Job info	Job info details
Job title	Learning & Community Engagement Coordinator
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Culture and Events
Business unit	Torre Abbey
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Torre Abbey Manager
Accountable to (line manager)	Torre Abbey Manager
Salary grade	G
JE ref	JOT36

1. Key purpose of job

• To develop the education and life-long learning offer at Torre Abbey as a core offer. 
• Design, develop, deliver, and evaluate a comprehensive learning strategy to engage all users in line with Torre Abbey’s spirit of place and the Business, Learning and Access Plans. To link the learning strategy to seasonal programmes with visitor and income targets. 
• To work with communities, creative organisations, and partners to provide a co-ordinated programme of education and event activities to enhance the public cultural experience in line with Torre Abbey’s spirit of place.  
• To use educational projects and activities to develop audiences and enhance the value of the buildings, collections and resources on offer across the whole site. 
• To encourage participation from under-represented groups and provide educational support and resource across the Culture and Events service. 
• To contribute to exhibition programmes and other support activities to develop informal learning experiences for all sections of the community. To generate additional funding for education and lifelong learning opportunities within Torre Abbey.  
• Supervise any assigned volunteers (where applicable) and work effectively alongside other colleagues at Torre Abbey to deliver great service to visitors. You will be an excellent team player helping to create a great place for your colleagues (staff and volunteers) to work in. 
• To have a hands-on approach which will include duty management and support of the operational need.  
• As part of the Torre Abbey leadership team you will understand and help deliver the Torre Abbey business plan. You will promote good communication across the site and with external stakeholders to provide a joined-up service provision. 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• High quality learning and cultural experiences contribute to Torre Abbey’s audience  development priorities and meet the needs and expectations of learners. 
• More people access learning through culture particularly those currently under represented.  
• There is comprehensive, high quality, well-promoted Learning & Engagement programme at Torre Abbey throughout the year, encompassing formal and informal learning programmes across the life-course, annual special projects, holiday and term-time provision and a varied offer for families. 
• The Education Centre/Learning Lab becomes a learning destination for the community – including local and visiting families, schools and informal learning groups. 
• Staff and assigned volunteers, where applicable, work in an environment that fosters individual commitment, enthusiasm, team-working and competence to deliver an excellent service.  

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.
• Effective delivery of an annual programme of in house and outreach learning and engagement activities for Torre Abbey which enhance the visitor experience and are relevant to different audiences. 
• Develop a sustainable programme of history inspired talks, activities and workshops around particular exhibitions or in response to particular themes or annual festivals. 
• Create and develop educational resources for visitors, schools, families and special interest groups. Deliver talks, workshops and activities in partnership with storytellers, craftspeople and artists. 
• Safeguarding lead for Torre Abbey including the day-to-day safeguarding and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults at all times across the Torre Abbey site and during the delivery of off-site activities.  Ensuring that Learning and engagement programmes meet best practice standards of safeguarding for children and vulnerable adults in line with Torbay Council policies and procedures.
• Liaise with schools, colleges, universities, day centres, organisations supporting people with  special needs, other community groups and teachers to promote the use of Torre Abbey’s collections and activities in line with the national curriculum. 
• To provide learning activities and which seek to develop increased cultural activity within the Culture and Events Service. To work in partnership with local and regional partners to develop and deliver special projects and learning programmes, combining expertise and opportunities to maximise effective use of resources.
• Represent Torre Abbey at external educational bodies, community groups and other cultural organisations in order to establish and maintain a network of useful and productive partnerships. 
• Assist in recruiting and supervising, where applicable, volunteers to support the learning and engagement of Torre Abbey, fostering a culture of good team work.  
• To keep abreast of current developments in cultural and museums sector education, interpretation and audience engagement, including attendance at local networks, seminars and, workshops and relevant reading/research on current thinking. 
• To develop funding applications and sponsorship opportunities to support education projects and outreach activities under the guidance of the Senior Exhibition & Visitor Experience Coordinator. 
• Key holder for Torre Abbey and able to undertake opening up and locking up procedures.  You will deliver excellent customer service every time by modelling our Core Values and Spirit of Place.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• Responsible for monitoring and overseeing any grant funding allocated to the learning and education activities overseen by the post. 
• The post-holder will oversee and monitor a small agreed budget for education and lifelong learning.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Supervision of volunteers supporting activities delivered as part of Torre Abbey’s learning and engagement programmes. 
• Assisting external education and training providers. 

