Closing date: 9th November 2015

Job Title: Disability Cricket Development Officer  (Fixed Term Contract, 18 months – subject to funding)   

Reports to: Cricket Development Officer (Joe Dale, Oxfordshire Cricket).

Working Context

The provision currently offered for disability cricket is at a similar level of maturity across the three County Areas. Within the Thames Valley Region there is a desire to work collaboratively between Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire Cricket Boards. We see the benefits to this as -

-the ability to utilise our current resources more economically and drive economies of scale
-combine to create levels of critical mass when attempting to engage with minority groups
-increase the quality, accessibility and uniformity of the cricket offer across a favorable area

The development of Disability Cricket within each of the 3 Counties individually, due to the current separate nature of the programs may have been slightly held back. Our first joint working project has been a huge success. Our joint ‘Coach Education Program’ started in 2014 has proved that working in this way drives significant benefit to developing cricket in the Thames Valley region.

We anticipate the joining of our efforts will have similar effect and will accelerate development of Disability Cricket across the Thames Valley and this role is essential to these aims.

Job Purpose

Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire have the responsibility of of developing Cricket within their Counties. The role will have the responsibility to deliver these outcomes across the 3 counties and lead the development of disability cricket.

Main Responsibilities

Enhance the sense of inclusivity in Cricket; Increase Opportunities for individuals to get and stay involved in cricket in the Thames Valley.

• Devising a development plan for disability cricket across the Thames Valley
• Leading a focus group of stakeholders (county boards and sports partnerships) from across the region to base activity on insight
  
• Work closely with local organisations, including SEN schools, social care providers and mental health units.
  
• Engagement with all ages, developing new ways of participating and enjoying the game
  
• Apply for funding that will extend the reach of the project from organisations such as Sport England and Lord’s Taverners
  
• Manage relationships with staff from all three county cricket boards
  

Support members of the Cricket network in their development

• Develop working relationships with Clubs and Community Groups across the three counties and their network of clubs to ensure the continual progression of adopting an inclusive nature
• Create continued personal development opportunities for volunteers that will help accelerate the development of disability cricket
  

Increase the number of  people who are introduced to and remain in cricket through school, community and club links

• Work with each County’s School Program -inspiring more children to play, learn and compete through cricket
• Support each county board with the development of cricket at special schools within their Chance to Shine programme
  
• Coordinate school and community group staff to create sustainable programs of cricket in the region
  
• Work in partnership with the school’s sports network and other local agencies to deliver effective programmes
  
• Create competition frameworks that enable cross border engagement and activities, leading into national events where possible
  
• 
  

* This list is non-exhaustive and for guidance only – responsibilities will likely change over time.
The post holder will work closely with county board staff in all three counties. Therefore, collaborative working will be essential.The CDO will be required to work as part of a team, to maximise the development of new (and existing) business for the three county boards in this region.

The CDO will create opportunities, influence others, demonstrate continuous improvement and be accountable for new initiatives implemented, as well as the development of current projects.

Funding

The role is fixed term due to the changing nature of funding streams. The role will predominantly be funded through ‘Player Retention’ and Disability Funds (ECB). Positively affecting the growth and sustainability of programmes of responsibility will directly contribute to the longevity of the role beyond March 2017.

Job Status, Accountability and Responsibility within the Organisations involved

The post holder will be a full time employee of the Oxfordshire Cricket Board, although he/she will be responsible for developing cricket across the areas of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. This would be achieved through close working relationships with the Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire Cricket Boards. Their line manager will be Joe Dale, Cricket Development Officer at the Oxfordshire Cricket Board.

The Oxfordshire Cricket Board will be ‘accountable’ to the ECB with the project, although ‘responsibility’ will be held within the newly formed ‘Steering Group’ for disability cricket across the Thames Valley. Members of this group would include the 3 county boards, plus key delivery partners and County Sports Partnerships across the region.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

1.    Cricket Development  - working knowledge and experience of sports development is desirable
a.    Ability to innovate and explore all methods to achieve outcomes
b.    Gaining and utilising insight and statistical data to inform actions
c.    Competition Sport Management/Event planning
d.    Experience of working as and with volunteers
e.    Creation and delivery of long-term development plans
2.    Relationship manager - dealing a with a wide variety of stakeholders and volunteers from very different backgrounds:-
a.    Active listening and interpersonal skills
b.    Influencing
c.    Excellent communicator
d.    Innately proactive individual 
3.    Coach
a.    Minimum UKCC Level 2 Coach (not required to be cricket specific)
4.    Administration – this person will have the ability to organise and implementation complex programmes of delivery, management and recording of key data. 
a.    Strong ICT skills
b.    Communication and excellent ability with the spoken and written word.
c.    Ability to record and analyse statistical data to report to key partners
5.    Other
a.    Ability to travel independently and use of own car (i.e full valid driver’s licence required)
b.    Smart, professional appearance at all times
c.    Effective time keeping
d.    Hold an ECB DBS certificate, First Aid and Child Protection Trained.
e.    Ability to work in accordance with the needs of the schools and players which may include extensive weekday evening work and occasional weekends.
f.    This job description is not an exhaustive list of task and may be amended from time to time

Key Relationships

• Cricket Development Officer (Joe Dale - Line Manager)
• Strategic and funding partners, ECB, Cricket Foundation, Local Authorities             
  
• Volunteer workforce and other cricket related organisations
  
• Clubs – supporting their development
  
• Schools – supporting their development
  
• Thames Valley Disability Steering Group (newly formed)
  

Remuneration and selection process

Full time (37.5hrs per week, including evening and weekend working)
23 days annual leave, excluding public holidays

• £20,000 per year
• Mobile phone monthly contribution
  
• Contributory pension following company enrolment date.
  
• Office to client expenses include mileage and subsistence where justified
  

The nature of the job will require the majority of time to be given on weekdays and weekday evenings but also some weekends and bank holidays may be required.
Fixed Term Contract until 31st March 2017 (Probation period initial 3 months).

Application process

Please send a CV and covering letter to Joe Dale, Oxfordshire Cricket Development Officer (jdale@oxoncb.com) by Monday 9th November 2015.