Senior Key Worker - Young Carers in Harlow

Overview

Permanent, Full Time £25,821 to £30,377 per annum Location: Epping

The post holder will be expected to operate flexibly, working out of normal office hours when required (evenings and weekends), to best meet the needs of the service users.

The Role

We are seeking a Senior Key Worker for the South of Essex to carry out the statutory assessment of Young Carers, to implement support for Young Carers (aged 0-18) and young adult carers (16 - 24) and their families, through a tiered key worker approach to level of need, and to provide individualised support in relation to their caring role, raising achievement and aspirations and to allow each Young Carer to have the same life chances as their peers. As a community-based worker you will be meeting families face to face, completing assessments, and providing individual and group work support, as well as line managing a team to support Young Carers and their families.

Accountabilities

• To work with young carers and other agencies to develop and coordinate the delivery of a whole family support plan, agreeing the support to be provided, the co-ordination of this support and time limited objectives for the family, reviewing progress and restating goals where appropriate.
• To take up referrals and work with Essex young carers in order to identify, assess, understand and meet their needs, and to allocate Senior Key Worker or Key Worker support within the remit of the support required and to manage the workload of Key Worker Support resource within each quadrant.
• To line manage, supervise, and monitor the workload of Young Carer Key Workers within the relevant quadrant.
• To facilitate through youth work approaches the learning and development for Essex young carers to enhance their future development or meet identified needs, such as provision of specific training opportunities, focused peer group support and/or targeted support workshops.
• To promote young carers self-awareness, confidence, and participation, encouraging their involvement in the design of their young carers service and supporting them in evaluating the impact of the service upon their own situation.
• To ensure that Essex County Council policies, procedures, and practice for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people are implemented effectively.
• To work flexibly and deliver services as directed.

The Experience You Will Bring

• A relevant professional qualification which is focused on working with young people (e.g. LDSS, Social work, Youth and Community, Teacher, Careers) or equivalent or demonstrably equivalent experience.
• A broad understanding of the issues affecting young carers and young people, opportunities for learning and the services provided by the partner organisations.
• Experience of working with young people on a one to one basis and in groups.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience in effectively working collaboratively with other agencies at a local level.
• Experience of successfully involving young people and families in decision-making processes.
• Be flexible in their approach and have excellent time management skills and ability to work evening, weekend, and residential work to respond to young people's needs.
• The job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Depending on the geographical area, access to a vehicle or another efficient mode of transport will be required.
• Excellent level of numeracy, literacy (GCSE A - C or equivalent or demonstrable experience) and ICT.