Lead Young Carers Support Worker

Descriptive

SCAFT are searching for a dynamic, creative and committed Lead Young Carers Support Worker to join our team. You will be taking a prominent position in our work to support children and young people aged 6-18, who have caring responsibilities for someone in their household, in both our groupwork and individual settings. Prior experience of working with children and young people is a must, preferably in both group and one to one environments. Experience in a leadership role will be of benefit.

Our Respite groups provide Young Carers with a much needed break from their caring responsibilities and include a range of fun games, sports and creative/craft activities, as well as learning opportunities, under a programme you will take the lead in designing, in cooperation with our YCSW and in consultation with the Service Delivery Manager and the young people. You will coordinate a small but committed team of sessional workers and volunteers to deliver these groups, making best use of their talents and interests to engage the young people, in line with SCAFT’s aims and objectives.

Some of the young people also receive support via individual One2One sessions based within the local Secondary and Primary schools. These One2One sessions are an opportunity for the young people to voice the challenges they face as young carers and explore their concerns, to seek advice and develop coping strategies/solutions; through a non-directive approach. We work in partnership with schools to better identify and support those students that have caring responsibilities, including the creation and implementation of a Young Carers Passport scheme. We have also assisted some of these schools on their journey towards achieving the nationally recognised ‘Young Carers in Schools’ Award from Carers Trust. You will be the key point of contact between SCAFT and the schools you support.

We also hold a range of school break activity days/events for our young carers that you will help plan and deliver, including an annual 3 day residential trip (camping) to the National Young Carers Festival.

You will need to have your own transport, for which a mileage allowance is paid, as group session delivery is spread between a site in Rayleigh and another in Rochford, as well as visiting the schools you are responsible for supporting. You will also need to successfully complete an Enhanced DBS check. Please read the full job description below.

Applications for this post will close at 5pm on Friday 19th November 2021

Job Description

Job Title:                  Lead Young Carers Support Worker

Responsible to:      Service Delivery Manager

Office Base:             Rayleigh                       

Group Sessions current venues: Waterman Primary School, Rochford,

St. Michael’s Church Hall, Sir Walter Raleigh Drive, Rayleigh

This post consists of 3 main roles, Young Carers Lead, Senior Session Worker & One2One Schools Support Worker. The Young Carers Lead role is one of coordination and leadership, ensuring the planning and delivery of a structured session plan for our group services. The Senior Session Worker role is primarily aimed at the practical delivery of the respite group sessions to young carers, offering fun activities, advice and support. The One2One Schools Support role offers individual support and advice to young people through sessions based in local Secondary and Primary Schools. These elements will require some daytime working, some evening working and the occasional weekend.

Some of the elements of the post are funded separately and annual renewal of each element beyond the initial period relies on extended funding being received.

This is a pivotal role within the organisation, accounting for a major part of our service delivery. Requiring professionalism, commitment, attention to detail, flexibility and creativity, there may be opportunities for the successful applicant to develop this post further in consultation with the Service Delivery Manager and Trustees, subject to additional funding being achieved to support it.

Purpose of Job

Principle Aim – To work in conjunction with the Service Delivery Manager to provide support and information for Young Carers across the Rochford District and surrounding areas through a range of services.  To work collaboratively with Staff, Volunteers, Service Users and the Trustees of Supporting Carers And Families Together to further this objective.

Young Carers Lead Role: To take a lead role assisting in the coordination, planning and delivery of SCAFT’s range of services to Young Carers

Senior Session Worker Role: To plan and deliver group sessions to Young Carers, offering respite and support, including creative, sporting and learning activities, in conjunction with SCAFT’s Session Workers and Volunteers. To record and report on activities and progress.

One2One Schools Support Role: To work cooperatively within local Schools providing one to one support sessions to Young Carers, through a non-directive opportunity for them to discuss the issues they face and explore options, as well as signposting to other appropriate services. To record and report on activities and progress.

