At the forefront of the organisation, you will be responsible for maintaining partnerships, supporting tutors/coaches and delivering our programmes from volunteer recruitment and workshop delivery all the way through to evaluation. This is an “in-at-the-deep-end” role and you will flourish in a small dynamic team with real influence.

Key Areas of Responsibility

Create a thriving community of social mobility advocates among university students and young professionals:

• Meeting recruitment targets for tutors/coaches across the region each term.
• Training volunteers in tutoring/coaching and our pedagogy.

Oversee multiple in-school and online programmes (university student led and peer to peer):

• Setting timelines for programme start and finish dates
• Communicating with school staff weekly to provide feedback after sessions
• Visiting schools to oversee quality.
• Managing and running online sessions.

Programme Design and Delivery:

• Contributing to the design of current workshops and creating new workshops when needed
• Running in-school or online workshops for groups of pupils (KS2-5) and facilitating university trips at the start and end of our programmes

Line managing a team of Head Coaches:

• Delivering training for Head Coaches
• Holding 1-1 appraisals to monitor performance and set actions

Embodying our values (humility, high expectations, service, responsibility and resilience) and demonstrating commitment to our mission.

Essential characteristics and experience:

• Passion for social mobility: we have big aims and are looking for those who share our desire to make education fairer in the UK so a person’s background does not determine their future.
• Relationship building and facilitating: this a public-facing role so you will love delivering workshops to groups as well as communicating our mission to a wide range of stakeholders (businesses, senior members of MATs, universities etc.
• Organisation: working in a fast paced young organisation you’ll be able to work between different programmes and workstreams.
• Independence: this role requires you to work independently/alone from time to time in the office and/or from home
• Resourcefulness: we’re a small, dedicated team - you must be a self-starter prepared for practical roles with lots of responsibility. A willingness to stay solution-focused with last minute challenges is a must!
• Flexibility: the role will occasionally involve working evenings & weekends

Benefits:

• An opportunity to contribute to a young, exciting charity with scope to input widely and take on new roles.
• Starting Salary: £22k per annum
• Annual Leave: 28 days pro rata
• Office space: working from home or can be based in our Birmingham, Exeter or London offices.
• Training: we are a reflective organisation and keen to support your professional development.

Key Information:

• Length: permanent.
• Hours: Full Time
• Responsible for: Individual Programmes
• Start Date: ASAP

How to Apply and Next Steps:

• Email Robin your CV and a cover letter of no more than 350 words by Monday 22nd November. In the subject line, please mention you are applying for the South West Programme Officer role.
• Interviews will take place throughout the recruitment period so please do apply early

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About the role

Sense is looking for people who have experience and knowledge of supporting and leading groups of people to create safe, engaging and fun holiday experiences for those with deafblindness and complex disabilities.

Leading a unique Sense Holiday is a deeply rewarding and life enriching experience and a fantastic opportunity to expand your skillset and experience in working with varied groups. This is an excellent development opportunity for aspiring leaders and managers.

As a Holiday Leader, you will be leading, supporting, and motivating a team of volunteers so that every holidaymaker receives the person-centred care and support they need to have a fantastic holiday which is built around them as individuals.

You will have overall responsibility for the group’s wellbeing and for maximising the holiday experience for all its participants. 

You’ll join a diverse team and network of passionate leaders devoted to enabling individuals to get the most from their holiday. Sense will give you a high level of individual support via phone and email, face-to -face training, and support at our weekend preparation events, and you’ll benefit from creative, innovative and practical ideas from the experience of your peers.

The holidays are running on the following dates in 2022 (you will need to be available for at least 1 whole period):

Week 1: 15th July – 22nd July
Week 2: 29th July – 5th Aug and 30th July – 6th August
Week 3: 5th August – 12th Aug
Week 4: 13th Aug – 20th Aug and 14th Aug – 21st Aug
Week 5: 19th Aug – 26th Aug and 21st Aug – 28th Aug
Week 6: 27th Aug – 3rd Sept
Week 7: 30th Sept – 7th October

The holidays will be running at the following locations: 

London
Cardiff
Kidderminster, Shropshire
Skipton, North Yorkshire
Cirencester, Gloustershire
Kendal, Lake District
Mersea Island, Essex
Rosliston, Derbyshire
Louth, Lincolnshire

Being a Holiday Leader will give you a range of benefits, including:

Free DBS Check
Your pay will be £1018.60 for the 7 night residential holiday, Training days and the Feedback day. In addition to this, we will cover your travel expenses to the location/s for the residential holiday and also the Training weekend.
Free face to face training
Health and well-being support

Your duties can include:

Preparation and planning before the holiday including liaison with families, carers and holiday volunteers
Day-to-day management of the holiday
Reviewing and evaluating the holiday after it has finished
To provide a customised, responsive and high quality service to people with multiple sensory impairments, physical and/or learning disabilities.
To deliver services which meet or exceed organisational expectations and standards.
Full job specification is attached below.

Your required skills and experiences:

Availability to attend Leader Training weekend: 9-10 April 2022, Milton Keynes is essential.
Availability to travel to and lead a 7-night residential holiday in England or Wales between July and October 2022 is essential. Expenses for travel will be covered.
Commitment to complete any additional training as required for your holiday is essential. Depending on training needs, this may be online or face to face.  
Experience working with, supporting, or caring for children, young people, or adults with complex disabilities or other needs is essential.
Full person specification is attached below.

Who are we

For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.

Our short Sense Holidays video shows just some of our fantastic holidaymakers, volunteers and leaders in action.

Scott, who led his first Holiday in 2019, said “You will be proud of yourself if you do it! It’ll be an exhausting but incredible week - a chance to give holidaym