Job Pack CONTENTS • Covering Letter • Job Description

Job Pack CONTENTS: • Covering Letter • Job Description • Person Specification • Project Information If applicable Yes No • Summary of Conditions 1 Date as postmark Dear Applicant Re: Support Worker – Bail Support Scheme – Leeds (Ref: SWBS) Please find enclosed an application pack and further details for the above post. This includes guidance on how to complete the application form, and some additional information about SOVA and the recruitment process. Please do not send CV’s as they are not an acceptable alternative to any part of the application form and will not be considered. Completed application and monitoring forms should be returned to: SOVA HR St Silas House 18 Moore Street Sheffield S3 7UW Alternatively, you can fax your application form back on 0114 270 3701. The closing date for the return of applications is 9am, Monday, 22nd June 2009, and we regret that late applications cannot be accepted. Interviews will be held on Tuesday, 30th June 2009, and only short listed applicants will be contacted. If you have not heard from us by that date I am afraid your application will have been unsuccessful. Yours sincerely June Graham HR Manager Tel: 0114 270 3710 Email: jgraham@sova.org.uk 2 JOB DESCRIPTION JOB TITLE: Support Worker (Volunteers) BASE: Leeds (Some travel across Yorkshire and Humberside) SOVA is a national voluntary organisation, which works to strengthen communities by involving local volunteers in promoting social inclusion and reducing crime. It is SOVA’s vision that Volunteers, as members of the community, will actively seek to provide access to resources that offenders, ex-offenders and disadvantaged young people may use in developing their own potential in society. Details of SOVA’s existing operation can be found on the internet at www.sova.org.uk The Yorkshire and Humberside Bail Support Scheme is managed by NOMS (National Offender Management Service) and NACRO in partnership with SOVA and Foundation Housing as service providers. The Scheme aims to provide courts with suitable alternatives to custodial remand for adult defendants including support, supervision and accommodation measures to enable compliance with bail and to attend court hearings. The project has operated across the five major cities of Hull, Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford and York as well as in some rural locations in the region for the past two and a half years. 3 CONTEXT The post of Support Worker is an established grade within SOVA. The role of the Worker is to take responsibility for specific aspects of the project’s work as detailed below. All duties are to be carried out in line with SOVA’s current operating policies and procedures and any procedures of the partnership agency/funder that apply In the first instance the post holder reports to the Coordinators JOB CONTENT 1. To support the Volunteer Co-ordinators in agreed tasks and activities 2. To contribute to meeting project or departmental targets and objectives 3. To provide support to volunteers by telephone and in person and interview volunteers where directed by volunteer coordinators 4. To process volunteer applications and administer volunteer identification cards and process criminal record checks 5. To support the delivery of volunteer training, coordinating the accreditation process, making practical arrangements for training and supplying training materials 6. To process volunteer referrals and assist the Volunteer Coordinator in promoting volunteering 7. To take responsibility for specific administrative tasks, including data inputting and collation; maintaining records; gathering information; and general administration. 8. To adhere to project administrative procedures and guidelines 9. To maintain up to date project information on the SOVA national volunteer register and up to date files on defendants and volunteers 10. To process returns to SOVA Head Office and Funders, including monitoring returns, petty cash, expenses and other returns 4 11. To service meetings including preparing and circulating agendas, distributing papers, booking rooms and taking minutes 12. To contribute to the promotion of the project including to the partnership newsletter 13. To maintain productive relationships with partners including attending meetings, preparing reports etc. 14. To cover any appropriate aspect of other team members roles in their absence 15. To be self administrating, organise own time effectively, work on own initiative and within a team structure 16. To ensure effective communication with the other SOVA staff when they are out of the office 17. To take part in regular supervision with line manager 18. To participate in the general development of SOVA through meetings, training and attendance of other events 19. To carry out any other duties within the scope of the post 5 PERSON SPECIFICATION Evidence of meeting the criteria in this person specification must be shown when completing the application form for the post and will be further tested at interview through questioning and testing. CRITERIA SKILLS/ABILITIES Administration E Data inputting and collation, maintaining records, drafting letters, information gathering, carrying out general office duties, filing and photocopying Preparing reports, liaising with partners, relating to colleagues, demonstrating competence in Microsoft Office and management of electronic databases To have both verbal and written skills, dealing with telephone enquiries, taking messages, providing information and advice Planning work; meeting deadlines E/D CONTEXT Communication E Management of time and workload E 6 Servicing meetings D Liaison with partners Recruiting volunteers E D Team Work / Work on own initiative Work within organisational policies E E Booking and preparing rooms, preparing agendas, distributing papers, taking minutes, keeping attendance lists Ability to work in a multi agency environment Taking part in volunteer recruitment and signposting to support, advice and guidance Working on your own or in the team Implementing organisational policies e.g. Confidentiality, Equal Opportunities/Diversity, Health & Safety, Child Protection and Safeguarding Understanding of volunteer recruitment, and co-ordinating CRB / accreditation processes Understanding of the purpose of monitoring and ability to use monitoring systems Understanding of the circumstances and barriers existing for a range of disadvantaged groups Knowledge of current thinking and developments in this area General office and reception duties Access to a vehicle Full driving licence Enhanced CRB Disclosure required KNOWLEDGE/UNDERSTANDING Working with volunteers D Monitoring processes D Needs of defendants and other disadvantaged groups E Community/Criminal Justice System EXPERIENCE Working in an office environment SPECIAL CONDITIONS RELATING TO THIS POST D D D D E 7 Summary of conditions JOB TITLE: BASE: STARTING SALARY: SALARY RANGE: WORKING WEEK: HOURS OF WORK: Support Worker (Volunteers) Leeds £17,573 per annum pro rata £17,573 - £21,421 (pts 15 – 25) pro rata 17.5 hours Normal working hours are Monday - Friday, between 9 am - 5 pm. Overtime is not payable and SOVA operates a time off in lieu system for any hours approved by line manager and worked in addition to those stated The post is subject to a six-month probationary period wherein one week’s notice is required on either side. Once confirmed in post, notice is one month on either side 13 days per annum plus all public holidays This post is funded up to 31st March 2010 with an anticipation of a further funding subject to tendering of the contract PROBATIONARY PERIOD: HOLIDAY ENTITLEMENT: CONTRACT: PENSION: All staff are eligible to join a group stakeholder scheme immediately upon appointment. SOVA will make an employer's contribution into the scheme of a multiple of 1.5 of employee’s contribution up to a maximum of 9% during the financial year 2009/10). Staff will only become eligible for the employer's contribution from the date of confirmation in post A criminal record check is required for this post CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK: 8 9