St PAUL S CHURCH, BEDFORD PASTORAL ASSISTANT and VERGER/CENTRE MANAGER St Paul s Church stands at the heart of Bedford. We have a thriving church community and a central part of our team has been our Pastoral Assistant. Over several years, the current post holder has provided invaluable support to the ministerial team and to the local town community, with a particular emphasis on supporting the more vulnerable and needy. Due to the retirement of the present post holder in May 2016, we are now seeking to appoint a new Pastoral Assistant. There will be scope for the person appointed to bring their own gifts and expertise to the role but we are very keen to ensure that we appoint a person who is able both to support our wider mission to the Bedford town community but also, if possible, to support the Vicar as a Verger/Centre Manager in the ordering of services and to manage the building and engage its diverse users. We would ideally like these two roles to be undertaken by one person as presently, as a full time post (working five days a week). However we will also consider those seeking a part-time appointment with experience in one or other of the above roles. The closing date for applications is Monday 7 th March Interviews will be held on: Friday 18 th March Enhanced DBS Disclosure is required Those interested in the post are most welcome to telephone the Vicar, Fr Kevin Goss for an informal discussion prior to application: 01234 364638. About St Paul s page 2 Pastoral Assistant : role description and person specification page 3 Verger/ Centre Manager : role description and person specification page 4 Terms of Service and How to Apply page 6-1 -
About St Paul s THE PARISH AND TOWN OF BEDFORD Location The parish lies in the centre of Bedford town. It includes the main shopping centre, housing ranging from large Edwardian villas, terraced houses and tower blocks to lower blocks of flats. In the past decade there has been considerable housing growth, occupied for the most part by younger people within the parish. The parish is recognised statistically as the most deprived with the Diocese of St Albans. Population In 2012 the population of Bedford borough was 159,200, an increase of 7.6% over the figures for 2001. The same period has seen an increase of 29% in the 80+ population in the town. Bedford has an ethnically diverse population. In 2011 28.5% of the population was from minority ethnic groups, compared to 13% nationally. There has been a substantial increase in these rates since 2001 due to significant international immigration. Transport There is a good rail service to London 40 minutes to St Pancras International; the Thameslink service also runs through London to Brighton. Fast trains run north to Kettering, Leicester and Nottingham, trains also run to Milton Keynes (via Bletchley) in the west. Road links are excellent: Cambridge 40 mins, Milton Keynes 30 mins, with good bus services to both as well as to Oxford. There are good road links to the M1 and A1. Education There is only one state school in the parish, Priory Lower School, educating mainly Bangladeshi children. Bedford Girls School, (a Harpur Trust school) is based in the parish, as is the Bedford Free School. THE CHURCH OF ST PAUL The Church in the Community We are an eclectic Church of England congregation of all ages who seek to glorify God in worship through our flourishing choral, musical and liturgical tradition as we celebrate his love revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ. We also seek to serve Christ by sharing the Good News of his saving love to all in our local community and beyond. We also work with three other Anglican Churches in the Town Cluster with whom we are developing a mission strategy to the town centre. The new Pastoral Assistant is likely to be involved with this strategy which will cross parish boundaries. The church is open every day (Mon - Fri 10am -4pm; Sat 10.00am - 4.30pm; Sun 2.00-4.00pm). We exercise a ministry of worship in the modern Catholic tradition, witness and inclusive welcome in the town centre with a special care for the vulnerable and needy. Historically, St Paul s has played a vital part in the life of our nation as the home for the BBC s daily worship during the Second World War. It is the Civic and County Church of Bedfordshire, a focus for special commemorations and celebrations in the borough, county and wider community, and a central venue for concerts, recitals and exhibitions.. The Pastoral Team The ministerial team is led by the Vicar, and includes two full time staff: a Curate in training and the Pastoral Assistant; and four part-time members: two retired assistant priests, two lay readers (one retired), and a Diocesan Lay Minister. Other staff include: a part-time Administrator, Director of Music and cleaner. The Churchwardens play a key role in the leadership of the parish. Members of the team undertake pastoral visiting to individuals in the congregation and to care homes. While there is some overlap, the role of the Pastoral Assistant is presently focussed mainly on the care of visitors and of the many people who come to the church, seeking help, advice or support. Full details of times of services, groups and activities are available on the church website: http://www.stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk/ - 2 -
Role Description for PASTORAL ASSISTANT Responsible to: The Vicar Key relationships: Other members of the Ministerial Team Churchwardens Statutory and voluntary bodies Key duties and responsibilities To exercise a ministry of welcome St Paul s offers an inclusive welcome to all tourists and visitors and our central location means that those who are homeless or passing through Bedford often visit us. St Paul s offers visitors opportunities for peace, silence and prayer, to light a candle, or find friendship, hospitality and a listening ear from our Church Welcomers. The Pastoral Assistant will enable, provide training and support to and supervise the ministry of the Church Watchers and Welcomers To provide a Pastoral Ministry The Pastoral Assistant is expected: to be available in church during our opening times, and be the first point of contact to anyone who has a pastoral need, visitor or regular member of the congregation. to respond in the first instance to immediate needs and if necessary to refer to a specialist agency with the client s consent, to refer same to an ordained minister (Vicar, the Curate, or Honorary Assistant Priests) as required according to pastoral need, or draw on those in our congregation who have a professional background in care and support to offer hospitality teas or coffees as required. to provide a listening ear and some counselling, and, if requested, prayer. to offer practical help e.g. use of a phone to the social services, photocopying, and internet access; support and introduction to specialised agencies or advice centres. when appropriate and agreed, to work (in conjunction with specialised agencies) with long term clients who have complex needs and require continuity and sustained pastoral support. to establish good working relations with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies to participate in worship. There may be opportunities to lead daily prayer and to assist with the distribution of communion. to attend Sunday services to maintain appropriate records e.g. to assist applications for grant funding to develop good working relationships with the congregation generally Other Notwithstanding any necessary sharing of information with the Vicar, the Pastoral Assistant is to maintain strict confidentiality of all those who come seeking help, solace, advice and hope, unless the client or another person is at serious risk of harm To attend Staff meetings (usually fortnightly) To meet with the Vicar regularly and receive an appraisal at least annually To undertake any other duties appropriate to the role To undertake training appropriate to the role To observe PCC policies and be responsible for his/her own health and safety and that of others - 3 -
