Belfast Education and Library Board s1

HQ14/21/24

BELFAST EDUCATION AND LIBRARY BOARD

The Belfast Education and Library Board under the provisions of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Orders, is responsible for providing an education and library service, including a youth service, in the Belfast area. The provision of public library services transferred to Libraries NI on 1 April 2009. The area has a population of approximately 268,000. The number of pupils in attendance at school in the board’s area is approximately 57,000.

This is a temporary post available until 31 October 2015 and is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Family Learning Project Officer

LOCATION: Edenderry Nursery School Upper Riga Street BELFAST BT13 3GW

REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must at the closing date: (i) hold a relevant NVQ level 3 qualification (a list of relevant qualifications accepted are attached); and (ii) have a minimum of 2 years experience working in a school/community setting with children and families.

Preference may be given to those applicants who at the closing date: (i) can show evidence of providing parent/carer support; and/or (ii) can show evidence of having training and/or experience in child protection issues; and/or (iii) can show evidence of managing a budget; and/or (iv) have administration experience; and/or (v) can show evidence of delivering training programmes.

The panel reserves the right to enhance these criteria.

DUTIES: As attached

HOURS: 25 per week

SALARY: £22,443 – £26,539 (pro-rata)

Posts involving work in educational institutions are subject to the provisions of the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007. The successful applicant will require an enhanced disclosure check which at present costs £30. Further details regarding the payment of this check will be issued with the contract of employment.

The closing date for receipt of application forms is 12.00 NOON ON FRIDAY 6 JUNE 2014.

Please note board headquarters will be closed on Monday 26 May 2014. NB. Notes of guidance are attached. JOB DESCRIPTION

One Shared Vision Project

Post Tile: Family Learning Project Officer

Grade: APT&C Pts 26-31 (25 hours)

Location: Edenderry Nursery School

Responsible to: Our Shared Vision Co-Ordinator (through the principal)

Functional Links with: Surestart Whiterock Learning Centre Belfast Metropolitan College Belfast Health and Social Services Trust Eastern Childcare Partnership Other nursery schools Feeder primary schools A range of other statutory, community and voluntary organisations Parents and children in the community surrounding the school

Main Purpose of the Job

She/he will be expected to work as one of a small team of officers delivering support to parents/carers and children in one of four geographical areas within Belfast. This initiative is intended to support parents and vulnerable children in particular in a way that addresses their needs and promotes their inclusion within the education system and within the wider community. The emphasis will be on developing contact with vulnerable parents and children in the school and community and delivery ‘needs led’ programmes of support in a diverse way. This will be done with the support of a wide range of partners and the project co-ordinator.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Work with Parents/Carers

 Develop contact with parents/carers  To conduct audit of needs and interests of parents/carers with each cohort of parents.  Provide support to parents/carers in a variety of ways and within a flexible working approach  Negotiate home visits in order to establish relationships based on respect and trust with parents/carers/pupils  Undertake residential and evening work as appropriate in order to further enhance learning opportunities for parents, carers and children and consolidate work done with these groups.  Develop a parent’s resource point in the school to include a range of materials reflecting the different facets of support and programming aimed at supporting parents and their children and which could be used by parents at home.  To organise programmes/courses and activities which focus on improving the communication and language skills, play skills, pre-reading, pre-writing and readiness for school.  To organise programmes and activities which increase the confidence, self-esteem, physical and mental health to allow parents/carers to achieve their own potential.  To organise programmes and activities which help parents recognise their role as primary educators/increase their knowledge of early years services and understanding of child development.  To organise support/activities/events and programmes specifically targeted at Dads/ethnic minority parents and those who have children with disabilities.  To organise essential skills/accredited parenting health and well being programmes.  To work towards establishing a parent group which could participate in classroom activities or wider community activities.

Working in Partnership

 Work closely with agencies within the One Shared Vision partnership to promote an integrated holistic approach to service delivery within the community.  To utilise early years service providers to ensure that there is a wide resource pool to support families.  Promote active partnerships between agencies, the home, school and community to support vulnerable children and families.  Develop linkages with local feeder primary schools to ease the transition from nursery to primary.

