Job Description

Job Title:Sport and Physical Activity Development Officer (VISPA)

(12 month fixed term post)

Location:Merseyside

Salary:£11.66hour /£10,913.76 per annum/ FTE £21,221 per annum Hours per Week: 18 hours per week

Annual Leave:25 days plus 10 Statutory holidays (pro-rata for part time / term time roles)

Reports toBusiness Development Manager

DBS Check:Enhanced DBScheck required

Job Summary

The post holder will have responsibility for driving forward the work of the Visual Impairment Sport and Physical Activity (VISPA) group and leading on delivering the VISPA strategy.

The main purpose of the job is tocreate and promote opportunities forvisually impaired people of all ages to participate in physical activity and to motivate them to take part on a regular basis.

The post holder will be accountable to the VISPA consortia and will be responsible for the volunteers that are recruited to support this programme of work.

Day-to-day management will be provided by Henshaws who will also provide and office base at their Liverpool Office

Key responsibilities

  • To develop and promote opportunities for more visually impaired people across Merseyside to participate in sport and physical activity
  • To lead, coordinate and chair VISPA meetings, working closely with consortia members to deliver the VISPA strategy.
  • To promote good practice and project learnings via Henshaws Knowledge Village
  • To liaise with VISPA partners to maintain and promote the activity portal so that more visually impaired people know where to find out about sport and physical activity opportunities.
  • To promote all aspects VI sport and physical activity via social media, word of mouth, local newsletters, press and through local partner networks.
  • To identify key VI market segments in order to deliver activityprogrammes that are attractive todifferent target groups of VI people
  • To work with VISPA partners to explorehow the group can develop bespoke VISPA accredited sport/physical activity Visual Impairment Awareness Training (VIAT) that meets the diverse individual requirements of sport and physical activity providers.
  • To generate operation income for the VISPA group through the development and delivery of VISPA accredited VIAT.
  • To support Liverpool Lifestyles facilities to meet accessibility requirementsthrough the delivery of bespoke sport VIAT and ongoing monitoring of changes that are implemented.
  • To develop relationships across the public, voluntary and private sector in orderto promote VI participation in physical activity and increase the provision of inclusive activities.
  • To work with VISPA members to establish and manage a volunteer buddy scheme in order to recruit appropriate individuals as ‘Buddies’ who support visually impaired adults to access sport and physical activity opportunities.
  • To work with Schools and Sensory Services to develop and promote an inclusive approach to Physical Education that enablesVI Children and Young People to have positive experiences sport and physical activity at school.
  • To work closely with Henshaws Trusts and Grants team to secure external funding for VISPA activities.
  • To present monthly reports to the VISPA group that detail activities undertaken and outputs/ outcomes generated
  • To support partners with the delivery and promotion of a calendar of events and sessions that are designed to promote VI sportand physical activity
  • To work with VISPA partners to promote the benefits of physical activity to Visually Impaired communities and their families across Merseyside
  • To offer a flexible approach to working that meets the needs of the organisation
  • To represent Henshaws and VISPA in a professional manner at all times

General Requirements

  • In undertaking these duties Henshaws Society for Blind People expects employees to adhere to legislation, policies and procedures including health and safety, equal opportunities, fire and smoking policies and the Employee code of conduct
  • Attend all Henshaws mandatory and compulsory training sessions, taking responsibility to ensure training is up to date at all times.
  • Take responsibility for your own personal and professional development, including CPD where appropriate.
  • Facilitate training and knowledge sharing across Henshaws Society, and other providers where appropriate.
  • Offer a flexible approach to working hours to meet the needs of the organisation.
  • Represent Henshaws in professional manner at all times, contributing to marketing and recruitment activities for Henshaws Society as required.
  • The employee may on occasions be called upon to undertake work in other locations in order to ensure obligations to students, service users and third parties are fulfilled.
  • Comply with Henshaws Health & Safety requirements and be aware of and adhere to current Henshaws policies and procedures.
  • Any other duty as required by the line manager commensurate with the post.

Person Specification

In order to be shortlisted you must demonstrate that you meet all the essential criteria and as many of the desirable criteria as possible. Where we have a large number of applications that meet all of the essential criteria, we will then use the
desirable criteria to produce the shortlist.

All disabled candidates who meet the minimum essential criteria will be included on the shortlist.

Criteria / Essential or Desirable / How Identified
Application form / Interview / Selection test/copy of certificates.
Skills and Experience /
  • Experience of developing/delivering sport and physical activity programmes and activities
  • Experience of working with different partner groups and organisations
  • Experience of coordinating meetings and minute taking
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Strong influencing skills
  • Experience of recruiting and coordinating volunteers
  • Experience of project/activity promotion using a range of media
  • Experience of motivating people to participate in sport and physical activity
  • Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise effectively
  • Experience of working in a customer focused role
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office
/ E
E
D
E
E
E
E
E
E
E
E / A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A
General &
Specialist Knowledge /
  • An understanding of the challenges people with visual impairments experience
  • Knowledge of the barriers to participation in physical activity visually impaired people experience
  • An understanding of market segmentation and how this can inform engagement strategies
  • Knowledge of behaviour change approaches
  • Knowledge of the broad benefits of regular participation in physical activity
/ E
E
D
D
E / A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
A/I
Education &
Training /
  • Sport related degree or equivalent experience
  • Coaching qualification
  • Willingness to complete training for continued professional development
/ E
D
E / A/certificates
A/certificates
A
Special
Requirements /
  • Commitment to the aims and mission of the VISPA consortia and of Henshaws
/ E / A

Henshaws will make every endeavor to make any reasonable adjustments for applicants who require assistance in carrying out their duties due to a disability.

Henshaws is committed to safeguarding vulnerable adults and children. The post holder may be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check including barring lists for Adult and/or child barring services.

Henshaws is committed to equal opportunities and positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community.