£24,276 – £28,560 p/a (If successful, we will appoint at the starting point in the scale, however consideration may be given to a higher salary depending on experience. Please note salary progression beyond the top end is possible in the longer-term)
Full Time (35 hrs p/w) – Permanent Contract
Flexible within Northern Ireland – likely to be located in Belfast at least 2 days a week (office base tbc)
Ref: PANN-201
Are you a tolerant, tenacious and empathetic individual with proven ability in developing and coordinating projects along with delivering support to adults who have experienced disadvantage and/or social exclusion?
If so, St Giles is looking for a Peer Advisor Programme Coordinator & Development Lead to join us and play a major role in shaping the future of our Peer Advisor Programme in Northern Ireland.
About St Giles
An ambitious, well-established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first-hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.
Our Peer Advisor Programme provides training, support and placement opportunities for people with lived experience of disadvantage. This enables them to gain professional qualifications and a future career supporting others. We are currently in the second year of a large 4-year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund to expand the delivery of the Programme to different parts of the UK and build the evidence base of its potential impact to transform and improve services for the most vulnerable. We need you to build the relationships and buy-in that will deliver long-term system change in Northern Ireland.
About this vital role
The scoping, development, set-up and ongoing coordination of delivery of the Peer Advisor Programme in Northern Ireland is the challenge that awaits you here. Indeed, you will be the lead contact and representative for our activity in Northern Ireland, which is a new area of work for St Giles. Organising service level agreements with partner agencies, matching learners to volunteering placements, providing guidance and support to partner organisations and helping peer advisors to manage any challenges they face – all are aspects of a role that will be key to the success of the overall grant.
What we are looking for:
• An established network of relevant contacts across Northern Ireland, including potential partners to work collaboratively in the long-term, host volunteering placements, refer potential Peer Advisors, and provide specialist support
• Experience of overseeing/coordinating a project of similar size and ambition that involved set-up of delivery, extensive relationship-building and management and influencing and securing buy-in and partnerships on an ongoing basis
• A good understanding of the issues faced by adults who have experienced substance misuse, homelessness, exploitation and/or violence, experience of the criminal justice system or mental health difficulties
• Knowledge of lived experience models and the potential for people to change their lives and an understanding of how to influence and contribute to system-change
• Familiarity with the issues faced by project participants in accessing and sustaining training or employment and how these can be overcome
• A collaborative, open and flexible approach, the ability to manage staff and volunteers alike, good IT skills and a willingness to work at least 2 days a week in Belfast and travel regularly within the UK
Please note: We particularly encourage people with lived experience of disadvantage to apply and in addition, St Giles are open to external secondments.
In return, you can expect a competitive salary, travel (and subsistence for overnight stays) in Northern Ireland and to wider UK, generous leave allowance, staff pension, an advice and counselling service, access to clinical supervisions, season ticket loan and much more.
For further information, or to apply, please visit our website via the ‘Apply’ button,
Closing date: 5th August 2020. Interviews: 12th / 13th August (interviews are likely to be held via video)