Family and Youth Worker Wanted at Christ Church

an exciting new opportunity

To be the Family and Youth Worker at Christ Church

Family and Youth Worker at

Christ Church URC

An exciting opportunity to shape a new role as Family and Youth Worker at an intergenerational diverse church in Southeast London. We are an inclusive church that is looking to invest in the faith journey of families in church and community.

Hours of work: Average of 35 pw (including 2 Sunday a month)

Salary: up to £32k (depending on experience)
Contract: 3 years (with potential to extend)

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send to [email protected]

  • a covering letter for the attention of Rev’d Nadene Snyman explaining why you think you are suited to the role
  • a copy of your current CV
  • information about any dates and times in the next few months you are not available for an in-person interview
  • any access arrangements or adaptations you might need for an interview

Shortlisted candidates after first interview will be invited to lead a Church of Youth session on a Sunday morning to be arranged.

The post will remain open until filled

Available in a PDF Version here Family and Youth Worker Job Details

Key Responsibilities,

Job Description and

Person Specification

 

Family and Youth Worker 

Christ Church URC, Petts Wood

 

Full time 35 hours per week

Flexible working with expectations of evening meetings

Two Sundays a month to include the Messy Church Sunday (4th Sunday of the month)

Pattern of working hours to be agreed with the line manager

 

WHO ARE WE

 

A warm and welcoming church who values children, welcomes their active participation in church life and is excited to see the Holy Spirit work in our lives

A congregation of roughly 60 that prioritizes making worship relevant and accessible to our local families

A congregation who is enthusiastic for outreach and mission in the community

A community that celebrates diversity and inclusion and is a member of Inclusive Church and has conducted same-sex marriages

A congregation with a liberal theology

A community committed to safeguarding

We have a team of committed and faithful volunteers who work tirelessly in our children and youth ministry who are excited to develop and expand our family and children’s work

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Responsible for developing a plan to grow the Family and Youth work
  • Maintain and increase the numbers of families and children in our church
  • Supporting volunteers
  • Enabling greater interaction amongst the different children and youth groups within the building and community
  • Facilitating a supportive, welcoming and inclusive ethos at Christ Church
  • Help and support the intergenerational nature of our church community
  • Talk to children and young people about the big issues of life e.g. bullying and social media
  • Foster passion for green issues and Eco-Church

 

JOB DESCRIPTION

 

  • To be Convenor of the Children and Youth working group that meets quarterly
  • Safeguarding Officer Role alongside a Deputy Safeguarding Officer
  • Attend quarterly Church Meetings and report yearly on the family and youth work
  • Attending Elder’s meeting where relevant
  • Help develop the prayer life of our children and young people

 

Sunday Services

 

  • To offer the Children’s address (co-ordinate with the preacher for this talk) twice a month

 

Church of Youth (12 children ranging from 5-16 years old)

  • Attend Church of Youth and support volunteers
  • To provide provision of lessons for teachers that are sick or on holiday
  • Someone who can help provide sports/crafts activities for the first Sunday of the month
  • Co-ordinate volunteers for Sunday’s Church of Youth
  • Convene Church of Youth meetings
  • Someone who can incorporate new ideas and thinking in church children’s work

Monthly Family Activities

  • Plan (with volunteers) family fun events each month (dog walk, safari suppers, crazy golf, pamper days, breakfasts)

YACHT Youth Group (8 children ranging from 13-16 years old)

  • Plan with volunteer group monthly Youth Group activities with the possibility of biweekly meetings
  • Start a Junior Youth
  • To work with the Minister to offer confirmation/membership classes

Messy Church (roughly 28-35 children per month)

  • Help and support the volunteer team for our monthly Messy Church
  • Finding ways to integrate Messy Church into the community and to do social activities together outside of the Sunday meeting

Uniformed Organisations (2 Brownie groups, Guides, Rangers and Girls Brigade)

  • We are home to church run uniformed organisations so we would envisage a role where the Family and Youth Worker could be our liaison and facilitate good relationships e.g. Parade services and social evenings
  • Facilitate a closer working relationship between the church and uniformed organisations to build stronger relationships

Toddler Groups (both groups have waiting lists and roughly 50 children between the groups)

  • We host 2 toddler groups, so attending these and co-ordinating the bible story and being a ‘chaplain’ to the families where needed
  • Develop relationships with our baptism families

Petts Wood Playgroup for Special Needs Children (a charity)

  • Liaise with the playgroup and the church

Pastoral Care

  • Along with the Minister and Pastoral Elders to care for the families in the church
  • Enthuse and equip the volunteers

Synod Work

  • Encourage and co-ordinate participation of Synod youth events (Youth Assembly, Greenbelt etc.)

Training

  • To attend relevant training hosted by the Synod and other organisations
  • Ongoing professional development

Work towards the URC’s Children and Youth Friendly Award

Future work and new possibilities

 

  • Junior Youth Group
  • Work in the local school
  • Youth Choir
  • Youth Drama
  • Youth Music
  • Holiday Programme
  • Camps
  • Possibly to develop boys activities at the church
  • Away Days for families

PERSON SPECIFICATION

It is a requirement that the person is a committed Christian, who is sympathetic towards the values of the URC as described on the national website under “What is the URC?” Link:  https://urc.org.uk/about-us/what-is-the-urc.html and who has a broad and inclusive theology

REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE
Education and qualifications

 

 

 

 

 

 Full Level 2 Qualification (e.g. 5 GCSE grades A-C or 4-9 including English) or the equivalent  

 
A qualification in Youth and Children’s work  
A current First Aid or Mental Health qualification
Experience

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Proven experience in working with children and young people
 

 

 Experience in mission and outreach projects
Previous experience of co-ordinating teams of volunteers
Experience in budget management
Knowledge A basic understanding of the Christian Gospel message and the ability to apply biblical teaching across a range of ages  
Knowledge of safeguarding principles
Experience of different styles of worship
Personal Attributes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Empathetic

 

  
A confident communicator

 
Be a committed Christian and sympathetic towards the values of the URC and Christ Church URC, Petts Wood’s liberal theology
Skills and Abilities Basic IT Skills, i.e. use of Microsoft Word, Excel and Power point and e-mail
Confident on using different types of social media on behalf of an organisation
Be pastorally aware, understand confidentiality and when a referral is needed
Good listening skills

 
Confident in leading people
Personal organizational skills

including time management, ability to prioritize