Community resilience coordinator jobs in Manchester, greater manchester
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ABOUT MUSTARD TREE
At Mustard Tree, we believe everyone deserves dignity, opportunity, and hope.
We work alongside people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and financial hardship, providing practical support, life-changing opportunities, and pathways towards greater stability and independence.
Our work addresses both the causes and consequences of poverty. We support people not only in crisis, but as they rebuild confidence, develop skills, improve wellbeing, and take meaningful steps towards a more secure future.
ROLE PURPOSE
This role provides person-centred employment and progression support to individuals facing barriers to financial wellbeing, including homelessness or risk of homelessness. Working with a managed caseload, this role will support participants to build confidence and employability skills, and progress towards meaningful, sustained employment, further education, or accredited training.
The role includes a blend of structured employability support, responsive frontline 121 work combined with corporate partnership skills. This role will work directly with Freedom Trainees and Mustard Tree clients, supporting walk-ins, referrals, and longer-term participants. This role will represent our values through high-quality, compassionate, and professional service delivery.
This role combines direct participant support, employability delivery, employer engagement working with the Salford Area Manager. You will work across our Eccles and Little Hulton sites, helping create meaningful opportunities that enable participants’ progression.
Key Competencies
1. World Class Welcome and Customer Service
· Deliver Work Placement and Employment service across Salford appropriate to participants’ needs, through a welcoming, inclusive, and professional service that reflects a world-class customer experience.
· Networking and building relationships in Salford with new and existing corporate partners to deliver work placement opportunities to Freedom Project trainees, attendees to structured courses/clubs, and referrals from partner organisations (JCP and Elevate partners)
· Provide tailored, 1:1 employment and skills support, including caseload management, action planning, CV development, job search, and interview preparation.
· Adapt support to meet the diverse and complex needs of participants, demonstrating empathy and resilience.
· Manage referrals and signposting effectively, ensuring participants access appropriate internal and external services.
2. Proactive in Living and Sharing our Culture, Values and Behaviours
· Consistently model Mustard Tree’s values, culture and expected behaviours in all interactions with participants, colleagues and partners.
· Promote equality, diversity and inclusion by creating safe, welcoming and respectful environments for everyone by building positive relationships, challenge inappropriate behaviour appropriately, and reflect on feedback to continuously improve practice.
· Communicate in an inclusive, accessible and person-centred way, adapting approaches to meet participants needs.
· Demonstrate professionalism, integrity and accountability while maintaining boundaries and delivering on commitments.
3. Courage in Problem Solving and Embracing Change to Meet Needs
· Identify barriers affecting participant progression and respond to reduce/remove the barriers
· Adapt quickly and positively to changing priorities, service demands and participant needs while maintaining high-quality support.
· Demonstrate resilience when managing complex situations, setbacks or competing pressures, whilst taking ownership of actions and outcomes
· Embrace learning, feedback and change to continuously improve ways of working and support positive participant outcomes
4. Confident in Safeguarding and Incident Management
· Manage situations calmly and professionally, maintaining dignity and safety for all.
· Follow safeguarding, health and safety, and incident management procedures, escalating concerns appropriately.
· Work collaboratively with colleagues, contributing to case discussions and team meetings
- Complete and maintain accurate documentation, incident forms, and risk records.
- Attend required training, supervision, and reflective practice sessions and keep up to date with relevant legislation and local statutory and voluntary-sector provision.
5. Skilled in Reporting
· Monitor progress, record outcomes, and adapt support in response to individual needs, using TreeSalt, case notes, and case studies to evidence impact.
- Signpost and refer trainees and participants to appropriate internal services and external agencies, including housing, mental health, benefits, and specialist support.
- Track participant outcomes including engagement, training completion, volunteering, work placements, and employment progression to support internal reporting requirements and funder monitoring.
6. Positive Management of Stakeholders, Partners and Supporters
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with local employers, job centres, statutory services, charities, and third-sector organisations.
- Coordinate referrals and progression pathways into and out of the programme. Establish and maintain pathways into employment, education, training, and volunteering.
- Identify, develop, and maintain work placement and progression opportunities with employers and partner organisations.
- Match participants to placements aligned with their interests, goals, and support needs.
- Ensure placements are structured, safe, and provide meaningful learning and development. Escalate any placement-related issues promptly and collaboratively.
General Duties
- Work in line with organisational policies, procedures, and values.
