Young Person’s Support Worker

Children in Care – Stowmarket

Irregular Hours – £12.94/hour

With addition sleep in pay and on call allowances

Company Pension Scheme with 6% employer contribution, employee assistance package, discretionary company sick pay & other benefits

This role includes lone working, evenings, weekends, sleep in and on call responsibilities on a rota basis.

 

Are you seeking an exciting new challenge to work within a charity that provides support to young people at risk of homelessness?

 

Our supervised accommodation centre, The Mix, is staffed 24/7 hours for vulnerable young people, aged 16 – 18, who may be leaving the care system and requiring a bespoke support package to support them with the transition from a children’s home or foster home towards independent living.

 

There are a maximum of 8 young people at The Mix where there is an emphasis on communal living to build social skills and confidence. As a Support Worker, you will liaise with key agencies, providing advocacy and support to young people covering all areas of their lives including school/college work, jobs, training, household management, appointments, health matters and personal issues. We aim to build confidence in our young people, developing important life skills they will need to help them manage their lives and prepare them for future independent living.

 

The Benjamin Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. An enhanced DBS check will be required for successful applicants. The Benjamin Foundation embeds the Nurtured Heart Approach ® which creates strong and improved relationships by focusing on positive behaviour rather than energising negativity, providing clear rules and consequences, creating an environment in which people thrive.

 

To apply, visit http://benjaminfoundation.co.uk/vacancies

OR email [email protected]

 

Closing Date: Ongoing

Interview Date: Shortlisted candidates will take part in an online Safer Recruitment Interview and a selection interview in Stowmarket (dates TBC)

 

 

 

Young People’s Support Worker

Job description

Job title:

 

 Young People’s Support Worker – Specialist CIC (Children In Care)
Employer:

 

 The Benjamin Foundation
Location:

 

 Stowmarket
Contract:

 

 Irregular Hours Contract

 
Salary: Point 18. £12.94/hour Sleep ins & on call will be paid in addition
Hours of work:

 

 Irregular hours

 
Department:

 

 Supported and Supervised Accommodation (CIC)
Reporting to:

 

 Multi Service Manager (CIC) / Assistant Manager
Job purpose
  1. To support young people with high and specialist needs in the journey to independence, providing advocacy and support and the necessary skills for living independently
  2. To support young people with high and specialist needs to enable them to identify their goals in terms of future housing and employment/education/training
  3. To signpost and access service that help young people to manage areas of their lives which impact on the ability to live independently
  4. To safeguard the young people that will be accommodated within the service
  5. To work in compliance with legislative, regulatory requirements i.e. Children Act 1989, The Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Working Together 2013, Children and Families Act 2014
  6. To work in accordance with strategic requirements
  7. To ensure consistent, high quality delivery of the service
  8. To work as part of a team covering all CIC services

 
Main duties
General

  1. To work within the frameworks of the service, The Benjamin Foundations Client Management System (CMS) and Quality Assessment Framework (QAF)
  2. To maintain good professional practice working in accordance with the service’s policies and procedures, statutory and legislative requirements
  3. To represent the service to outside agencies and community groups where required
  4. To develop and maintain relationships with key agencies to high standards at all time and ensure compliance with the statutory frameworks they work in
  5. To ensure strong partnership links and working relationships with Local Council, Housing Associations, Health and Educational services, and any other appropriate professionals, to achieve the best possible outcomes for the young people accommodated within the service
  6. To liaise where appropriate with the relevant Children’s Services Department
  7. To promote the well- being of the young people accommodated within the CIC services
  8. To maintain an environment that promotes positive acceptable behaviour
  9. To work in a way that actively promotes equality and diversity
  10. To embed the culture and ethos of The Benjamin Foundation
  11. To maintain and work in accordance with The Benjamin Foundation’s confidentiality policy at all times
  12. To undertake such other duties as may be delegated or assigned commensurate with the level of grading and role of the post

 

Staff

  1. To develop a positive and supportive relationship with the staff team
  2. Commitment to ensuring staff use the Nurtured Heart Approach ® in their work

Administration

  1. To ensure that good quality records are maintained as required
  2. To participate in the development, implementation and monitoring of individual support plans and assessments
  3. To ensure the young people’s support plans, pathway plans and risk assessments are carried out in the day-to-day support of the young people

 

Development

  1. To be involved in recruitment, appointment and induction of staff
  2. To represent the service at multi-agency conferences and networking opportunities
  3. To develop and maintain relationships with Children’s Services
  4. To undertake personal development and attend any relevant training

 

Young People

  1. To develop a positive and supportive relationship with the young people accommodated within the service

2.      To attend professionals’ meetings, CIC Reviews and placement meetings as required

3.      To input into young people’s Pathway plan, statutory reviews and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP)