1. Core Activities
2. To deliver and manage group sessions, including school holiday activities
3. To deliver one to one support sessions in local schools, or via telephone, text message and online service where direct support is not possible

• To record and report all safeguarding concerns to the Designated Person in line with SCAFT policy (currently Service Delivery Manager)

1. To conduct registration interviews and regular progress reviews at group sessions or other venues as required
2. To maintain accurate records within the limit of the Data Protection Legislation
3. To effectively manage Session Workers and Volunteers within the respite group setting

• Completion of risk assessments as required
• To provide relevant data and information to support management functions: e.g. for the Trustees, partnership meetings and funders, as required

1. General Activities
2. Create and build on good working relationships with a range of individuals and partner organisations.
3. To attend meetings with partners to represent individual young people where required

• To attend meetings/events with partners/funders to represent/promote SCAFT and its services

1. To assist the Service Delivery Manager, as required

1. Training and Knowledge
2. To participate in statutorily required training, e.g. Safeguarding, Food Hygiene
3. To participate in other training opportunities as identified within a professional development plan and as required to further SCAFT’s activities

• To maintain a sound working knowledge of carers issues, current legislation and social policy, and an awareness of other local services

1. Skills and Abilities
2. To be able to engage and communicate effectively with people of all ages, their families, colleagues and a range of other agencies, both verbally and in clear and concise written form.
3. Effective organisation and time management of yourself and those you supervise

• Computer literate in MS Office, Word and Excel essential (Publisher and Powerpoint would be an advantage)

1. Qualifications:

A good all round education is essential

A sound professional child/youth work/psychology related background or qualification desirable

It will be essential to:

1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the principles of Safeguarding Children
2. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the principles of person-centered, non-directive practice
3. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the principles of safe lone working practice
4. Have a clear and effective understanding of the role of Young Carers and the responsibility they carry
5. Have the ability to work and communicate effectively as part of a team
6. Have the ability to work on your own initiative, with good organisation and time management, within boundaries and with supervision when required
7. Deliver the principle aims of Supporting Carers And Families Together
8. Have a sound understanding of the issues surrounding different communication media and how to maintain privacy across those media (e.g. email, telephone, social media)

1. Experience
2. Experience of supporting children/young people in a professional setting
3. A sound understanding of Safeguarding, Carers issues, The Children’s Act, Mental Health and Disability

1. Other Requirements

• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check – at employer’s expense
• Verifiable References, which must include your last post involving work with children (if applicable)
• Due to our work with people with health vulnerabilities we strongly encourage all frontline staff to be fully COVID vaccinated unless they have a valid health exemption certificate. Should the government mandate compulsory vaccination for health and social care staff, this will become a requirement. We also consider it professionally responsible to take all reasonable steps to protect ourselves and service users and therefore strongly recommend annual flu vaccination, which SCAFT will pay for, where employees are not otherwise eligible.
• As this post is delivered across a number of locations the post holder must have their own transport and be able to travel between venues in a timely manner with any necessary materials.

Hours: The combined hours for this post are currently 20 hours per week during term time (calculated as 39 weeks), plus the equivalent of an additional two weeks during school breaks, to be worked by negotiation, totaling 41 weeks. (Term time is determined to be the term dates as published by Essex County Council and does not take into account individual schools decisions to vary those dates.) The time allowed during school breaks is for administration, planning and activities/trips, and is determined by negotiation; this includes a weekend residential camping trip which usually falls on the final weekend of June. The current rate of pay is £10.95ph, rising to £11.95ph on satisfactory completion of a 6 month probationary period. The contract will renew on a rolling 12 month basis, dependant on satisfactory funding being secured.

The 20 hours per week are currently allocated as follows but may vary dependent on the needs of the service:

The Young Carers Lead and Senior Session Worker elements are a core part of SCAFT’s service delivery, with 10 hours per week allocated to these tasks. The One2One Schools Support element of this post currently has an allocation of 10 hours per week.

Additional hours will be paid as required but only by prior agreement with the Service Delivery Manager.