JOB DESCRIPTION – Facilitators / Senior Facilitators
Job Title: Facilitators (8 FTE posts) plus Senior Facilitators (2 fulltime posts)
Hours: Options for Facilitator posts include fulltime (37.5 hours), or 30 hours and 22.5 hours. Requests for term-time working and other flexible working arrangements will be positively considered
Duration: 3.5 years
Salary: Facilitators - £37,747 pro rata
Senior Facilitators - £39,370
In addition, a 6% employer’s pension contribution is payable
Location: Colin, Belfast (main team) and Ballymena - tbc (Team 2)
Line manager: Changing Lives Initiative Regional Manager
CHANGING LIVES
Colin Neighbourhood Partnership, along with our two partner organisations, has secured substantial funding from the PEACE PLUS Programme for an exciting 4-year cross-border project. The project will provide early intervention support to families of children with queried neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and Autism. As the principal delivery partner in the North of Ireland, Colin Neighbourhood Partnership will employ a team to deliver the project across the Belfast, South Eastern and Northern Trust areas, with its main office in West Belfast and a second office in the Northern Trust area.
This is an ambitious project that aims from the outset to develop a new, longterm model of early intervention support to families, and sustainability of this model beyond the current funding will be a core objective from the outset.
JOB PURPOSE
The Facilitators’ role will be to deliver the Early Intervention Pathway programme to families with children who have queried neurodevelopmental conditions/concerns, in particular ASD and ADHD. This includes administering support needs assessments and follow up assessments with parents/carers, and delivery of a significant range of workshops, short programmes and evidence-based parenting programmes. The Facilitators will be expected to build strong relationships with parents/carers, and to contribute to the project evaluation by administering outcomes measurements. The Facilitators will also maximise opportunities to build effective links with schools, early years, community and statutory services locally.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Please note that individual facilitators may be more focused on particular aspects of these responsibilities, depending on their skills and experience. It is intended however that over the course of this project all facilitators will be supported to gain competence and experience in all areas. Key responsibilities include:
· Carrying out individual Support Needs Assessments with families. Administering set questions and planning a support offering for families from the range of support interventions available. Specific guidance and training will be provided for this
· Delivery of Information and Awareness sessions and workshops on a range of relevant topics to parents, both through face-to-face and online mediums
· Delivery of evidence-based group parenting programmes (from a suite that will include Incredible Years, Invest in Play, Triple P and Parenting Plus), with fidelity to the model, using both face-to-face and online delivery mediums as appropriate, ensuring that all practical arrangements are fully met
· Promoting the project to families and helping to recruit prospective families as participants where needed
· Maintaining good relationships with families participating in interventions
· Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with local agencies in the project delivery area: schools, voluntary agencies, health and social care services and other relevant bodies
· Supporting the completion of questionnaires and other forms by parents, for use in screening and evaluation exercises, under direction of the team’s Psychologist
· Supporting delivery of Information and Awareness sessions to professionals working in Health and Education sectors
· Adhering fully to confidentiality and data protection requirements in respect of project information
· Engaging in training and continuous professional development as required, both locally and on a cross-border basis
· Demonstrating a flexible approach to project working, as some evening and potentially weekend work may be required
· Having access to suitable personal transport, as travel is required (for which an allowance is payable)
PRINCIPAL REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications and Experience
ESSENTIAL
· Relevant 3rd level degree
· Minimum of 3 years’ experience working with or supporting families, children or young people
DESIRED
· Experience delivering workshops, services or programmes to individuals or groups
· Knowledge or experience delivering evidence-based parenting programmes such as Incredible Years, Parents Plus or Triple P
· Knowledge or experience of evidence-based early intervention approaches and/or neurodevelopmental conditions such as ADHD and Autism
· Knowledge of local services and agencies that work with children and families
Skills
ESSENTIAL:
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, as well as ability to work on own initiative
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent organisational skills and proven ability to operate successfully in a demanding and diverse workplace
Excellent communication skills, verbal and written, including the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner
Strong IT skills
Personal Characteristics
ESSENTIAL:
· Motivated and passionate about supporting Children and Families
· Flexible and adaptable
· Proactive attitude
ADDITIONAL SENIOR FACILITATOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
It is also proposed that during the recruitment process for project Facilitators we will identify two fulltime Senior Facilitators, who have significant experience in one or more key areas, such as (but not limited to) project coordination or delivery of evidence-based parent programmes. Applicants for fulltime Facilitator roles will have the opportunity on the application form to indicate if they are interested in being considered for these roles. This will be explored during interview for those candidates who identify an interest.
Senior Facilitators will have a team coordination and support role, under the direction of the Regional Manager, and will ensure that practice and quality standards are fully upheld in their areas of involvement.
FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION DETAILS
For further information regarding these roles, please contact David Simpson, Regional Manager, Changing Lives Initiative, by email – david@newcolin.com
Candidates must complete and submit the Application Form to bernadette@newcolin.com
The closing date for confirmed receipt of Application Forms is 2.00pm on Friday 24th January 2025. No Application Forms received after this time will be considered. Please do not submit CVs.
Interviews for these posts are expected to take place in Colin on Thursday 6th and Friday 7th February 2025 (and potentially on Wednesday 12th February also if required). Offers of employment will be made in February, with successful candidates in post from 1st April 2025.
Shortlisted candidates for these posts, deemed appointable but unsuccessful on this occasion, may be placed on a reserve list, if they agree, for subsequent vacancies that may arise within the following 12 months.
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