JOB TITLERefuge Children’s Worker
PAYMENT£17,702 Pro Rata
RESPONSIBLE TOChildren & Young Peoples Service Manager
HOURS37 hours per week
JOB STATUSPermanent
JOB PURPOSETo form supportive working relationships with children and young people aged 0-18 years, and their mothers, who are living with the effects of Domestic Abuse and Violence, and overcoming the traumatic impact on their lives. Also, to liaise and work together with all other agencies involved with the families, in order to meet their ongoing needs appropriately and effectively.
OVERALL OBJECTIVES
1To work with families to ensure that all aspects children and young people’s needs are assessed as part of the admission and on-going support process in relation to safeguarding, including risk and safety planning, emotional & physical health & wellbeing, education and social & family networks.
2To work in partnership with all agencies in relation to safeguarding children following both local and national approaches around CAF, TAF and Child Protection Protocols and any other relevant / approved approaches.
3To work as a member of the Refuge team, providing specialist support, guidance and assistance to resident mothers and their children.
4To encourage and support mothers to build loving and consistent relationships with their children and to take responsibility for their children and supervise them at all times.
5To take all reasonable steps to ensure that work with the children is as appropriate as possible with regards to children’s cultural and religious backgrounds and any special needs.
6To develop relationships of trust and support with all ages of service users, helping them to gain confidence and to develop their abilities to define and achieve their goals.
7To educate and foster an understanding with mums/carers, as well as other agencies, of the impact of domestic abuse on children and young people, and the resulting needs and issues.
- PARTICULAR TASKS OF THE POSTHOLDER
1To plan and implement a programme of therapeutic and recreational activities for children and young people living at the refuge, as well as play-work and activity trips
2To engage with mothers in an intervention approach, offering guidance around parenting styles and behaviours.
3To facilitate group work for mothers or C&YP such as ‘You Me & Mum’, Recovery Toolkit for C&YP.
4To support families living at the refuge to develop effective and supportive family relationships, including supporting the mothers in their relationship with their children and children and young people in making their own decisions and taking control of their lives.
5To work with all resident children in the age group of 0 – 18 years, providing both ad-hoc and organised support.
6To organise and facilitate group activities for children, which will include a learning development approach, in all age groups.
7To involve children in the decision making process where possible, in planning the groups.
8To provide individual, age appropriate key working sessions for children of all ages.
9To provide and arrange practical assistance for children where necessary, including advocacy and liaison with other agencies, and updating and making information accessible.
10To write and contribute to the completion of Reports for Courts and Children’s Social Care Conferences and meetings regarding the families, when required.
11To communicate with nurseries, schools and other educational establishments, in order to promote educational, learning and development opportunities for both children and young people.
12To work closely with the whole Refuge team to facilitate the smooth running of the Refuge, encouraging mothers to take responsibility for the maintenance of the Refuge, their own children’s safety and the general behaviour of children within the Refuge, as well as implementing the No Smacking Policy.
13To keep up to date with, and implement, requirements of the Law and any other Legislation relating to work with children, such as the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, and Child Protection Policies and Procedures.
14To keep daily, weekly and monthly records of work with children, in line with Refuge practice, and providing statistical information for funding agencies.
15To take collective responsibility with the SafeNet team in educating and informing the local community, Police, Schools, Social Services and other organisations about the needs of children in the Refuge and other children affected by domestic abuse.
16To raise awareness across SafeNet teams around issues affecting C&YP by providing regular updates of changes in legislation and local & national initiatives in relation Safeguarding Children & Young People.
17To contribute towards input in Induction Programmes held within the Refuge.
18To attend and participate in staff meetings.
- POLICY, PRACTICE AND CONDUCT
1The post holder must maintain the standards set out in SafeNet/Calico’s Code of Conduct and all other current Codes, Policies, Guidelines, Procedures and Practices at all times.
2Ensure that SafeNet’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure are implemented at all times.
3To follow and ensure compliance with the Health and Safety Policy of the Refuge.
4To attend all Training which is deemed necessary in the development of the post.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Candidates will be assessed on their ability to meet the criteria detailed on this Person Specification. Please show how you meet this in your application.
Refuge Children’s Worker
Qualification
Related qualification (D)
Work Related Experience
1Experience of working with children of all ages(E)
2Experience of working with children who’ve experienced abuse(E)
3Experience of working with children in a residential setting(D)
4Experience of writing Reports(E)
Personal and Job Related Skills and Attitudes
1Must have an understanding of issues relating to domestic abuse that affect children and how that impacts on children and young people and be able to empathise with their experiences (E)
2Ability to communicate effectively with children of different ages and backgrounds, and help them to communicate their experiences (E)
3Ability to help children & young people develop self confidence, and
improve their social and communication skills(E)
4Able to manage difficult and/or challenging behaviours(E)
5Ability to listen to children in a non-judgemental manner(E)
6Ability to think clearly and act appropriately in stressful situations(E)
7 Ability to work on own and as part of a team (E)
8 Ability to plan, facilitate, evaluate and record group play
and individual sessions with children (E)
9 Ability to carry out tasks in accordance with the policies,procedures and guidelines of the Refuge. (E)
10 Ability to work in partnership with other agencies
Special Working Conditions
1 Able to work flexibly in responding to situations which arise(E)
2 Able to work flexibly around working hours (E)
3 Full driving licence preferred and business insurance (D)
4 Willingness to assist with in-house training and other team tasks (E)