DIOCESE OF BRENTWOOD
ASSISTANT MANAGER OF WALSINGHAM HOUSE
(PROGRAMME LEADER/DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSION CO-ORDINATOR)
Location
Hours
Responsible to
Reporting to / Supervised by
Start Date
Salary
Holiday
Walsingham House, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8
9DE. Most retreat work takes place at
Walsingham House, but there is some outreach
work and involvement with wider youth service
events as required.
Usually up to 48 hours per week, including
evenings & weekends, retreat dependent.
Director of BCYS
Manager of Walsingham House
15th August 2015 *
£11,000 – £14,000 (dependent on experience) +
large bedroom within community house.
Annual leave of 6 weeks, to be taken during the
schools holidays, while ensuring WH is not left
vacant.
Purpose of Job
Walsingham House is the Diocesan Youth Retreat Centre for Brentwood Diocese and is overseen
by Brentwood Catholic Youth Service (BCYS). Walsingham House serves young people of East
London and Essex from our schools and parishes through evangelistic based retreats from the ages 9
to 30 through peer ministry.
The purpose of this role is to deputise for the Manager of Walsingham House where appropriate,
especially in their absence. On a day to day basis you will be the senior programme leader for
delivering evangelistic programmes to young people with your team. In conjunction with the
Manager you will oversee a volunteer team of 6 to 7 young people aged 18 to 25 who undertake a
year of discipleship and mission in delivering retreats. You will have significant responsibilities for the
community and prayer life of your team, including their on-going discipleship and mission formation.
The Assistant Manager as well as being supervised by the Manager of WH will also work closely with
the Director of BCYS and Diocesan Youth Chaplain, to ensure the ministry that takes place at
Walsingham House is kept to a high standard.
The Assistant Manager also helps support the existing projects of Brentwood Catholic Youth
Service, as well as being part of a Youth Service Staff Team which is involved in new and creative
evangelisation initiatives for the future development of Catholic Youth Ministry across the Diocese.
Walsingham House is committed to the implementation of Brentwood Diocese’s Vision for Youth
Ministry Document 2014. The aim of BCYS is “To make disciples through the Holy Eucharist and
Devotion to Our Lady” and one of its goals is the renewal and consolidation of “The Culture of
Discipleship and Mission at our Youth Retreat Centre”. The House is under the Patronage of Our Lady
of Walsingham.
Programme Leadership and Development
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At all times to ensure that the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and Brentwood
Diocese’s Vision for Youth Ministry Document 2014 is implemented in all ministry
undertaken.
Be the senior programme leader for evangelistic residential and day programmes at the
House and off-site.
Create and develop new programmes and sessions with your team.
Ensure that retreat programmes include a balance of evangelisation and catechetical content
e.g. relationship and life issues amongst others, as well as the promotion of charitable work
e.g. Aid to the Church in Need highlighting the plight of suffering Christians.
Ensure that youth evangelisation retreat programmes are regularly reviewed and
continuously updated and encourage young people’s on-going discipleship and participation
in parish life.
Ensure that users of the House have the opportunity to evaluate programmes and that
feedback is acted upon where appropriate.
Ensure that new and innovative and stimulating evangelisation resources are developed as
required, including, IT resources, creative arts, and discussion materials.
Support volunteer training and formation, including theological formation.
Co-lead wider Youth Service events with the Events Manager as called upon by the Manager
of Walsingham House and Director of BCYS.
Clean and maintain House at the end of each retreat.
Ensure security of the premises during and after each retreat, and overnight.
Ensure staff and young people are briefed on health and safety.
Log risk assessments in conjunction with the Manager.
Liaise with catechists, staff members, youth leaders and clergy pre-retreat to discuss
programmes and their responsibilities.
Help serve food and maintain kitchen hygiene during retreats where necessary.
In conjunction with the Manager of WH to be responsible for all on-call duties and any
matters that pertain to the welfare of volunteers, staff and young people, including outside of
normal working hours. To ultimately be responsible when the Manager of WH is not
present.
With the team, attend national retreat team’s conference held in January of each year.
Be part of the core staff/planning group for our Annual Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage.
Attend Monthly Youth Mass at the Cathedral where possible, building Christ-centred
relationships with young people during the social afterwards.
Discipleship and Mission
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Devise a balanced three week induction programme in September each year in conjunction
with the Manager of Walsingham House, Diocesan Youth Chaplain and Director of BCYS.
Take the lead in conjunction with the Manager to ensure a formation day every week for
volunteer disciples and retreat staff.
