Children and Families Pioneer

(Fixed Term Contract until end Dec 2025)

3 days per week

Salary range: £15,194 - £17,016

(FTE £25,324 - £28,361)

Saint Augustine’s is a growing and inclusive church where all are welcomed and encouraged to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Children and families are important to us. This is an exciting opportunity for a Children and Families Pioneer to join our team and support our vision in offering those who worship with us, and all the children and families in the parish, opportunities to discover the love of God and that of his Son Jesus Christ.

We are seeking a Children and Families Pioneer to develop and lead on mission and ministry initiatives that engage with children and families both within the parish and the community of faith at Saint Augustine’s.

The parish is amongst the most deprived in the diocese. It is also growing with new housing developments. There are three primary schools within the parish, one of which is a Church of England school. We have excellent links with all three.

We believe many exciting opportunities will be offered to us in the coming years and we want to be in a position to meet those with confidence. We are therefore seeking a Children and Families Pioneer to help us in this important aspect of our mission.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, organise and develop existing pioneering projects that will result in new worshipping communities being sustained that are suitable to families and children.
• Establish a baptism follow up group. Develop and launch a service to meet the requirements of SEN children and families.
• Lead, plan and promote the existing Children and Families work at St Augustine’s and work to integrate those who attend the projects with the wider children and families work.
• Work alongside the Vicar to build relationships and support the schools’ work at the Church of England school and the other two primary schools in the parish.
• Support & work with the Vicar and ministry team on matters relating to children and families, especially their mission and ministry within the parish and community. To attend review meetings on a regular basis.

Candidates will have a passion for outreach to families and children helping them to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Successful candidates should:

• Have previous experience pioneering Children and Families ministry with relevant theological knowledge and experience.
• Understand the importance of safeguarding and safe practice principles in children’s work.
• Be able to engage with and relate to a wide range of families and individuals, and to work collaboratively with both lay and ordained people.
• Be willing to become a worshipping member of St Augustine's.

The post holder will, at times, be the public face of the church in Slade Green. It is considered that there is an Occupational Requirement (OR) for the postholder to be a communicant member of the Church of England, or of a Church in communion therewith or of a member Church of the Council of Churches for Britain and Ireland or of Churches Together in England, or of a member Church of the Evangelical Alliance.

Ordained and Lay applicants are welcome. We would encourage ordained candidates to contact HR to discuss the terms of the contract before applying. For an informal conversation about the parish and the responsibilities contact Rev Jim Bennett on 01322 553 421 / 07787 292 094.

The appointment is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced DBS disclosure.

If you have any questions about the role or application process, please contact the HR department at recruitment@rochester.anglican.org

Closing date for applications: Monday 20 February 2023

Interviews to be held: Monday 27 February 2023 (TBC)