Holiday Activities and Food Programme Support Officer

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Hybrid & Flexible Working

Learning & Development

Health & Wellbeing Support

Cycle to Work Scheme

Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme

Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice

Job summary

Gateshead Council is hiring to support the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme across Gateshead, delivering high quality holiday activities for eligible children during school holidays. The role involves coordinating planning, monitoring outcomes and collaborating with schools, VCSE partners and council services.

As part of the Community, Health and Wellbeing Service, you will promote inclusion, manage resources, and ensure safeguarding and governance requirements are met, with hybrid

Qualifications

• Experience supporting or delivering customer-focused services, programmes or projects that make a positive difference to children, young people and families.
• Full UK driving licence or access to mobility equipment to travel across Gateshead as required.
• Knowledge of the Department for Education's HAF programme, safeguarding requirements, and needs of diverse communities.
• Experience planning, coordinating or delivering activities for children and young people with a focus on inclusion and accessibility.

Responsibilities

• Support the HAF Lead Officer to coordinate programme planning and deliver planned outcomes.
• Develop and implement procedures to monitor risk, change, benefits, finance and quality assurance.
• Assist providers with resources and activities to achieve DfE outcomes.
• Administer the grant application process from enquiry to award.
• Collaborate with internal services, commercial organisations and VCSE groups to deliver HAF.
• Monitor progress and report at defined milestones.
• Work with communications to produce promotional content for social media and newsletters.
• Engage with educational establishments to support research on child poverty.
• Collate, analyse and report on HAF programme success as defined by the DfE.
• Ensure HAF provisions adhere to safeguarding, Health and Safety, information governance and financial regulations.

Skills

Partnership working

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Data analysis

Microsoft Office

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

• Support the HAF Lead Officer to ensure that programme and project planning, development and activity is coordinated and delivers planned outcomes and benefits in line with the Council's strategic objectives.
• Develop and implement programme and project procedures to monitor and report on risk, change, benefits, finance and quality assurance.
• Support HAF activity providers through the provision of resources and activities that contribute to the achievement of DfE outcomes.
• Administer the grant application process from enquiry through to award, liaising with applicants to ensure budget, content and scope are within the parameters as defined by the DfE.
• Work in collaboration with internal Council services, commercial organisations and VCSE organisations to ensure the successful delivery of HAF in Gateshead.
• Support the HAF Lead Officer with the monitoring, recording, auditing and communication of project progress at clearly defined milestones.
• Work closely with the Council's communications team to produce promotional content to be used on social media, the internet/intranet and in the Council's newsletter.
• Build relationships with educational establishments to support and inform their research work in the child poverty arena.
• Collate, analyse and report on the success of the HAF programme as defined by the DfE.
• Support the HAF Lead Officer in ensuring all HAF provision adheres to relevant policies, procedures and practices including, financial regulations, Health and safety, safeguarding and Information governance.
• Ensure the necessary standards relating to safeguarding best practices/protocols are effectively communicated, monitored, and maintained as relevant within the scope of this post.
  Experience supporting or delivering customer-focused services, programmes or projects that make a positive difference to children, young people and families.
• Full UK driving licence or access to mobility support with the ability to travel across Gateshead as required.
• Knowledge or understanding of the Department for Education's Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, safeguarding requirements, and the needs of diverse communities.
• Experience planning, coordinating or delivering activities, events or programmes for children and young people, with a commitment to inclusion and accessibility.
• Strong partnership-working skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with schools, community organisations, charities and other stakeholders.
• Ability to collect, analyse and present information accurately, using data to monitor performance, measure impact and meet programme targets.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, work to deadlines and maintain attention to detail.
• Strong communication and digital skills, including confidence using Microsoft Office applications and communicating effectively with a wide range of people.
• The post holder will be required to work over key school holidays such as Christmas, Easter and Summer.
  Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match.
• We're delighted that you're interested in working with us. You'd be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward-thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive. At Gateshead Council you'd be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work / life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi-time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we're confident that it isn't just the salary that attracts our staff. Turn vision into action for children and families in Gateshead. The Community, Health and Wellbeing Service at Gateshead Council works in close partnership with local communities, residents and organisations to improve health outcomes and quality of life across the borough. The team leads on the development and delivery of strategic programmes, projects and policies that address poverty, inequality and disadvantage, with a strong focus on supporting a healthy standard of living. Key areas include coordinating action to tackle poverty including food and fuel poverty and the Holiday Activities and Food Programme, supporting the Warm Welcome Spaces network, developing high-quality volunteering opportunities, and supporting initiatives that strengthen communities and reduce inequalities. Inspire change. Strengthen communities. Improve lives. This role will support the implementation and delivery of the Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) for Gateshead, providing high quality holiday activities for eligible children and young people across Gateshead in line with the requirements from the Department for Education (DfE). This work supports the key ambitions in Gateshead's Health and Wellbeing Strategy to ensure a healthy standard of living for all, to give every child the best start in life and to enable young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives. This post will play a key role in achieving these ambitions by enabling the provision of free activities and food via HAF provision during the main school holidays - Easter, Christmas and Summer.
• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We don't just offer a great salary - we invest in your future too. Find out what benefits a Local Government Pension provides: https://twpf.info
• Generous Annual Leave: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work-life balance with flexible and hybrid working options.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development, and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax-efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand-new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions - a cost-effective, environmentally friendly way to drive (after 12 months service).
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services - plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics, and more, helping you spread the cost of essential purchases (after 6 months service).