ICS Programme Supervisor JD pdf - VSO

Job Description: ICS Programme Supervisor Responsible to: Tbd by PO and Partner
No. of direct reports: 0 Location: Various
Job purpose:
VSO ICS is a 12 week volunteering programme for 18-25 year olds. A group of 10 young people from the UK will join a group of up to ten young people from the host country, to live, learn and
volunteer together on community based social action projects. Through living and working alongside communities, volunteers gain firsthand knowledge and experience of good practice in
development work and are in turn able to make practical and meaningful contributions to the communities in which they volunteer. They return to their home communities motivated to play a part
in local and global action and, with support from VSO, each volunteer will undertake a project in their home community to share their experiences of their volunteering. Each team of volunteers is
supported by two Programme Supervisors, one from the UK and one from the host country. With significant experience of working with young people in an international development context, the
programme supervisor will be responsible for supporting a team of volunteers by providing pastoral support and facilitating learning during their action projects.
Responsibilities Key Performance Indicators Competencies Skills, Knowledge and Experience required
Programme development in the host community
Work with a community partner to design and implement
the programme. Identifying support for the development
of the core components of the programme e.g
accommodation, projects etc to maximise the impact of
the programme for both the participants and the host
community.
Volunteer Support
Working with the host country counterpart to provide
adequate support and supervision of volunteers
throughout the programme. Promoting and encouraging
appropriate behaviour and ensuring safety and security
standards procedures are met and understood.
Facilitation
Promoting learning amongst volunteers on global, crosscultural
and intercultural issues through the delivery of
training and learning tools and supporting youth led and
on-placement training throughout the programme.
Relationship management and partnership working
Work effectively and with host country programme
supervisor and act as a representative of VSO and partners
at all times. Ensure that all programme partners and
stakeholders are kept regularly informed about the
progress of the in-country programmes, including any
medical or health and safety issues.
Appropriate host homes identified and orientated
prior to volunteers arriving, host homes forms, two
references per host home and risk assessment
completed and sent to line manager. Appropriate
and fit for purpose volunteer
placements/placements with SMART aims and
objectives identified, orientated and risk assessed.
Community profile and safety and security profile
written and sent to manager
Volunteers receive at least one pre-departure
session with PS and set goals for programme, which
are then reviewed in regular supervision sessions
throughout the programme.
Volunteers are supported to build effective and
enabling relationships with host country
counterparts and adapt effectively to a different
culture and working environment.
Safety and security standards are met and
understood and appropriate action is taken in the
event that procedures are not followed.
Training courses are delivered using participatory
approaches and introduce learning tools to
volunteers, which adequately equip them for their
placements.
Volunteers supported to deliver youth-led training
and learning activities throughout the programme.
Volunteers engage with learning materials and
provide feedback on their effectiveness and
contribute to the ongoing design of the toolkit.
Volunteers are able to make connections between
learning from placements and broader development
and citizenship issues and use this learning to plan
their social action project on their return to their
home communities.
An effective and professional relationship with host
country counterpart enables volunteers to be well
supported and relationship is a model of good
practice to volunteers. Open and regular
communication with the VSO management team &
partners is maintained throughout the programme.
The post holder acts in a professional and diplomatic
manner to ensure the reputation of the programme
The following are taken from VSO's competency
framework:
Working together – Strength:
Successfully leads teams and develops others’ teamworking
skills
Communicating and influencing – Adds Value:
Proactively builds relationships and generates
effective discussion and mutual support for plans
and ideas
Managing knowledge – Adds Value: Proactively
seeks out new knowledge sources (people and data);
uses and shares knowledge effectively
Striving for excellence – Adds Value:
Sets and measures challenging objectives for self and
others; gives evidence-based feedback that helps
others to excel.
Managing Resources – Aware:
Spends VSO’s money responsibly; organizes own
work to meet objectives on time.
Managing People – Aware:
Requests and follow up on appropriate support from
others; raises concerns about uncooperative
colleagues in an appropriate way
Developing people – Adds Value:
Helps team members to create and implement clear
development plans that meet their own short and
long term needs.
Leading for the future – Aware:
Is enthusiastic about VSO’s work, lives VSO’s values
and is open to new ideas
Thinking strategically – Aware:
Understands the context of own role; considers
impact of own work on others.
Delivering results – Adds Value:
Analyses objectives, considers options, plans and
manages appropriately; holds self and team
accountable for achieving goals.
Essential
Working with Young People
Proven experience of working with and providing
support to 18-25 year olds from a wide range of
backgrounds with proven ability to facilitate
learning in a non-formal environment
Cross-Cultural Working
Direct and substantial experience of working
cross-culturally and able to communicate to a
range of audiences and promote sharing and
learning between cultures
International Development
Knowledge of issues which are common to
communities in developing countries, possibly
achieved through working or living in a
developing country. Experience of promoting
learning about development issues.
Communication
Possession of strong written communication skills
needed for writing reports, publicity materials
and corresponding with a wide-range of
community members.
Supervision
Significant experience of working in a supervisory
role. Proven ability to promote self-awareness,
learning and development among individuals.
Planning and Organising
Able to develop clear and realistic plans to deliver
agreed objectives within deadlines, involving key
individuals in the planning process.
Desirable
Budget Management
Experience of managing budgets and undertaking
accounting procedures.
Volunteering
Sufficient experience of working with volunteers
to understand the key factors which make
volunteer placements viable, effective and
rewarding.

is upheld.
Monitoring and evaluation
To ensure learning from the programme is captured from
all volunteers and stakeholders and outcomes recorded in
accordance with overall purpose and objectives of the
programme
An overall Monitoring and Evaluation report for the
programme is produced, which draws on feedback
from volunteers, placement and partner
organizations and demonstrates the impact achieved
against the outcomes reflected in a M&E Framework.