Youth Worker / Chaplain

Overview

The Youth Worker / Chaplain role seeks to work with St George’s Church of England Academy, local churches, the Cidari Trust and community organisations to create and resource opportunities for people to explore and grow in the Christian faith. The role is pivotal in articulating, upholding and developing the rich Christian Ethos of St George’s. The person appointed will be building on the strong foundations built by the most recent Chaplain and affirmed by the parents, pupils, staff and SIAMS

Introduction

BLACKBURN DIOCESAN BOARD OF EDUCATION (BDBE)

BDBE exists to 'Serve Christ, Share the Gospel, Support, Equip and Educate'. BDBE actively seeks to support ten Church of England secondary schools and academies and 180 primary schools and academies through their experienced team of advisers and associate advisers. A vital and important aspect of the vast portfolio of work the BDBE offers is in networking and support opportunities for a number of roles in schools including Worship Co-ordinators and Chaplains.

The other key area of work BDBE engages in is the resourcing, equipping and advising of local churches to help with their provision for children and young people. They serve churches across Lancashire by hosting events, providing training and networking opportunities, creating innovative and easy to use resources, as well as help churches to find the best way of connecting with, nurture faith in, and equipping their children and young people to share their faith with others.

The Director of Education would be the post-holder's line manager, while the Youth Adviser and Adviser to High Schools and Academies would be a source of support both professionally and pastorally.

 ST GEORGE'S SCHOOL, A CHURCH OF ENGLAND ACADEMY

St George's is a Church of England Academy in the coastal town of Blackpool. The academy recently received the positive report following their Ofsted inspection that they are a Good school. The Good grading is testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff team led by head teacher, Graham Warnock who states that the vision for St George's is to provide academic excellence within a caring, Christian community.

The academy's faith foundation and culture nurtures a deep commitment to our town and its young people and the desire to see both succeed and flourish. They have a proven track record and strong relationships with their stakeholders encourages tremendous support and participation, especially from parents. 

Summed up as in their motto of “Believe, Achieve, Care” the Spiritual, moral, cultural and social development of young people at St George's is central to the academy's vision and underpins the academic development of their pupils.

CIDARI MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST

Established in November 2013 as part of the Diocese of Blackburn, Cidari Multi Academy Trust works with eleven schools, including St George's, across Lancashire.

The Trust aims "To provide high quality education for all children based on clearly established Christian values and principles." In order to bring this to fruition they work closely and collaboratively with their schools and other partners to ensure that they offer a strong caring ethos and a clear moral purpose. They encourage all their schools to see themselves as part of a family with a shared vision, identity and purpose whilst maintaining their individuality.

As a trust they are committed to achieving excellence in education and see it as the right of every child to achieve their full potential and to flourish academically, socially, spiritually and emotionally

Main Responsibilities

• To explain the Christian faith to our young people and help them to explore what it is to be a Christian in the 21st century
• To design and manage the worshipping life of the academy and the wider Cidari Trust, developing the skills of both staff and pupils in leading worship
  To work alongside the Senior Leadership Team and the ‘Christian Ethos Team’ of the governing committee
• To set priorities for the ongoing development of the Christian distinctiveness of the academy
• To foster an understanding and appreciation of the Christian calendar and the sacraments as part of the day to day life of the academy
• To facilitate a rich prayer life in the academy that is responsive to immediate need and diligent in regular prayer for the academy
• To organise and co-ordinate the Christian groups across the academy, including Youth Alpha, developing our young people as leaders
• To work alongside the Headteacher, Senior Team and Cidari Leadership to set priorities for the ongoing development of the Christian distinctiveness of the academy and the trust
• To develop and support the embedding of the academy's Christian ethos so it is central to the whole curriculum
• To take a lead role in the spiritual aspect of our SMSC provision
• To champion the notion of advocacy across the academy, with a particular focus on charity and service
• To continue to develop the pastoral ministry within the academy for both staff and pupils, working closely with the Pastoral team; supporting other Cidari Academies when circumstances arise
• To liaise with parents and families, as and when required, for the well-being of our young people

The Ideal Candidate

• There is a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the post-holder is a Christian. (Equality Act 2010)
• Applicants should be a member of a church that belongs to Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, North West Partnership or the Evangelical Alliance
• The post will be subject to an enhanced DBS check

For full details including the person specification see attached job pack

About us

Note this job has a dual base; Clayton House, Blackburn, BB1 2QE during school holidays and St Georges, School, Blackpool during term time

Closing date for applications Wednesday 15th May 2019 

Interview date week beginning Monday 20th May 2019
Start date Tuesday 27th August 2019

To discuss the post further contact the Diocesan Youth Adviser, Ben Green on 01254 503407or email ben.green@blackburn.anglican.org

For further information about Blackburn Diocese please click here