Wiltshire Council

Staying Close Practitioner Worker

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Children in Care and Young People - Transforming Young Lives

Join our Children in Care Team as a Staying Close Practitioner, where you will make a positive impact on the lives of children, young people, and their families.

Children in Care service is responsible for ensuring that children and young people who are looked after or are care leavers, are provided with homes that best meet their needs and have the best opportunities to succeed in life.

Main duties of the job

As a Staying Close Practitioner, you will work closely with young people, carers and colleagues to assess individual needs. You will work intensively and collaboratively with young people to fulfil their potential in all aspects of their lives. You will take on your own caseload, ensuring timely progress and effective coordination with key agencies takes place to address the needs of care experienced young people and vulnerable individuals. You will also provide both individual and group support to help young people transition from residential care to independent living, maintain relationships, and engage in employment, education, or training.

We are looking for a candidate who can demonstrate excellent communication skills and be comfortable operating in a multi-agency environment. A good operational understanding of childrens services coupled with experience of direct front-line work with children, young people and families will be essential. Flexibility is key in this role, requiring you to be responsive to daily competing demands and to be proficient at prioritising workloads accordingly.

About us

Why us?

Wiltshire Council is a friendly, welcoming place to work, with a 'One Council' ethos. Thats why we focus on getting the things that matter to our people right.

Details

Date posted

10 September 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£32,076 to £33,945 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

F0041-2730

Job locations

Wiltshire Council

Bourne Hill

Salisbury

SP1 3UZ


Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

To work in partnership with young people carers and other colleagues to contribute to the assessment of the individual needs of young people

To assist the allocated personal advisor in drawing up, implementing and reviewing of young peoples Pathway plan, ensuring progress is being made in a timely manner

Plans including attending and contributing to reviewing and meetings as required

To undertake the role of young persons Staying Close worker/ practitioner with a caseload of young people

To provide close and effective working relationships with key agencies to facilitate a coordinated response to the needs of care-leavers and vulnerable people

To maintain a good working knowledge of welfare rights, training and employment housing and health issues affecting young people and to disseminate this as required

To work individually and with groups for young people as required to support those leaving residential childcare to live independently, by implementing the pathway plan, support young people to maintain key relationships, support young people to engage in employment, education and training.

To contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the service

To prepare and maintain appropriate reports and records as required. To be actively involved in training opportunities and team development

To be responsible for ensuring all the work undertaken demonstrates a commitment to anti discriminatory practice

To be responsible for administrating financial support to young people including the handling of cash when necessary

To work intensively with young people to prepare for independence, including tenancy sustainment

To work with colleagues in housing to ensure housing pathways are clear for care experienced young people

Providing advice and assistance in areas such as practical financial advice, money management information and support on a wide range of issues including housing, benefits, welfare rights, training & employment and life skills

To work holistically with all young people, including advising, advocating, informing and assessing.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

To work in partnership with young people carers and other colleagues to contribute to the assessment of the individual needs of young people

To assist the allocated personal advisor in drawing up, implementing and reviewing of young peoples Pathway plan, ensuring progress is being made in a timely manner

Plans including attending and contributing to reviewing and meetings as required

To undertake the role of young persons Staying Close worker/ practitioner with a caseload of young people

To provide close and effective working relationships with key agencies to facilitate a coordinated response to the needs of care-leavers and vulnerable people

To maintain a good working knowledge of welfare rights, training and employment housing and health issues affecting young people and to disseminate this as required

To work individually and with groups for young people as required to support those leaving residential childcare to live independently, by implementing the pathway plan, support young people to maintain key relationships, support young people to engage in employment, education and training.

To contribute to the monitoring and evaluation of the service

To prepare and maintain appropriate reports and records as required. To be actively involved in training opportunities and team development

To be responsible for ensuring all the work undertaken demonstrates a commitment to anti discriminatory practice

To be responsible for administrating financial support to young people including the handling of cash when necessary

To work intensively with young people to prepare for independence, including tenancy sustainment

To work with colleagues in housing to ensure housing pathways are clear for care experienced young people

Providing advice and assistance in areas such as practical financial advice, money management information and support on a wide range of issues including housing, benefits, welfare rights, training & employment and life skills

To work holistically with all young people, including advising, advocating, informing and assessing.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HNC or equivalent experience/skills.
  • ITQ 2 or equivalent skill and ability.
  • Working towards relevant professional qualification.
  • Licence / certificate / qualification required for the role.

Desirable

  • Recognised training in child protection and the care system and leaving care issues.

Experience

Essential

  • High level of relevant and practical experience acquired on the job.
  • An advanced understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
  • Advanced knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
  • Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
  • Significant experience of working with clients and client groups with complex needs.
  • Proven ability to carry out client risk assessments to identify eligibility for service provision and/or
  • risk of harm.
  • Proven ability to advise and guide clients to encourage development and to access services to
  • which they are entitled.
  • Ability to build trust and confidence with clients, client groups and colleagues.
  • Proven ability to interpret situations, analyse behaviours to make judgements and deliver
  • interventions to achieve outcomes.
  • Proven ability to deliver training.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the Children Act 1989, Children Leaving Care Act 2000. Children Act 2004.
  • Care Matters agenda Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
  • Experience of working within residential childrens homes, or a good working knowledge of
  • how residential childcare operates.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • HNC or equivalent experience/skills.
  • ITQ 2 or equivalent skill and ability.
  • Working towards relevant professional qualification.
  • Licence / certificate / qualification required for the role.

Desirable

  • Recognised training in child protection and the care system and leaving care issues.

Experience

Essential

  • High level of relevant and practical experience acquired on the job.
  • An advanced understanding of relevant procedures and working practices.
  • Advanced knowledge of specialist function relevant to service area.
  • Excellent ICT skills including use of Microsoft applications and specialist systems.
  • Significant experience of working with clients and client groups with complex needs.
  • Proven ability to carry out client risk assessments to identify eligibility for service provision and/or
  • risk of harm.
  • Proven ability to advise and guide clients to encourage development and to access services to
  • which they are entitled.
  • Ability to build trust and confidence with clients, client groups and colleagues.
  • Proven ability to interpret situations, analyse behaviours to make judgements and deliver
  • interventions to achieve outcomes.
  • Proven ability to deliver training.

Desirable

  • Knowledge of the Children Act 1989, Children Leaving Care Act 2000. Children Act 2004.
  • Care Matters agenda Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
  • Experience of working within residential childrens homes, or a good working knowledge of
  • how residential childcare operates.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

Wiltshire Council

Bourne Hill

Salisbury

SP1 3UZ


Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Wiltshire Council

Address

Wiltshire Council

Bourne Hill

Salisbury

SP1 3UZ


Employer's website

http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruitment Assistant

Oliwia Saja

recruitment@wiltshire.gov.uk

01225718040

Details

Date posted

10 September 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£32,076 to £33,945 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

F0041-2730

Job locations

Wiltshire Council

Bourne Hill

Salisbury

SP1 3UZ


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