Progression Coordinator (ACT charity)

ST ALDATES and ACT CHARITY St Aldates’ vision is to invite people to encounter Jesus, equip people to follow Jesus in every area of their lives, and envision people to transform their communities. We are pioneering new ways of discipling people to make a difference in every area of their lives. A vibrant church with a congregation of 1200, we are passionate about connecting with and supporting people who are street homeless and those in or leaving local prisons. As a city centre church, working alongside people who are poor or marginalised is a key part of our ministry and is carried out largely through Aldates Community Transformation Initiatives (ACT). ACT’s welcoming community offers support designed to help people find belonging, purpose and hope, which is carefully shaped to fit each individual’s needs. This includes street and prison outreach, community meals, mentoring and supported housing. ACT is a registered charity with a board of trustees drawn from within the church, including the Rector. We are a growing charity with seven salaried staff, and over 65 local volunteers. Staff are employed by St Aldates PCC and seconded to the ACT Charity. At the heart of the charity is our ACT Family, a group of individuals living in our supported houses, and at varying stages of journeying towards independent living. We engage with these individuals on a relational basis through three main areas of support: A community: regular opportunities to gather including a weekly breakfast and Bible study, small groups, social and vocational events, and an annual retreat. A home: a safe, stable place in one of 11 ACT-managed properties in the city, and sustained 1:1 support from the team. A mentor: regular sessions with a trained mentor to enable people to grow in confidence, skills and aspiration, including support to volunteer, study or find employment. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE The Progression Coordinator is responsible for engaging directly with our core ACT Family residents of supported ACT houses and inspiring their ongoing development. A large part of this will be helping them develop the skills needed so they can move towards living independently. Key Duties The role is split into two key areas: Support, coaching and progression for individuals living in our ACT houses: Working alongside the Housing Manager to build relationships with the ACT Family Inspiring residents to explore a pathway towards independent living Establishing Personal Development Plans (PDPs) in response to the needs of each individual Administratively holding and monitoring the progress of the PDPs Conducting regular reviews with each resident and updating PDPs accordingly Giving regular progress reports to the Housing Manager and Head of ACT Managing relationships with all mentors, including monitoring their engagement with the ACT Family and identifying any opportunities or risks Organising mentor training and events as required Identifying training and deploying new mentors as required Maintaining relationships with ACT Family members who are moving out of ACT houses, ensuring they are equipped and supported as they move on Providing ad-hoc cover and support for the Housing Manager as required (e.g. holiday and sickness cover, as well as picking up some day-to-day tasks if required) Outward engagement into the wider community: Ongoing engagement and relationship-building with the wider housing and charity sector in and around Oxford Creating strategic industry connections that help implement the PDPs, including but not limited to private landlords and agencies able to support progression out of ACT houses Building connections with local employers willing and able to train or employ the residents Developing connections with local educational and vocational organisations able to support the residents Managing relevant existing relationships with local agencies as required Developing an active understanding of issues related to housing in Oxford Exploring and communicating any new initiatives or practices to support the role, or the wider activities of the charity Person specification Essential criteria Professional qualifications or professional experience in an area directly relevant to the role, e.g. Social Work, Occupational Health, Probation, Housing, Nursing/Mental Health, Therapy, Coaching Understanding of and experience working with marginalised adults, particularly former prisoners or homeless people Experience of managing projects and organising events Willingness to learn about housing, safeguarding, homelessness, rehabilitation of offenders, probation, state benefits, substance abuse, mental health and other relevant topics Experience of MS Office including One-Note, Teams or similar system Active Christian faith, willing to intercede for others and share your faith when appropriate Love and empathy for those who face poverty, hardship and other life challenges whilst maintaining essential boundaries Demonstrable ability to manage a varied workload and occasional remote work Ability to build relationships with people from all walks of life Ability to remain calm under pressure Able to maintain healthy boundaries whilst working as part of a close-knit team Resilient, able to adhere to a positive routine of mental self-care A full UK driving license or right to drive in the UK (regular local trips are part of the role) Desirable criteria Previous experience of one or more of housing, safeguarding, homelessness, rehabilitation of offenders, probation, benefits, substance abuse, mental health and other relevant topics Experience of teaching life skills, stress and anger management, and other relevant subjects Experience of front-line work with those who face poverty, hardship and other life challenges that are marginalising Experience of risk assessment and risk management Experience of networking and/or public speaking Able to lead prayer meetings and/or worship Ability to lead Bible study groups and to develop one-to-one discipleship relationships Attends or would be willing to attend St Aldates Church Open to continue personal and spiritual development and training OTHER ASPECTS OF THE ROLE Due to the nature of the role and the ACT charity, there is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder be a practising Christian. We value diversity and recognise that some candidates may not feel they have all the skills, experience, and qualifications set out above. Please do not be deterred and rest assured that we believe God will equip the person he is calling to serve in this role. The post will be subject to a satisfactory DBS check and references.

Location: Oxford, GB

Posted Date: 6/17/2025