YourFamily Volunteer Co-Ordinator

The Early Years Alliance is the Lead Partner for A Better Start Southend, a National Lottery funded initiative working with the local community to shape and redesign services during pregnancy and early childhood (0-3 years).

A Better Start Southend is seeking a YourFamily Volunteer Co-Ordinator to join the ABSS YourFamily team. The position will support the recruitment, training and deployment of YourFamily volunteers, ensuring safe and effective delivery of the volunteer strand of the YourFamily Programme.

The YourFamily programme aims to give children the best start in life by building trusting relationships with expectant parents and parents with young children to develop their strengths and resilience, and connect them to community resources.

The YourFamily volunteer programme will enhance the opportunities and activities provided by YourFamily for parents and carers to develop their knowledge, skills, and understanding of child development, child health, child safety and parental wellbeing.

The Early Years Alliance is the largest early years membership organisation and voluntary sector provider of quality affordable childcare and education in England. An educational charity, the Alliance represents the interests of over 14,000 member settings who deliver care and learning to over 800,000 families every year.

Benefits:

• 26 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time employees
  
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Employer and employee contribution pension scheme
• Birthday leave so you can have a day off for your birthday dedicated to you and your well being
• Enhanced sickness pay and paid bereavement leave
• Regular access to internal and external learning and development opportunities
• A Recruitment Referral Payment Scheme, giving you an introductory payment of up to £300 if someone you have referred to the Alliance takes up a role in the charity.
• Vitality membership wellness and fitness app – including lots of great health benefits, rewards, telephone, and face to face counselling
• Savings of up to 25% on O2 Refresh Airtime Plan on any new phone or tablets
• A dedicated mental health First Aider to support your mental well being

Main duties:

• Lead the processes for the recruitment of volunteers through A Better Start Southend and on behalf of partner agencies if required.
• Work with ABSS Communications and Marketing Team to market opportunities for volunteering with YourFamily.
• Work with other volunteer organisations to support recruitment to the programme.
• Assess and match volunteers with appropriate opportunities.
• Support the induction of volunteers through YourFamily, including onsite inductions where appropriate.
• Arrange and facilitate training opportunities for volunteers through YourFamily and other organisations where appropriate.
• Maintain the volunteer database and keep accurate records ensuring data protection policies and procedures are adhered to
• Act as Safeguarding officer for volunteers and liaise with designated safeguarding lead.

Essential criteria:

• GCSE Maths and English or equivalent.
• Experience of supporting families and have an understanding of safeguarding.
• Experience of recruiting and working directly with volunteers.
• Experience of mentoring and supervising staff and/or volunteers.
• Ability to prioritise workloads and work on own initiative and as part of a busy team.
• Excellent communication skills in order to liaise and provide information to staff and volunteers within YourFamily and external partners.
• Experience of using IT for a range of purposes. (Microsoft Office including Excel, PP, Publisher or equivalent).
• Able to travel as required and work flexibly, including occasional weekends and evenings when required.

The Alliance is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. It is a requirement of all staff that they share this commitment and follow the prescribed policy and procedures to continuously promote a culture of safeguarding across the whole organisation.