Family Liaison Youth Worker

Job description

Job responsibilities

Crisis Support for acute Paediatrics

Provide immediate emotional support to CYP and their families presenting in crisis.

Assist with de-escalation strategies for CYP experiencing high levels of distress or agitation. Support with verbal de-escalation strategies and be willing to undertake training in clinical holding and restricted intervention.

Conduct initial conversations where appropriate under supervision.

To promote communication with young people, encouraging them to express their wishes and concerns to the best of their ability. Empowering them to make their own decisions. Liaising with the family and members of the multi-professional and multi-agency teams to provide optimal support to young people under direction of the Childrens crisis lead nurse.

Support care planning and risk assessments in collaboration with Clinicians, RISE and the Paediatric crisis, Neurodiversity and LD lead nurse.

To maintain a professional attitude at all times, developing the role of youth worker within the acute setting.

Direct Support to Young People and their families

Provide mental health and emotional support to children and young people admitted to the acute ward.

Sensitive, complex and distressing situations involving young people and their families are dealt with compassionately.

Work with patients experiencing a range of mental health difficulties, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, and eating disorders.

Assist in delivering care plans for the CYP tailoring interventions to individual needs.

Build therapeutic relationships with CYP and their families.

Engage families and caregivers to ensure they are informed and supported in their role.

Facilitate positive transitions to community services post-discharge, ensuring continuity of care.

To recognise the boundaries required when working closely alongside a young person in hospital, respecting families wishes.

To offer advice and health promotion to young people and their families relating to social/health issues such as risk-taking behaviour, signposting as required.

Multi-Agency Collaboration

Work collaboratively with paediatric teams, RISE practitioners, social care, and external agencies to ensure a holistic approach to care.

Attend multidisciplinary meetings alongside the Paediatric crisis Lead nurse to contribute observations and insights that inform care decisions.

Safeguarding and Risk Management

Adhere to hospital and NHS policies to promote the safety and well-being of patients.

To maintain accurate, contemporaneous records, utilising electronic and hand written systems.

Work within safeguarding frameworks, escalating concerns appropriately to protect vulnerable young people.

Support in the completion of risk assessments, identifying immediate safety needs and longer-term risk factors.

Adhere to NHS and local policies on risk management, including suicide prevention and self-harm protocols.

To maintain confidentiality of all patient and staff information in accordance with the Data Protection Act.

Education and Advocacy

Advocate for the needs of CYP within the ED and acute ward, promoting awareness among healthcare staff.

Offer information and guidance to families on accessing community and voluntary sector support post-discharge.

Provide details of relevant support services available, including local, national and charitable provision.

Ensure all clinical incidents are reported within a timely manner.

Undertake mandatory training as per Trust policy and specialist training programmes as identified by the Paediatric crisis Lead.

Access clinical supervision as per Trust Policy.

Frequent need for concentration, sometimes requiring prolonged concentration e.g. reports writing /assessments.

Ensure that the environment is conducive in meeting the needs of the young person and family including the safety, care and maintenance of equipment required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Level 4 or Foundation Degree in relevant subject, or able to display equivalent knowledge/experience.
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• Basic safeguarding children and vulnerable adults training.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with children, young people, and families in a supportive role.
• Practical experience of providing emotional support to individuals facing complex or stressful situations.
• Experience in liaising with multidisciplinary teams, including health, social care, or education professionals.

Desirable

• Training in thrive, trauma-informed care or mental health first aid.

Skills

Essential

• Understanding of the challenges faced by young people and families
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of all ages and backgrounds, both verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures and legal frameworks relevant to children.
• Organisational and time management skills, able to work on own initiative with supervision, guided by SOPS , policies and procedures.
• Are able to communicate in a variety of ways both verbal and non-verbal.
• A need to be flexible and able to adapt to the needs of the family and their environment.
• To be able to demonstrate a high standard of communication and written skills
• Understand issues related to confidentiality
• Demonstrate good computer skills
• To be adaptable, approachable and able to use tact, empathy and discretion.
• To be professional and non-judgemental.
• Able to liaise with professionals of all levels.
• Enthusiastic in all aspects of professional and personal development.
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage a busy workload.
• Familiarity with family dynamics and child development.
• Awareness of local and national support services available to families and young people.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Compassionate, empathetic, and non-judgmental approach to working with families.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to remain calm under pressure.
• Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Proactive and self-motivated, with a collaborative mindset.

Desirable

• Innovative and creative in problem-solving and engaging with young people.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and professional development.

Other

Essential

• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends
• oWillingness to undergo enhanced DBS checks.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust

Warwick

CV34 5BW

Employer's website

https://www.swft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)