JOB TITLE: Disability & Youth Inclusion Development Officer
CONTRACTUAL STATUS: Full time. Fixed term, until June 30th 2027 with potential for extension subject to funding
DEPARTMENT: Sale Sharks Foundation
REPORTING INTO: Community Inclusion Manager
HOURS OF WORK: 37.5 hours per week
BASED: Carrington Training Ground – M31 4AB
SALARY: £25,075
CLOSING DATE: Thursday, 24 April 2025
INTERVIEW DATE: w/c 5th May 2025
ABOUT SALE SHARKS FOUNDATION
Sale Sharks Foundation is the charity partner of Sale Sharks Rugby Club. Our Vision is to use the power of our sport to change lives throughout the North West.
We work hard every day to deliver change in our communities to people of all ages and abilities.
We work with over 15,000 people annually in three key areas: Community Inclusion, Education and Rugby
Development. You can see the impact we had by checking out our 2023/ 2024 Sharks Watch Impact Report. Our highly skilled, dynamic and passionate team now deliver over 50 community projects that change the lives of a huge spectrum of people across the North West: from children and young people right through to senior citizens.
We believe in the immense power of our sport to positively transform people’s lives. We believe the North West is a home to extraordinary people like you. This is your chance to be part of our story!
Job Summary
Sale Sharks Foundation is looking to recruit a Disability & Youth Inclusion Development Officer
to lead and support the delivery of a range of disability and youth inclusion programmes across the Community Inclusion team and beyond. Projects will engage with a wide range of communities with a mix of abilities.
This will include delivering our flagship disability programme ‘Tackle Together’ within SEN schools, mainstream schools, clubs and community settings, as well as supporting with wider disability projects Breaking Barriers and social hubs. The role will also deliver and support outreach and youth engagement programmes such as Rugby in the Park, HAF Schools projects and mentoring young people in school and community settings. You will have responsibility for building community relationships to support the development of disability and youth inclusion projects, fostering new connections, and increasing participation and engagement across programmes.
Using your past experience, as a coach or community worker you will deliver and develop engaging, fun and progressive sessions. You will also work closely with the Community Inclusion Manager to identify development opportunities across the department and identify project needs. The role will also require you to support the collection of data for monitoring and evaluation purposes, taking a lead on some projects where required.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Delivery
- To deliver high quality rugby, mixed sports and mentoring sessions to a range of participants with varying abilities, needs and demands in a variety of different sporting environments. This includes SEN/AEN pupils in both mainstream and special schools, impairment specific sessions and mixed ability adult community groups.
- To work across Sale Sharks Foundation school holiday activities, supporting were relevant on programmes within the Holiday Activation Fund delivery (HAF).
- To work with the Community Inclusion Manager to develop a delivery schedule for each academic term to deliver all aspects of the Disability & Social Inclusion Provision, including: Wheelchair Sports, Inclusive Tag Rugby, Adult Education, PRU delivery, Multi Sports, Awareness Days and Educational/outreach community Programmes.
- Support wider foundation programmes where required such as the Alternative Provision offer, delivering one-to-one mentoring support in primary and secondary schools and wider rugby provision.
Development:
- Plan and co-ordinate awareness sessions, including those at Sale Sharks home matches to build awareness of the Disability & Inclusion Programme.
- To input and feedback around disability and youth inclusion programmes to further develop the strategic direction of the programme and expand the current offering.
- Plan and deliver sessions in a plan-do-review model to strive to develop them to be current, progressive and specific to target audience’s needs.
- To ensure the health and safety of all participants taking part in Sale Sharks Foundations activities. This includes completing risk assessments, adapting session to mitigate risk, and complying with all aspects of Sale Sharks Foundations procedures and safeguarding policies and practices.
Relationship Management:
- Liaise and develop new relationships with internal and external partner organisations to engage new audiences and increase awareness of the Foundation’s programmes.
- Help create and establish strong relationships with stakeholders to develop links with grassroots community groups and clubs to allow individuals the opportunity to progress within their sports, including mixed ability offers.