Person specification The post is suitable for those seeking pastoral experience in preparation for offering for ordination or other pastoral ministry or caring role, or for a more mature candidate with greater experience. Essential To be approachable, a good listener and able to empathise with sensitivity and humour to be trustworthy and able to maintain confidences to maintain appropriate professional and pastoral boundaries to be organised, Should be a committed Christian and in sympathy with the ethos of the Church of England Able to work appropriately with other members of the ministerial team, church welcomers and other volunteers under the direction of the Vicar have flexibility and adaptability in relation to working hours Able to manage working time well without supervision, to establish clear boundaries and to prioritise be computer-literate with ability at email and word-processing Desirable have qualifications and/ or experience in social/pastoral work have experience of working with volunteers Role Description for VERGER / CENTRE MANAGER Responsible to: The Vicar Key relationships: Other Members of the Ministerial Team Churchwardens Administrator Director of Music, Sacristan & Head Server Key duties and responsibilities Worship responsible for setting up seating, other furniture, candles, etc for ministerial team and congregation, candles, etc for regular services, Civic and Special services responsible for clearing and restoring the church to its normal layout/seating arrangement following services and other events to be attendance at Sunday services and major Festivals to verge participants during services - as required by the vicar; work in cooperation with the vicar in making arrangements for Civic and Special services being confident about the structure and ordering of the service to have a working knowledge of the sound system in the absence of the usual operators responding to any changes or alterations to the service required by the vicar; after the service - ensuring that the collection is stored / counted securely; to supervise the work of a volunteer assistant verger at services - 4 - over/
Centre Management St Paul s Church is a multi-use building that hosts meetings / activities / special services and events by both the ministerial team & congregation members, and outside users, assisting with major events including: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Holy Week & Easter, Markets, High Sheriff s Justice Service attending meetings with those involved in planning an event and taking notes organising a team of volunteers who can assist with major re-arrangements of the church ensuring that the church is prepared for events - seating, tables, lights, and other equipment; facilitating and timetabling in a rehearsal period if required providing parking spaces in the churchyard as required ensuring that the event is staffed by a member of the church being able to respond appropriately to pastoral clients who turn up at a booked event ensuring that the church heating is switched on & off for bookings outside normal church hours clearing up and returning the church to its normal layout / seating arrangement; to attend staff meetings securing the church as required liaising with contractors undertaking work in the church, including arranging access and security responsible for the day to day tidiness and maintenance of the building eg replacing light bulbs/ and drawing more significant problems to the attention of the Churchwardens displaying notices/advertisements about forthcoming events to maintain confidentiality to attend staff meetings (usually fortnightly) to meet with the Vicar regularly and receive an appraisal at least annually to undertake any other duties appropriate to the role to undertake training appropriate to the role to observe PCC policies and be responsible for his/her own health and safety and that of others Person specification Essential have the necessary diplomacy, broad-shoulders and sense of humour required by the role. good organisational skills the ability to work under pressure the ability to work in a team have flexibility and adaptability in relation to working hours should be resilient and able to cope with the physical demands of the post have the ability to manage working time well, to establish clear boundaries and to prioritise have the ability to work with other members of the ministerial team, under the direction of the Vicar have sympathy with the ethos and values of the Church of England be computer-literate with ability at email and word-processing Desirable familiarity with Anglo-catholic worship Experience in a customer service role - 5 -
Terms of Service This is, ideally, a full time post, combining both Pastoral Assistant and Verger/Centre Manager roles, working five days a week, including Sundays. Some flexibility in working hours is sometimes necessary. Hours: Salary: Leave: Pension: An annual hours contract based on 37 ½ hours per week, to cover both roles. Weighting between the roles is flexible depending on seasonal needs. 20,000 depending on seasonal needs; reviewable annually (pro-rata for part time appointment) Four weeks per year, plus bank holidays (or days in lieu where these fall on major festivals). Automatic enrolment in an approved pension scheme How to apply Applicants are invited to submit a CV and a Letter of Application. Your letter should state your reasons for applying for this post, provide an outline how you meet each of the selection criteria (see person specifications), drawing on gifts, skills, knowledge and experience from your career, responsibilities held and relevant interests. You will also want to set out your thoughts about how you will take forward some of the challenges and issues set out in the role description. You should give the names, postal and email addresses of THREE referees with knowledge of both your work and character. St Paul s is an Equal Opportunity employer The post is subject to Enhanced DBS clearance Applications, by email in the first instance, should be sent to the Vicar: vicar@stpaulschurchbedford.org.uk or by post: The Reverend Kevin Goss 12 The Embankment Bedford MK40 3PD - 6 -