Youth Work Pioneer

Darlington & Teesdale Methodist Circuit – Youth Work Pioneer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title	Youth Work Pioneer
Reports to	Superintendent Minister	Location	Initially The Well CommunityHub, North Road, Darlington,DL2 1EL
Organisation	Darlington & Teesdale Circuit	Salary	Based on JNC scales 13-20; inthe range £31885 to £38016pa.(next review April 2027)

Job Purpose and Objectives

To develop proposals and implement a Circuit-based New Places for New People initiative foussed on young people. The role is centred on leading work that reaches young people enabling them to discover, explore and commit to a lifetime of following Jesus.

Responsible to: The Youth Work Pioneer will report to theSuperintendent Minister, but will work closely alongsidelay staff with specific expertise in Christian youth work.
		Responsible to:
Responsible for:	The appointee will be expected to supervise, and linemanage volunteers, and team members appointed topossible future employed roles.
Resources	The Circuit will agree and allocate a Youth Work budgetfor this project

Main Responsibilities

• To foster connections and participation with young people – both those who are connected with Circuit churches, and beyond.

• To develop effective strategies and practices that will:

o reach and engage with young people in different spaces;

o work with young people to understand and meet their diverse needs in holistic ways;

o foster relationships and opportunities which encourage and enable young people to explore becoming whole-of-life apprentices of Jesus.

• To work collaboratively to discern how God might be calling Darlington and Teesdale Circuit to re-seed Youth Work in new, creative and innovative ways.

• To strategically develop, advocate for and instigate, new Youth Work in the Circuit with a

view to preparing the Circuit to plant a New Places for New People (NPNP) initiative for young people in line with Connexional strategies, ecclesiologies and protocols.

• To develop key partnerships in the Circuit, and beyond, in growing effective Youth Work and Ministry activity.

• To be an effective advocate for the gospel, young people and change.

• Lead and manage others including staff and volunteers

Engage purposefully with appropriate supervision and support in order to promote personal wellbeing and theological and practical reflection. This will include engagement with Circuit staff and Trustees meetings.

• Engage willingly and in good faith with required reporting and accountability mechanisms

Any other duties and responsibilities, identified by the minister/line manager as are within your capabilities and level of responsibility, in order to meet the needs of the church.

Terms and Conditions
Contract type	Permanent, full-time
Working hours	37.5 hours per week. The postholder will be expected to work flexibly including weekends, as required. At least one full day per week will be freeof work duties.
Salary	Based on JNC scales 13-20; in the range £31885 to £38016All reasonable expensesd will be reimbursed
Annual leave	33 days per annum, including statutory holidays
Pension ProvisionSafeguarding	There is a contributory pension scheme to which eligible lay employees willbe auto-enrolled if applicable. Lay employees who do not meet the auto-enrolment criteria are eligible to join the scheme subject to certainprovisions. The employer wil match employee pension contributions to amaximum of 6% of salary.
	Appointment and offer of employment are conditional subject to thepostholder holding a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and BarringService (DBS)The postholder will be expected to complete the Foundation and Advancedmodules of the Creating Safer Spaces
Right to WorkTraining	Appointments and offers of employment are conditional on the successfulapplicant demonstrating the right to live and work within the UnitedKingdom as required by the Immigration Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.
	We are an employer who wil support you to develop and improve yourprofessional practice. During employment with us we will consider relevantrequests for continuing professional development (CPD).At the request of your Line Manager there may on occasion be a need toattend further training relevant to the role and the requirements of theDistrict and wider Methodist Church. This will be undertaken in contractedhours or recorded as time off in lieu (TOIL).

Appointment is conditional on satisfactory references

Appointment will be subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationery period

The role carries an occupational requirement for the postholder to be in good health and have a meaningful and active Christian faith.

Management

The Employee will have a Line Manager whose responsibilities will be to:

Be familiar with the work of the Lay Employee.

Determine priorities for the work.

• Prepare a personal development plan with the Lay Employee.

• Ensure good communications between all the ‘stakeholders’ (groups and networks) involved.

Monitor and evaluate progress with the Lay Employee on a regular basis (meetings will take place monthly during the probationary period and quarterly thereafter).

Act as a “sounding board” to the Lay Employee.