- Work with the safer neighbourhood teams, youth groups, schools, and other local agencies to encourage links between them to recruit and support ongoing participation and achievement by young people.
- Work with our partner organisations in order to deliver a successful, high impact projects to achieve project outcomes and outputs.
- Work with the Community Inclusion Manager and other relevant team members to advertise and attract new participants and stakeholders into our ‘paid for’ Disability & Inclusion programme provisions for schools, community and wider groups.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting:
- Contribute to the preparation of quarterly and annual reports as well as stakeholder funder reports. This includes; the preparation and use of regular registers, monitoring and evaluations tools and ensuring information is uploaded to the ‘Upshot’ digital monitoring platform and spreadsheets in a timely manner.
- Collate media and case studies to ensure awareness of projects and work of Sale Sharks Foundation.
- Work towards agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) specific to projects and programmes.
General:
- Ensure all non-delivery elements of projects, including but not limited to; keeping accurate records, data collection, are updated on a regular basis and within given deadlines.
- Undertake any other duties required in line with the responsibilities of the post.
- Work with the Community Inclusion Manager to identify funding opportunities and schools or community groups interested in paid provision.
- There may be times on occasions, when the role may have to working evenings and weekends, including match days. This will always be agreed in advance with time off in lieu offered.
This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of duties but is intended to reflect the range of duties the post-holder will perform. The job description will be reviewed regularly and may be changed in the light of experience and in consultation with the post-holder.
It is key to this role that candidates:
- Promote the Sale Sharks Foundation and Sale Sharks brand and values in a professional, strong, and positive manner.
- To be able to work flexible and unsociable hours where the role of the job requires.
- Be committed to applying and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion as Sale Sharks Foundation and comply with all Charity policies and procedures.
- Act in line with the Foundations code of conduct always showing professionalism in all environments we work across, acting as role models for our community.
- Continuously evaluates the success and standards of their work and that of others, through rigorous self and departmental reflection and analysis. This includes creating a CPD plan and working towards agreed PDR objectives.
*Due to insurance purposes candidates must be over 21 and hold a full clean driver’s license. Points on a licence will be consider however increased costs to insurance may be asked to be covered by the employee at Sale Sharks Foundations discretion.
Staff Benefits:
- £240 per year (Pro-rata, claimed monthly) wellbeing benefit
- 3% Pension contribution
- 2 tickets free per game (Men’s & Women’s)
- Kit provided worth in excess of £300
- 20% discount on the staff shop
- Access to Sale Sharks High Performance Gym after 4pm
- Additional leave after 3 and 5 years service
- Flexible working (where possible)
- Health insurance through Vitality which also includes free access to the Headspace app, discounted gym memberships, free weekly coffee and film rental, health checks, employee assistance as well as a wider variety of discounts on health and wellbeing products (upon successful completion of probation period)
- Annual reward and recognition awards
- Bi-annual all staff training days & Foundation socials
- Other CPD opportunities throughout the year as well as an annual budget for CPD as a team and an individual
- Access to e-learning platform
- Dogs allowed in the office/ outdoor kennels (Behaviour permitting)
- Opportunity to buy into Sale Shark performance meal prep
- Free tea & coffee in the office
- Free onsite parking
To Apply
To apply, please upload your CV, covering letter and completed Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Form (available to download on the portal or our webpage) via our Apply here
As stated in the personal specification, due to insurance purposes, candidates must be over 21, please make it clear in your application that you meet this criteria.
If you are experiencing any problems with applying online, please contact foundation.hr@salesharks.com
Please do not hesitate to contact Faye Richardson, Community Inclusion Lead, via faye.richardson@salesharks.com or 07355 092119 if you would like to discuss the role in more detail.
Sale Sharks Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all sections of the community. The successful candidate will undergo an enhanced DBS check to work with children and adults at risk and employment will only be offered if a clear check and suitable references are received back.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer feedback on individual applications and please note only candidates selected for interview will be notified. If you’ve not heard from us within 3 weeks unfortunately you have been unsuccessful this time.
