DATE: February 2016
POST: Support Worker
HOURS: 37.5 per week – flexibility essential as some out of hours working will be required
Contract: Permanent
SALARY: £18,638pa plus pension and other benefits
HOLIDAY: 25 days pa plus bank and statutory holidays
LOCATION: Based in Sheffield
REPORTS TO: Senior Support Worker
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An enhanced DBS check is required as this position will involve directly working with vulnerable young people.
SUMMARY OF JOB
Depaul UK has a wide range of services for young people and adults at risk of homelessness. We specialise in the provision of supported accommodation, with lasting commitments to the young people in Sheffield, the North East, Greater Manchester and London. Depaul is immensely proud of its emergency accommodation network, Nightstop UK, largely delivered by Depaul in London and the North East, with a new service launching in 2016 in Sheffield. Other supporting services include family mediation and working with young people from the ’care’ and criminal justice systems.
Working under the direction, guidance and support of the Senior Support Worker you will be part of a team providing a seamless and cohesive support package for young people who are residents within the Dispersed Accommodation Service. You will manage a caseload of young people, helping them with multiple barriers to secure stable accommodation and meaningful employment, training and education.
The Support Worker role is pivotal to the successful delivery of this unique new service as you are the key contact with the young people and link to local statutory and voluntary services.
The role will involve carrying out Depaul’s commitment to successfully deliver the outcomes set out in the contract of this new service. The scope of the role will involve the following responsibilities:
· Sound decision making process
· Leadership skills
Key Deliverables
· You will be committed to working in an environment that supports the safeguarding of clients
· You will contribute to assessments and develop client led, SMART support plans focussed on Every Child Matters outcomes and preparation for independence
· You will Keywork individual young people through the service, staying with them if they move within it and provide on average 12 weeks resettlement support
· You will offer one-to-one and group support including the PHU Independent Living Skills programme
· You will work proactively alongside multiple agencies
· You will work alongside and support specialists within the team including supporting young parents, supporting access to ETE and family mediation.
· You will ensure that the Programme delivers excellent performance and high quality service with measurable positive impact.
· You will operate within a team, working proactively and intensively with young people to help them break through personal and practical barriers to engagement, and to build young people’s capacity to engage with their local communities.
· You will be flexible in your approach
· At the end of this programme, you will contribute to the development of an evidence based report, that will enable us to embed what was done well, share learning internally and externally
· To be successful in this role you will expected to go the extra mile by being flexible with the hours you work always bearing in mind the needs of the business.
· To complete all types of forms including Risk Assessments (RA) Accident and Safeguarding, Incident and Near Miss forms
· Any other duties commensurate with the role
What we are looking for from you – Person Specification
To carry out this role we are looking for the following from you in terms of experience, skills and competencies.
When completing your application form please address the areas identified (A) below. Try to provide clear examples in your supporting statement that clarify how and when you gained the experience or knowledge as well as your level of capability
· A commitment to the ethos and values of Depaul including the organisation’s policies and procedures
· Demonstrable experience of working with young and vulnerable people and young families with multiple and complex needs (A).
· Experience and understanding of challenges and barriers faced by young people in securing accommodation and sustainable education and training (A).
· Negotiating skills in working with young people (A)
· Co-ordinating and organising skills
· Able to work on own initiative but at same time able to exercise sound judgement in knowing when to consult with peers and clients (A).
· Able to work flexibly and develop positive working relationships at a range of different levels including staff, volunteers, managers, young people and stakeholders to deliver organisational goals and resolve conflicts of interest professionally (A).
· A clear understanding and ability to implement risk management, information sharing and data security arrangement (A).
· Awareness of and commitment to equal opportunity and diversity practise. Ability to promote and implement diversity practice and policies and generally treat colleagues and clients fairly and with respect.
· Demonstrate ability to use IT to a level which will enable high quality reporting to be carried out. This should include an ability to use data capture systems including running queries and reports.
· Commitment to promoting an environment, which has the highest regard for the Health and Safety of others.
· A knowledge and understanding of how to complete all types of forms to include Risk Assessments (RA) Accident and Safeguarding, Incident and Near Miss forms
· Able to demonstrate clear understanding of safeguarding requirements and procedures
· Personal and professional integrity
· High level understanding of professional boundaries and ability to maintain boundaries
· Effective collaborative working
· Ability to effectively reflect on own practices for ongoing learning and development
· Willingness to travel to different regions to fulfill the needs of the role.
What we will do to support you in this role
Will provide the following resources to assist in the successful achievement of the responsibilities outlined above:
· A full induction and training to enhance the ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ skills required
· Continuous support and supervision including reflective practice to develop your learning and skills as a practitioner
Vincentian Values
The Depaul Group began in the UK in 1989 at the initiative of the late Cardinal Basil Hume, as a response to the needs of the growing numbers of homeless people on the streets of London.
Depaul International and its subsidiary international charities owe their inspiration and values to the life and works of Vincent de Paul, a major social reformer in 17th century France. Known as the Saint of Charity, he revolutionised outreach to poor and disenfranchised people.
Vincentian values, which were at the core of Depaul’s foundation, continue to be at the heart of Depaul International. They include a commitment to reach out to the poorest of the poor, to focus on action rather than words, to do what we say we will do, and to be innovative in our approach.
THE DISCLOSURE & BARRING SERVICE – DISCLOSURE
Depaul UK aims to promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. Depaul UK welcomes applications from diverse candidates. Criminal records will be taken into account for requirement purposes only when the conviction is relevant.
As Depaul UK meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013) by SI 2013 1198’. All applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of cautions, reprimands or final warnings, as well as convictions.
This job description is a statement of requirements at the time of writing and is not contractual. It should not be seen as precluding future changes after appointment to this role.
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