- Support colleagues and provide cover across services and sites when required.
- Take responsibility for professional development and ongoing learning.
- Act as a positive ambassador for the organisation internally and externally.
- Contribute to environmental responsibility through day-to-day working practices.
- Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as required.
What we are looking for.
Person Specification
Minimum of two years’ frontline experience supporting adults, including vulnerable individuals. - Essential
Experience supporting people facing multiple barriers such as poverty, homelessness, unemployment, or housing instability. - Essential
Experience of managing varied caseloads and achieving measurable outcomes with participants. - Essential
Experience of and/or ability to build and maintain partnerships with external organisations, local businesses or employers. - Essential
Understanding of employability pathways, training provision, and labour market opportunities. - Essential
Resilient, adaptable, with flexible enthusiastic approach. Able to work on their own initiative as well as contributing effectively as part of a team. - Essential
Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, and risk management. - Essential
Good interpersonal skills, including verbal and written communication skills. - Essential
Degree-level qualification and/or equivalent experience in responsible roles. - Desirable
Strong time management and administration skills, with the ability to multitask - Essential
Experienced in using IT systems including Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Excel, and Word - Desirable
Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle and willingness and ability to travel regularly across our Salford hubs - Desirable
Why Work for Mustard Tree
Working at Mustard Tree is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to be part of a community that is changing lives every day.
Our Culture
- A values-led organisation where compassion, dignity, and respect guide everything we do
- A supportive and collaborative team environment where your voice matters
- A place where lived experience is valued and people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work
- A strong sense of purpose, with the opportunity to see the real impact of your work
What We Offer
- A meaningful role where you can make a tangible difference in people’s lives
- Opportunities for learning, development, and progression, including access to training and mentoring
- A flexible and supportive approach to working, with consideration for work-life balance
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with length of service), with additional bank holidays and a day off for your birthday
- Employer pension contribution
- Access to wellbeing support, including Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Perkbox
We are committed to investing in our people and creating an environment where you can grow, feel supported, and do your best work.
How to Apply
Please submit your CV and a supporting statement - telling us about your experience and why this role matters to you.
This job description is intended as a guide and may evolve as our work continues to grow and respond to the needs of our community.
Our mission is to combat poverty and prevent homelessness.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
The National Criminal Justice Arts Alliance (NCJAA) is embedded in Clinks. It has a distinct network, identity and website as well as an advisory group, an independent chair and distinct funding for specific work.
The NCJAA aims to ensure that the arts are used within the criminal justice system as a springboard for positive change. The NCJAA represents a network of over 500 individuals and organisations that deliver creative interventions to support people in prison, on probation and in the community, with impressive results. We support this transformative work by providing a network and a voice to promote access to arts and culture for people in the criminal justice system, as a springboard to positive change.
Clinks supports, promotes and represents the voluntary sector working with people in the criminal justice system and their families. Our vision is of a vibrant, independent and resilient voluntary sector that enables people to transform their lives.
Job purpose
To develop and grow the NCJAA network and develop and maintain effective working relationships with partners and stakeholders.
Job summary
The coordinator is responsible for overseeing all work and development of the NCJAA and sits within Clinks’ National Influencing & Networks directorate . The coordinator will work with a range of different stakeholders, including the NCJAA Advisory Group and the wider membership, to improve policy and practice in relation to arts-based work with people in prison, on probation and in the community. This includes maintaining and strengthening the NCJAA as the leading national network for arts organisations and individuals that work in the criminal justice system.
