OUTLINE OF POST

This is an exciting new post with responsibility for the management of Doorstep’s core service provision. We are looking for a manager to oversee both our Early Years and Youth Work service, however, we will also consider someone with expertise in one of these areas.

MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB

Your role is to both manage and deliver a range of support services to families and young people facing high levels of disadvantage and social exclusion, as well as general population. You will work with whole families including children and young people of all ages. Your work will include both the development of Doorstep’s services as well as direct delivery and casework to achieve the following objectives for children, young people and families:
· Increased happiness and emotional well being
· Improved mental and physical health
· Improved life chances for socially excluded children and young people and enable them to realise their full potential
· A stronger, safer, more integrated community in Donnington and the surrounding area
Main Tasks and Responsibilities are as follows:
· To work in partnership with the Director and other staff members in the strategic planning and development of Early Years and Youth Services provision.
· To lead on identifying, and developing new opportunities and activities through funding applications and grants.
· To provide leadership, operational and financial management of Services.
· Provide line management, motivational leadership, mentoring and coaching to the staff team, ensuring clarity of direction, effective communication and personal and professional development.
· To recommend and implement change which improves the service, leading on to development of models of good practice.
· To actively strengthen the organisation’s profile by taking a lead in the active engagement of partner organisations and the community.
· To act as on-site Duty Manager if required.
· Escalate matters as appropriate e.g. complaints, safeguarding or safety issues.
· Contribute to the regular reviews, reports and evaluations of all service areas
· It is expected that this role would be split approx. 15 hours in Early Years and 10 hours in Youth Services.
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· To oversee the planning, evaluation and recording of family open access play and early years’ activities.
· Ensure that the programme of activities delivered is fun, interesting, educational and valuable and appropriate to the children and families using the facilities, providing a variety of play and identifying and accommodating changing need
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· Manage and lead the delivery of youth club activity at Donnington Doorstep, including face to face universal drop in sessions, street-based youth work, peer support projects and youth engagement.

GENERAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL DOORSTEP STAFF

· Be familiar with and apply Doorstep’s Health and Safety, Fire and First Aid procedures at all times within your work and to attend training in these areas as required.
· Contribute to the accountability of the centre through assisting in the maintenance of agreed records including statistics, registers, risk assessment records, contracts, evaluations, accident books, financial transactions etc.
· To be proactive in ensuring that Doorstep’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity policy is applied to all aspects of the work.
· To be aware of and follow Doorstep’s Safeguarding procedures and attend regular training.
· Act as member of the Designated Safeguarding Lead team for the organisation and follow all Oxford Safeguarding Children Partnership (OSCP) statutory requirements.
· To attend regular staff meetings, training and supervision as required.
· To ensure that appropriate confidentiality is maintained.
The nature of the work at Donnington Doorstep means that all staff are expected to work in a flexible way.
This post is subject to funding being secured and maintained.
Donnington Doorstep is entitled to check with the Disclosure and Barring Service for the existence and content of any criminal record held in the applicant’s name. The disclosure of a criminal record or other information will not debar you from appointment or registration unless we consider that the conviction renders you unsuitable.
When short listing we are looking to interview people who show on their application form that they meet the criteria and competencies listed below. Priority is given to the essential criteria. We will use the interview and assessment process to explore this further and to cover those areas that cannot be shown on a written application. If you feel you are more competent in one of these areas rather than both, we would still like to hear from you.
To apply, please download the job description and person specification at the following link and provide a copy of your CV and a covering letter detailing how you meet the person criteria for the role to applications@donnington-doorstep.org.uk
https://www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs?keywords=Donnington+doorstep+&location=oxford&radius=20
For an informal discussion about the role, email alex.lipinski@donnington-doorstep.org.uk
Closing date: 5pm Thursday 18 September 2025
Interview date: Thursday 25 September 2025
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £22,244.00 per year
Expected hours: 25 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Flexitime

Work Location: In perso