develop a functional skills programme (literacy, numeracy, ESOL and ICT) in consultation with the Senior Tutor, Crisis clients and partner organisations.
  • To directly deliver functional skills classes for 16 hours per week (teaching time).
  • Arrange group trips to enhance the learning experience.
  • Ensure delivery of the agreed programme of activities and take responsibility for ensuring high quality and efficiency.
  • To ensure the activities are evaluated under Crisis guidelines.
  • To make and keep appropriate assessment records and track and inform progression.
  • To liaise as required with internal moderators and other representatives of awarding bodies.
  • To maintain and provide required records for accountability purposes.
  • Make hiring and cost recommendations for the functional skills programme. Arrange payment for facilities usage, materials, equipments and sessional tutors as needed.
  • Manage, support, recruit & co-ordinate sessional tutors for activities and classes.
  • Building and maintaining good working relationships with a range of educational establishments, sessional tutors, voluntary and private organisations.
  • Ensure effective communication, via the Director of CS Birmingham and WM and the Skylight Manager, with all funders through project reports and evaluation.
  • To assess the learners’ progress and attainment against the standards set for the programme.

Contribution to the team and organisation

  • Develop and share teaching and learning materials with the team and with other Skylight centres.
  • In conjunction with the Work and Learning Coach, identify learners within the functional skills programme that with one-to-one coaching would be ready to move-on to further education and / or employment.
  • In conjunction with the Smarts Skills Tutor, identify learners within the functional skills programme that are struggling to commit and would benefit from one-to-one tuition, support and coaching to remain engaged.
  • Participate in professional development activities.
  • Promote well-being and development of the organisation internally and externally.
  • Work within the organisation’s policies and procedures including Equal Opportunities.
  • Support and manage volunteers as required within the classes.
  • Participate in the continual improvement of resources, learning environments and delivery of effective teaching methods and styles.

General accountabilities

  • Develop and maintain an understanding of Crisis’s work and the needs and circumstances of homeless people.
  • Comply with Crisis policies and procedures, including Health and Safety policies, for which all employees owe a duty of care both to themselves and others, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
  • Carry out duties that may reasonably be required in the light of the main purpose of the job.
  • Respect and meet professional standards published by the Institute of Fundraising and the Fundraising Standards Board.

Person Specification

Essential

  • The applicant must either hold or be working towards a practical teaching qualification i.e. adult basic skills, ESOL, PGCE, Cert Ed or equivalent
  • Knowledge of awarding bodies and quality standards in Adult Education
  • Experience of delivering literacy, numeracy, ESOL and / or ICT in an adult education environment
  • Experience of managing and motivating staff, with knowledge and credibility to manage those who are delivering courses in a diverse range of subjects
  • Ability to keep accurate and up to date records, sharing information as and when appropriate.
  • Excellent communication (written and verbal) and presentation skills
  • Proven organisational skills including an ability to prioritise, be self motivated and have good time-management skills
  • A passion for innovative learning, creativity and encouraging individuals’ competency in functional skills
  • Proven experience of engaging vulnerable, disengaged or hard to reach adults in relevant educational, employment and training programmes
  • Developing of teaching and learning materials and the tracking and monitoring of individuals progress
  • Experienced in the preparation and planning of assessments and individual learning plans
  • Access to own transport with ability to travel throughout Coventry and Warwickshire
  • Commitment to Crisis’s purpose and values including equality and social inclusion

We encourage applications from all sections of the community particularly those with personal or previous experience of homelessness.