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► External Evaluator

Groundwork North East is part of the Federation of Groundwork Trusts, a network of Charitable Trusts across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is of a society made up of sustainable communities which are vibrant, healthy and safe, which value the local and global environment and where individuals and enterprise prosper.

We do this by:
• Enabling an integrated and community led approach to local regeneration
• Using environmental improvements as a means of achieving social and economic change
• Helping individuals and organisations contribute to sustainable development.

We work together with passionate individuals, proactive public services and innovative private sector organisations to deliver a diverse range of projects. We are proud of being a local delivery organisation. Our local programmes and services are tailored to the needs of our partners. When all that local activity is added together, it becomes a major regional force for change.

Recruitment and screening process for volunteers:
• Applicant completes volunteer enquiry form
• If applicant is a match for the role they will be invited to an informal interview. If not we will inform them and if relevant suggest any other opportunities.
• The it informal interview will really be no more than a chat to establish what the volunteer wishes to gain from their time with Groundwork, what they have to offer and what opportunities there are available for them to participate in.
• At this stage a Volunteer Application Form, Equal Opportunities Form and Volunteer Criminal Convictions Declaration Form is given to the volunteer to complete and return to Central Office where they will be passed to the Human Resources (HR) team, who will undertake a reference check. If this shows the volunteer is unsuitable for the role they have applied for, HR will inform the relevant VC or LM who will inform the volunteer. If relevant we will also ask the volunteer to complete a CRB check which we will fund.
• If the reference and CRB checks are acceptable HR will send out a placement letter to the volunteer. We will then contact the volunteer to arrange a start date and induction.

CRB required: Yes

Times you can volunteer (Morning, afternoon, evening):
Morning or Afternoon, 9-5, Monday – Friday.

Description of role:
Working with a number of staff members in Groundwork’s Northumberland office to establish and deliver project evaluations of the large scale projects (up to £1.2 million) delivered in this area. This is a crucial role for which we require someone who is external to the project team to undertake. Key tasks and skills required will include:
- Utilise Groundwork’s ‘Gold’ evaluation procedure to develop 360 project specific evaluations for a number of key projects.
- Develop effective relationships within the trust to enable monitoring of work
- Work with key partners on projects such as client, community groups, youth groups, schools to evaluate their experience of the project.
- Assess quality standards
- Produce an interim and final report to detail the outcomes of the evaluation, celebrating successes and recommending areas for improvement where required.

Learning and Training opportunities
-Full induction will be provided and any specific training needs identified and organised such as excel, power point or evaluation method training.
- Working with a live business, the staff and management team to undertake a crucial element of the project delivery and management cycle.
- To understand how a rage of different projects and industries ‘work’ including; Housing management, construction, education, children and young people, woodland and countryside management.

Specific skills required:
• Good verbal communication skills
• A commitment to the project
• Organisation and timekeeping skills
• Comply with the Trusts’ Health and Safety policy in all employment practices.
• Comply with the Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure in all employment practices.
• Comply with the Trusts’ Performance Management Policy.
• Maintain the integrity of the Groundwork North East brand in all internal and external communications
• Maintain a proactive approach to your role and responsibilities along with a commitment to contribute and maintain the positive working ethos within the Trust.
• Maintain working knowledge of the policies and regulations governing the Trust.
• Assure attendance at staff meetings as requested.
• Undertake any training and development deemed necessary for the pursuance of the role.
• Work in a way that contributes to the continuous improvement of the Trusts’ services and embraces the organisations quality initiatives.
• Any other duties commensurate with the level of the role.

Pre-placement requirements: (i.e. training (number of hours, specific times i.e. weekend), meeting with supervisor, references):
Meeting with supervisor to be introduced to the project, the team members and key aspects that will be important to the roles. Discussing and agreeing mile stones for project progress that fit in with Groundwork’s and the volunteers work schedules and other commitments.