Job Information Pack
Post: Youth Zone
Manager
June 2015
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Barlow Moor Community Association is a Limited Company, Incorporated in England. Registered company number: 747666
Registered Office: 23 Merseybank Avenue, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 7NT
BMCA is a registered charity no. 11422171
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YOUTH ZONE MANAGER: Personal Specification
Experience
Skills
Aptitude
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Nationally qualified in youth and community work
E
Other relevant training or learning through professional
development opportunities
D
Health & Safety Certificate
D
First Aid Certificate.
D
A current driving licence.
D
Proven track record working in a youth or community based
project or similar setting.
E
Leading, teaching or coaching activities in areas such as arts,
sports and exercise, ESOL etc.
D
Work with volunteers.
D
Programming a diverse range of activities for young people.
D
Management of services and/or staff
D
Financial management.
D
Demonstrable track record of identifying and securing funding
for youth work provision or similar.
E
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, oral and
written.
E
IT proficiency.
E
Ability to design monitoring and evaluation tools and lead a
team using them in practice.
E
Ability to work under pressure.
E
Natural and confident face work with individuals and groups.
E
Leadership and motivational approach in working with staff and
young people.
E
Ability to work independently.
E
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Qualifications
E: Essential D: Desirable
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CATEGORY
E
Creativity and ideas and the strength to see things through.
E
Professional understanding of youth work principles, including
young peoples’ development needs and the issues important to
them.
E
Professional understanding of and ability to apply participative
youth work practice.
E
Knowledge of Manchester Youth Strategy
E
Understanding of the complex challenges facing young people in
an area such as Merseybank
E
Equal opportunities issues and their impact on young people.
E
Facility management.
E
Responsibilities of Health & Safety.
E
Excellent understanding of the principles and practice of
monitoring & evaluation and outcomes measurement.
E
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Knowledge
Sensitivity to the community’s needs and a caring, active
approach.
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title
YOUTH ZONE MANAGER
Responsible to
Centre Manager
Responsible for Youth and Play Manager and youth zone staff and volunteers
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Job purpose
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To take a strategic lead on managing and expanding provision in the
Youth Zone and continue the development of a programme of activities
to meet the needs of young people in the Merseybank/Barlow Moor
area.
To develop strategic initiatives and partnerships that enhances
professional relations.
To encourage young people to participate in positive activities and
enable young people to build strong links with their local community.
To oversee the delivery of the youth zone activities ensuring excellent
outcomes for young people and ensure monitoring, evaluation and
outcomes measurements, including those agreed with funders are
properly recorded.
To ensure recruitment, line management induction, supervision and
appraisal of staff, freelance workers and volunteers is carried out in the
interests of the best outcomes for young people and due regard for
employment contracts and law.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Programming
Acquire local knowledge and develop a meaningful dialogue with young
people.
Use the above in order to assess the needs of young people in the
community including personal & social development and education &
employment opportunities.
Develop a set of measureable outcomes for young people and use these to
develop, maintain and support the delivery of a variable and viable
programme of activities and events that addresses the needs of young
people, including sports, arts, recreation and issue-based activities.
Develop a strategic plan with key milestones and measurable outcomes
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Networks &
Partnerships
Develop effective working partnerships with local and national statutory
and voluntary organisations, including the police, local authority, local
churches, housing association, etc.
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Manage the day-to-day operations at the youth zone ensuring that policies
and procedures are appropriate and adhered to.
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Facilities
Ensure all equipment is properly maintained and oversee the smooth
running of the facilities, taking action or making recommendations as
necessary.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Monitoring &
Evaluation
Ensure the production and use of tools to collect monitoring information,
carry out consultations, evaluate services and measure outcomes for
young people – in keeping with the requirements of funding bodies and
BMCA and for the purposes of ensuring services are appropriate to need
and effective.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Marketing
Promote the youth programme and the activities available through regular
market research, promotions, advertising and publicity.
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Human
Resources &
management
Assist the centre manager in the recruitment of staff and volunteers; set
and monitor induction programmes, performance appraisals and service
reviews; organise appropriate staff rotas and cover.
Carry out BMCA vetting procedures and checks for staff, volunteers and
casual/temporary staff; manage staff & volunteers including dealing with
staff grievances and disciplinary action.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Training &
Development
Set up, monitor and record staff progression, training and professional
development; implement a staff training programme and ensure staff are
assigned duties according to their levels of training and experience.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Funding
Work with the centre manager to identify funding opportunities, produce
funding applications & tenders, and produce monitoring information &
reports as required by funding bodies or otherwise.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Administration
& general
Ensure records of attendance and other monitoring (as agreed with the
centre manager) are up-to-date and in good order.
Be familiar with and observe Health & Safety requirements including
carrying out risk assessments & safety audits and taking steps to rectify
faults in keeping with H&S Guidance.
