Bulletin Contents - 1 August 2007

Children's Development Worker Vacancy

Open University Promoting Public Health Course

Increase In Statutory Annual Leave

Community Radio North West And Wales

Part-Time Charity MSc

Volunteers Wanted by DCIL

Volunteering Reports

Children's Development Worker Vacancy

Voluntary & Community Sector Development Sector Development Worker -
Children’s and Young Peoples Services

27 hours per week, Salary: circa £22,800 pro rata per annum

A new opportunity has arisen for 3 experienced workers to support the development of voluntary and community services for children and young people across Derbyshire (excluding Derby City).

The successful candidates will be experienced in working with the voluntary and community sector, able to work flexibly and use their initiative. They will be excellent team players, and have a commitment to partnership working and have outstanding communication skills.

The posts will be based within the voluntary sector in Ripley, Bakewell and Swadlincote, working to support Derbyshire Children’s and Young Peoples Trust.

The closing date for applications is Friday 10 August 2007. Interviews will be held on Friday 24 August 2007.

Full application pack can be found at
http://www.southderbyscvs.org.uk/vacancies.html#3cdw

Open University Promoting Public Health Course

Derbyshire County PCT have secured funding for 17 places for this course which starts in February next year.  The PCT is inviting applications from staff (paid and voluntary) from the NHS, local government and the voluntary and community sectors who have, or would like to develop, their understanding and practice of public health and health promotion.  

This new course will help students to develop their skills in reviewing, critiquing and evaluating current policies promoting public health.  It is aimed at different professional groups as well as voluntary workers in health promotion.  The course emphasises independent research enquiry, and students are encouraged to explore and question current policies and interventions, both in professional practices and in people’s everyday actions.  Integrative to the course are skills that students will need in a wider public health forum and the course is mapped against the current public health competencies where appropriate. 

For those that are considering the course, there is a mandatory ORIENTATION SEMINAR: TUESDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2007 12.00 – 2.00PM, ROBERT ROBINSON ROOM, SCARSDALE (PCT HQ), CHESTERFIELD.  Lunch will be provided.

The aim of this seminar is to improve the recruitment and selection process for K311 by:

• Meeting the course tutor, learning more about the course and having your questions answered
• Having an opportunity to view the course materials
• Observing a demonstration of the IT skills necessary to take the course
• Hear from and ask questions of K311 students who have just completed the course

Full details of the course, including application forms, are available on our website: www.highpeakcvs.org/training/index.asp#external, or you can get more details from Julie Hirst, Health Improvement Specialist, Public Health Directorate, Derbyshire County PCT – email Julie.Hirst@derbyshirecountypct.nhs.uk or telephone 01629-817931

Increase In Statutory Annual Leave

The legal minimum annual leave goes up to 24 days (4.8 weeks) from 1st October. The second step of this phased increase to 28 days, designed to be equivalent to bank holidays, now won't come in until April 2009. Read more on Sandy Adirondack's Legal Update: http://www.sandy-a.co.uk/employment.htm#annualleave.

Community Radio North West And Wales

Applications are now open for community radio licences in North Wales and North West England.

Deadline is 30th October. See Ofcom details at
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/radio/ifi/rbl/commun_radio/tlproc/invites/.

New licences have been recently announced for Scotland and Northern Ireland - CMA has the news.

Part-Time Charity MSc

The next intake to Sheffield Hallam University's MSc Charity Resource Management programme, starting in January 2008, is open for applications. The part-time course only needs university attendance for eight four-day blocks over the two years. Discretionary scholarships can cover about 40% for those working directly in UK charities with limited resources, but early application is recommended. There is also a few more weeks to apply just for the two fundraising modules (Sept 2007, Feb 2008) which lead to the Institute of Fundraising Certificate in Fundraising Management. Phone 0114 225 2820, email: ominfo@shu.ac.uk or see http://www.shu.ac.uk/ad/charity.

Volunteers Wanted by DCIL

DCIL are a voluntary organisation supporting disabled people towards a more independent lifestyle. They aim to provide independent, integrated living opportunities to disabled people through a range of services. This support is based on the seven needs identified by disabled people; information, counselling, housing, technical aids, personal assistance, transport and access.

How can you help?
DCIL are currently recruiting disabled people to volunteer to support other disabled people in the Derbyshire areas and to work as direct payment volunteers. This would mean that those successful in application would be given comprehensive training on direct payments, disability rights and models of disability and other related skills and knowledge subjects. Ongoing good support is offered to suitable applicants and the role is an interesting and challenging one. All associated expenses are provided.

If you are interested in finding out more, call Rita on 01773 740246 or email rita@dcil.org.uk. They will home visit those of you who would like to know more. DCIL will happily attend groups to speak about the opportunity and would welcome any invitations from staff teams who might like more information.

Volunteering Reports

Off the Streets and Into Work publication 'Gaining Experience, Giving Time: Homeless People and Volunteering' looks at the experiences of 24 homeless people who have volunteered. It is a companion to an earlier report which looked at attitudes to such volunteering. Download the pdf, 386kb (54 US letter pages) from http://www.osw.org.uk/librarydocs/Gaining_Experience_Giving_Time.pdf.

'The Modernisation Agenda: Volunteer Development Agencies and ChangeUp' from the Institute for Volunteering Research shows how the volunteer centres network engaged with ChangeUp to increase its efficacy. Large pdf (1.72MB) from http://www.ivr.org.uk/IVR_mapping_final.pdf.