Community Development Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Supporting residents and local communities to play an active role in their community

Stimulating interest in and awareness of local community issues and encouraging resident involvement in solutions and decision making

Promoting integration and cohesion within and between communities locally.

Supporting residents to identify issues, needs and solutions to improve their community.

To organise and facilitate formal and informal meetings with community members, stakeholders as part of community development.

Provide professional community development support to support initiatives which improve the quality of life of individuals and groups within the community

Effectively engage with communities across the local work area, involving them in developing initiatives to promote community cohesion.

Establish a network of contacts with key workers in the community from the public, private, community and voluntary sectors.

Assist in the promotion of community development initiatives and associated community-based projects to ensure that all sections of the community are aware of available local resources and opportunities.

Support the community to arrange and promote events which enhance local community identity and cohesion.

To support MHCTs strategic priorities and objectives to increase our presence within the community meeting diverse needs.

To support individuals to identify training needs and signpost to appropriate training opportunities.

Work as part of Murray Halls wider team be a link to the existing services, facilities, activities at The Bridge Centre and other Murray Hall services and activities.

Contribute to the programme key targets to be achieved.

To capture data, maintain the programmes documents and keep accurate records of activities, tracking changes and provide monitoring and progress reports.

To plan and coordinate meetings, community forums and events

To attend community events and meetings.

As a Community Development Champion, you'll need to:

seek to actively engage communities in making sense of the issues which affect their lives

Set goals for improvement and respond to problems and needs through empowerment and active participation

Complete asset maps identifying community skills, assets, issues and needs

Ensure that local people have the opportunities to have their say about community life

Develop new resources in dialogue with the community and evaluate existing programmes

Build links with other groups and agencies

Help to raise public awareness on issues relevant to the community

Encourage community participation in activities

Challenge inappropriate behaviour if it arises

Carry out general administrative duties

Engage with individuals to participate in community activities

Identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities

Plan what they want to achieve and help them with appropriate actions

Plan and develop activities to generate aspiration and build confidence

To encourage individuals to build connections and social capital

Promote equality and diversity and improve community cohesion between diverse communities to build connections.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant level 3 or equivalent qualification or extensive experience of
• working with communities.
• Safeguarding Adults Level 2 and/ or Safeguarding Children Level 2 or
• demonstrable equivalent experience and the ability and commitment
• to achieve qualification within 6 months of appointment within one
• month of employment.

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Good working knowledge of Office 365.
• Advocacy and networking skills.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving ability
• Research and report-writing skills, and the ability to interpret or
• present data.
• Knowledge and understanding of community and social issues.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, to engage, communicate with member of
• the public to build inclusive teams.
• Good listening skills.
• Compassion and the ability to empathise with people's life experiences.
• Managing time effectively and responding appropriately to a range of
• competing demands.

General Attributes

Essential

• Commitment to continuous improvement.
• A non-judgemental and positive attitude.
• Valid and current full driving license and access to a vehicle to travel
• independently across the service area. Must be insured for Business
• Use.
• Undertake an enhanced DBS check and maintain a DBS Update service
• membership.
• Demonstrate adaptability and flexibility to work as required to meet
• the needs of the service.
• To work flexibly to support the delivery around the business needs of
• the organisation, including evening, weekend and bank holidays
• working.

Experience

Essential

• Relevant community-based experience e.g. teaching, youth work, health sector or a community-based role.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Proven experience of the ability to be approachable and work
• collaboratively with partnership organisations.
• Working within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Managing confidential information in a sensitive manner and managing challenging situations.

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

Murray Hall Community Trust

Address

Murray Hall Community Trust

St. Marks Road

Tipton

West Midlands

DY4 0SL

Employer's website

https://www.murrayhall.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)