Interview Date Friday 2 nd February All Wow Advisors are expected to be able to Start Date

Transcription

1 Job Title Location Employment Type Wow Advisors (4 positions) Dublin area. Various School locations across Dublin. The programme is currently delivered in 11 schools in Dublin 11; 2 in Dublin 8; 1 in Dublin 10; 1 in Dublin 15. Part-time (12hrs) & Fixed Term contract to June The working hours will be aligned with the school calendar. Salary 7,295-10,850 Contact Person Orla Finglas on Please note Orla works on Monday to Wednesday (9:30am to 2:30pm); Thursday (9am to 2pm) To apply, application form to orla.finglas@barnardos.ie Please put your name followed by WoW Advisor in the subject heading of your . Please note, only applicants who have completed our application form will be considered for this position. Closing Date 5pm Monday 22nd January Interview Date Friday 2 nd February All Wow Advisors are expected to be able to Start Date commence in the role in March Experience Required Qualifications Required A minimum of 2 years post qualification teaching experience at national school level. Specific knowledge of child development, children s literacy issues and successful tutoring strategies. Ability to engage with and manage a large number of volunteers. Computer literate. Bachelor of Education or equivalent Desirable Experience of working in areas of disadvantage. Experience of working with mature people. Experience of working with volunteers.

2 Application Procedure Applicants should complete the Application Form and it to the contact person listed above before the closing date. Shortlisting will apply Candidates who are moved to the 2 nd stage of our Recruitment process are required to complete a medical questionnaire and a Garda Vetting Form. References will be taken up at this stage. Information Note for Wow project Wizards of Words (WoW) is a school-based reading initiative developed by Barnardos in It is a targeted intergenerational paired reading programme whose purpose is to improve children's overall reading achievement. The programme pairs first and second class students who are nominated by teachers for extra reading support and have been assessed as meeting the eligibility criteria for WoW. The trained volunteers meet with their child three times weekly for 30 minute sessions in a communal setting during school hours to provide individualised reading instruction and support. WoW is based on a balanced literacy approach which supports current Department of Education and Skills (DES) reading initiatives and English curriculum expectations. WoW uses a standardised programme and a guided reading approach, which focuses on four key areas of reading: phonics, vocabulary building, reading comprehension and reading fluency. The child benefits from having individual attention that is focused on their reading, as well as the development of a positive relationship with an adult. The WoW programme is based in schools which are included in the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools Programme (DEIS) under the Department of Education and Skills. Between 2008 and 2012, a Randomized Control Trial (RCT) evaluation was completed which found that the children who received WoW made gains in word recognition, phonemic awareness, phonic knowledge, and reading self-beliefs, reading accuracy. Continued pre and post programme testing in the WoW continues to demonstrate improvements in children s reading ability. Barnardos is now recruiting four WoW Advisors to support the delivery and co-ordination of the Barnardos Wizard of Words child literacy programme in the Dublin area. The programme is currently delivered in 15 schools across Dublin as follows:11 in Dublin 11; 2 in Dublin 8; 1 in Dublin 10; 1 in Dublin 15). WoW Advisors will work to support the delivery of the programme in assigned schools and will work collaboratively with the WoW team. Where can I find out more?

3 WoW Advisor Job Description Post: Location: Hours: Responsible to: Works with: WoW Advisor, Wizard of Words reading programme Various school locations across Dublin. 12 hours per week September June each year Wow Manager WoW Staff, Volunteers, School Personnel, Barnardos Children s Services Managers, Service Users and our Partner Agencies and Funders. Job purpose To ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of the WoW programme in designated schools across Dublin. The Wizard of Words reading programme is an intergenerational paired reading programme whose purpose is to improve children s overall reading achievement. The programme is based on an evidence-based US model that pairs a child struggling to acquire reading skills with a mature adult who volunteers. The adult volunteer reads to and with the child, offering them individual attention and encouragement. The programme recognises that the children benefit academically, while both the children and adults benefit socially from the relationships they develop. Core Job Requirements To ensure the smooth operation of WoW programme in assigned schools, including assisting the co-ordination of pupil selection, consent, assessment and timetabling. To support the process of student assessment in pre and post programme testing. To develop and maintain strong and collaborative working partnerships with school principals and teachers at each school. To work collaboratively with the WoW Manager and network of WoW Advisors to support programme co-ordination and delivery. To ensure volunteer care, and that volunteers regularly receive professional advice, training and support. To support the duties of Designated Person for the project under the Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children in conjunction with the school s designated person.

4 To ensure that the protection and welfare of children is a primary concern of all volunteers and that, when child protection issues arise, Barnardos policies and procedures are fully adhered to. To co-ordinate programme materials and resources in assigned schools. To keep regular records in relation to all aspects of the work and prepare reports as required. To revise and update child reading records. To gather information statistics and prepare reports as required, including administration of databases as appropriate to the role. Requirements of all Barnardos staff Commitment to the purpose of Barnardos and to work within the values, policies and procedures of the organisation and in the context of current legislation and regulations. To ensure records are kept and maintained in line with Barnardos systems and policies. To actively participate in team/staff meetings and service reviews/ evaluations. To contribute to the development of policy and practice with your area of work and within Barnardos as a whole. To report any area of concern to your line manager in a timely manner. To show reasonable flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meet the needs of the work. Work during unsocial hours may be required. Have a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change, development and review of best practice. Participate in and engage with a performance management programme. To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or local Health & Safety Officer. To be vigilant to any concerns regarding the protection and welfare of children and to bring them to the attention of the Barnardos Designated Person in a timely manner, in keeping with the Barnardos Child Protection policies. To participate in the efficient flow of information within the organisation by sharing and seeking information as appropriate. To undertake other duties as may be requested by the line manager from time to time. To undertake your work in a manner that is friendly, flexible and informal.

5 To participate in regular supervision with your line manager, identify training needs and participating in training opportunities appropriate to the role. Note: This Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work Personal attributes WoW Advisor Person Specification Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to manage in a dynamic and busy environment. Teamwork required and the ability to work in collaboration with others. Flexibility and adaptability in terms of tasks and time. Ability to manage the volunteer and advisor team in a constructive way, ensuring that a high level of service provision is delivered. Ability to be child-centred and needs led. Ability to work autonomously but seek advice as appropriate. Ability to develop, manage and maintain internal and external relationships with a range of stakeholders. Ability to work to best standards and work within policy framework and legislation. Ability to be responsive, flexible, creative and problem-solving. Ability to be analytical and critical. Qualifications Bachelor of Education or equivalent. Experience A minimum of 2 years post qualification teaching experience at national school level. Specific knowledge of child development, children s literacy issues and successful tutoring strategies. Ability to engage with and manage a large number of volunteers. Computer literate. Desirable Experience of working in areas of disadvantage. Experience of working with mature people. Experience of working with volunteers. Full driving licence and access to the use of a car essential. The postholder is initially assigned to work in the WoW project but may be required in the future to work in other project(s) in the Dublin area in line with organisational needs.