Administration/Finance

 Be responsible for the administrative and financial matters relating to the work in their respective area.  Produce monthly reports to be submitted to the school Principal or centre manager and the Project Co-ordinator  Manage the school/centre One Shared Vision budget so that it is spent in a timely and efficient manner.  Establish appropriate recording mechanisms in relation to the work.  Monitor the projects development and the progress of the participants against targets on a monthly basis.

This list of duties is not intended to be exhaustive or exclusive. The post holder may be required to undertake various other duties as deemed necessary and commensurate with the levels of responsibility of the post.

Knowledge and Skills

The person appointed will be expected to:-

(i) have a good knowledge of children’s development (ii) have a good understanding of local community issues (iii) have good interpersonal and organisational skills (iv) be a competent communicator, written and oral (v) be committed to working in partnership with others.

Conditions of Service

The person appointed will be employed under the Curriculum Support Service. He/she will be based in the local community in one of the schools/centre that are to be served by this initiative. The duties of the post will extend beyond normal office hours and will include residential/weekend and evening work. HQ14/21/24

Relevant qualifications for the post of Family Learning Project Officer

Current Course Title Awarding Body Previous Course Title BTEC National Diploma in Children’s Care, Learning and Edexcel Development NVQ 3 Early Years Care and Education Level 3 Diploma, Children’s Care CACHE, City & Guilds, NVQ 3 Childcare and Education Learning and Development BTEC, Edexcel, EDI NVQ 3 Children’s Care Learning and Development Diploma in Child Care and NNEB Certificate in Nursery Nursing CACHE, City & Guilds Education NNEB Diploma in Nursery Nursing

Advanced Diploma in Child Care NNEB Diploma in Post Qualifying CACHE, City & Guilds, and Education Studies BTEC Nursery Nursing Certificate/Diploma BTEC National BTEC National Certificate Caring BTEC, EDEXCEL Certificate/Diploma in Early Years Services (Nursery Nursing) BTEC National Certificate/Diploma in Childhood Studies (Nursery Nursing) BTEC Higher National HNC/HND Advanced Practice in Certificate/Diploma in Early Working with Children and BTEC Childhood Studies Families HNC/HND Child Care and Education HNC Early Education and Scottish Qualifications Childcare Authority Teaching qualification, in a Teaching qualification, in nursery, nursery, special, primary or post- special, primary or post-primary primary school, recognised by school, approved by the Teacher GTCNI Training Institution, formerly DENI. Stranmillis College, Foundation Degree, Early Queen’s University, Childhood Studies Belfast * Stranmillis College, BA Early Childhood Studies Queen’s University, Belfast * Level 3 Diploma/Certificate NVQ 3/SVQ 3 Teaching/Classroom Supporting Teaching and Assistants Learning in Schools CACHE, City & Guilds, NVQ level 3 Supporting Teaching Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Edexcel, OCR and Learning in Schools Support for Teaching and NVQ level 3 Support Teaching and Learning in Schools Learning in Schools Revised C37 Certificate in Early Open University Certificate in Early Years Practice Years Practice Level 3 Certificate for Classroom Level 3 - Certificate for Teaching Assistants CCEA Assistants BA Honours Degree in Special Liverpool Hope University Needs and Education Studies National Vocational Certificate Level 5 Community Care FETAC (DCHCC) – (Special Needs Assistant) Certificate (iii) in Education Bremer Institute of TAFE, Support Queensland, Australia Level 5, Major Award, (DCHSC) in Childcare. (Childcare & Early Education for Childcare Workers FETAC and Carers of Children with Special Needs). HNC, Additional Support Needs, Scottish Qualifications Supporting the Individual. Authority Childcare and Youth Worker Oberstufenzentrum, Course Berlin (Fachschulababschluss) Level 4 HPD (Higher Professional City & Guilds Diploma) in Early Years NVQ Level 3 Playwork (City & Guilds) & Transitional Award in City & Guilds Early Years Certificate in Supporting Learning Open University in Primary Schools (C60)

Level 5 Certificate in Childcare FETAC National Vocational Certificate, Level 2 Childcare, prior 2005.

NB * Delivered in Further Education Colleges in NI over 2 years full-time and 3 years part-time