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Tandem Co-ordinator Job Description

 

Summary

 

The Co-ordinator manages a range of activities that deliver Tandem’s successful befriending partnerships, and runs the weekly Social Group. There is a particular focus on supporting volunteer befrienders and their befriendees who live in Oxford city and are living with mental health problems. The post holder will work with the Trustees who meet on a monthly basis. This is a largely home-based position.

 

Hours: 15hrs a week to be worked flexibly. Some evening and weekend work will be required, with time off in lieu given.

 

Salary: £15 per hour

 

Holiday: 6 weeks of annual leave pro-rata plus 80% bank holidays = 20 days plus 80% of bank holidays (6 days).

 

Contract: 1 year with a view to extending this upon review of performance and subject to availability of funding. There will be a 12-week probationary period.

Closing date for applications: 24th April 2022

Interview date: 28th April 2022

Anticipated start date: May 2022

 

Key responsibilities

Managing and developing Tandem’s befriending service

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For befriendees

Publicise and raise awareness of the befriending programme to providers of mental health services.

Manage referrals to Tandem; assess befriendees suitability through interviews, and proactively ‘match’ them with a befriender that meets their individual needs.

Liaise regularly with befriendees to discuss any issues and offer support.

For volunteers

Publicise opportunities for befrienders through the media, posters, leaflets, giving talks etc. This may include liaising with agencies such as volunteer centres, colleges and religious bodies who may be a source of volunteers.

 

Manage the recruitment, application process (including references and DBS checks), training, regular supervision and engagement of volunteers.

Develop and deliver bi-annual training days  and quarterly group support sessions for volunteers.

Carry out regular monitoring and reviews of befriending partnerships with befrienders and befriendees, and manage the endings of partnerships.

               Managing and developing the Tandem Social Group     

 

Draw up and distribute the monthly Social Group calendar.

 

Organise, facilitate, and attend weekly Social Group outings.

 

Maintain records of attendance and keep financial records of expenditure.

 

 

Reporting

 

Attend the Tandem Trustees monthly meeting, providing a Co-ordinator’s Report in advance and presenting it for discussion at meetings.

 

Meet with line manager on a monthly basis to set and review objectives. The line manager will be the first point of call for the Tandem Co-ordinator and will talk through issues or concerns as and when they arise, including outside of the formal monthly 1-1 meetings.

 

Take part in an annual performance review and maintain a Personal Development Plan as agreed with line manager.

 

 

General

 

Be the first point of contact for potential Befrienders and Befriendees, external agencies and other individuals.

 

Ensure that procedures are in place for the storage of personal data and that these are in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act and Tandem’s Confidentiality Policy.

 

Maintain all paperwork associated with ongoing partnerships.

 

Communicate on and promote awareness of Tandem’s work through emails, the website and social media.

 

Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the Line Manager

 

 

 

Person specification

Attribute

Essential

Desirable

 

Areas of Experience

Experience of managing volunteers or volunteer-focussed projects

Interest in, and awareness of issues relating to mental health

Experience of developing and delivering workshops/training sessions

Experience of working within and supporting teams

Managing budgets, monitoring data and communications (relating to volunteering)

 

Knowledge of current volunteer management trends and resources

 

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to warmly engage with and respond to others

Ability to motivate and persuade others about the benefits of befriending

Ability to plan and prioritise workloads

Ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity

Understanding of the issues facing those living with mental health problems

Knowledge of and commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Well organised; great attention to detail

Excellent computer literacy skills, including familiarity with all standard office packages (e.g. Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams) and an ability to maintain records and produce reports

Awareness of other volunteer and befriending programmes

 

Willingness to use online and Social Media platforms to promote the organisation

 

Supervisory skills

Personal Qualities

Able to communicate clearly, sensitively and non-judgmentally with a calm and professional working manner

Approachable, patient, outgoing, prepared to listen to others’ point of view, flexible, open to ideas, committed, reliable, enthusiastic and friendly

Motivated, proactive and ability to work alone

Empathy with both volunteers and befriendees

Commitment to developing ongoing skills to ensure best practice

Willing to do an enhanced DBS check

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