Assist in the production of annual budgets and observe financial controls
to stay within budgets; oversee the reconciliation of income and
expenditure.
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Observe BMCA policies and procedures, acting at all times within an equal
opportunities framework and with regard to anti-discriminatory practice.
Attend management and staff meetings as required, presenting accurate
and informative reports.
Carry out any other duties from time to time within the general remit of
the job purpose and this job description.
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Terms and
Conditions
Contract Period: Fixed 1 year contract*
Hours of work: 30 hours per week, to include evenings and some
weekends.
Pay: Circa £21,840 per annum (Full Time equivalent £25,480)
Annual leave: 4 weeks per year.
*Part funding has been secured for year 2 and 3.
BMCA LIMITED BACKGROUND & HISTORY
BMCA Ltd is a community based, independent partnership group working in a deprived area
of Manchester. It is managed by local residents, representatives of local organisations.
Advisors include the Manchester Regeneration Team, the NHS, and Greater Manchester
Police and other local third sector organisations.
The Association was established in the 1980s in response to the concerns of local people. It
has developed considerably since that time, the most significant step forward being the
campaign for a purpose built centre, which was finally opened in 1991.
Consultation with local people revealed a need for affordable childcare for under 5's, a desire
for older people to have a meeting place of their own, and for women to have a group, at
which they could try out new ideas, and have some time solely for themselves. Training in
childcare psychology and IT were also identified as being valuable. The outcome was the
development of a playgroup, crèche facility, a women’s group (now ended), an over 50s
lunch and social club and the provision of training for local people in partnership with other
organisations.
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At the 2011 AGM a resolution was passed to close the Charity Barlow Moor Community
Association and to re-open as Barlow Moor Community Association Limited. BMCA Ltd is a
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Subsequently the centre opened a Junior Club for 5-11 year olds giving children aged 5-12 an
opportunity to play in a safe and stimulating environment and parents the opportunity to
volunteer, access play training and in many cases become paid workers. Youth Work was
delivered in partnership with Manchester Youth Service; Tool Hire scheme for homes and
gardens, allowing those on low incomes to improve their immediate environment and a
Credit Union. Following a fire in 2008, which gutted a large part of the centre, the tool hire
scheme was closed. In 2010 BMCA Ltd was a successful provider and coordinator of the
Lottery funded MCC Parktastic programme, bringing play to the parks of South Manchester.
Many such activities, which involve local people in the planning as both volunteers and staff,
improve social wellbeing by reducing isolation and, offering opportunities to pursue common
interests and learn new things.
charitable company limited by guarantee. This change was supported by a 100% vote of
those present.
The new company is governed by its members, just as a commercial company is governed by
its shareholders. In order to set up the company the existing Directors acted as initial
members, since its incorporation we have been actively recruiting additional members and as
of September 2012, 44 local people have become full members who control the direction of
BMCA Limited., who will have the right to vote at the AGMs
In 2011, Manchester City Council disestablished its Youth Service. BMCA Ltd has been
commissioned to deliver youth provision at a local and district level. This has seen the
establishment and development of provision both at our centre and the Ladybarn Community
centre.
Many of the services have been, and continue to be, delivered in partnership with other local
groups as part of local improvement in efficiency and communication. The Association has
worked particularly closely with other voluntary organisations including: Ladybarn
Community Association, the Chorlton Youth Project and the South Strategic Youth
Partnership. Statutory organisations including, Southway Housing Trust, South Manchester
Regeneration Team, the Manchester Adult Education Service, the South Manchester Healthy
Living Network, and Manchester Library Service.
Senior Staff from BMCA Ltd sit on City Wide strategic networks to inform and influence
commissioning strategies, these include: Manchester Community Centres Network (MCCN),
Manchester Play Network (MPN), Manchester Playgroup Network (MPGN) and Valuing
Older People network. This enables us to represent the views of local people to “decisions
makers” about service development within our area of benefit.
Following the 2008 fire, the Community lost its purpose built Library. The Library was
subsequently relocated in a small shop unit facing the community centre. The Learning
Centre and associated resources were in a shop adjacent to the Library. These were deemed
unfit for this use. We therefore tried to incorporate this provision within the existing already
busy centre.
Following consultation with local people and negotiations with Manchester Libraries and
Southway Housing Trust, BMCA campaigned for a new centre which would enable us to reestablish, and further develop both of these improved services under one roof, alongside our
core services. After years of campaigning the new community centre opened in January
2014.
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The local community is an integral participant in the project, involved in the management and
development of the building and its services. The new Community Development Worker now
co-ordinates projectsthrough our existing weekly programme in Barlow Moor community
centre, which addresses health and wellbeing and delivers activities identified through
consultation.
