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Children and Families Worker, Harwell & Chilton, Oxfordshire (Full time / flexible)
Vacancy Reference cofe/TP/79108/8030
Number of Positions:
1
Contract Type:
Employee
Salary/Stipend:
c. £24,000 depending on experience
Location:
Harwell nr Oxford
Closing Date:
31/01/2025
Vacancy Category:
Children's and Families Ministry
Business Unit:
Diocese of Oxford
Organizational Unit:
Parish Employed
Introduction
Children and Families Worker, Harwell & Chilton, Oxfordshire
Overview
Wanted: Children & Families Worker (full time/40 hours or flexible) to join our team near Oxford
Introduction
Work with children and families is well-established in and central to our ministry. Our two villages are vibrant and outward-looking with excellent transport links. Both have grown significantly in recent years, and that growth is continuing with the major Valley Park housing development being built presently.
Our Sunday worship has Kids’ Church and Pathfinder groups. There is a programme of all-age services with a planning team and a monthly Fresh Expressions service in Chilton Village Hall. We have a strong and committed volunteer base for these.
Our tradition is “Evangelical and Open-Minded,” and the central purpose of this role is to give leadership to the work of St Matthew’s Harwell and All Saints’ Chilton amongst children, young people and their families, making disciples of Jesus. This is integral to our shared vision to grow God’s Church wider, deeper and closer.
The team (including Deborah, who is Parish Administrator and provides ministry support services) has its base in the Church Office at St Matthew’s, Harwell. You can find out more and meet the Rector, Jeremy, online at www.childrensworker.com
The deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 31st January. Interviews will be on Sunday 2nd March 2025. If you would like an informal chat or to book a visit, please email rector@hcchurches.org or see www.childrensworker.com
Note that this role requires you to be a practising Christian, and to be resident in the United Kingdom, with full permission to work here.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Main Responsibilities
- To provide strategic direction to and development of the work with children and families within the framework of our Children Young People & Families Oversight Group
- To oversee our Church Family provision, reflecting our commitment to put children, young people and families at the centre of a more Christ-like church
- To oversee our outreach work with children and families. This work will be delivered partly by you, by volunteers and by working with other leaders in the church. This could involve an active role in recruitment, training and development of the volunteer base
- To support our local schools and have a role in assemblies, after school clubs, lessons, prayer spaces and visits as appropriate
- To liaise with the Rector, Associate Ministers, Curate, Parish Safeguarding Officers and Parish Administrator as required
- To source and manage resources required for different groups and activities, e.g. craft equipment, stationery, Bibles and games equipment
- To organise publicity, record-keeping and administration associated with the above, including use of printed media, the church website and social media
- To undertake any other reasonable duties as agreed with the Rector, e.g. to support parents and families through and following baptism
Prioritisation of these responsibilities will accommodate flexible hours, where applicable.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will offer the following:
- A strong Christian faith that inspires you to share the knowledge and love of God through Jesus Christ on the basis of personal experience
- Being able to think strategically about the development of children’s and families’ work in our churches, the teaching programme and related activities, and to develop new ways of involving children in the life of the church and wider community
- A strong communicator who can relate to a range of people and situations. Good administrative and organisational skills. The ability to motivate self and others
- A passion to communicate Biblical truths clearly, relevantly and attractively to different age groups
- The experience and creativity to produce and manage resources for a wide range of groups
- The ability to establish a good rapport with infants, children and their parents and carers
- Comfortable working collaboratively with others
- Confidence with IT including experience of widely used office applications
- DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance
- Confidentiality, reliability and integrity
In addition, desirable attributes include:
- A qualification in child development or ministry
- Experience of delivering projects involving a range of different people
- Experience leading a team of volunteers
- Skill in art, craft or music
- Ability to manage a budget and to contribute to fundraising and grant-writing
- Full current driving licence
We will provide training as appropriate and commit to supporting you prayerfully and practically through your personal, spiritual and professional development.
About Us
Guiding all our work with children, young people and families we aim, in all we do, to live out faith in Jesus that is:
- Relevant - we demonstrate how the radical way of Jesus is what the world needs today
- Accessible - we face outwards, always ready to welcome newcomers and put them at ease
- Applicable - we learn, apply and live out our faith; and
- Joyful - we keep it light and major on fun.
Our area continues to grow and develop. There are excellent employment opportunities locally, with both the Harwell Science & Innovation Campus and Milton Park nearby and regular bus and fast train links to London and Oxford. We have strong partnerships with other local churches, a committed and supportive leadership and the courage to listen to and act on God’s voice in our community.