Our Mission the Centre Works with Homeless Young People, Badly Housed Families, Refugees

ESOL VOLUNTEER TEACHING ASSISTANT (UASC PROVISION)

Our Mission The Centre works with homeless young people, badly housed families, refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, helping them to obtain employment and break out of the cycle of homelessness and social exclusion.

The Service We are looking for Volunteer Teaching Assistants to provide ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classroom support to small groups of UASC (unaccompanied asylum seeking children), aged 16-18. The programme will be starting mid-end July and continuing throughout the year until January 2017. This is a pilot so may continue into 2017.

The learners are likely to need support around basic literacy, study skills, English language (speaking, listening, reading writing) as well as with the development of their confidence. Some clients are already engaged in mainstream ESOL provision but need further support.

Supervisor: ESOL Tutor

Role description: Responsibilities are as follows:  To support students on a 1-2-1 basis.  To work with small groups of learners on specific tasks, planned by the tutor, where additional support would be beneficial to the students.  To meet with the tutor before the class to discuss the class aims and objectives.  To debrief with the tutor after class to discuss students progress and relay observations.  To attend termly tutors’ meetings.

We are looking for:  Experience of working with young people.  A teaching qualification, such as CELTA, DTTLS or PGCE.  An interest in working with and supporting refugees and migrant communities.  Good communication skills.  Ability to work as part of a team.  Punctuality and reliability.

Time Commitment: We would like at least one day a week or two mornings or two afternoons a week as a minimum. Duration: At least six months from mid-end July.

Trial Period: The first 6 sessions will be a trial period.

Benefits offered  Gain experience in teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, in a well-equipped, supportive centre with a good resource base.  Gain experience working with migrants and refugees.  To learn about the working of a community centre providing services to vulnerable people.  Safeguarding and professional boundaries training organised by the Centre.

Recruitment Procedure The Cardinal Hume Centre asks potential volunteers to complete a Volunteer Form. Once received, the Centre will invite you in for an informal interview with a member of staff and a Volunteer Coordinator. We request two references and a lack of professional references will not necessarily prevent you from volunteering and can be discussed during the interview. We hope to provide appropriate adjustments to accommodate people with support needs.

Criminal Records Checks The post for which you have applied is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all applicants must provide details of their criminal record, except for certain spent convictions and cautions which are “protected”* and therefore not subject to disclosure to employers. We will ask for this disclosure on the volunteer application form and undertake an enhanced criminal records check for which the Centre will cover the costs. Volunteers start once the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check has been received which takes on average four weeks.

The information you give will be strictly confidential and will be considered only in relation to this role. Any criminal record disclosed to us will be considered on its merits and disclosure does not necessarily exclude someone from volunteering. This policy exists to ensure the well-being of all staff, clients and volunteers. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Volunteer Coordinator on 020 7222 1602.

*Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website.

Expenses Volunteers are reimbursed for reasonable and agreed ‘out of pocket’ expenses such as travel and for lunch if working a full day.

Induction and Training Volunteers need to attend the Centre induction with a Volunteer Coordinator and a health and safety induction with our Facilities Manager which lasts1 hour. You will also have an induction with your supervisor into your role. The Centre requires all volunteers working with clients in service delivery to attend a half day safeguarding and professional boundaries training organised and funded by the Centre.

Everyone working at the Centre, including our volunteers, is responsible for promoting the safety and wellbeing of others in the Centre. This includes safeguarding children and adults from any form of abuse.

Please contact the Volunteering Team on 020 7222 1602 or [email protected] www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk.