Western Vale Good Neighbours Scheme Manager

Salary - £15,519 (£25,865 FTE)

Tenure - Permanent

Location - Hybrid to be agreed

Working Hours - 21 hours per week

Start Date - ASAP

Annual Leave - 35 days including bank holidays pro rated to hours worked.

Hours: Part time, 21 hours per week

JOB PURPOSE The main purpose of this role is two fold:

• Volunteer Recruitment, Training & Development (Vale wide) - The Postholder will recruit, train and support volunteers across the entire Vale of Glamorgan, ensuring a strong, diverse and well supported volunteer team delivering a range of Good Neighbour activities.
• Client Support & Community Development (Western Vale) - You will also support older people living in the Western Vale by identifying unmet needs, matching them with volunteers, and developing volunteer led solutions that strengthen community support.

Whereas this role focuses on volunteer development and Western Vale Client support, the postholder will work closely with a colleague that supports Clients in the Central & Eastern Vale, ensuring full geographic coverage as well as the central point of contact team, who handle incoming telephone enquiries before passing referrals on.

This job description outlines the key performance indicators of, and output required from the Western Vale Good Neighbour Scheme Manager. It is not a definitive list and the role may well change and evolve over time.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Volunteer Recruitment & Management (Vale wide)

• Recruit 30 volunteers per year across befriending, shopping, transport, practical help, admin and engagement roles.
• Recruit volunteers across the Vale to ensure county wide coverage.
• Identify service gaps and design volunteer roles.
• Ensure all support remains volunteer led.
• Deliver high quality inductions and training.
• Use digital tools including Volunteero and an online calendar tool.
• Assess volunteer suitability in partnership with managers.
• Provide regular supervision, support and recognition to volunteers.

Client Support & Community Engagement (Western Vale)

• Assess the needs of older people referred from the central point of contact team.
• Match clients with suitable volunteers and ensure safe, appropriate support.
• Provide advice, information and signposting where needed.
• Work closely with the colleague covering the rest of the Vale to ensure consistency and shared learning.
• Build strong relationships with local groups, services and community partners in the Western Vale.

Promotion, Outreach & Awareness

• Deliver promotional campaigns to increase volunteer numbers and community awareness.
• Attend at least 12 community events per year to promote the scheme.
• Organise leaflet drops, posters and community outreach activities.

Volunteer Experience, Engagement & Retention

• Plan volunteer seminars, social events and online engagement sessions.
• Keep volunteers informed through newsletters, updates and social media.
• Encourage volunteer feedback through surveys, reviews and informal check ins.
• Develop and moderate an online volunteer forum to support peer connection and learning.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Digital Improvement

• Track recruitment, retention and engagement using Volunteero.
• Monitor diversity, accessibility and inclusion across the volunteer team.
• Analyse feedback and data to identify improvements.
• Use insights to refine the volunteer journey and strengthen the scheme.
• Produce monitoring reports for internal and external stakeholders.

Administration, Compliance & Other Duties

• Manage a small project budget responsibly.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records in line with organisational policies.
• Follow safeguarding, data protection and health & safety requirements.
• Undertake any other reasonable duties as required by the Service Manager.
• Adapt to changes in community need, volunteer availability or service priorities.
• Work flexibly in line with the needs of the business to ensure the safe delivery of our service.
• To be responsible for your own health and safety and the health and safety of others.

This role is twofold and Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale is looking for a Western Vale Good Neighbours Scheme Manager to manage:

• Vale wide volunteer recruitment, training and development, where they will be responsible for recruiting, training and supporting volunteers across the entire Vale of Glamorgan, ensuring a strong, diverse and well supported volunteer team delivering a range of Good Neighbour activities.
• Client support and community development, supporting older people living in the Western Vale by identifying unmet needs, matching them with volunteers and developing volunteer led solutions that strengthen community support.

Ideally we are looking for an individual with experience of working with older people, volunteers, community groups or service users with a clear understanding of the needs and experiences of older adults. However, we are also interested in talking to you if you meet some of the above criteria and the ability to learn quickly.

You will also need to have experience of recruiting, training or supporting volunteers or staff as well as experience of managing sensitive, complex or emotional situations with empathy and professionalism, so if the above sounds like you we would love to hear from you.

PERSON SPECIFICATION The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following skills, experience and personal qualities. Shortlisting will be based on how well applicants meet these criteria.

ESSENTIAL COMPETENCIES

• Experience of working with older people, volunteers, community groups or service users, or a clear understanding of the needs and experiences of older adults and a willingness to learn quickly.
• Experience of supporting individuals in a community based or outreach setting, ideally including older people.
• Experience of recruiting, training or supporting volunteers or staff.
• Experience of managing sensitive, complex or emotional situations with empathy and professionalism, particularly when supporting older adults.
• Experience of partnership working with local organisations, community groups or statutory services.
• Experience of using digital systems, calendars and databases.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with older people who may be isolated, anxious or unsure where to turn.
• Ability to assess client needs and match them appropriately with volunteers, ensuring safe and appropriate support for older adults.
• Confident in planning, organising and prioritising a varied workload across multiple locations.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating effectively with colleagues covering other parts of the Vale and the central point of contact team.
• Ability to design and deliver engaging volunteer training and induction sessions.
• Strong problem solving skills and the ability to develop volunteer led solutions to community needs.
• Ability to represent the organisation professionally at community events, meetings and activities.
• Understanding of the challenges faced by older people, including loneliness, rural isolation, mobility issues, digital exclusion and navigating services - or a willingness to develop this knowledge quickly.
• Awareness of safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection requirements, particularly as they relate to vulnerable older adults.
• Knowledge of community resources, local services and support available to older people in the Vale (or ability to develop this quickly).
• Understanding of the role volunteers play in delivering community based support.
• Compassionate, patient and respectful in all interactions, with a genuine commitment to supporting older people to stay connected, independent and safe.
• Self motivated, proactive and comfortable working autonomously.
• Flexible and able to respond to changing community needs, volunteer availability & service priorities.
• Creative and solution focused, with a commitment to volunteer led approaches.
• Confident engaging with people in community settings, from village halls to local events.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Driving licence and access to a car.

DESIRABLE COMPETENCIES

• Experience of managing or coordinating a community project.
• Experience of delivering outreach, engagement or promotional activities.
• Experience of producing social media content or community facing communications.
• Experience of monitoring, evaluation or reporting.
• Knowledge of the geography and communities of the Western Vale.

Because services and community needs may change, develop or shift, the postholder must be comfortable adapting their approach, working collaboratively with colleagues, and shaping volunteer led solutions as the scheme evolves.

APPLICATION PROCESS There is no closing date for applications. Applications will be shortlisted on receipt of completed application form.

The application form must be fully completed as they form part of the shortlisting process.

Initial interview via Teams or Zoom.

You will be asked to provide proof of the Right to Work in the UK before the interview takes place . click apply for full job details