Over time act as a spiritual mentor and develop weekly discipleship small group formation
time for your team to come to a lived experience of Scripture, Tradition and the
Magisterium and to take ownership for their faith formation.
Investigate the possibility and implementation of devising discipleship and leadership
weekends for more spiritually mature young people who have experienced preevangelisation and the initial proclamation of the gospel.
Encourage where possible the volunteer team to deepen their discipleship through various
annual evangelisation events e.g. Youth 2000 retreats and other national events.
Community Life
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Take the lead in supporting a daily and weekly structured prayer and liturgical programme as
well as supporting the spirituality of Our Lady of Walsingham.
To ensure a Community Rule of Life with the Manager of WH is regularly owned by your
team on a weekly and daily basis to create an authentic Catholic community at the House.
Responsibility for day to day pastoral care of volunteers living in the community.
Oversee community meetings and resolve any conflict issues.
Organise retreats and days of recollection for team with religious from our diocese and
beyond to aid their on-going discipleship and conversion.
Ensure cleanliness around the community house.
Management
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Undertake the professional duties of the Manager of WH reasonably delegated to you and
especially when the Manager is absent.
Contribute to the management of WH in achieving the aims and objectives, as outlined in
the Diocesan Vision for Youth Ministry 2014 document.
In conjunction with the Manager prayerfully recruit a pool of young people aged 18 to 25
who would like to take a year of discipleship and mission at WH.
Working Environment
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In conjunction with the Manager of WH to deliver and ensure a safe, clean and secure
environment for staff and volunteers and guests who use and /or live at the Centre or use
its services.
In conjunction with the Manager ensure staff and volunteers adhere to statutory
requirements and Diocesan policies particularly those concerning Health and Safety, Equality
and the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. Take the lead on delivering training
on these areas.
Report any maintenance issues to the Manager of WH and greet relevant contractors when
the Manager of WH or Housekeeper is absent.
Ensure other staff and volunteers are adequately supported to deliver and prepare meals.
To be a designated first aider on site.
In conjunction with the Manager of WH organise transport for staff and volunteer disciples
where necessary.
Finance
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Work with the Manager to ensure that a culture of financial stability takes place at WH.
Manage income and expenditure on each retreat in conjunction with the Manager of
Walsingham House.
Record expenses and receipts charged to corporate card for community items.
Order community items including food according to the budget given by the Manager of
WH.
Work with Manager to be energy efficient at all times in our retreat operations.
Work with Manager to ensure that preventive scheduled maintenance of buildings, grounds
and equipment takes place, preventing reactive maintenance and thus lowering operational
costs and hazards to others.
Administration
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Take bookings, answer enquiries in absence of administrator.
Ensure retreat programmes and health and safety documentation is appropriately filed.
Development of our social media strategy.
Personal Specification
Essential
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A committed and practising Catholic, able to show passion and lived support of the
Magisterium in all areas of faith and morals.
At least three years experience of the planning and delivery of evangelistic programmes for
young people aged 11-18.
Experience of leadership training and mentoring for young adults aged 16-25.
At least one year’s experience in a residential context or experience of living and working in
a community.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Has a suitable qualification in Theology or Youth Ministry or is willing to study towards one
(the Youth Service is currently undertaking its training through the School of Annunciation).
Strong proficiency in the use of Office packages, or equivalent, with the ability to design
effective multimedia presentations.
Desirable
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A full driving license.
Recognised first aider qualification.
Experience of youth discipleship formation in a small group setting breaking open Scripture,
Tradition and the Magisterium.
You have a lived understanding of the evangelisation, discipleship and catechetical process
including the kerygmatic proclamation in witnessing to young people.
You are able to share your testimony of conversion and on-going conversion to Christ and
His Church to large groups of young people.
Ability to play a musical instrument.
Experience with social media, blogging and media development.
Experience of working in a context of diverse ethnicity, social and family backgrounds.
*Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage
The Annual Summer Lourdes Pilgrimage is an integral part of the BCYS mission and calendar, the
successful applicant will be strongly encouraged to attend from the 25th July to 1st August 2015 for a
lived experience of our mission.
Inclusion
BCYS upholds the dignity and value of each individual created in the image of God. We encourage
respect for staff, the volunteer discipleship team and young people from across Essex and East
London, taking into account the varied backgrounds of each individual. BCYS is committed to
upholding the Equality Policy for Brentwood Diocese.
This post is subject to an enhanced DBS and barred list check.
There is also a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) that the post holder is a
committed Catholic and you will be required to live on site at Walsingham House in order to
fulfil on-call requirements.