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• Working at Torre Abbey and within its grounds.  This may involve some working in an outdoors environment and working within a historic house location.
• There will be some off-site working related to outreach work and attending meetings some of which may include outdoor working and in different weather conditions. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• Some manual handling and physical exertion required related to the service area. 
• Regular session delivery/input requiring in-gallery tours and learning sessions, including practical creative sessions. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Creative learning resources will be used by this post including varied art materials and digital equipment.
• IT equipment and systems.  
• Full set of Master Keys and use of alarm activation system. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External: 

• Formal Education providers.
• Heritage and arts agencies and governing bodies. 
• Education and engagement teams/providers in local museums arts and culture organisations. 
• Devon County Council Archive Service. 
• Commercial organisations. 
• Event hirers. 
• Contractors and Suppliers. 
• General public - visitors. 

 

Internal:

• Culture and Events Manager. 
• All of Torre Abbey Team. 
• Staff of the People Directorate.  
• Other Council Departments.   
• Council Health and Safety Officer. 
• Communications team.  

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job. 

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
• This post is office based at Torre Abbey but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.  
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Learning & Community Engagement Coordinator
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Culture and Events
Business unit	Torre Abbey

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Well-developed skills in development and delivery of cultural learning programmes for all people of ages.
• Organisational skills with good attention to detail and able to work on own initiative.
• Strong people skills enabling good relationships.
• Able to demonstrate strong customer service ethos.
• Good evaluation skills.
• An understanding of the use of digital resources to deliver education programmes.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong motivation in achieving and exceeding targets.
• Ability to work flexible hours and unsociable hours.
• Ability to think and act quickly when confronted with emergencies. Able to work with varying pressures deal with difficult situations.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Project management skills. 
• Financial management skills. 
• Skilled in developing creative commercial opportunities.   

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Up to date knowledge and understanding of the National Curriculum, GCSE and A Level criteria, vocational qualifications. 
• Knowledge and understanding of cultural engagement opportunities linked to Further and Higher Education.
• Knowledge and understanding of informal learning and its benefits for audiences across the life-course. 
• Knowledge and understanding of current thinking on learning, engagement and audience development in museums, galleries and cultural sectors. 
• Some understanding of a volunteering role.   

Desirable knowledge

• Knowledge of Torre Abbey.  
• Knowledge of working within a historic house or museum.  
• Knowledge of Foreign Languages.  
• Knowledge of British Sign Language.  

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Previous experience of direct delivery of education sessions and events for a variety of audiences/learners. 
• Experience in developing and implementing education and learning plans. 
• Experience of generating income for education services through charged sessions, grants and/or sponsorship to ensure services are deliverable and sustainable.  
• Experience of working in partnership with creative organisations, community partners and education providers. 
• Experience of successful grant-writing and grant administration. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Formal teaching experience. 
• Experience of working with volunteers.   
• Experience of working with hard-to-reach and under-represented groups. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to A level standard or equivalent in a relevant subject. 
• Educated to GCSE grade C or above in English & Mathematics. 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• A relevant teaching/vocational qualification. 
• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant subject.  
• Relevant training/certificate in safeguarding. 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. moderate amount of manual handling).  
• Ability to travel efficiently around Torbay/Southwest to carry out duties.  
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours to meet the needs of audiences and learners working.   
• Ability to accommodate occasional home-working.