At a Glance
- Tasks: Support young people leaving care, helping them transition to independence and adulthood.
- Company: Join Leeds City Council, a leading employer committed to child-friendly services.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, flexible working, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with a focus on personal growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while building meaningful relationships.
- Qualifications: Experience with care leavers or willingness to learn is essential.
The predicted salary is between 35570 - 37563 £ per year.
This is an exciting opportunity for five positions for Personal Advisors within the Care Leaver Service. As a Personal Advisor, you’ll thrive on supporting young people, including those leaving care from children’s residential homes, hospital, care leavers experiencing homelessness, separated migrant children, and young people in or those leaving custody. You will advocate on behalf of our young people and demonstrate empathy and support to ensure that they are able to thrive into their adulthood years.
Leeds Care Leaver Service supports young adults aged between 17.5 years and 25 years of age who have left care, providing guidance and practical assistance to support their transition to independence and adulthood. The service is committed to developing positive and meaningful relationships with young people, developing practice across the service, and building on the opportunities for care leavers in Leeds.
About you: As a Personal Advisor, you will bring the ability to form constructive relationships with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds, deal with conflict situations using a calm and composed approach, and be able to form purposeful working relationships with a diverse range of agencies. You must be able to work effectively as a member of a cohesive team in order to provide a high-quality service.
About the role: As our next Personal Advisor, you’ll build close working relationships with colleagues, service users, carers, and relevant agencies and provide a high-quality service when working with young people. You will have the opportunity to improve your own practice through observation and evaluation with colleagues and development programmes, as you advocate for young people.
What we offer you: We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:
- a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
- membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
- flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
- a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
- a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further
How to apply: Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application. If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Harbinder Kaur, Service Delivery Manager, Tel 0113 378 7427, Email Harbinder.Kaur@leeds.gov.uk.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from women, carers, veterans, as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled, and care-experienced people.
This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme, or having secured any other relevant work visa. To be eligible for sponsorship, you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria.
Job purpose: To assess needs, develop and review pathway plans to ensure young people are fully supported when they leave care. To work in partnership with professionals from across the public, private, and voluntary sectors to ensure actions identified within the plans are carried out. To advise, assist, and befriend young people who are living in or leaving care, helping them achieve their full potential and prepare for living independently.
Responsibilities:
- Assess, plan, and review young people in accordance with the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 as the young person’s Personal Adviser and primary worker.
- Undertake the duties of lead worker, working with other professionals to meet the objectives of the pathway plan.
- Produce accurate high-quality pathway plans.
- Develop links with partner agencies, including housing, health, and youth offending, working with them for young people to ensure maximum service integration.
- Carry out needs assessments in order to inform and construct appropriate Pathway Plans.
- Act as an appropriate adult for young people when necessary.
- Encourage links with parents and families with the agreement of the young people.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date individual files and case records on MOSAIC in accordance with Leaving Care Service requirements.
- Play a proactive role in the implementation of child protection procedures and act in accordance with safeguarding procedures.
- Act as a duty Personal Advisor, including offering ongoing support to young people over the age of 21, up to the age of 25 in accordance with leaving care regulations.
Qualifications: NVQ Level 3 and/or 4 in Care or relevant experience of working with care leavers, or a willingness to register to commence the course within 3 months of taking up appointment and have successfully completed it within 12 months of registration.
Essential requirements: It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria:
- Able to travel throughout the Leeds City Council boundaries, and where required the UK, and work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
- Able to form constructive relationships with young people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
- Able to negotiate with young people on a variety of issues.
- Able to deal with conflict and risk situations, defusing escalation, with a calm and composed approach.
- Able to advocate for the young person’s needs to other service providers.
- Able to work effectively as a member of a cohesive team to provide a high-quality service.
Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics: Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct. Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth, and Zero Carbon.
Care Leavers Service - Personal Advisor in Leeds employer: Catholic Care
Catholic Care is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of both staff and the individuals they serve. With a strong commitment to employee growth, you will have access to training opportunities and leadership development, particularly in the vibrant regions of West & North Yorkshire. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a collaborative environment that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Care Leavers Service - Personal Advisor in Leeds
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Catholic Care.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Catholic Care!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Catholic Care, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Catholic Care or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Care Leavers Service - Personal Advisor in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Catholic Care:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Catholic Care! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Catholic Care
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
