As Church of England Dioceses in the West Midlands, Church of England Birmingham alongside the dioceses of Coventry, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield and Worcester are excited to have funding from the Racial Justice Unit to recruit a team of 11 people. That team will help us ensure that structures, practices and behaviours throughout our Church and churches embrace people of GMH and UKME backgrounds and enable them to flourish. The whole team includes a Director, Programme Manager, Theologian, Communications and Engagement Officer, six development workers each with a different focus, and a support worker. The team has 3 years to enable us to fan into flame a movement of change within us that continues to be effective and transformative long beyond the funding.
The team will be responsible for supporting the development of activities in our widely diverse contexts. Those activities include: sharing theological insights informed by our cultural origins; sharing worship practices; reviewing participation in our structures and activities; inviting previously unheard contributions into our governance structures; deconstructing whiteness; reimagining invitation into parish and community activities; and working in church schools and among young people. Relationships between people in all parts of us matter as much as the composition of our committees. The team will be accountable to a Regional Racial Justice Board made up of people from each of our dioceses committed to effecting change in these areas.
The purpose of the role
The purpose of this role is to work with the Diocesan Boards of Education within the region to
- disseminate good practice and celebrate successes in tackling racial injustice and racism within schools and DBEs;
- ii) to understand and communicate an understanding of the barriers to that good practice; and
- iii) put in place mechanisms to challenge and break through identified barriers.
The postholder needs to
Understand and be able to work for change within the complexities of education within the diverse contexts and legal frameworks across the region.
Be willing and able to understand and develop good practice in this field, to apply national learning in diverse local contexts and release local learning into the national conversation where appropriate.
Be a good communicator and networker, able to make meaningful relationships with people at all levels within DBEs and other diocesan structures in the region, as well as in schools..
Be a good listener able to translate learning into appropriate action.
The postholder will
Work with DBEs to change the culture and practice of recruitment so that there is a greater diversity and representation in DBE’s, school governing bodies, and staff teams within schools.
Work with DBEs and School governing bodies to ensure the provision of appropriate on-going support to appointees of GMH/UKME backgrounds.
Working collaboratively with the anti-racist practice officers ensure that appropriate complaints procedures are in place and adhered to.
Collect and curate stories from the GME/UKME community within diocesan education structures and schools.
Celebrate successes in tackling racial injustice within DBEs and schools and in collaboration with other members of the Regional Racial Justice Team share those successes and the learning from them within broader diocesan structures and parishes.
Be responsible for reporting activity undertaken in whatever form and at whatever intervals are agreed with the Regional Racial Justice Director.
Ensure that DBEs and schools are connected into the racial justice and anti-racism work in dioceses across the region and have opportunities both to disseminate their expertise and join learning communities.
Develop specific training opportunities /mentoring / shadowing programme linking into national programmes where appropriate and filling the gap.
Review and update templates and documentation in regard decolonisation of the curriculum.
Hold responsibility as the key link worker with a named diocese and be responsible for representing that diocese’s context in team planning and decision making.
Person Specification
Due to the nature of this post, the post-holder will need to work within the underrepresented GMH / UKME communities of the six dioceses, understanding the contexts which individuals of a GMH / UKME background serve in their vocation, to teaching, mission or ministry and any barriers which they may face, therefore there is a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) under the Equality Act 2010 that the post holder is of a GMH / UKME background and a practicing Christian.
We are looking for someone who:
- Is passionate to change the culture and practice of recruitment so there is greater diversity and representation of UKME/GMH backgrounds within DBE’s, School governing bodies and staff teams.
- Can work with DBEs and school leadership teams to review and develop training opportunities/mentoring/shadowing programmes for supporting those from GMH / UKME background fulfil their leadership potential.
- Has experience and knowledge of education structures and school governing bodies.
- Produces clear and well-structured written work, including reports.
- Can identify learning and develop specific
- Is supportive and can work collaboratively with others
- Has the ability to listen, communicate and be a natural networker who can create meaningful relationships with people across a variety of levels.
- Has the ability to travel the length and breadth of the six dioceses of the project
Terms and Conditions
This is a fixed-term contract for the three years of funding provided for this project
Hours: Full-time 35 hours (5 days) per week. Some weekend/evening work may be required, for which the equivalent time may be taken back from standard working hours. We are happy to consider requests for flexible working, and please do mention in your application if you would be interested in looking at alternative working hours.
Salary and Pension: Salary of £36,000 plus membership of the Church Worker’s Pension Scheme with 12% employer contribution
Holidays: 5 weeks per year plus Bank Holidays and 3 Discretionary Days between Christmas and New Year
Employer: Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance
Location: This role will cover the six diocese of the initiative and so travel will be required – a usual office base will be made available in one of the diocese based on where the postholder lives and hybrid working will be available.
Responsible To: The Senior Development Worker
CLOSING DATE: SUNDAY 24 MARCH
INTERVIEWS TO BE HELD IN BIRMINGHAM ON MONDAY 8 APRIL .
To apply for the role, please click here.
This post is supported by funding from the Church of England Racial Justice Unit