Mentor Project Worker (Edinburgh)
Fixed Term Contract
Job Ref: V449
Hours/Days per week: 28 hours per week
Salary: £18,750
Start date: ASAP
Location: Home based (travel around Edinburgh)
Closing date: Wednesday 24th May, 5pm
Interview date and Location: Microsoft Teams, Date TBC
Volunteering Matters
At Volunteering Matters we use volunteering’s unique power to bring people together and build stronger, more resilient communities across the UK.
We bring people together to resolve some of society’s most complex issues. From social isolation and loneliness; improving health and wellbeing; building skills, confidence, and opportunity; to ensuring young people can become change makers in their community, the impact that we make is great. And we won’t stop until everyone in the UK has the opportunity to thrive.
People-led and impact driven, we are a national charity that is deeply embedded in local areas across the UK. We operate in five regions: London and the South East; Wales and the West of England; East of England; the Midlands and North West England; and Scotland and North East England. We also have an Employee Volunteering Team with over 25 years’ experience, acting as a broker to provide tailor-made solutions to employers. We turn local knowledge and energy into action and progress, building stronger communities and a better future for all.
This is an exciting time to be joining the team. We’re changing the way we work to meet new ambitions and make sure our impact continues to grow alongside out business.
JD – Mentor Project Worker
Role Purpose
We are looking for a talented, dynamic, and professional Mentor Project Worker who can support our efforts to provide a wraparound mentoring support offer to everyone engaged with our work across Scotland. The post will focus on supporting our existing work in Edinburgh, delivering end-to-end support to people with barriers to progress towards achieving employment, education or training. The right candidate will be someone who can work flexibly and demonstrate an understanding and total commitment to our organisational values.
This role is an exciting opportunity which calls for the successful candidate to support the growth of our mentoring provision in Edinburgh, recruiting and training new mentors, facilitating matches, and providing ongoing support for mentors. The post holder will also explore new avenues for mentor recruitment and work closely with our Edinburgh team and referral partners in the area.
Key Duties & Responsibilities
- To recruit and train volunteer mentors across Edinburgh
- Develop strong relationships with our diverse pool of mentors to ensure they feel supported, valued and listened to
- Work closely with the mentoring team, volunteer mentors and beneficiaries to continually develop the project, specifically based on feedback from those impacted by what we do
- Explore new avenues for mentor recruitment and develop and maintain relationships with referral partners
- Create engaging content and share with our Communications Team so it can be promoted across our social media channels
- To engage directly with our local beneficiaries, who have numerous barriers and challenges in their lives, and work with their Employability Coordinator, to understand their wants, needs and aspirations in order to make the best mentor match
- To manage the risk assessment, quality assurance and audit processes as appropriate
- Ensure monitoring, impact and evaluation information and data is collected and that the project meets its agreed targets, reporting format and schedule. Assisting the Mentor Manager with preparing reports to funders
- Promoting and representing ProjectScotland and the wider Volunteering Matters family of brands
- Contribute to the wider Volunteering Matters and ProjectScotland staff teams, upholding our values and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion at all times
Person Specification
Skills
- A sound and comprehensive understanding of the particular challenges and barriers that young people face
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent organisational and IT skills
- Excellent people skills with the ability to build professional, long-term relationships with others
- Person-focused, and adaptable – able to go from delivering mentor training to chatting with a nervous beneficiary
- Ability to manage a busy workload and prioritise accordingly
- Strong attention to detail and a willingness to accurately record all interactions
- An understanding of safeguarding and the importance of following the organisation’s policy and procedures related to this
- An ability to be creative when it comes to problem solving as well as creating content for social media
- A passion for supporting people and in particular, an understanding of the value and impact mentoring can have
- Confidence delivering training virtually and face to face
Experience
- Experience working with and supporting a diverse range of people in a community setting is desirable
- Demonstratable relationship management experience with a wide range of partners and stakeholders
- Proven ability to communicate effectively and work as part of a team
- Experience delivering training would be advantageous
Qualifications
Relevant experience and values alignment is more important for this role than specific qualifications
Other
Although home-based, our model of delivery requires being “on the ground” in communities, and so a regular presence in, and travel within Edinburgh is required.
Some infrequent evening and weekend working may also be required.
All aspects of the role will be risk assessed.
Internet access to enable remote working is essential. IT equipment and infrastructure will be supplied.
This role requires membership of the PVG (Protection of Vulnerable Groups) scheme. Having a conviction will not necessarily cause a barrier to employment.
Volunteering Matters Values & Ways of Working:
In all that we do, Volunteering Matters embrace a philosophy of ‘Freedom within a Framework’ and are guided by our values:
We are Empowering
We are Inclusive
We are Compassionate
We are Positive
We are Straightforward
N.B. This job description is not an exhaustive list of tasks but is a guide to the key duties of the post. The post-holder is expected to take on any other duties from time to time which are reasonably required by their manager.
Diversity & Inclusion
Volunteering Matters welcomes all applicants and are keen to ensure our team reflects the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from disabled, LGBT and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, along with candidates with any protected characteristics and from disadvantaged groups.
Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments:
We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the “Experience/Skills” section of this advert. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your application or contact join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk for more information.
We have also committed to the following pledges which positively encompass our recruitment and selection processes and methodology: The Promise, Show The Salary, Salary History.
Benefits
Our employee benefits reflect our culture which is built on an approach of full flexibility with accountability, and designed to let you make your most positive contribution; we offer Flexible Working by Default (re hours & place of work), Unlimited Annual Leave, Employee Pension scheme, Life Assurance, Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan, Employee Assistance Programme, enhanced sick and family leave. We are also open to discuss job share applications.
GDPR Statement
If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to 6 months. We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.
To Apply:
- Send a CV and Cover Letter to join@volunteeringmatters.org.ukclearly stating which role/location you are applying for.
- Complete the Recruitment Monitoring Form
If you would like to have a discussion with the Hiring Manager prior to submitting your application, please request this from join@volunteeringmatters.org.uk
#volunteeringmatters www.volunteeringmatters.org.uk