Wiltshire Parent Carer Council CIC (WPCC) Job Vacancies Information Pack
Volunteer Coordinator
October 2023
Contents About the WPCC
Page 1
Other Information
Page 2
Volunteer Coordinator Role
Pages 3 - 5
How to Apply
Page 6
About the Wiltshire Parent Carer Council CIC (WPCC) The Wiltshire Parent Carer Council CIC (WPCC) is an independent organisation which is managed and run by parent carers*, for parent carers, seeking to enable the voice and experiences of parent carers to positively influence the services that their children and families use. Representing over 4,000 parent carers of children and young people in Wiltshire with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND), the WPCC is one of the largest parent carer forums in England. The WPCC provides a specialist consultation and participation service which enables parent carers to have a voice about the services and support their children and families use. This service offers real opportunities to influence and shape provision across the local area, and work in partnership with the people who commission and deliver services in Wiltshire. The WPCC also provides its specialist information and signposting service called SENDIS, to support parent carers of children and young people with SEND, and those working with them. The WPCC’s SENDIS service is a ‘one-stop shop’ that provides a wealth of specialist information as well as signposting to specialist services which support families raising a child or young person with SEND. This service is enhanced by our Outreach Service and Telephone Triage Team. * The WPCC uses the term parent carer to describe anyone over the age of 18 with parental responsibility for a child or young person with SEND; this does not have to be a parent and could include foster parents, adoptive parents, special guardians, grandparents etc.
Improving local services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
There’s nothing that can’t be done if we raise our voice as one 1
Why are you Advertising this Vacancy? The WPCC is advertising a vacancy for a Volunteer Coordinator due to the current post-holder moving on to a different role. This pack has been designed to give as much information about this vacancy as possible. The WPCC received one-off funding which means that we are able to offer this position until end March 2025. If the WPCC is able to secure further funding, then we would be keen to continue this role beyond March 2025.
Where the WPCC is Based The WPCC represents and supports parent carers across the whole of Wiltshire, excluding Swindon. The WPCC office is based in central Trowbridge, near to the Odeon cinema leisure complex.
Other Information Closing date for applications is 5pm on Tuesday 24th October 2023. Interviews for successful shortlisted candidates will take place on Friday 3rd November 2023 at the WPCC office.
It is hoped the successful candidates will start as soon as possible after the interview, subject to necessary checks. You will need an enhanced DBS; the WPCC will arrange this if you do not have a valid certificate.
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Volunteer Coordinator The Role This is an evolving and exciting role within the WPCC and we are looking for someone who will be flexible, adaptable and grow with the role as it continues to take shape and evolve. We are looking for someone to work ten hours a week (not weekends), term-time only. There can be significant flexibility in how these hours are worked each week and this can be discussed at interview. It is anticipated that this role will be largely home-based and community based, and there will be scope to work from the WPCC office in Trowbridge on occasion. You will have direct responsibility for supporting and liaising with WPCC’s operational volunteers. The range of opportunities that our volunteers engage in is growing all the time; some of the work these volunteers are currently engaged in includes facilitating parenting courses, observing decision-making panels, engagement with parent carers/settings to promote awareness of the WPCC, Local Offer website and events support. You will work alongside the WPCC’s Chair of Participation to ensure all our volunteers receive the support, information and coordinated responses they need. You will also need to liaise with Parenting Coordinator colleagues at Wiltshire Council regarding delivery of our Time Out For Parents courses. There will be some administration involved in this role, such as making sure record keeping of training and certificates is kept up to date. You will take a lead in the recruitment, training and mentoring of volunteers to ensure they are appropriately matched and trained for their role. You will be required to support with some of the facilitation of coproduction and engagement events with parent carers, and draft reports summarising the findings of this activity. You will be the WPPC’s lead representative on the Local Offer Steering Group and you will have an opportunity to attend some Discussion and Decision Groups as a moderator observer. It is possible there will be opportunities to engage in other strategic activity on behalf of the WPCC from time to time once you have embedded in your role. You will work in a person-centered way, in order to ensure our volunteers feel supported and confident in their roles. You will respect confidentiality (except where there are safeguarding concerns) and abide by the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
You will join and be supported by an established and experienced team within the WPCC who will support and mentor you in your role. Appointment to this post is subject to enhanced DBS and background checks. Casual User Car Allowance is payable as expenses.
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Salary and Hours This is a fixed-term, part-time, term-time only position up until 31st March 2025. If the WPCC is able to secure further funding, then we would be keen to extend this role beyond this period. As an employee on a term-time contract of employment, you will be contracted to work ten hours a week, for a total of 39 weeks per annum, therefore enabling the employee not to work during the school holidays. The salary payments are pro rata for 39 weeks of the year and include payments for the pro rata annual leave (based on the 5.6 calculation as stipulated in the Working Time Regulations 1998) and public/bank holiday entitlements. The annual salary of £4,808.70 will be paid in 12 equal instalments throughout the year. There may also be some occasional flexibility required on days worked, such as any WPCC event commitments. The WPCC office is based in central Trowbridge.
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About You You will need to possess excellent people skills. Experience of training, and supervising or mentoring a diverse range of staff or volunteers would be an advantage. We are looking for people who: •
are punctual and friendly and demonstrate a positive professional attitude
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demonstrable an understanding of safeguarding issues
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take pride in your own work and that of your colleagues
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are meticulous in attention to detail and accuracy
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have excellent organisational skills
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are literate and demonstrate satisfactory ICT and typing skills in line with the demands of the role
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understand who your customers are and why they matter
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are committed to organisational growth and development
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are committed to equality of opportunity and diversity
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work together with colleagues and customers and take the time to build effective and rational working relationships
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work well as part of team and you are able to show initiative and manage your own workload
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are team players, able to fit into a small, friendly and supportive team
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seek to learn from and support your colleagues
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review your own performance and ask for feedback to learn and improve
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work safely to maintain the health of both yourself and others
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are compassionate, caring and empathetic to both customers and colleagues
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work in a person-centred way
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understand and respect the need for confidentiality and data protection
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are flexible, quick to learn and able to adapt to change
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acknowledge when you make mistakes and take responsibility for addressing and correcting them
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Ready to Apply? Thank you for taking the time to read this pack. If after having read the information in this pack, you have any further queries about the role and would like to talk to someone before deciding whether you would like to apply, please contact the WPCC’s Strategic Director, Stuart Hall on 01225 764647 or email: director@wiltspcc.co.uk who will be happy to help.
If you would like to be considered for this position, please proceed by completing our online application form: www.form.jotform.com/Stuartwork/WPCC-Vol-Coord-October2023.
Please note, CVs or covering letters will not be considered.
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