Children and Families Mission Adviser

Overview

An exciting opportunity to inspire, encourage and resource the creative development of Mission and Ministry among children and families throughout the Diocese of Exeter, including some travel throughout Plymouth and Torbay. This position will work to support Mission Communities and work with local communities, schools and Local Authorities. 

This is a strategic role to inspire, encourage and resource the creative development of mission and ministry among children aged 5 -11 years in the Diocese of Exeter. 

Introduction

In conjunction with the Mission & Ministry Mission Enabler to:

• Encourage mission with children and families throughout the Church in the diocese by supporting Mission Communities in reaching out to and working with children and young families.
   
• Ensure there is appropriate training and support for those who are involved in ministry with children and families
   

Key Aspects of Role:

The Children’s Work Adviser role requires a high degree of proficiency across the domains of:

• Child development and learning
• Working with volunteers, paid children and families workers and clergy
• Advice and support to Mission Communities
• Communications and engagement
• Resource management and training development
• Multi agency working

The Children’s Work Adviser will be required to apply for an Enhanced disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service in connection with this role.

Some travel will be involved due to the geographical locations of schools and colleagues and some out of hours working may be required.

Key Relationships:

The job reports to Mission & Ministry Mission Enabler and will work closely with:

▪        Parish clergy, paid and voluntary children and families workers
▪        Director of Mission and Ministry and Mission and Ministry Team
▪        Diocesan Mission Adviser (Early Years: 0-5)
▪        Diocesan Safeguarding Team
▪        Diocesan Early Years Adviser
▪        EDBF employees
▪        Exeter Diocesan Board of Education
▪        National Children’s Work Advisers Network especially South West Region Group
▪        Ecumenical Children’s Work Adviser Networks
▪        National Society Children’s Work Officer
 

Main Responsibilities

The main responsibilities for the Children and Families Mission Adviser will include aspects of Mission with Children, Mission Community Support and Advice, Relationship Building, Team Working, Information Management, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity such as:

• Continue to develop commitment to and understanding of the importance of children and children’s relationship with Jesus in the diocese.
• Celebrate, share and disseminate best practice in children and families’ work.
• Help shape a faith based approach to working with children and families within the diocese.
• Implement the Diocesan Children’s Work Strategy in light of the Church’s National Children’s Work Strategy.
• Encourage and support missional initiatives such as Messy Church, Godly Play, Open the Book.
• Encourage Mission Communities in their work with children and support parents and families and provision of intergenerational worship.
• Offer support, encouragement and advice to volunteers, paid children’s workers and clergy in their work with children and families.
• Identify external resources and funding and develop partnerships with ecumenical partners, Local Authorities and other bodies to facilitate Christian based work for children and families.
• Help to develop vision and best practice in relation to the employment of children’s workers.
• Ensure information management systems and policies are adhered to, including GDPR and Data Protection.
• Safeguarding training to level C4 and other appropriate safeguarding training and awareness as directed.
• Work with Safeguarding Team to ensure stay up to date with safeguarding issues as they affect own area of work.
• Work in accordance with diocesan policies of equal opportunity.

Please see the attached Role Description for further duties and responsibilities. 

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate that they hold the following specifications:

• Education to degree level or equivalent.​
• Theologically literate.
• Proven organisational skills, using initiative to plan and prioritise workload and work without supervision, responding flexibly to local circumstances.
• Experience of working as a key member of a team demonstrating excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative style of working.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; able to assimilate and express concepts accurately, to articulate effectively and adapt style to suit different audiences.
• Understanding of the Church of England, its parochial system and the wider organisation of the Diocese.
• Sensitive to the different cultures, traditions and activities within the Church and maintain a consistent approach to clergy and non-clergy matters.
• Understand how the belief systems which shape the life of the Church may affect safeguarding work in the Church of England.
• Commitment to anti-discriminatory practices within the Church of England’s legal context.
• A living commitment to follow Jesus Christ.
• A practicing communicant member of the Church of England, or of a church belonging to Churches Together in England.
• Able to provide own transport for attending meetings across the diocese.

Please see the attached Role Description for further requirements. 

About us

The Diocese of Exeter matches almost exactly the boundaries of the county of Devon, including Torbay and Plymouth.  We are a family of Christians, worshipping God in many different settings and groups. We are led by the Bishop of Exeter, and governed by Diocesan Synod which is made up of representatives from across the Diocese.

The central office is the Old Deanery, Exeter, where there is a team of around 50 Diocesan staff whose work is arranged to focus on a number of the goals of the Diocesan vision and strategy, ‘Grow in Prayer, Make new Disciples and Serve the People of Devon with Joy’. These staff work in the following teams: Education, Mission & Ministry, Church & Society, Communications, Property & Church Buildings, Finance, Safeguarding, Vocations, Synod Office, Archdeacons Secretaries, Counselling & Pastoral Care Service and our exciting new Growing the Rural Church Project.

To arrange an informal discussion about this role please contact us by email recruitment@exeter.anglican.org by phone: 01392 294959 or by post:
The Old Deanery
The Cloisters
Exeter
EX1 1HS

Please Note:

Closing date for applications: 03 January 2020

Shortlisted candidates notified: 08 January 2020

Interviews to be held: 17 January 2020

If you would like to find out more about the Diocese of Exeter please visit our website: http://exeter.anglican.org/

For more information on the DBS Code of Practice please visit the Gov.co.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbs-code-of-practice