Leaving Care Personal Advisor

As a Leaving Care Personal Adviser, within the Separated Migrant Children Team, you will work with Social Workers and Children’s Practitioners to ensure the best outcomes for those we work with.

This includes –

• Working in line with statutory responsibilities set out in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 and the guidance supporting the Children and Social Work Act 2017.

• Being responsible for a case load of former Separated Migrant Children as Care Leavers from the age of 18 to 25.

• Assessing young people’s needs and acting as lead professional, developing clear pathway plans and involving other agencies where appropriate.

• Engaging in effective multi agency working, developing collaborative relationships with agencies and coordinating support i.e. mental health, substance use, homelessness.

• Engaging with and providing support for young people, including those with significant additional needs to identify and address barriers to personal development, learning and work, particularly during periods of transition.

• Providing direct support to young people preparing to leave care, in order to endure a smooth and positive transition to independent living.

• Working with young people and their significant others, including family members/carers and others, to enable them to contribute to maximising the young person’s potential.

• Working to agreed targets, monitoring the progress of young people on caseload through regular review, recording data on relevant management information systems to appropriate timescales and standards, producing reports and correspondence as required.

• Keep up to date with relevant updates in legislation, guidance, policy and procedures in relation to Separated Migrant Children and issues which impact on them i.e. housing.

You’ll be working in a fast-paced environment with separated migrant young people who will be transitioning from being Children Looked After to Care Leavers and who require support, advice and guidance to ensure a smooth transition into adulthood and to navigate the asylum system.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of our Separated Migrant Children Team, as a Leaving Care Personal Adviser. These roles support young people in successfully transitioning to adulthood and providing advice and guidance in a range of areas, with the ability to specialise in working with Separated Migrant Care Leavers., * Knowledge of child development, adolescence, social, emotional and mental health needs.

• Knowledge/experience of working with care leavers, young people and/or families.

• Knowledge of current legislation and guidance relating to safeguarding children and adults.

• Understanding of transition to adulthood and of being a Child Looked After.

• Experience of multi-agency working.

• Ability to build trust, engage and safeguard young people and families; including those that may be parents.

• Ability to use structured assessment tools and plan interventions.

• Ability to communicate effectively (in both written and verbal forms) with young people, their families, and other professionals.

• Effective skills in organisation, time management and in managing a complex workload.

• Competent in using ICT packages.

• Commitment to own continuous professional development and best practice.

• Full UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle.

• An awareness of the specific agencies that work alongside our young people.

Desirable:

• Knowledge/experience of working with Separated Migrant Children.

This is a fast paced and fundamental role within the framework of children services, Each day is different and dynamic as you support vulnerable young people, often with complex needs to successfully move into adulthood, advocating for and promoting their needs as necessary. In return, you’ll work within a highly supportive team, with access to excellent supervision and training opportunities.

This job role is within the Health and Social Care Services, level HSC9 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles – Health and social care, As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Disability Confident

We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

Safeguarding

This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Driving required

You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.

English Fluency

The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Rosa.Straker@hertfordshire.gov.uk (Separated Migrant Children’s Team manager) for an informal discussion about the role.