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BMCA LTD BOARD OF DI RECTORS
BMCA has a strong board of trustees, encompassing a wide range of skill and talent .and
representative of local residents, community groups and partner organisations
BMCA STAFF
Management Team
BMCA Ltd employ a full time Centre Manager who has responsibility for strategic
development and funding and an Operations Manager who manages the day to day business
of the centre, and five Project Managers who head core areas of work.
The new Youth Zone Manager will report to the Centre Manager and will meet regularly to
discuss progress against set objectives and will be part of the management team.
BMCA Ltd also employs a team of sessional staff and volunteers.
YOUNG PEOPLES WORK
During riots in Manchester several years ago it was of concern to many community workers and
residents that a number of very young people were participating. Within many projects, including
our own, workers were concerned at the belief by the younger age group that this behaviour was
acceptable and our team strived to change attitudes. We set out to divert them from these pursuits
into projects and leisure interests that offer them choice and opportunity, and open up new
experiences away from their usual environment. By focusing upon informal educational and leisure
opportunities, through our youth workers, we make a difference to young people’s perceptions that
they have ‘nothing to do’ and ‘nothing to look forward to’. Young people are exposed to an
alternative set of values and opportunities and have the chance to explore that which is important to
them. Children and young people have improved chances in life through increased access to
education, leisure, and employment opportunities.
For young people we currently provide 5 sessions per week for junior, intermediate and senior
levels, which includes sport, arts & crafts, homework support, activities that promote healthy
lifestyle (including physical, mental & sexual health advice), and volunteering opportunities and once
a fortnight, in Partnership with South Manchester Down’s Syndrome Support Group (SMDSSG)
Our Project
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Youth provision across the neighbourhood is being delivered by BMCA through part time and
sessional workers. Once the new community centre opened with new space and equipment the
numbers of young people wanting to access the building and our services nearly doubled from circa
100 to 200 per week, with many more engaging with street work and events. The current staff team
are stretched to deliver services and the need to focus on a more strategic and coordinated
approach is clearly apparent.
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The new post , funded by Peter Kershaw Trust, will focus upon the needs of the youth zone however,
high quality Youth work should have a broader impact on the community as a consequence of us
being able to engage with some hard to reach and difficult young people across the neighbourhood.
At a Directors, staff, and volunteers teambuilding workshop at the beginning of September 2014, the
youth team reported:
1. There was a positive desire from the outset to build upon current services and activities,
however in order to do so it was recognised that an increase in the staff team was needed. A
Youth Zone Manager would enable BMCA to expand provision by acting in a managing and
co-ordinating role for skilled sessional staff brought in with varying degrees of expertise on
subject matter for a particular topic.
2. The use of bank staff and greater input from volunteers would support growth and
development but at the same time reinforce the need for a Youth Zone Manager as the new
personnel would need recruiting, managing, training and supervising.
3. There was a desire for daytime provision, which might encompass– NEETS, and/or an
alternative education programme however it was recognised that a needs analysis should be
undertaken to define whether BMCA needed such or whether we should be signposting
those in need to alternative provision.
4. The group wanted to see a wider range of activities including preventative programmes; in
particular around crime, anti-social behaviour, youth diversion, drugs and alcohol, gang
culture, all prevalent in South Manchester. It was suggested that a series of 10 week
programmes might be designed which could include the likes of a mentoring programme,
drama sessions, sports and fitness, and digital media.
5. The group wanted to see further work to develop partnerships with other providers which
might develop new opportunities for joint activities, and there was a desire to see more
involvement from parents.
6. Further to the successful launching by a young person of his own business enterprise the
group felt that there was scope for creating social enterprise and/or business opportunities.
They would like to see expertise brought in to guide potential entrepreneurs through the
process of business start-up.
7. With new volunteers and staffing provision a demand for weekend and holiday sessions,
evening junior youth, outdoor space for youth and play, and residentials, together with
detached work would be satisfied if appropriate funding could be identified and secured.
8. At present there is little time available for planning. The group wanted to see more time
afforded to planning and reviewing service provision.
9. On an operational level a number of issues were identified e.g. improving equipment
available. It was suggested that an audit of need be undertaken to identify what equipment
might be needed. The audit should include descriptions of items and their cost in order that
the funding subgroup might be able to identify capital funding opportunities to meet the
demand.
All in all an extremely positive and forward thinking report back and one that the Directors of BMCA
felt should be encouraged and supported through the appointment of a person to drive their
ambitions.
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A funding bid was submitted to Peter Kershaw Trust and BMCA Ltd was awarded a 3 year Bursary
that will fully fund the Youth Zone Manager post for 1 year and part fund the post for Year 2 and 3.
Part of the Youth Zone Manager’s role will be to assist the Centre Manager in attracting the match
funding required in Year 2 and 3.
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