Responsible for: Volunteers, Members and Families
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Holiday: 25 days a year plus bank holidays
Working Pattern: Mondays (flexible hours). Tuesday–Friday, 11:30am–7:30pm. Occasional evenings and weekends in-line with performances and events, typically up to 4 times per year.
Job Description:
The Community Engagement Officer provides pastoral and safeguarding oversight across all programmes, ensuring consistent welfare support for members, participants and volunteers within Membership, Education & Outreach, and production activity. The role works collaboratively to reduce lone-working risk and ensure inclusive, safe participation across the organisation.
The role also holds responsibility for the day-to-day coordination and administration of the Membership Programme, including maintaining accurate records, supporting enrolment processes, liaising with families, and ensuring clear and timely communication. The postholder acts as a key point of contact for members and carers in relation to welfare, attendance, and participation matters.
The postholder works closely with the Artistic Director/CEO, Arts Engagement Manager, and wider team to ensure inclusive practice is embedded across membership, workshops, and productions.
The Community Engagement Officer role is designed to be hands‑on and participant‑facing, with approximately 85% of the post focused on delivery in the room and direct engagement with children, young people and volunteers, and around 15% dedicated to essential administration, coordination and reporting to ensure high‑quality provision.
In workshops the role includes working with small groups, providing targeted pastoral and behavioural support, supporting participants with additional needs, managing transitions across programme, and helping to maintain a safe, inclusive and well‑structured learning environment.
Key responsibilities
* Coordinate the day-to-day delivery of the Membership Programme.
* Work in partnership with the Charity Administrator to ensure membership systems are accurate and effectively informed by pastoral insight, including supporting enrolment discussions, onboarding conversations, attendance review, and member communications where welfare considerations are required.
* Act as a key point of contact for members and families regarding participation matters.
* Ensure smooth operational delivery of membership workshops in collaboration with workshop delivery leads.
* Provide safeguarding guidance for volunteer placement within workshops and productions.
* Support pastoral matching to ensure appropriate volunteer-to-member relationships.
2. Safeguarding, Welfare & Pastoral Oversight (Across All Programmes)
* Provide organisational pastoral leadership across Membership, Education & Outreach, and productions.
* Monitor and respond to safeguarding concerns in line with policy.
* Reduce lone‑working risk through structured in‑session support.
* Ensure inclusive participation and appropriate welfare escalation routes.
* Contribute to the ongoing development of participation structures and systems.
* Escalate safeguarding concerns to the Artistic Director/CEO as Designated Safeguarding Lead.
3. Inclusion & Accessibility Practice
* Champion inclusive practice across all programmes.
* Support reasonable adjustments for members and volunteers
* Work collaboratively with staff to embed accessibility in workshops and productions.
* Maintain knowledge of SEND/SEMH best practice and relevant guidance.
* Contribute to continuous improvement in inclusive systems and delivery.
4. Education & Outreach Delivery Support & Partnership Engagement
* Support the Arts Engagement Manager with safe delivery of Education & Outreach workshops with a particular focus on the pastoral needs of participants.
* Support the coordination of placement students within participation activity, ensuring clear role boundaries and appropriate supervision structures.
* Support half-term and holiday workshops as needed
* Support and attend as necessary, events throughout the year, ie volunteer awards, team building days.
Essential Skills and Experience
* Commitment to inclusive practice and safeguarding within work with children and young people
* Experience working with individuals with SEMH and/or SEND
* Experience in pastoral support, welfare coordination, or safeguarding‑informed environments
* Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and ability to follow procedures appropriately.
* Ability to provide calm, professional support in sensitive situations.
* Strong professional communication skills (written and verbal), including confidence with families and external professionals.
* Ability to build respectful relationships with members, volunteers, families, and colleagues.
* Excellent organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
* Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
* Experience using databases or CRM systems (or ability to learn quickly)
* Ability to work independently and use initiative while remaining collaborative.
* Previous administrative experience (minimum level appropriate to the role)
Desirable Skills and Experience
* Experience working within a theatre, arts, or community arts setting.
* Experience supporting children and young people within performance or workshop environments.
* Knowledge of inclusive arts practice
* Full UK driving license and access to a vehicle.
* Valid Enhanced DBS check
* First Aid qualification (or willingness to train)
* Safeguarding training at an enhanced level (or willingness to train)
The role requires travel between venues across the London Borough of Havering/Barking & Dagenham. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with organisational policy.
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