JOB DESCRIPTION
REPORTS TO: Strategic Services Manager - Planning and Reporting
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Funding Officers and Field Officers
JOB PURPOSE
The Assistant Advisory Officer for Youth Service Funding and Governance is responsible to the Strategic Services Manager (Planning and Reporting) for the allocation of resources to local youth services and the monitoring and reporting of same in line with EA governance requirements.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Strategic Planning and Organisational Development
To lead on the allocation of resources based on a framework designed to meet the assessed needs and in line with service plans and policy.
To develop a framework for monitoring and moderation which meets the governance expectations of the authority and in line with audit requirements.
To develop a framework of reporting on youth work outcomes based on the allocation of resources against key policy requirements.
To design a framework and effective process of securing services from the Community and Voluntary Sector (CVS) and other organisations as required in line with the relevant grant aid commissioning and procurement processes.
To ensure an effective quality assurance and reporting framework is available using relevant Management Information Systems (MIS) to report on all youth services.
To develop funding schemes for a range of government departments to secure the delivery and reports of quality youth services in line with funders’ expectations.
To develop a framework of effective benefits realisation and reporting on outcomes and impact of all funding streams.
To assist the Strategic Services Manager (Planning and Reporting) in the provision of strategic leadership of the service.
To consult with key stakeholders regarding the work of the unit.
To ensure that the voice of children and young people is central to the unit.
To maintain a sound administrative framework for the youth service to achieve its strategic aims in the allocation of resources.
The completion of strategic business cases and Post Project Evaluation for the effective allocation of resources.
To ensure the development of effective plans for all members of staff.
To ensure that effective information and communication systems are developed and maintained within the unit.
To assist the Strategic Services Manager (Planning and Reporting) in the development of appropriate targets to support the corporate planning processes and the quality assurance of the unit.
To be responsible for overall risk management and appropriate risk controls of the unit.
To be a single point of contact for the CVS.
To assist in service reviews and provision within statutory youth services, with a focus on service improvement related to resource allocation, monitoring and reporting on youth services.
Other Responsibilities
Comply with EA policies and procedures in relation to the duties and responsibilities of the post.
The post-holder may be required to work on evenings and weekends.
Any such other duties that the EA may from time to time require. Any other duties appropriate to grade.
This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.
In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times.
To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
| NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS |
1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant. 2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise. 3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below. 4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. 5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role. 6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria. |
Section 1 - Essential Criteria
The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
| Factor | Essential Criteria | Method of Assessment |
Qualifications/
Experience | Be a qualified Youth Worker in accordance with the JNC Report for Youth Workers, Paragraph 5. | Shortlisting by Application Form |
| Experience | Have a minimum of three years’ experience of strategically managing resources. Have a minimum of three years’ experience of designing, monitoring and reporting on funding schemes. Proven track record in service improvement and governance frameworks. Demonstrable experience of effectively managing youth work projects across a range of settings to meet key outcomes. Demonstrable experience of effective engagement with a range of youth service stakeholders including children and young people in the design, delivery and monitoring of high-quality youth services. | Shortlisting by Application Form |
| Knowledge | Demonstrable knowledge of Management Information Systems. | Shortlisting by Application Form |
Skills/
Abilities | Proven skills in developing assessment and evaluating impact. Demonstrable ability to develop effective partnerships, both internally and externally. Demonstrable experience of engagement with children and young people leading to service design, implementation and evaluation. | Shortlisting by Application Form |
| Other |
The successful candidate will be required:
to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion. | Shortlisting by Application Form |
Section 2 - Essential Criteria
The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model.
| Factor | Essential Criteria | Method of Assessment |
Qualifications/
Experience | Demonstrable knowledge of the following: Relevant policy frameworks. Risk management processes. Department of Education safeguarding regulations. The needs of children and young people. Management Information Systems.
| Interview |
Skills/
Abilities | In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of: Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with staff and young people. Evidence of excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Evidence of using financial management processes. Ability to use own initiative and make effective and objective decisions. Ability to effectively lead and manage people to deliver outcomes. Ability to work under pressure to strict deadlines. Ability to set and achieve targets through the planning process. | Interview |
| Values Orientation |
Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here.
| Interview |
Section 3 - Desirable Criteria
Some or all of the desirable criteria may be applied by the Selection Panel in order to determine a manageable pool of candidates. Desirable criteria will be applied in the order listed. You should make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet the desirable criteria, as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted.
| Factor | Desirable Criteria | Method Of Assessment |
| Experience | Experience in benefits realisation reporting frameworks to report on the impact of service delivery. | Shortlisting by Application Form |
Our Values
Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential.
DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND
The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’.
In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage.
Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice.
APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES
To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here.
To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here
The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