4.      To ensure service user involvement is embedded in the service.

5.      To help maintain a positive and nurturing environment that is sensitive to the needs of the young people

6.      To use Outcome Tools (including Young Person’s Star, CMS, and QAF) in assessing young people’s progress and well being

7.      To support the young person to access and registration with health services

8.      To support the young person to conduct healthy relationships with family, friends and staff by pro-social modelling and restorative intervention where necessary

9.      To support with offending and addressing criminogenic behaviours

10.   To support the young person to relate to their ethnic and cultural backgrounds

11.   To support the young person with their sexuality

12.   To support the young person to become a member of their community

13.   To encourage and support positive support networks, including recreational activities with peers

14.   To support the young person to develop positive boundaries with all relationships

15.   To support the young person in identifying, accessing and sustaining a programme of education, training and employment.

16.   To support the young person to become ‘job ready’, get into a routine, get up on time, dress appropriately, communicate appropriately, work out their travel plans etc.

17.   To support with budgeting and shopping for essentials, to maintain a healthy diet (cooking sessions etc.)

18.   To support in washing clothes and basic repairs, basic household cleaning, basic maintenance

19.   To support to pay attention to personal hygiene, managing a healthy lifestyle, including sexual health

20.   To support in using public transport and accessing public services

21.   To support the young person to explore all their move-on options, including support with arranging appointments with housing officers

22.   To support the young person with making and following up benefit claims

23.   To support the young person to understand the legal and social responsibilities of holding a tenancy and who to turn to for housing advice

24.   To support in managing finances including paying service charge, shopping for essentials and broader budgeting, opening a bank account, savings account, planning for the future, financial risks, emergency options, priorities claiming benefits etc.

25.   To support to understand the financial implications of an independent tenancy while working with any numeracy difficulties the young person may have

26.   To support to access other services, family support and keeping statutory appointments (this may include accompanying the young person, assisting them in making and keeping appointments, making referrals, helping them to identify useful services, maintaining contact etc.).  Services may include mental health services, the Matthew Project, Youth Offending Team, GP, dentist, sexual health advice, anger management courses, NEET providers, sports and recreation etc.  Support to get their NI number, birth certificate or passport

 

 

 

 
The Benjamin Foundation fully embeds the Nurtured Heart Approach in all that it does and staff will adopt this approach as part of their practice.

 

The Benjamin Foundation reserves the right to alter the content of this job description following consultation, to reflect changes to the job or services provided without altering the general character or level of responsibility.

 

This post is subject to a full and satisfactory DBS disclosure.

 

 

Young Person’s Support Worker

Person Specification

Criteria Details Essential Desirable Assessed
Qualifications Formal qualification in working with children and young people   D Certificate

Application
Experience A minimum of 2 years experience working with homelessness or children/young people in a supported accommodation  setting   D Application

Interview

References

 
Knowledge & Skills To be able to communicate with colleagues, external agencies and young people both verbally and in writing ensuring you conduct yourself in a  professional manner, whilst maintaining the rules of confidentiality as appropriate E   Application

Interview
  Have an in-depth knowledge of local policies, protocols and relevant legislation, particularly part 3 of The Children Act 1989, Section 17 and Section 20   D Application

Interview
  Have an understanding of relevant housing and benefits legislation   D Application

Interview
  A good understanding of appropriate Professional Boundaries E   Interview

Reference
  Good ICT skills, including the ability to input information and formulate reports from a database E   Interview

Reference
Personal Qualities

Positive

 The personality and ability to relate positively to young people E   Interview

Reference
 

 

Responsive

 Ability to respond quickly and with flexibility to the  needs and priorities of individuals E   Interview

Reference

 
 

 

 

Independent

 An ability to think independently and work without constant supervision and micro management

 

 

 E   Interview

Reference
 

 

 

Confident

 Being able to confidently make decisions regarding day to day matters and to be accountable for these decisions E   Interview

Reference
 

 

Competent

 The ability to work under pressure and remain calm in stressful situations E   Interview

Reference
 

 

Collaborative

 Ability to work collaboratively with the Manager, senior and other staff E   Interview

Reference
 

Progressive

 An interest in the long term development of the service E   Interview
 

 

Nurturing

 Commitment to using the Nurtured Heart Approach ® and ensuring other use it E   Application

Interview
Additional

 

 The willingness to contribute to the wider Benjamin Foundation success story E   Interview
  Commitment to equality and diversity policy of The Benjamin Foundation E   Interview
  Current Driving Licence and access to a vehicle E   Copy DL and insurance certificate
 

 

 A willingness to undertake training appropriate to the post E   Interview
  A sense of humour E   Interview