Community Support Worker

ASCERT

23 Bridge Street- Lisburn- County Antrim BT28 1XZ

17 Mar 2006

Mrs Elaine Dickson

info@ascert.biz

028 9260 4422

ASCERT (Action on substances through Community Education and Related Training) have an opportunity for a Community Support Worker to support Lisburn City communities to develop local initiatives that address alcohol and drug misuse.

Will include some unsociable hours.

Term: one year initially
Hours: 20 hours per week
Salary: £12 571 + pension

The project will employ a Community Support Worker to work with local communities to develop initiatives that address drug and alcohol issues within their areas. Through a mentoring approach the project will provide practical support to groups to design, deliver and evaluate local substance misuse initiatives themselves. The project will empower local communities to address the issue at a local level and link them to other agencies to improve the local delivery of services.

Essential criteria

1. A relevant community development, substance misuse or training qualification AND at least one year’s recent experience working in the community development or substance misuse field.
2. A sound understanding of community development practice.
3. Experience designing and delivering training.
4. Experience of project management.
5. Excellent IT skills with a working knowledge of MS Office applications.
6. Full UK licence and access to a form of transport.

Desirable criteria

1. Experience of EU project financial and reporting procedures.
2. Excellent communication skills.
3. Good report writing skills.
4. Experience of working in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Project management

• Develop an action plan for the implementation of the project.
• Provide project reports to the management team monthly.
• Oversee the budget for the project and provide financial reports to the funders.
• Provide monitoring information to project funders.
• To secure further funding for the project.

Project delivery

• Provide a mentoring support service to at least 6 communities or groups to research, plan, resource, deliver and evaluate a local initiative that responds to substance misuse issues.
• Develop and deliver a skills programme on community responses to substance misuse to least 10 community organisations.
• Develop and publish a community resource for local alcohol or drug interventions.
• Organise network meetings of community organisations to promote collaboration, share experience and explore common issues around substance misuse.
• Develop links with other substance misuse service providers in Lisburn City.
• Collaborate with other local development resources to maximise the effectiveness of the project and its benefit to communities. ie Health Development Workers, Local Community Networks.
• Link communities to local strategic bodies such as Lisburn Drug and Alcohol Forum, Lisburn Community Safety Partnership and Investing For Health community of interest.
• Link initiatives to local strategic priorities.

Other duties

• Attend team meetings and provide project updates.
• Work with other staff members to organise events and promote the organisation.
• Represent the organisation on external committees or bodies.
• Carry out other duties that the management committee may require.

Telephone or email for an application form

Completed applications must be received by 4.00 pm on 17 March