Job Title                      Grace Worker

Employed by                Grace for the Next Generation Limited

Salary                           £18,000

Period of contract         12 months: 1 September – 31 August

(renewal of contract will be subject to future church demand for Grace Workers)

Accountable to            Grace Manager, Church Manager

Work Base                   Planning can be carried out at home; ministry will be at various locations

Hours                           40 hours per week

                                    It will be necessary to work on Sundays and some evenings.

Time Off In Lieu           To be arranged, in advance, with line manager

Holiday entitlement       25 days per year plus bank holidays

                                    Bank holidays may be taken as holiday or TOIL

Notice period               3 months

Part time posts may be available as follows:

0.25 (10 hours per week)

0.5 (20 hours per week)

0.75 (30 hours per week)

The purpose of the post is:

To inspire and enable churches to engage in ministry to children and their families.

The aims are:

To make Jesus known to children in the community.

To provide opportunities for children and their families to have contact with their local church.

To take an active role in child-friendly church services (including fresh expressions).

The successful applicant(s) will need to maintain a taxed, roadworthy car with MOT and insurance for home and business use. They will spend an average of 8 hours per week working for each of the churches allocated to them. They are likely to spend one day per week and one Sunday per month with each church. The work at each church will be different.

At each church they will be asked to:

Have regular meetings with their Church Contact

Liaise with other church members

Attend church meeting(s), as appropriate

Write written reports about the work

Pray regularly for the work and encourage others to do the same

Undertake Christian children’s work, as agreed with the Grace Manager and Church Contact

The work at each church could include:

Developing a team of volunteers

Networking, as appropriate, with other Christians working in the area

Enabling existing ministry to function and grow effectively

Developing opportunities for new ministry

Publicising events, as required

Engaging in outreach activity in the community e.g. making contact with local schools and, if applicable, leading assemblies, lessons and clubs.

Being responsible for some aspects of the church’s ministry to children, their families and churched youth

e.g. after-school clubs, Sunday school, all-age worship, one-off events, clubs, and holiday clubs.

Developing policies e.g. child protection/health and safety

Providing discipleship programmes for Christian children

Promoting attendance at Christian residential events

The successful applicant(s) will meet regularly with their Grace Manager and will work under their direction.

Grace responsibilities:

To pray regularly for the Grace Project and to encourage others to do the same

To provide data and evidence demonstrating the success or otherwise of the Grace Project

To report back to the Grace Team on progress made

To complete timesheets

Account for expenses (including mileage), keeping these to within an agreed budget

To develop materials and ideas to be used by the whole Grace team

To undertake training

To be an advocate for children and their needs

To help Christians understand the importance of reaching the next generation

To promote good practice

To help develop the Grace Project

To work with churches considering joining the Grace Scheme

Grace Workers extending their contract may be asked to help with the mentoring of new workers.

Person Description

The successful applicant(s) must obtain a satisfactory enhanced CRB check before the contract starts.

They will have a heart for sharing the gospel with children.

Personal Qualities Required

Good communicator

Diplomacy skills

Team player

Enterprising

Adaptable

Reliable

Essential Requirements

Experienced children’s worker in a variety of settings

Good track record for developing and sustaining ministry to children

Good bible knowledge

Able to teach biblical truth in a fun and relevant way

Able to provide own transport

Able to work under own initiative

Able to manage time efficiently

Able to relate well to people of all ages and different backgrounds

Has resided in the UK for a minimum of two years

Desirable

Relevant qualifications

Ability to think theologically

Experience of working with parents

Experience of working with youth

An awareness of current thinking amongst children’s workers in the UK

Good administrative skills

One or more of the following skills: Music, Drama, Craft, Sport

There is a genuine occupational requirement for the successful applicant to be a committed Christian.

They will be a positive, Christian, role-model to children, young people and their families. They should be willing to respect the views of the church leaders they work under.