Sibling Activity Coordinator

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description

Job Title: Sibling Activity Coordinator

Responsible To: Head of Family Support

Job Purpose To work as part of the Family Support Team to lead on developing an engaging activity programme for siblings (age 5+) of babies, children and young people of Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice. The activity programme provides a wide range of opportunities for relief from young carer responsibilities as well as peer support for those experiencing anticipatory grief or bereavement.

Main duties and responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

To work with key members of the Family Support team to plan a programme of events as part of the wider hospice offer.

To lead on the delivery of workshops, events and activities for siblings both in the hospice and off-site.

To maintain communication with a team of volunteers, assigning them to events and acting as their supervisor.

Promote peer support and sibling engagement by offering a wide range of activities to meet varying needs and interests.

To provide ad-hoc activity sessions for siblings during in-house stays to ensure they have a positive experience.

Key Tasks

To network with other hospices and organisations to maintain up to date knowledge and skills in supporting children and young people who are experiencing anticipatory grief or bereavement.

To research and maintain links with local venues, facilities and external providers to provide a wide range of activities for siblings.

To manage all administrative duties related to events including risk assessments, attendance, purchasing, communication with external providers and families etc.

To be responsible for managing a dedicated budget for sibling related activities and implement cost efficiency at all times to make every penny count.

Maintain communication with families via our Facebook pages, newsletters, email and telephone regarding sibling activities and events.

Evaluate the service, alongside colleagues within Family Support, to provide data and create reports.

To implement high levels of safeguarding awareness at all times.

Communication

Establish and maintain effective communication with current and bereaved families, being respectful towards the individual needs of each family.

Establish and maintain effective communication with relevant individuals and groups to support siblings; including key members of the hospice; volunteers; service users; statutory and voluntary organisations.

Understand the importance of, and maintain, the need for confidentiality in all individual and hospice matters.

Develop mechanisms to engage with service users enabling siblings to have a voice, which influences current and future service provision.

Service Development

Work with children and young people and their families to ensure their views, experiences and opinions are heard.

To build on and develop current sibling support services within Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice.

To collaborate with the Head of Family Support and Psychological Therapies Manager to identify gaps in the service and make recommendations regarding service delivery and development.

GENERAL

All Bluebell Wood employees are required to:

Abide by the Health & Safety at Work Act

Adhere to policy and procedures around safeguarding children and young adults

Respect confidentiality applying to all Hospice areas

Work within Hospice policies and procedures

Demonstratable understanding and application of the provisions of GDPR

Comply with the Hospice no smoking policy

Participate in and contribute to team meetings

Co-operate and liaise with colleagues

Behave in a professional manner at all times

Act as an ambassador for Bluebell Wood Childrens Hospice, reflecting the objectives and values, and to always work in the best interests of the charity.

SUPERVISORS OF VOLUNTEERS AT BLUEBELL WOOD ARE EXPECTED TO:

Recruit a team of volunteers to assist with the running of the department.

Manage, coordinate, supervise and train the volunteers.

Ensure a sufficient number of volunteers are engaged to maintain the expected level of service.

Complete working spreadsheets on a weekly/monthly basis, including planned absentee and holiday cover.

Allocate appropriate work schedules to volunteers, to meet the needs of the business.

Carry out effective inductions for new volunteers in your team.

Lead and guide volunteers, providing the support needed to maintain morale and enable them to work effectively.

Supervise your volunteers appropriately in their day-to-day work and actively work to recognise the work that they do.

Ensure your volunteers have access to some personal time with you on a regular basis.

Ensure that your volunteers have an annual opportunity to reflect on their volunteering role with you.

Support appropriate volunteer learning and development within your team.

Communicate effectively with your volunteer team.

All Bluebell Wood employees are expected to:

Demonstrate a commitment to their own development, to take advantage of education and training opportunities and develop their own competence.

Support and encourage harmonious internal and external working relationships.

Make a positive contribution to fundraising and raising the profile of the Hospice.

This Job Description is not exhaustive. It will be subject to periodic review and may be amended following discussion between the post-holder and employer.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Significant and relevant experience of working with children and young people (0-18+) with varying needs and experiences, including SEND.
• Experience of coordinating group events, activities and workshops to children and young people across a wide age and capability range.

Desirable

• Experience of working with bereaved families and responding to high levels of emotion.
• Experience in creating risk assessments and following policies and procedures in relation to trips and events for children and young people.
• Experience of supporting in the recruitment, training and supervision of volunteers.

Qualifications

Essential

• Minimum Level 3 Qualification in related area e.g. childcare, health and social care, education etc.

Desirable

• NVQ or Diploma in Childhood Studies
• CACHE Level 2 in play work

Skills / Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and vulnerable young adults.
• Knowledge and experience in using a play-based approach and/or creative resources when working with children and young people.
• The ability to assess childrens emotional and behavioural needs and provide appropriate support.
• Ability to plan and take responsibility for activity days and outings in the community.
• Excellent communication skills and a strong ability to manage the expectations of others
• Demonstrate an understanding of the complexities of grief in children, young people and parents
• Ability to manage priorities and time effectively
• Knowledge of and ability to use Microsoft Office suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (to basic level) and database systems

Personal qualities

Essential

• Confident, enthusiastic and assertive.
• Creative and child friendly.
• Sensitive to the needs of others
• Emotionally resilient and capable of handling frequent contact with families who are bereaved or caring for children with complex life-limiting conditions.
• Trustworthy and reliable
• Cheerful and positive outlook and attitude
• An interest in the charitable sector and able to demonstrate understanding of, and empathy with, the hospice sector

Other

Essential

• Legally entitled to work in this country
• Ability to work flexibly over a 7 day week including some weekends,
• some evenings and bank holidays, at the hospice and in the community
• Full driving licence with access to a reliable vehicle and business insurance cover

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice

Address

Cramfit Road

North Anston

Sheffield

S25 4AJ

Employer's website

https://www.bluebellwood.org/ (Opens in a new tab)