Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service

Job Description

1. / Identification
Job Title: / Young Adult Carers Adviser (aged 16-25yrs)
Grade: / Scale 6 point 26 £22,937pa pro rata
Funding details: / 18mths Project initially.
Responsible to: / Centre Manager
Reporting to: / CEO
Responsible for: / Volunteers
Working hours: / 15 hours per week (Flexible working to include evenings and weekends to meet the needs of the Service)
Preferred days:
Appointment to this post is subject to a satisfactory Enhanced CRB Disclosure, references and medical clearance
2. / Job summary: (description of main purpose of job)
To work in partnership with Child Action North West to develop a new Service for Young Adult Carers (YAC’s) aged 16-25yrs.
This post will:

Provide one to one support
Facilitate Group support
Organise Workshops and training
Organise Information events
Liaise with Universities and Colleges and other education providers
Liaise with local Employers
Liaise with other organisations

The post will carry out the above to meet the seven areas of need as identified by Young Adult Carers:

Health
The caring role
Managing at home
Time for yourself
How you feel
Finances
Work and Education

3. / Key tasks and responsibilities:

To provide information, advice, advocacy and emotional support to unpaid YAC’s
To identify hidden and hard to reach YAC’s carers.
To complete Carers Service Assessments and Outcome stars within reasonable time frames
To undertake home visits as required
To raise awareness of the needs of YAC’s within statutory and voluntary agencies.
To enable YAC’S to be involved in the design and implementation of services that best meet their needs.
To work closely with the CEO, Centre Manager and Carers Service staff, to assist in the improvement of services
To build the resilience and increase the stability and well-being of YAC’s by offering support with transition, employment, education and training opportunities.
To work in partnership with others, to support and enable YAC’s and their families to achieve emotional health and well-being and promote positive outcomes.
To support and be an independent advocate for YAC’s in multi-agency meetings such as Team around the Child meetings and in School/College, ensuring their needs, wishes and feelings are represented at all times.
To co-ordinate and facilitate YAC’s attendance at support group meetings, community forums and/or activities to raise self-esteem and confidence.
To work with and supervise volunteers and peer mentors to support Young Adult Carers.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

To support the delivery of ‘timely’ support for YAC’s to meet their assessed needs, build on strengths and move towards solution focused outcomes.
On behalf of YAC’s work in partnership with others to assess the family situation in order to support YAC’s and signpost siblings / parents for support as appropriate.
Using solution focused, creative and imaginative strategies, to work alongside YAC’s to develop their skills and knowledge, enabling them to contribute and participate in the decision making processes that affect them and others.
To ensure that the service provided meets the needs of YAC’s and balances emotional health and family wellbeing with that of safeguarding (child protection).
Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the service in partnership with children, young people and their parents/carers who access the service.
To fully contribute and participate in team meetings, development days and the supervision process to enhance the present and future development of the Service.
To have a personal responsibility to ensure that person identifiable, confidential or sensitive information is processed in line with the Data Protection Act and should comply with the law, organisational polices and best practice when processing information.

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Represent BwD Carers Service at meetings, conferences and exhibitions as required.
Provide a non-discriminatory service and treat all who access BwD Carers Service services fairly and equally.
Work within allocated budgets and agreed expenditure levels.
Keep accurate records and provide written reports as required.
Contribute to BwD Carers Service operational and strategic development, including any organisation objectives identified through designated quality standards, such as PQASSO.
Participate fully in personal supervision meetings and the annual appraisal process and undertake any training deemed necessary for the role
Review own delivery performance against agreed annual KPIs (key performance indicators), aiming to meet or exceed personal targets/performance levels.
To be familiar with appropriate legislation, procedures and resources in order to ensure that the statutory requirements are met.

To work flexible hours (for which time-in-lieu will be given) where this is necessary to meet the needs of carers.

To work in accordance with all Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service policies and procedures. Be aware of the Health and Safety requirements in the workplace, and in particular, as it relates to your service area and/or department. To be aware of the safeguarding policy and procedure for children and vulnerable adults and to ensure that the safeguarding of children and young people is given the highest priority in the work undertaken
To contribute to a regular newsletter for carers.
Undertake additional duties, training and/or hours of work as may be reasonably required which are deemed appropriate to the levels of responsibility within the role.

4. / Confidentiality:
All workers will be expected to maintain a high standard of practice, which recognises the rights of the individual to have assurance that any information given will be treated with the respect and privacy consistent with our overall social and professional responsibilities.

Note:

This job description forms part of the contract of employment of the person appointed to this post. It reflects the position at the present time only and may be changed at management discretion in the future. As a general term of employment, the Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service may effect any necessary change in job content, or may require the post holder to undertake other duties, provided that such changes are appropriate to the employee’s remuneration and status.