CHILD & YOUTH OFFICER

St Werburghs City Farm is an inner-city oasis. Situated in the Bristol ward of Ashley next to 4 other wards which fall within the 10% most disadvantaged in the UK, the Farm has developed to meet local needs.   Our vision is to inspire and educate happy, healthy communities through  green spaces, local food and each other. Using a 2 acre small holding, a 1 acre community garden, a 2.5 conservation site and 13 acres of community allotments, our mission is to offer targeted community services that equip people with knowledge, skills and confidence, and provide green sites accessible to all. Our aims are to: increase people's knowledge of where food comes from and access to locally produced food; enhance people's health and wellbeing through greater access to green spaces; and improve the capacity, confidence and cohesion of our community. With more than 3,500 service users, 15,000 people enjoying our events/facilities and more than 40,000 local visitors passing through the gates each year, we are a vital community resource, freely accessible to all.

1.    Overall purpose of job

The ‘Cultivate’ Child and Youth Officer is a role, largely funded by BBC Children in Need. Working alongside a Child and Youth Forum, the ‘Cultivate’ Child and Youth Officer will develop, manage and run a range of practical activities, training opportunities, development sessions and play initiatives for young people, aged 2 to 18 years, prioritising those socially or economically disadvantaged. These activities aim to improve the health, well-being, social skills and practical knowledge of children and young people, enabling them to positively deal with the increased risks and challenges that come from the disadvantages they face, such as growing up in a deprived community.

This post will also oversee the Farm on weekends (and weekdays), including: opening and closing activities; morning/afternoon animal care routines; livestock demonstrations/activities; undertaking routine and reactive maintenance; completing cleaning duties etc

2.    Key Responsibilities - Child and Youth Activities

·         To take a lead role in the delivery and development of a range of practical activities, training opportunities and play initiatives as part of the Cultivate Project. In particular, they will:

Ø  Develop and deliver weekend activities including: city farmers, outreach and family activities

Ø  Support the delivery of regular after-school training activities

Ø  Support the delivery of the Wilderness Parents and Toddlers group  

Ø  Support the delivery of therapeutic outdoor activities offered in collaboration with specialist organisations supporting disadvantaged children and young people

Ø  Support the delivery of school holiday activities including Targeted Children’s Week activities and ‘Project-Complete’ Youth Week

Ø  Support the delivery of W2L and youth enterprise activities

·         Work alongside the Child and Youth Forum making sure that activities and opportunities are as youth-led as possible, ensuring that young people have a voice within the project, Farm and community

·         Ensure the Farm’s induction processes for new young beneficiaries are correctly delivered, focusing particularly on the Behavioural Policy, Child Protection and Health & Safety requirements

·         Undertake monitoring of individuals and opportunities and seek feedback from children and young people using fun and stimulating consultative techniques

·         Take responsibility for Healthy and Safety issues relating to project activities as appropriate including the preparation of activity site checks, risk assessments and safe tool use

·         Support and guide sessional staff and lead volunteers

·         Promote and market the project to relevant target groups in order to maximise participation of target beneficiaries and maintain the profile of the project

·         Maintain appropriate administrative records, monitoring and evaluation and to support Managers in the development of information for project plans/annual reports as required

3.    Key Responsibilities - Oversee the Farm on Weekends (and certain weekdays)

·         Ensure site security, opening and closing premises as required, setting alarms etc

·         Ensure that Farm site is kept clean, safe and hygienic (e.g. empty bins, full up hand towels, fill up hand washing soap and remove other little from site daily)

·         Support building hire services by welcoming visitors, seeking required payments, returning Boiling Wells deposits and other necessary requests such as assisting to set up furniture

·         Respond to emergency situations (e.g. first aid incidents, facilities breakdowns)

·         Ensure the safety of yourself, and others in accordance with the Farm's risk assessments and health and safety policies and to maintain Health and Safety records

·         Ensure all administration is completed (e.g. report any farm related incidents in the Farm diary, leave Accident forms on the Director’s desk, cash up daily income etc)

·         Act as a source of information to visitors on site

·         Support and direct assistant staff, volunteers and students as and when required

4.    Additional responsibilities 

·          Promote the aims and objectives of the Farm and present a positive image of the Farm through good public relations, communication with visitors, service users and the local community etc.

·          Comply at all times with the Farm’s policies, i.e. Health and Safety, Equal opportunities, Environmental, Confidentiality, Child and Young person’s protection policy etc

·          Ensure activities adhere to the Industry Code of Practice, Environmental Health recommendations, Defra regulations and other legislation as appropriate to city farms

·          Attend team, and other staff meetings as required

·          Any other duties commensurate with the post