Support Worker in Caernarfon

Purpose of the post:

Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do. Support children and families in the community.

Responsibilities include:

• Finance towards children’s activities within an agreed budget; equipment as needed to carry children in vehicles.
• Work in accordance with the All Wales Child Protection Procedures and the Framework for Assessment of Children in need and their families as a member of the Children and Families Team, including the Looked after Children’s Team.
• Promote and enable children and their families to live independently within the community.
• Promote and enable children to reach their full potential, in a way that promotes their welfare, health development and protection.
• Promote personal choice, enable children and their families to make meaningful decisions and put children and their families in control of any decisions that affect them.
• Ensure that the service responds to the needs of the child.
• Ensure consistency in provision, and acknowledge the importance of the relationship between children, family and provider.
• Assist and support families to continue looking after their children.
• Work in partnership with parents when a child becomes looked after by the authority in order to return the child home early into the care episode.
• Reduce the risk for children and their families by working as part of a multi‑agency protection plan.
• Provide a supervised contact service for children who are looked after and their families as part of a Care Plan.
• Prepare detailed reports on contact with children to be included in the child’s social work file.
• Attend team meetings and any other meetings deemed appropriate by the Resource Manager.
• Receive regular supervision.
• Become familiar with Council policies, procedures and guidelines regarding good practice and matters relating to Health and Safety.
• Attend training courses as directed.
• Undertake any task which is reasonable and in accordance with the post and which will support the welfare and development of the child.
• Responsibility for self‑development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
• Responsibility to report any worry or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused.

Special circumstances:

Work flexible hours and be available evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays as required (Working week is 37 hours over 5 days).

Qualifications and Training

Essential: 2 GCSE’s/O level or equivalent.

Desirable: Basic social care course; Recognised qualification in child care e.g. NVQ.

Experience

Essential: Experience of working with children and families.

Skills and Specialist Knowledge

Essential: Ability to work as part of a team; Ability to communicate to a good standard, both verbally and in writing; Basic knowledge of child development.

Desirable: Basic knowledge of developing parenting skills; Basic knowledge of dealing with challenging behaviour.

Personal Attributes

Essential: Ability to work in a non‑discriminating manner; Ability to participate in discussions and meetings.

Desirable: None.

Language Requirements

Listening and Speaking – Intermediate Level in Welsh.

Reading and Understanding – Intermediate Level in Welsh.

Writing – Intermediate Level in Welsh and English.