About The Role
Families’ and Children’s Worker
(21 hours per week, £33-36k pro rata)
Come and join our growing team at an exciting time for mission and ministry. Families and children are already central to life at St Andrew’s. Come to nurture an existing community and help to grow it. Come to be involved in exciting outreach, building on our positive connections with local schools, estates and squares. Come to spread the good news of the gospel to more families and children in our wonderful, diverse neighbourhood.
The post holder will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check with barred list (child workforce) and safeguarding training necessary for the role.
Closing date: 24 June (midnight)
Applications should be sent to admin@standrewsthornhillsquare.org.uk.
The Diocese of London is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults through the use of the Safer Recruitment practice guidance. This role is subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Check.
Overall Purpose
The Families’ and Children’s Worker will lead and develop our ministry to families of pre-school and primary school age children as part of the parish’s vision: ‘joyful, thriving communities sharing God’s love’.
Responsibilities
Working as part of a team with clergy and volunteers, plan, publicise, manage and deliver:
Sunday morning activities for children at St Andrew’s
Messy Church (currently every two months)
Collective Worship and assemblies at local primary schools (St Andrew’s and Thornhill)
Stay and Play weekly activities for toddlers
Children’s activities at community events such as Cally Fest and Barnsbury Wood Open Days.
With clergy guidance, plan and help to deliver monthly All-Age services at St Andrew’s.
Building on existing positive relationships with parents, carers, children and local school, and working with our Community Ministry Team, invite more families to join our existing and new communities of worshippers.
Encourage, oversee and develop volunteers who will contribute to ministry with families and children.
Take the lead in publicising children’s activities using social and printed media.
Contribute to the development and review of a Parish Children’s and Youth Strategy, which encompasses our churches and community outreach.
Ensure that provision for children includes beneficial activities and learning styles for all, including those who are neurodiverse.
Take responsibility for implementing the Parish’s safeguarding policies and procedures as they affect families and children and promote best practice.
Ensure record keeping is up to date and compliant with Data Protection requirements.
Abide by the Parish’s health and safety policies and procedures and ensure that up-to-date risk assessments are in place for all children’s activities.
Contribute to the implementation of the Parish’s Sustainability Policy.
Undertake relevant learning activities, including training courses.
Person Specification
Essential
Be a committed Christian able to flourish in a Church of England Parish in a diverse neighbourhood. There is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practising Christian.
Have experience of working with children in either a paid or voluntary capacity.
Have the ability to communicate the gospel to parents and their children.
Have organisational, record keeping, and IT skills at a level needed to support the work of this post.
Have an understanding of and commitment to best practice in safeguarding.
Have a willingness to engage with the diverse needs of children so that as many as possible can learn from the teaching provided.
Be able to work constructively with colleagues.
Be able to draft plans for Starchasers and Collective Worship/assemblies.
Desirable
To have a qualification relating to working with or teaching children and/or theology.
To have experience of having led Collective Worship or assemblies in schools.
To have experience of having contributed to worship at All Age Services.
Note
The post holder will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check and specific safeguarding training needed for the role.
Equal Opportunities
The Diocese of London is committed to creating and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce which represents our context and wider community. We are aware that those of Global Majority Heritage/United Kingdom Minority Ethnic (GMH/UKME) and disabled people are currently under-represented among our clergy and workforce, and we particularly encourage applications from those with the relevant skills and experience that will increase this representation.