A warm welcome overnight for homeless people in the coldest months

Would you like to work alongside passionate, selfless colleagues and volunteers, changing the lives of Maidstone’s most vulnerable people? We are currently recruiting:

Project Manager
£28,000 p.a. pro rata
8 month contract: August 30th 2016 to April 28th 2017(August/September 20hrs/week, October to March 37.5hrs/week, April 20hrs/week).(Exact dates and hours TBC).

Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter is a coalition of churches and volunteers from across the community, supported by Maidstone Borough Council, Kent County Council and local agencies to offer evening hospitality and overnight shelter to homeless people in the coldest months.

Further aims of the project are: to support homeless people to find long-term accommodation, resisting dependency on the shelter; and to co-produce support for homeless people. This means working alongside homeless people as equals, and seeking the influence of people with personal experience of being homeless in governance and operations.

The shelter achieves remarkable outcomes for its homeless guests by placing a small team of skilled, experienced professionals at the heart of a large body of compassionate, committed volunteers. The Project Manager is accountable to the shelter Trustee Board for the operational delivery of the shelter. Project Workers support the Project Manager, working with homeless guests and shelter volunteers, ensuring staff presence every evening and on-call availability every night the shelter is open. The charity also employs an Administrator and a Volunteer Recruitment and Rota Coordinator role, working for the Project Manager providing administration support and co-ordinating volunteers and rotas for the project.

This is a challenging and fulfilling opportunity to be at the heart a new initiative, bringing immediate relief, hope and transformation to some of the most vulnerable people in Maidstone. To succeed, you will have the ability to work independently, with initiative to make responsible and well-judged decisions. Experience of managing small projects involving staff; planning (including GANT charts) and scheduling of people, materials and equipment; managing and developing staff, and the ability to manage internal conflict are all important for this role. A knowledge and understanding of the background and circumstances of homeless and vulnerable people and a knowledge of the services available to homeless people is also important.

To apply, download the application pack from the MCWS Recruitment Folder or send a request to mcwsoffice@gmail.com, and send your completed application to mcwsoffice@gmail.com or to MCWS c/o 96 Fennel Close, Maidstone ME16 0XT. Deadline for applications: 12 noon on Thursday 14 July 2016. Candidates must be available for interview on Tuesday 19 July 2016. CVs are not accepted. No agency contact please. Promoting equality in the workplace. Registered Charity Number 1156735