Helping Hands Project Manager

DURATION: ASAP : Permanent

We’re seeking a self-motivated, creative, practical person to join our garden makeover team. Working on one of our flagship charitable programmes known as ‘Helping Hands’ this is an immensely rewarding role which has a direct impact on families we support.

This is a unique and diverse role which involves liaising with our families and then designing and delivering personalised garden makeovers for them with teams of corporate volunteers supporting. The end outcome of these projects enables children and young people with complex health needs to access their outside spaces safely which makes a huge difference to their quality of life. Many of these children struggle to leave the home environment, so a safe and accessible garden space is essential to get them outside.

For some examples of the incredible work and positive impact our Helping Hands Team have had on our families through these projects see our website: Transforming home & garden spaces | WellChild

We are also fully committed to upskilling and training the right person to enable them to do this role. If you wanted to have a discussion about what this might look like for you before making an application then please speak to Amy Mitchell, Director of Programmes via the email address to the right of this advert.

A bit about us:

WellChild, based in Cheltenham, is the national charity for seriously ill children and their families. Through a range of practical and emotional support, training and information programmes, WellChild gives children and young people with complex medical needs the best chance to thrive at home.

Purpose of the Role:

The garden makeover (Helping Hands) team provides practical support to families by enlisting the help of corporate volunteer teams from companies across the UK to undertake one-off improvement projects to create safe, accessible sensory gardens for children and young people with complex health needs.

There are six key parts to this role:

1) Meeting with our beneficiary families to identify the needs for their outside space. Using empathy and active listening to ensure you can gather all the relevant information for a successful transformation.
2) Project design and procurement of materials to deliver a suitable space, that not only meets the beneficiaries needs, but is also delivered within our time and budget specifications.
3) Compile all relevant project documentation and engage with the allocated team of corporate volunteers.
4) Deliver your design over two days (which may include overnight stays depending on project location) with an enthusiastic but often unskilled group of corporate volunteers. You will need to inspire and empower these teams in all elements of the delivery of your project and be the subject matter expert as the sole representative on site from WellChild.
5) Complete post makeover administration on our equipment and communication with the corporate volunteers.
6) Management of each makeover’s financial budgets, for equipment, materials, travel, accommodation as well as a joint monthly tool and equipment budget.

Fairly regularly to complete these garden makeovers, there is a degree of working away from home. For example, you might work on a five-week rotation consisting of two weeks conducting one makeover, over two days, each week. This is predominantly over the Spring and Summer seasons. The remaining time is utilised to undertake site visits and plan for upcoming projects with a hybrid home/office balance. Garden makeovers are completed nationwide so long and frequent travel can be required, and to compensate for this we offer a flexible TOIL policy. Over the Winter months, the
role is more office based, with review of risk assessments, and planning of Spring projects. Some project preparation may be required at our store in Innsworth.

You will be able to:

• Demonstrate professional/practical DIY skills including hard landscaping to very tight deadlines
• Provide Inspiration, tutoring and leadership to the groups of volunteers to empower them in using new skills.
• Confidently build relationships quickly in order to communicate effectively, appropriately and clearly with a wide range of people.
• Prioritise own workload and meet tight deadlines, often having to be adaptable and think on your feet in order to make makeovers a success and completed on time.
• Be empathetic and sensitive to a wide range of needs and experiences.
• Develop and implement new, creative, ideas in order to deliver the best outcomes for the makeovers and our families.
• Demonstrate resilience, adaptability and the ability to balance a fast-paced workload with clear forward planning and an eye for detail.

You will have:

• A passion for helping others.
• A desire and commitment to build and deliver the very best results for our beneficiaries.
• Strong communication and organisational skills
• Effectively prioritise and work calmly under pressure
• A good understanding of budgets and competent Microsoft Office user
• A full UK driving licence, able to drive a van.

What we can offer:

• Competitive salary circa £32,586
• 23 days holiday on appointment rising to 27 days plus 8 bank holidays
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme from appointment with 5% employer contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Flexible TOIL for out of hours work

Other:

This is a permanent full-time role, based in Cheltenham with extensive travel. In conjunction with this we operate a hybrid home working/office working policy and TOIL policy. There will also be some travel to meetings and events required, that can fall outside of normal working hours.

Equal Opportunities:

At WellChild, we celebrate diversity and recognise the value it brings to our organisation. We believe that diverse perspectives lead to innovation, creativity and better decision-making. As such, we match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates and actively seek applicants from various backgrounds irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and take pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome, respected and empowered.

Safer Recruitment:

WellChild is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process. The successful candidate will be required to complete regular safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check relevant to the requirements of the role. For this role, that will involve a basic disclosure.

Use of Curriculum Vitae (CVs):

Our policy is to recruit employees on the basis of their suitability for the work to be done. An application form allows us to compare individuals based on like-for-like information and, as such, we do not accept a CV unless accompanied by a fully completed application form.

Salary bandings:

* Our policy is that we show candidates the bottom of the salary band for the role they are applying for, all appointments will be made at the start of the salary range, successful candidates have the opportunity to move up the payscale over time and this will be communicated as part of the recruitment process. Progression up the salary range is reviewed on an annual basis and subject to individual performance and affordability.

How to Apply:

Application forms can be found by clicking on Apply Now.
If you need any assistance completing the application form, please contact our HR team.

Queries:

If you have a query regarding the recruitment process, require additional information, or would like to arrange an informal discussion about this role, please see deatils on the right of this advert.

Retention of Personal Information:

Please see our Privacy Statement which can be found here

We will be reviewing applications as they come in so reserve the right to close the role earlier than advertised if we receive sufficient applications.

**Please note that we can only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor working visa applications.**