Reports to: Clinks Director of National Influencing & Networks
1. Duties and key responsibilities
Strategy and planning
· Work closely with Clinks colleagues and the NCJAA network to develop and deliver the NCJAA annual work plan which include a range of activities that will raise the profile and promote the work of the arts sector in the CJS, including events, publications, training, mentoring, research and networking opportunities
· Work closely with Clinks colleagues, the NCJAA advisory group, chair and wider network to help inform and shape the future direction of the NCJAA and its strategic goals, paying particular attention to its role, sustainability and emerging opportunities
· Coordinate the quarterly arts forum in collaboration with the Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3) arts seat holder and government representatives
NCJAA project management & delivery
· Provide leadership for the NCJAA in the arts and CJS sectors
· Deliver the projects set out in the NCJAA’s annual workplan
· Coordinate the functioning of the advisory group of the NCJAA, including its quarterly meetings, minutes and election
· Manage work as required by NCJAA’s role as an Arts Council England Sector Support Organisation, including how we effectively capture and measure the NCJAA’s impact as the leading national arts and criminal justice network
· Provide regular and relevant reporting information as necessary to ensure all NCJAA projects and activity are working to the agreed timetable, budget and are achieving agreed outputs and outcomes, reporting any exceptions promptly to the Director of Support and Development
· Work collaboratively with various Clinks’ staff teams to deliver the NCJAA work plan and support the delivery of Clinks’ wider work plan
Stakeholder and external relations
· Work closely with HM Prison and Probation Service and other government departments and agencies to promote communication and partnership between Government and the arts in the criminal justice sector e.g. working with and supported by Clinks’ policy team, participate in meetings of the Reducing Re-offending Arts Forum convened jointly by Clinks and HM Prison and Probation Service
· Work within Clinks’ National Influencing & Networks directorate to ensure the experience and knowledge of arts and cultural organisations working in criminal justice is reflected in Clinks representation and influencing work with national government
· Assist colleagues working in the arts sector to interpret the emerging criminal justice environment and develop sustainable opportunities
· Maintain a wider view of criminal justice and arts policies and guide and support arts organisations to interpret these in a relevant and appropriate manner
· Identify and promote research and evidence in the field of arts and criminal justice
Income generation
· Work with Clinks colleagues responsible for income to identify funding sources, submit funding applications and monitoring reports when required, both for specific NCJAA projects and for the future funding of the work as a whole to ensure the sustainability and future development of the NCJAA
Budget
· Work with Clinks colleagues responsible for finance to maintain financial oversight of the overall NCJAA budget and all relevant project budgets to support the NCJAA work to progress effectively
2. General responsibilities
· Represent and be an ambassador for NCJAA and Clinks
· Work to support the mission, ethos and values of Clinks
· Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the position
· Support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace
· Work collaboratively with others in all aspects of our work
This job description does not form part of your contract of employment and can be amended from time to time as the needs of the organisation require.
Person specification
Experience
· Experience of the arts and social inclusion sector is essential
· Experience of the criminal justice voluntary sector is desirable
· Experience in forming working relationships with opinion formers and key stakeholders to influence policy and practice.
· Experience in leading and monitoring complex projects and measuring impact with national strategic significance, preferably in the arts.
· Experienced in multiple funder and stakeholder management
· Proven track record of developing and delivering successful projects, including the development of project plans and budgets; implementation; evaluation; reporting and monitoring
· Working to deadlines singularly and as a part of a team responsibility
Skills and abilities
· Excellent interpersonal and strong spoken and written communication skills which engage audiences, encouraging understanding and participation
· Ability to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders with different perspectives, including voluntary sector agencies, arts organisations, government, private sector, service users and media
· The ability to lead, inspire and co-ordinate a complex network of organisations working and supporting arts in criminal justice settings
· Influencing, negotiation and communication skills at a national level
· Facilitate and chair meetings at all levels of the organisations engagement – nationally, regionally, locally
· Highly organised with an ability to maintain effective record keeping systems
· Adopt a problem solving, solution-focused approach and make decisions effectively and timely
· Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
· Strategic thinking, planning and project management skills
· IT skills at a level that supports report writing, email, internet and databases
· Adaptability and flexibility in being able to take on new roles and manage a range of different internal and external relationships.
· Budget management and reporting skills
Knowledge
· Knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system policy and operating environment in order to promote and support the arts within it.
· Understanding the value of different art forms in criminal justice settings
· Knowledge and experience of national policy, practice and membership organisations relating to arts and/or criminal justice sector
Education and training
· No one specific qualification is required, but evidence of recent continuing professional development in a professional area with demonstrable relevance to the role
Personal attributes and other requirements
· Able to travel extensively nationally
· Able to work some evenings and weekends and stay overnight where necessary.
· Works well in a team with a flexible approach to work
· Personal resilience and the ability to stay focused in a rapidly changing environment
· Demonstrable passion for and commitment to the transformative role of the arts in criminal justice settings
· Demonstrable commitment to anti-racism, anti-discriminatory practice and equal opportunities. An ability to apply awareness of diversity issues to all areas of work
· Commitment to the values and ethos of supporting people in the criminal justice system
· Commitment to upholding the rights of people facing disadvantage and discrimination in the CJS
Clinks is the national infrastructure charity dedicated to supporting voluntary organisations working with people in the criminal justice system
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.